Not Your Typical Fairytale (Complete)

Chapter 3

I'm on the line with my ride-or-die, Simmy, but my mind's a million miles away. Honestly, I'm grappling with whether to spill the beans to her or keep this whole mess locked up tight. After all, what am I supposed to do with the bombshell I stumbled upon earlier?

Food's been ordered, but my appetite's taken a hike. I mean, how can I even think about chowing down when my whole world feels like it's been turned upside down? It's like I'm drowning in a sea of betrayal, and I can't find a damn life raft to save my sorry ass.

"Ayola!" Simmy's voice cuts through the fog in my brain, snapping me back to reality.

"Yeah, what's up?" I reply, finally tuning back in.

"I was saying, my folks gave me the green light to crash at yours for a bit in Durban before we head back to EL together," she chirps, like it's no biggie.

And just like that, my mood does a complete one-eighty. I'm jumping off my bed, bouncing around my room like a lunatic. I can't wait to see her—God knows I need the distraction. It's been way too long since we've had a proper catch-up.

But as the excitement bubbles up inside me, so does the bitterness. I can't bring myself to call Amanda "Mom" after what I found out. I mean, who does she think she is, keeping something this huge from me?

I toy with the idea of hitting up the hospital to verify the truth, but then reality hits me like a ton of bricks. With a family name as big as ours, there's no way I can fly under the radar. The docs will spill the beans, and it'll all come back to Amanda and her hubby. Talk about being stuck between a rock and a hard place.

"So, when are you flying over?" I ask, my voice practically vibrating with excitement. Simmy laughs, probably picturing me bouncing off the walls.

"Mom and Dad are sorting out my travel plans and chatting with your folks. I should be there before the week's out if your parents give the green light. I'll keep you posted," she replies. The mention of my parents brings my mood crashing back down.

"I'll call Amanda and my father to twist their arms a bit. With all the trouble I've caused lately, they might just say no, but let's stay optimistic," I say, trying to keep my voice light. Simmy laughs but I hear the worry in her sigh.

"What's going on, Ayola? And don't you dare tell me it's nothing," Simmy demands, her tone sharp. One thing about Simmy—she knows me too well.

"I can't tell you until I've spoken to Amanda and her husband," I reply, my voice tight.

"They are your parents, Ayola," she scolds, and I roll my eyes, even though she can't see it.

"Maybe if they actually acted like parents, we wouldn't be where we are today," I snap back, the anger and hurt bubbling to the surface.

"You know you can talk to me, right?" Simmy's voice softens, and it tugs at my heart.

"I know, friend. I appreciate you so much, but I need to talk to them first before I can say anything to you or even Aphiwe," I admit, sadness creeping into my voice. Simmy makes a sympathetic sound, and I'm grateful she doesn't push further.

Instead, she shifts the conversation to lighter topics. She fills me in on the latest neighborhood gossip and spills about a guy she has a crush on. Her chatter is like a balm, soothing the raw edges of my emotions and helping me momentarily forget the bombshell I uncovered earlier.

"Wait, Simmy, what do you mean?" I ask, barely able to contain my laughter as she regales me with the juicy story of a man caught cheating on his wife, who promptly tossed him out onto the streets in nothing but his underwear.