CHAPTER 51
NHLANGANO MAVIMBELA

“Nhlangano, what’s wrong?” Zekhethelo asks,
placing a hand on my shoulder.
“Nothing babe, I’m okay,” she removes her feet
from my lap and takes my hands.
“No, you are not. Babe you’ve been off for days
now. Your eyes are on the TV but it’s really
watching you. Please talk to me,” she says
softly. I heave a sigh and bring her hands up
and kiss her knuckles.
“I’ve been dealing with something and I’m
caught between a rock and a hard place,” I
decide to open up to my girlfriend.
“A problem shared is a problem half solved.
Please let me in,” Khwezi has been giving me
advise but it won’t hurt to hear what another
person has to say with regards to the whole
situation.
“My biological father reached out a while ago
and he had so much to say about my dad…”
Zekhethelo already knows that my dad is not
really my dad but my uncle.
I told her at the beginning of our relationship
when she told me the story of her mom. She
was so vulnerable with me so I decided to tell
her my story too.
“Shuu! That’s a lot babe,” she says after I
explain everything Mphikeleli told me that
day at Khwezi’s apartment.
“I’m disappointed in my dad you know? I can’t
believe he is this cruel to someone. He knows
how painful it is to be accused of something
you didn’t do, but he went on to do the same
thing to my biological father,” aunt Thalente’s
mother blamed baba for the death of her
daughter and that hurt him because that was
the love of his life. But he thought it was
okay to blame Mphikeleli for both deaths. It
doesn’t make sense to me, it’s giving
hypocrisy.
“Babe, I honestly don’t think it’s fair for you to
come to a conclusion before hearing your
dad’s side of the story. You’ve told me so
much about him and from that I can tell that
he cares so much about you and wouldn’t do
anything if it wasn’t in your best interest,” Ze
says and I take a deep breath.
I wish I could believe that, but Khwezi made
me realize that Mphikeleli is telling the truth.
He has absolutely nothing to gain by lying to
me, all he wants is to have a relationship
with me. He even said it himself that he
doesn’t want to replace my dad.
“It’s never easy for a parent to keep their
child from another parent. I know this
because I’m living it too, Nhlangano. My dad
kept me from my mom for my own safety but
it’s killing him,” I shake my head.
“But you told me that your father does ask
you if you want to meet up with your mother
and you’re normally the one that refuses,” I
say and she closes her eyes.
“Yes, because I see why my father never
wanted me anywhere near her Nhlangano.
She’s a drug addict, a bad influence on me. I
only go to see her because I feel bad for her
and also because I hate how she calls my dad
and accuses him of being the one refusing me
to see her,” I guess our situations are the
same but not really the same.
“I hear you babe. Let’s just say I wish my
father gave me a chance to decide on whether
I want my biological father in my life or not.
At the end of the day he really didn’t do
anything to get the treatment my family is
giving him,” she pinches the bridge of her
nose.
“All I’m saying is, sit down with your dad and
ask him to tell you his side of the story,”
that’s the opposite of Khwezi’s advise. She
said I should sit down with my father and tell
him that I’m going to have a relationship with
Mphikeleli. Khwezi said I should make it clear,
not open it for discussion because my dad will
manipulate me into seeing things the way he
does. It made sense to me and I’m honestly
going to follow it.
“I hear you babe and thank you,” I say and
lean in, we share a kiss and the intercom goes
off. Ze quickly breaks the kiss.
“Oh God, is that your dad?” she asks with
widened eyes, she’s such a panic mechanic.
“No babe, I told you that he’s coming back
tomorrow night,” I say, getting up to go
answer the intercom.
“Hello,”
“Hey babe,” that’s Khwezi.
What the hell is she doing here?
“What’s up?” I whisper and she chuckles.
“Why do you sound scared? You said you’re
home alone and I thought we’d get naughty in
your bedroom, for your memories,” she says
and I close my eyes.
She can’t come inside here. My girlfriend is
here, she will be with me the whole weekend.
She lied to her Dad and said she is at her best
friend’s house to study because we are
starting final exams in a week. Zekhethelo’s
dad trusts her so he won’t be going to the
friends house. He only called this morning to
ask his daughter if she slept well and needed
anything brought to her.
“I’m coming,” I say and put back the receiver
on the cradle.
I use the kitchen door to exit the house, once
I’m out I run to the gate. Khwezi’s car is
parked right at the gate, ready to drive in.
She’s insane because what is this? I like being
crazy with her but not at my father’s house, I
can’t disrespect him like that. Yes, I brought
Ze here but she’s my age mate not a teacher
way older than me. If baba caught me with Ze
he will easily forgive me and move on but
Khwezi? That’s escalating into something
huge.
Khwezi climbs out of the car when she sees
that I’m not going to walk out of this yard. I
can’t risk getting in her car to explain why
she can’t come in and have her drive off with
me. She’s unpredictable and I’m not going to
take the risk.
She looks pissed but I’m honestly not worried
about her right now, I don’t want Ze seeing
any of this and asking questions I’ll find hard
to answer.
“Open the gate Nhlangano,” she orders and I
shake my head.
