Chapter 19

MENZI

Today I'm officially making mafungwase my girlfriend, I want our relationship to be known by both families .so that is why I'm here with my dad right now ,at his office.

"Baba"

"You asked to talk to me ,ebusuku kanje menzi .couldn't this wait till tomorrow?"

"Unfortunately no ,I want to officially make mafungwase my girlfriend "

He frowns for a moment with his index finger on his upper lip.

"That girl from the ngcobo family?"

I nod .

"What about lindiwe?"

"She cheated baba ,I can't stomach betrayal "

He nods .

"So why do you want to officially make her yours?"

"Because I love her and I genuinely see a future with her ,my heart chose her baba"

"So you want me to help you in what way ?"

"I want you all to accompany me to her home ,it's like amalobolo but the difference is we are not going to pay .we are going to ask bab'ngcobo to fully trust me with their daughter until we are old enough to get married"

"So ngamanye amazwi ufuna sikusize uyoqonywa?"

"Yeahhh"

I kinda say with hesitation because I'm not fully sure if it's what baba says but I don't care .I just want mafungwase to be known as my girlfriend.

"Okay ,when do you want to do this?"

"Tomorrow "

He nods then brings his hand closer for a handshake .I shake his hand while smiling.

"I'm proud of you son"

I chuckle then stand up and before I walk out ,I turn to look at him .

"Please prepare you traditional attires ,I want this to go perfectly "

"Hawu wena mfana kanti who's am I, who is me ,who am I?"

"Ungu baba wami "

He throws a book towards me and I rush out while laughing .my relationship with dad has gotten better .we couldn't stand each other before but I guess some things change .

I want this to go perfectly as I planned .I want it to be a traditional proposal with girls and boys singing from the background while I ask her to be my girlfriend infront of everyone, it will be just amazing . I love chubby cheeks and i think I will always love her.

LEBOHANG

Guess who called me midnight??
Menzi ,ugggh i felt so livid .I wanted to punch his stupid face but then he mentioned my bestie and I sat up .apparently he wants to officially make her his girlfriend infront of everyone.

He asked me to be there and I said why not?. Plus my mom is not here and I'm left with my aunt who will definitely agree ,after all it's my bestie's happiness. As for kuhle ,I don't care if I will be seeing him or not ,I will be there for my boo.

MAFUNGWASE

Today is Christmas eve and I'm really excited since it is our first Christmas at our new home!!. I wonder if menzi and his family will come since mom decided to invite them for dinner and menzi hasn't responded to my message that I sent last night.

I wonder if he is okay ,usually when his team lose he becomes sad .I'm really worried about him but let me go help my mom to prepare for Christmas lunch.

MENZI

I look at my Zulu headband and I must say it's pretty cool .Dad comes in wearing his traditional gear together with mom and they stand beside me .

"Eyy you would swear that you are going to get married the way you are so nervous "-mom

"Who wouldn't be nervous mkami when they are going to shela publicly?"-baba

I chuckle.

"Mom is right, I'm really nervous what if her dad chases us away?"

"He won't, ngcobo is respectful and kind"-baba

"But he seems strict "

"Yes he is but if we come with respect ,he will welcome us"-baba

I nod .I'm not going to lie ,I'm so nervous but it's for the best .I love mafungwase and want us to be together until the end .yes forever isn't promised but I promise to fight for our love till my arms fall.

"Uphumeke ,we are waiting for you "-mom

I nod and they get out .I look outside of my window as my friends and her friends are waiting for me while singing songs .mafungwase I'm about to officiate our love infront of our parents, please agree.

I walk out of the house and they ululate with smiles on their face while my cousins and guy friends start doing the traditional dance. I look at them with a smile on my face, damn I'm really going to do this .

NARRATED

While mafungwase and her family are preparing for lunch ,they hear people calling out their clan names at their gate and they look at each with confusion .They walk out of the house and mafungwase spots menzi ,wearing his traditional gear .

Her heart skips a beat .what is menzi doing ?. She feels her father's eyes on her and she tries not to make eye contact with him.

