Nokukhanya (Chapter 26)

Chapter 26

● Nokukhanya Ngwenya

I don’t think I will ever forgive Langa for calling me a bitch, I know I might sound hypocritically right now because I always name call him, but to us women it hits different when you are named called. Especially from someone you think you might mean something to them.

For the past two days I have been ignoring him and his wife. Right after he stomped out, Fikile came here guns blazing and I had to give myself a pep talk not to talk back at her, just only because I did her wrong by sleeping with her husband. I know I would have responded to her insults, but I kept it cool and just kept quiet and respected Langa’s first wife and not her. This house was built only for her, no one else is allowed in this house, but here am I with my daughter on my back cooking dinner for me and Lindo, he asked that I make enough as he will be bringing someone to meet me. Whoever is coming here is not allowed inside the main house just like me.

In no time I finish the cooking. I did not go all out for this dinner. I am no one’s wife! I go and bath my daughter before her grandmother comes to fetch her, she now sleeps with her both her grandchildren. I thought I was going to be thrown out from here by Langa’s mother after she left me, by that hasn’t been the case. In fact, our relationship has improved after my revelation. She has been coming here every morning to check on us. I am very grateful that Nonjabulo has a family, un-luck me. Langa’s family is very big, and everyone gets along. When coming here I thought his aunts and uncle were not going to like me, you mos how it is when you read novels or watch movies, it is always the aunts and uncles that have problems with everyone. I thought me coming here everyone was going to judge and crucify me for keeping my daughter away from them for the past years but that hasn’t been the case. I am pretty sure everyone like me.

There’s a soft knock by the door and as I am about to tell whoever is by the door to come in, this Lindokuhle walks in with a huge smile on his face. He looks good. So good that I am staring at him. He is wearing black chinos and a white vest that shows off his toned muscles. ‘Please stop staring at him’ My subconscious scolds me. Mara this man standing in front of me is good looking. Lindokuhle is the definition of SEXY.

‘Bitch please, it’s the hormones speaking’

Clears throat.

“Baby mama. May we come in?” We? Who the hell is we?

I clear my throat again as if there is something stuck in there. I nod my head at him before moving away from the door so he can come in. He even smells they way he looks.

She’s here.

With him.

“Nokukhanya, how are you? You look good.” She says.

“Uhmm…thank you. Please come in.” What the hell is she doing here? Are they dating? I spun my head so quick after she walked in following him. Lindokuhle had a small smile on his face. I watch him moving some of her hair behind her ear. What the hell is all of this?

I could just tell from the look he was giving her that he is long gone, Lindo is in love.

Lindokuhle is in love!

Don’t ask me how I know this because I won’t have an answer for this. I just know because I happen to watch a lot of romcom movies.

Who knew that this would happen and with her? Don’t get me wrong I am not judging. The thing is Lindo is one mutherfucker, him and dating don’t go hand in hand. He is my daughter’s other daddy and I have grown to know him better. I am shocked. I am shocked! And I am going to ask him about this.

“Are you not going to offer us anything to drink before our dinner?” This demon! I roll my eyes causing Gugu to giggle at my action. She is so sweet. Maybe I must ask her how she did it. I would know how to keep my baby daddy in check.

“Babe, let her be. Can I help with something?” Bathong! They are on Babe, so quick.

“No. it’s okay. Lindo follow me please.”

“What?” He asks the moment he finds me in the kitchen pacing up and down.

“Are you guys dating?”

“Yes.” I raise an eyebrow at him.

“Yes, we are dating. Is there something wrong with it?” He smirks.

“Since when and why did you not tell me?” I questioned him.

“Since we went out?”

“That long?” I ask.

“Yes.”

“Why was I not told about this?” I’m hurt. I thought we were getting close. He asks me every day if I have eaten and if I’m fine, yet he failed to share this with me.

“She was there you know, when you were fighting with my brother and when you were hurting, we got close, and one thing led to another. I like her, a lot.” A sense of relief washes over me. I was worried for a second there Gugu is a nice girl, too nice for him and I don’t want Lindo to play with her feelings. Also, I don’t want her to use him. I love him.