“You are starting with your childish games,”
she can say what she wants but I’m not
opening this gate.
“Khwezi I told you that I’ll be with my
girlfriend this weekend. What are you doing
here?” I ask, pissed.
“Get rid of baby girl, I need you,” I’m not going
to do that.
“Khwezi please leave,” she laughs.
“I’ll jump over this gate,” she threatens and I
roll my eyes.
Why is she acting like she doesn’t have sense?
This is really disappointing.
“I honestly don’t have time to deal with this,”
I turn to leave.
“Nhlangano I will cause a scene,” Oh my God!
“I respect you when it’s your time. I don’t even
take my girlfriends calls. Why must I dance to
your tune on her time? If this is too much for
you then let’s end it, it’s really that simple,” I
say and she gasps in shock.
“Who are you talking to like that?” yoh!
“Khwezi, I like sleeping with you but I will not
choose you over my girlfriend,” she’s shocked.
What me and her are doing can never come
close to what I share with Ze.
“I’ll see you on Monday after revision classes.
Please get into your car and drive back to
Musgrave.” she bites her lower lip and nods.
“Fine,” oh thank God.
She climbs back into her car and the engine
starts. I exhale sharply when her car dives off.
VHUTSHILO MOUFHE
My relationship with Karabo has been smooth
sailing since she moved in. We haven’t had
one disagreement and it honestly feels great. I
know it’s because Naledi hasn’t been calling
me to ask for my help. As much as it’s good
for our relationship it feels weird to me
because Naledi is not just the mother of my
child, she’s my best friend too. I hate that we
both had to establish boundaries so my
relationship can work out. I am having a hard
time dealing with how things are between us.
Right now I don’t even know what’s
happening in her life. I know she moved to the
house in Bryanston, the one her married ex
bought her but I don’t know how she has been
settling in. I heard from Bassie that mommy
is starting work at the company she now
owns on Monday. I am genuinely hurt that
Naledi didn’t call me to tell me that she’s
finally taking the ropes at Khambule holdings.
We used to share everything but now I feel
like we are strangers.
I should call Naledi and ask to hang out later
on. It won’t be tricky because Karabo isn’t
here, she went to visit her family for the
weekend. I know Lufuno would love to see her
too; my sister decided to land in Johannesburg
to see me before making her way up north.
She was summoned to Venda by our mom
because she hasn’t been around in a while. I
am glad I won’t be home with those two, they
are always at each others throats because of
religion.
“Why didn’t you tell me that Naledi has a new
boyfriend?” Lufuno asks, walking in the lounge
with a glass of gin and tonic in her hand. We
have been indulging since I picked her up from
the airport.
“That’s because she doesn’t have a new man,”
I answer and she laughs.
“Dude, I’m telling you,” I roll my eyes and grab
my glass and gulp down the content.
“Lufuno, I would know. Naledi and I tell each
other these things,” I hand her my empty
glass, “Mix for me,” she takes it.
“Vhutshilo, check her statuses on whatsapp.
The girl is in Durban all loved up,” she says
and I grab my phone and go straight to
whatsapp. Naledi has been posting from
yesterday. She didn’t go to Mpumalanga with
Bassie and her grandmothers because she
wanted to go spend time with some man,
wow.
Last weekend she was in Cape Town with her
new friend who happens to be her late ex
boyfriends wife. What is happening with
Naledi?
The first status is her in a plane and the next
is a big bouquet of roses. The next one is a
boomerang of her manicured fingers entwined
with a man who has a Rolex cuffed on his
wrist. The caption of the last status reads,
“Gone Girl”, it’s a mirror picture of her in a
bikini and the guy hugging her from behind
with his face buried in her neck.
My heart is thumping against my chest and
my blood pressure has gone up for sure.
“Oh there’s another one,” Lufuno screams and
I quickly click on it and my heart sinks.
They are in a pool and the guy is picking
Naledi up, she has her legs wrapped around
his waist. They are busy kissing and laughing.
I power off my screen and throw my phone on
the couch cushion next to me.
“Whoa! What’s up now?” she asks and I start
fanning my face with both hands.
“She didn’t tell me she was in a relationship,
Lufuno,” I snap and my sister narrows her
eyes.
“They probably only just met each other and
they’re taking their time. She will tell you if
it’s anything serious,” I shake my head.
“Didn’t you see? She said she’s a gone girl.
Why would she say that if they are only
getting to know each other? I know my
daughters mother, Lufuno. She doesn’t joke
with her words, what Naledi says is what she
means,” I say and get up from the couch.
Pacing up and down.
“Calm down, she will tell you,”
“When?!” she snaps an eyebrow at my
outburst.
“Are you mad that Naledi didn’t tell you that
she has a boyfriend or you’re mad that she
has a boyfriend?” my sister asks and I blink
rapidly before swallowing hard.
“W-what is… Is th…that supposed to mean?” I
stummer and she laughs at me.
“Vhutshilo Muofhe, are you jealous that your
baby momma has a man?”
I roll my eyes.
“Don’t be ridiculous, Lufuno,” I say but my
voice didn’t come out convincing enough.
“Yoh! LOL.” mxm, this fool.
“Mix me a damn drink.”