"Kwenzakalani mafungwase?"-baba

She shrugs her shoulder and he clicks his tongue then walks to the gate .they slowly follow him and she makes eye contact with menzi .

All of her friends are here ,meaning that they planned this . Menzi is busy smiling while looking at his beautiful chubby cheeks ,he wants to wrap her in his arms and kiss her cute face all over.

Her dad talks with his dad and he finally lets them in .they sing songs as they come in with gifts and now the families are both facing each other ,menzi comes forward and mafungwase's mom lightly pushes her towards him .

They get lost in each other's eyes for a moment ,they are both stucked .she still can't believe that her idiot really did this. It's like he is approaching her infront of their parents.

He takes a stick then draws a line in between them .

"Mangcobo, fuze,mashiya amahle sengathi azoshumayela ,nyuswa ,mapholoba .Themba lami ngicela unginike inhliziyo yakho mntanomuntu ,ngiyinakekele ,ngifudumalise ,ngiyiphakele uthando ,nginike ithuba lokuzwa iphimbo lakho elimtoti nsukuzonke zokuphila kami, nginike ithuba lokukuphatha kahle ,nginike ithuba lokulahleka emehlweni akho njalo ,nginike ithuba lokukwenza unjabule ,nginike ithuba lokuthi sikhule ndawonye sithandana ,nginike ithuba lokuthanda mihla namalanga .yebo sibancane kodwa ngiyakholelwa ekutheni uthando lwethu luzonqoba konke ,ngiyakholelwa ekutheni sizothandana kuze kuyovalwa .mafungwase ngicela unginikeze inhliziyo yakho ,nginike uthando lwakho .ngiyakunxusa thambo lami"

As he is saying all of this ,confessing his love for her infront of their parents. His heart is beating faster ,overwhelmed by the love he is feeling for his dearest Mangcobo.he loves her and what he feels right now confirms it .

Her cheeks are burning and her heart was jumping with joy as he was confessing the love he has for her .she turns to look at her dad and he has a serious face on while her mom is happy that her daughter has found true love .

Her brothers are livid but they have no choice but accept the fact that their princess is growing .

"Do you love him ?"-ngcobo

"With my whole heart baba "

He looks at menzi then her . He slowly nods .

"Then I give you my blessings "-ngcobo

She smiles then looks at menzi who is gazing at her like she is a masterpiece, a cute masterpiece. She crosses the line and people jump with joy and ululates. They hold each other's hands .

"I agree to be yours menzi"

She say wrapping the beaded bracelet (Ucu) around his wrist and he gives her the Zulu headband (umqhele) while looking into each other's eyes .

"I promise to love you till whenever "

"And I promise to love you under any circumstances lush"

They both smile while gazing in each other's eyes ,they feel like they are alone in this world as the people are singing songs and doing traditional dances . They are young but their love is stronger ,their love is undeniable and their love will overcome everything.

....................

SAMKELO

Today I'm claiming the love of my life ,she can't choose that bastard over me and even worse she has chosen him publicly .That stupid father of hers given them his blessings ,so i will start with him then that bastard then her and end with me .

This is going to be so fun!!

MAFUNGWASE

I'm sitting on my lush's lap and dad keeps on stealing glances of us ,it's so funny how he is looking at us like he wants to kill someone. People are eating and having do much fun ,well this Christmas turned out to be so much better . He kisses my cheek and i look at him while his eyes are sparkling.

"I'm blessed to be loved by you chubby cheeks "

"I'm blessed too lush ,yazi I thought I was going to forget about you but I couldn't "

"And that's because??"

"You are different from the other boys ,you attentive, caring ,kind and handsome "

He giggles and it's the cutest giggle ever!!

"I love you chubby cheeks "

"I love you too lush"

We peck each other's lips.

"Yeyii!!"-baba

We look at him and he is pointing at us with a fork ,we laugh and others joins us .
While we are laughing ,a guns goes off and we all get down due to being shocked. When I raise my head ,it's samkelo pointing a gun at dad ....

"Samkelo?"

I whisper while menzi is holding me in his arms .