I nod at him.

“So, you brought her here so she can meet everyone?”

He nods and then stride to stand right in front of me. Why is he looking at me like this? His eyes are burning through me. I move away from him and start taking out drinks from the fridge.

“You will always come first. You know that right?” He says behind me. He is so close to me. I know when I turn from here, we will collide.

Clears throat.

“Uhm… yeah… I know that… Mi thatha, give that to your girlfriend.” I pass the cold drink to him without even turning. Instead of leaving he turns me around, takes the bottle and places a kiss on my forehead then I watch him walk away.

What has just happened? I let out a breath I know I was holding in the time he was standing close to me.

I wait for some time until I move to the dining room with the fakest smile, I ever had on my face. It’s a family Dinner! When did all this people come? MaGumede, Langa’s mother and his two aunts are here, drinking my cold drink and eating my snacks that I put at the table for Langa’s girlfriend. The snacks were going to be served as the starter. I told you I did not go all out for this, I just thought it was only going to be there for three of us and my daughter.

Manje what is this? Why has this turned into a family dinner?

“Makoti, this is delicious.” Old people and their drama. Tell me what is so delicious about niks naks and peanuts? I smile and take a sit.

“You should come here often. This is a royal treatment for us.” I just smile. There is nothing I can say to that.

“Makoti, who is this? Is she your sister?” MaGumede asks pointing at Gugu. I am not sure where she sees the resembles from between me and Gugu. Mina I’m very dark when you compare me to her. She has nice and smooth skin. And her eyes are very small compared to mine to name a few, after my daughter I went from melanin to… to… to…AHH! I don’t even want to mention it, I hope you get it. But i am still beautiful that I know.

“Uhmm…No… She is here with Li…” The demon cuts me off. And replies on my behalf telling his grandmother that Gugu came to visit me.

What is this?

I thought he was in love with her. Why the secrecy now. I frown at him, and the girlfriend excuses herself. She’s hurt.

“Yes Maa. She’s here with me. And I hope you don’t mind. I mean we will be leaving tomorrow so…so I thought she should come by. Since she leaves nearby.” I lie. I hope they don’t catch me up on my lie.

“Yeah. She stays around here.” The demon agrees with me, busy nodding his head. Really this is testing Khanyo day.

“Please excuse me. I need to dish up for all of you. Lindokuhle please follow me.”

“What the hell? Why would you make me lie like that? I thought you brought her here to introduce her to everyone.” I snapped at him.

“Keep it down please. I only brought her here to meet you.”

“Don’t tell me to keep it down. This is my house, and you are making me lie to them.”

“Since when this is your house?” He asks smirking.

“Since I moved in here.” I tell him and he smiles. The demon!

“Lindokuhle, I hate lying to your mother. Why are you making me lie?” I don’t want to jeopardize what I have with these women by lying to them. I am building a family for my daughter.

“Sorry but knowing those women in there. They will start talking and asking lots and lots of questions that I don’t even have answers for, and I myself   haven’t even asked Gugu to be my girlfriend yet. They will scare her off and I told you I like her.”

What the hell?

So, he lied to me.

“Lindokuhle, you said you guys are dating and she’s here to meet everyone. So, what is the meaning of this?”

“Baby mama we are dating…in my head though. I haven’t asked her out. She’s here so you can approve first.” He tells me taking of the knifes and forks for the table, not exactly bothered about what he just said to me.

“What?” Gugu says behind me. I turn and look at her carrying my daughter.

“Can you please take this to the table, I will bring the food after you.” I’m telling her already giving her the cutlery I took from the “in my head’ boyfriend of hers and push her towards the dining room. I can’t have her heartbroken in my house, already there’s me here with a broken heart and was called a bitch by the man I love. It can’t be the two of us. That is just too much to handle, even for me.

I cannot not believe this guy standing in front of me. He wants me to approve his girlfriend for him. Doesn’t he know I suck at that department? Clearly, we have been living in different continents. All my life I have known one man and I have never been in a relationship, yet he wants me to give the go ahead.

