CHAPTER 54
SHLOBOSENKOSI MAVIMBELA

I’m not going to the office again today. I have
a terrible headache, the pills I took last night
before sleeping didn’t help at all. Nonku really
did a number on me yesterday, I knew she
was going to get mad but I didn’t think she’d
get physical like that. A guilty part of me
feels like her reaction is warranted, but a
logical part of me knows that violance solves
absolutely nothing. I want to have a
convesation with her, to give her answers and
that’s only if she wants them. If she doesn’t
want to hear anything that has to do with
me then I’ll accept it and hope she finds true
happiness in the future.
I get to the kitchen to make coffee and
Nhlangano is in here making a smoothie. He’s
already dressed in his uniform and ready for
the day. Things between us have been akward
since the day he said all those things to me
with regards to his mother and Melamina’s
death, as well as his biological father. I’m
really not mad at him, I’m just hurt and
disappointed that he thought so little of me
and even went as far as hearing out and
believing a total stranger over me. Yes, it’s
Mongezi’s sperm that made him but he’s still
a stranger to Nhlangano; I am his father.
I greet him without making eye contact and
he greets me back. I open the cupboard to
take out a mug then proceeded to the pantry
to take out the ingredients. Thalente walks in
as I switch on the kettle, she greets us and
we answer her in unison. My sister darts
between Nhlangano and I before she heaves a
heavy sigh. I know that my situation with
Nhlangano is stressing her out. She doesn’t
like the awkwardness that happens whenever
we are in the same room. I don’t either but I
don’t know how to address the situation at
hand. I feel like I’ve lost my son and nothing I
say or do will bring him back.
“Bhut’Shlobo, what happened to your
forehead?” she asks and I shrug my shoulders.
“I bumped my head in the dark last night, I
have a little scratch so I had to put on a
plaster,” they both didn’t see me when I got
back from Nonku’s house. I just announced
my return as I passed them in the lounge
watching TV and went straight to bed.
Thalente came knocking with my food but I
asked her to put the plate in the fridge. I
didn’t want them to see me in that state. I
won’t tell them that Nonku and I are over
until she decides on whether she wants
answers or not. The matter has to be settled
between us before I can tell my family that
there’s someone new in my life and I’m
looking to go all the way with her.
“Should I make you breakfast before I leave?”
she asks and I smile sweetly at her. Thalente
takes care of us very well.
“No sisi, I’ll have my food from last night.
Thank you,” she nods and looks at her nephew
who is focusing on his smoothie.
“Nhlangano, please finish up or you’ll be late
for school,” my son nods and his phone rings
from on top of the kitchen counter. He looks
at it and a second later he steals a glance at
me then grabs the phone and heads out. And
then?
“That must be his father. He has never looked
like he was caught stealing when his phone
rings,” I say with a heavy heart and my sister
comes to my side.
“I’m sorry. I see how pained you have been
since the convesation with Nhlangano on
Sunday. Please don’t take it to heart too
much, he will eventually see the truth for
himself and come back to you,” she hugs me
and I kiss the top of her head.
“I love you, MaMavimbela,” she giggles.
“I love you too bhuti,” my princess. As shocked
as I was when the truth of her paternity was
revealed, I’m happy that she’s my blood sister.
“When should we go change your surname at
home affairs?” I ask and she breaks the hug
and takes a deep breath.
“I’d do it even today but because I don’t want
to offend my mother I think it will be best to
do it when the ritual to introduce me to the
ancestors is done,” that’s fair enough.
“I’ll call MaZikode later to ask when we are
getting it done,” I say and she nods.
“I’d really appreciate it, bhuti. I really want to
use my father’s surname you know,” I totally
understand.
“I hear you sisi. I was also thinking,” I say and
she narrows her eyes.
“I was thinking that we renew your lease at
the apartment and bring your brothers to
Durban next year. I can organize them jobs so
they can support themselves and help your
mom. What do you think?” she places both
hands over her mouth.
“Oh my God! You’d really do that for them?”
she asks and I nod.
“Yes, I would. Thalente I don’t want you to
feel bad for living comfortably now that
you’re a Mavimbela. I want you to enjoy your
brothers money without worrying about
anyone else,” she attacks me with a hug and
cries in my chest.
“You’re the best, thank you so much. I will call
home later and ask them if they will like the
opportunity,” Nhlangano walks back in.
“Uhm, I’m off to school. Have a good day,” he
says, his eyes looking everywhere but me.
“Have a good day too,” I mutter.
“Bye Nhlaks,” Thalente says, wiping her tears.
My phone chimes in the pocket of my
sweatpants, I quickly take it out and my
heart skips a beat.
NALEDI: GOOD MORNING BABE. I HOPE YOU’RE
FEELING MUCH BETTER THIS MORNING. I
DIDN’T CALL BECAUSE I THOUGHT YOU’D STILL
BE SLEEPING. PLEASE CALL ME WHEN YOU’RE
AWAKE.
NHLANGANO MAVIMBELA
“Please don’t tell me you’re thinking about
your little girl on my time, Nhlangano. Even
yesterday you were absent minded the entire
time you were here. I let that go but today
I’m not because it’s my birthday and I want
all your attention” Khwezi complains and I
heave a sigh.
