Chapter 1
Chapter 1
When I was nine I thought about how I would be impacted if I were to lose someone close to me. This was after I attended a funeral with my parents and everyone was sad and crying and I was not. I began to imagine how I would feel if I lost either of my parents. I did not think that I would be impacted by my fathers death as I was years later and still am, which is why I choose to not commit to anyone in my life.
It was yet another sunny summer afternoon in the park. The trees were blooming and birds were singing, a perfect day for a picnic.
" We should do this more often. " Mom says as she takes a bite from a sandwich that I made last minute. We had to improvise for a day at the park because it was more like a last minute idea suggested by my brother who happens to be running late.
"Finally I am here." Speak of the devil. He just magically appeared just when I was about to criticize him on bringing this idea and not pitching up.
"Hey Lwando, it's probably going to be a big party today" I say in a teasing manner. He has done this thing of suggesting social events and does not dare pitch up or bother to put any effort into making his suggestions come true.
" Why is that so? " He takes a seat on the yellow fleece blanket next to mom.
" You know your history of event making." He seems to not take notice of what I am saying instead he puts his car keys and phone on the fleece. A notification came through his phone, it lights up showing a wallpaper of him and his girlfriend, Thuli Jennifer Mabaso, looking like a lovely couple.
"Cute couple." I complimented him. They have been together for about two years now and they truly are ride or die. They are literary couple goals.
"So when are you popping the big question?" I asked curiously.
"Athandwa !" exclaimed mom warningly. "What did I tell you about meddling in people's business?"
"I was just innocently asking?"
"On that note, I have great news to tell you. " He said excitedly.
We looked at him in anticipation.
"I proposed to her today and she said yes." His eyes brighten up and he pulls a nervous smile.
There's a short silence, I look at mom and she is shocked but you can see the glazing eyes like a shining star.
She pulls him to a hug and it lasts a bit longer than the normal hugs she usually gives us.
"We'll…congratulations brother." I smile, not knowing exactly how to react to the news.
When mom leans back from the hug, her eyes are full of tears.
"Aw mom,..." I wipe her tears and Lwando tries to help her too.
"This is the best news I have ever heard." She squeaks like it just dawned on her what this truly means. "I'll be a mother in law. And Thuli is such a good person. She'll make a good wife."
"I'll be the sister-in-law." I stick my tongue sideways doing a happy dance. "So when is the wedding?" I asked Lwando.
"We have not yet decided on the date but pretty soon."
Mom suddenly turns to me. I strung, confused as to why she's looking at me.
"Soon it's going to be you." She grabs my hand in excitement.
"Mom, who would marry me ? Plus I don't want to get married and be tied to a person forever. I prefer being alone."
"Lies. I know you're gonna get married."
One thing about mom. She always has pushed the idea of me getting married since I was twelve and since then I have hated the idea of marriage with passion because all it means is that you get to work like a slave and 'please' your husband. Additional to that, seeing the number of divorce rates make the idea undesirable and the fact that you have to converse with this one person for the rest of your life seems like torture, and I wouldn't voluntarily put myself in that situation. Anyways who believes in love these days, except my brother and mom of course.
"I do not want to be like you. It's becoming more and more common to not want to marry." Not to say that my mom's marriage was a failure because she's been married for over 20 years until my dad died of pneumonia. I sometimes imagine how she is handling all that and that's another reason why I don't want to be tied to anyone. People die and I am the one who has to deal with the trauma.
"How are you gonna have kids? "
"IVF or something. Things are advanced."
"Okay, what about affection because I know at some point you are going to start dating, are you telling me you're going to be a disgrace and live with a boyfriend for the rest of your life? " After she said that, I felt confused because these are actually good questions. I do want to live a full stable life but I don't know how I am going to do that.
"Can you pass me the grapes, Lwando."
"Please put respect in my name and call me bhutu Lwando, not by the full name only." In the Xhosa culture, it's a thing to call your elder brother sibling Bhuti. I feel guilty to say I have not yet gotten used to it.
I rolled my eye. "You're still 29, it's not like you're 37."
"And youre way younger than me, so put respect in my name." He emphasized.
"Bhuti Lwando, can you please pass me the grapes." I tried once again.
"With pleasure." He smiles as he passes the grapes to me.
"Also, can you please give me a lift tomorrow, I'm visiting Lelo."
"Sure."
Lwando is not the typical person who is nice but today he was. He even offered to pick me up from meeting Lelo, which is great for me because it means I am saving from using my own money. He's working as an accountant and I heard they earn a lot so he might as well spoil me. I am currently unemployed, just finished with my final university chapter. I'm just waiting for graduation and a luxury life ahead. Oh I'm planning on buying a Mercedes Benz with my first salary because I'll be monied. I don't have kids nor responsibilities. Life will be amazing, this will all be possible because I will be the best chef in town and own my restaurant as I have studied Bachelor of culinary at school. I don't have have the restaurant yet but I'm sure I'll get it soon. Now I don't come from a rich family either. How am I going to do all that?
Delulu is the solulu 🤭
The rest of the afternoon was filled with laughter and joy. I am getting used to having just the three of us when we used to be four. I really miss my dad, it's a pity the dead don't wake up. They just live in your memories.
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