I start dishing out my creamy spinach which I picked at MaGumede’s garden, mashed potatoes, and some home fried chicken. My pap is also hot and ready. I just hope everyone will enjoy this.

I ignore this demon; I once called a friend and carry four plates at once to the dinning room. I got this, I used to be a waitress when I was not washing dishes. When I give out the places to them. I announce loud enough for Lindo to bring along more glasses.

“I hope you will enjoy this.”

“I’m sure we will, it smells delicious.” Lindo’s aunt says already cutting through the chicken.

“Vele we will. My Baby Mama can cook.” Lindo says and I stare at him. I wonder what game he is playing at. Suddenly, there’s another knock and everyone keeps quite. I think today is my farewell here, I mean everyone just decided that they are going to come to my house and have dinner. Yes, this is my house even when my baby daddy doesn’t acknowledge that, this is still my house. Everyone is looking at me.

Why are they looking at me?

“Makoti, this is your house. Are you expecting more people?” Langa’s grandmother asks then chews on her chicken, unbothered.

What more people?

“No. I did not invite anyone here.” I say then stand up to attend to whoever has decided to knock again.

It’s her.

My heart stops. What is she doing here?

“Uhmm… Nokukhanya unjani. Can we come in?”

“Yes, sure you can.” I stand aside for her to come through then follows her husband carrying their son. He stares at me for a while, before he walks in. That was intense. I follow through and find both standing and looking at everyone.

“What’s happening here? Why weren’t we invited?” He asks everybody as he looks around the table, then back at me.

Fikile clears her throat after her husband speaks without anyone answering him.

“I’m sorry if we are intruding. We just wanted to talk to Nokukhanya. In private.”

“Why in private? We are having dinner as a family.” Lindo says.

“Lindokuhle!” he gets reprimanded by his mother.

“Lindo who do you think you are talking too!” Langa seethed towards his brother. What is happening here.

“I am talking to your girlfriend Langalihle. That’s who I am talking you. You guys are disturbing our dinner.” Lindo says standing up facing his brother.

This is not good. Not good at all. Gugu also stand and tries to take Lindo away, but he slowly pushes her away and stand close to his brother again.

“Wenzani Lindokuhle? Are you trying to fight me?” He ask calmly.

“Guys, come on.” I say

“Stay out of this!” Langa screams at me. The tone of his voice send chills down my spine.

“Don’t scream at her!” Lindo.

“Whats happening between you and her?” His eyes catch mine then he angry looks back at his brother.

I don’t know where Fikile went. I look around the table and the Gumede women seems unbothered by this, Nonjabulo is being fed by her great grandmother and while all of them continue eating. The only worried people here is me and Gugu, even the wife disappeared. I decide to take the baby from Langa and move away from them.

I go to my room and lay him down. He opens his eyes and I stare right back. Is it me or King doesn’t look like any of the Gumede people I have seen so far? He looks familiar tough. I have seen this face, the flat nose, and pointy ears from someone but I do seem to remember from who. I cover him and place a kiss on his forehead.

“What are you doing with my son?”

“Fikile.” I say

“Get away from him.” She shouts whispers.

“This is my room, my house. You can take your child and leave in peace.” She looks shocked. She should be. This is my house, and I will not get tired of saying this. If she wants me to get away from her son, she needs to leave.

“Oh, please. This isn’t your house. This is my husband house. Stop dreaming. If you think you are going to sleep your way into his heart, think again. And cooking dinner for his grandmother makes your so sure of yourself, right? Oh well, let me tell you something, you and your brat and that child you are carrying will not ruin my family. You will not break what I have worked so hard for. You need to take your bastard children and get moving. Langa is mine and I will not be sharing him with anyone else, especially you. Understand?” she says as she brings her face closer to mine, ukuthi when did she move from the bed to stand in front of me, I have no idea. And also, I don’t know why I haven’t stepped back as yet.

What the hell does she mean she worked hard for this?

“Understood?”

I nod at her, and she gives me an evil smile and walk out.

What the hell.

-----------------------------------------------------------

Just a few chapters left, then we will be done with this story☺