“This has nothing to do with my girlfriend. I
just have a lot on my mind,” I say and she
cups my chin to make me look at her.
“What’s bothering you babe? Talk to me,” she
say softly.
“The situation with my dad, Khwezi. Things
haven’t been okay between us since I spoke to
him on Sunday. You should see the pain in his
eyes, it hurts to see him like that,” I explain
with a heavy heart. I really miss the
relationship my father and I always had, this
situation hurts so bad. I want us to go back
to where we used to be but I don’t know
where to begin. We are awkward because of
me, because of my choice of words.
“I understand how you feel babe but give him
time to wrap his head around everything. He
will come around and you guys will be okay, I
promise,” I wish I could believe that but it’s
hard. I wish I handled things differently.
“Don’t feel bad for choosing to give your
biological father a chance. You deserve to at
least get to know one of the people that
brought you to this world,” that’s true. I
wanna know more about my mom and my
biological father has been telling me stories
about her. He even has pictures I’ve never
seen before and truth be told, I feel like I’m
getting to know her beyond what my
grandmother and baba were telling me.
“I hope so,” she pecks my lips.
“Please get the drinks and snacks in the
kitchen, I want to slip into something nice for
you and make you feel good,” she says and I
smile. She’s about to rock my world when she
talks like this.
I get to the kitchen and there’s a savory
platter on the kitchen counter and a bottle of
cognac. It looks really good, plus I’m famished.
I last ate lunch at school and that was a
couple of hours ago. I open the fridge and
there’s a bottle of champagne in here, I’m not
gonna drink too much. I have school
tomorrow and going while hangover would be
hell. A knock startles me, I hope it’s not a
visitor. Khwezi and I need to get up to no
good because I need to leave soon.
I go and open the door and find the shock of
my life. What the hell is Zekhethelo doing
here with her dad? She narrows her eyes at
me in a questioning manner and my stomach
knots immediately. This cannot be happening
to me, how did Ze know where to find me?
And to bring her father here, Jesus Christ.
“Nhlangano?” she says and I swallow hard.
“Hey, what are you doing here?” I ask with a
shaking voice.
“Baby, do you know him?” her father asks and
she looks down, fiddling with her fingers.
“Uhm…His name is Nhlangano…He is my…
friend,” she explains to her father and I don’t
even feel some type of way. No father would
want to hear that his 17 year old has a
boyfriend. Yes, I’m just a year older than her
but it wouldn’t matter to him because Ze is
his little girl.
“Young man, why are you in my apartment?”
his apartment?
“I think you have the wrong place, sir. This is
my teachers apartment, I came to see her
because she’s helping me with school things,”
this is the best excuse to give incase they
have the right place.
“No, this is my apartment. I pay rent here for
Zekhethelo’s mother,” he says and I gasp in
shock. Ze’s what?
“Your mother is Miss Gumbi?” I ask and she
nods.
“Yes, where is she?” can the ground open and
swallow me whole. I have been sleeping with
both mother and daughter? How the fuck did I
get myself in such a sticky situation.
“She is in the bathroom,”
“Okay. I asked my dad to bring me because I
wanted to wish her a happy birthday and give
her this present,”
“Baby, are you making those things from
scratch,” Khwezi shouts and I close my eyes,
“Nhlangano, hurry! I can’t hold this pose much
longer.” she adds, hammering the last nail to
our coffin.
“Thats my mom, why is she calling you baby?”
Ze asks, totally horrified.
“Boy, you’re sleeping with your teacher?” Her
father asks with so much fury and I’m
sweating. He pushes me to the side.
“Khwezi, ye wena! You’re now sleeping with
kids?” he yells and I’m looking at the crying
Zekhethelo.
“My mother, Nhlangano? Are you kidding me?”
she says with a pained voice.
“I didn’t know baby, I promise you” tears are
burning my eyes. Ze is the last person I
wanted to hurt.
“And that’s supposed to make it right?” there’s
screaming in the bedroom, I don’t even want
to go in there and catch fire. Khwezi will get
herself out of the mess.
“No, baby. Please, I can explain,” I beg and she
shakes her head. I can see the pain and
disgust in her eyes.
“Ze, let’s go baby,” her father is back and
Khwezi is running after him in a lingerie.
“Mthandazo, please. Let’s talk, I made a
mistake,” she cries but Zekhethelo’s father
isn’t hearing it.
“I hate you, Nhlangano,” Ze says before
walking away hand in hand with her father.
“You’ve been sleeping with me and my
daughter?” she asks, grabbing me by my shirt.
Why is she fighting me now?
“I didn’t know that my long term girlfriend is
your daughter. She hardly talks about you or
mention your name. She has never showed me
a picture of you,” I respond to this woman
that’s pulling and pushing me.
“Do you have any idea what just happened
here?” she let’s go of me and sinks to the
floor, wailing. I’m scared I won’t even lie, this
whole thing is fucked up. I should have been
firm in ending things with Khwezi and
focusing solely on Zekhethelo.