BAYANDA
21 .
BAYANDA
Katlego’s cousins are a bunch of fun, they’re so lively and stress free. I think my favourite thus far might be Onthatile and Kaboentle, they’re definitely fashion lovers. They look so nice, the only person who gives me the chills is Mapule. She looks like a strict sister that’s about to tell me to stay away from Katlego. Her husband also freaks me out but maybe I’m just overreacting, everything might be fine.
“This resturant is top tier, goshh look at the details.” Kaboentle says walking ahead of us, she’s a girl that’s obsessed with high heels—she’s rocking them even now. We just arrived at this restaurant called Signature Resturant. It definitely looks expensive, I can just imagine the amount Katlego is gonna pay for all these people including me.
“The strap of your dress is loose, let me fix it for you.” Katlego says as we were about to walk inside. We get left behind while they go inside as he fixes the strap.
“Are you okay?” He asks me once the others are inside, I glance at him and nod. Why would he think I’m not okay?
“I’m okay, I just don’t want to speak much.” I say, he chuckles a bit and brushes my shoulders for a second.
“I thought you’re uncomfortable, I’m trying my best to let you fit in. I don’t want to do too much but I also don’t want to do less.” He says kissing my forehead.
“You don’t have to worry, I’m perfectly fine. I’m just worried about the bill you’re gonna have to pay here. This place looks too expensive.” I say, he glances at me like I just lost my mind.
“Do you think money is a problem to me?” He asks me, there it is! I throw my hands up in surrender.
“Sorry mr multi-millionaire, let’s go inside. Everyone is waiting.” I say, he laughs and gently pulls me by my arm as I was about to walk inside. He pulls me in for a hug, a long tight one. I’m resting my head on his chest and his heart is beating fast.
“We should be spending time alone right now, because we just started dating.” He says, I really don’t mind spending some little time with his cousins—especially since they’re not mean, they didn’t come with bad vibes.
“It’s okay, let’s go.” I say holding his hand and walking inside. The door bell rings when we walk inside. We head to the table Katlego had booked before we came here, like an hour back.
They’re already sitting down and chatting, their voices are the only audible ones in here. We take our seats, I’m obviously sitting besides Katlego—where else would I possibly sit?
“You two disappeared for a while, what’s up?” Onthatile asks, Katlego shakes his head.
“That doesn’t really concern you.” He says, she rolls her eyes and gives us the menus. I saw the first set of starters and they’re the price of the groceries I do for my aunt and uncle sometimes.
“I want something that has to do with seafood for my starter. I’ve been craving that for sometime now.” Onthatile says, her and Kaboentle are the chatterboxes. They haven’t shut their mouths ever since I met them, not in a bad way though.
I take some time studying the menu, I honestly just want a drink to calm me down—not alcohol, maybe juice. I’ll just order calamari caesar bites, I don’t know what the hell is that but I know what calamari is though.
They’re taking so long to decide on what they want and I’m realizing now that I’m not really patient when it comes to food, they’re chatting in between.
“Call the waiter, I think we’re ready to order. Bayanda, have you decided yet?” Mapule asks me, I nod—she doesn’t even smile, she looks mean. I don’t know if I’m mistaken or what. The waiter gets called and we placed our orders, it’s just the starter but they called names of meals I barely even know.
Katlego got something that I can’t even name, sitting with rich people is something else. So I ended up ordering a cocktail that doesn’t have any alcohol in it.
“Have you invited Bayanda to the birthday party? dinner, I mean. Whatever it is.” Mapule says to Katlego who clears his throat.
“I’ll be working on that day, so I’m not gonna be able to come.” I say, Katlego shared with me why I can’t be present at the party. There’s a possibility that Sipho might be released and I’ll have to face him which is something I don’t wanna do.
“Oh, that’s a pity. We would’ve loved to have you over, can’t you make a plan?” She asks, I slightly shake my head.
“She can’t skip work to go to a lousy birthday dinner Mapule. Let her be.” Katlego says, she frowns at him—oh she looks upset.
“So why are you snapping? I was merely asking, she is your partner and we would’ve loved to have her over.” She says, Katlego heaves a sigh.
“Sorry, I just snapped.” He says, Thabang quickly changed the topic and they start discussing something else. I could’ve sworn that Mapule’s husband was just staring at me, right now! like now. What’s up with him? he’s being creepy now.
“There comes our drinks, ohh they look fantastic!” Onthatile says, instantly taking her phone and making a video—I think. The waiter places the drinks on the table and each one of us takes the drink they ordered.
“Do you want to exchange? I didn’t expect it to be pink..” Katlego whispers in my ear. I glance at him, that’s what he ordered so why does he think I’ll switch my cranberry lime sparkler cocktail with whatever he ordered?
“Nope.” I say., taking a sip of my cocktail—it’s definitely non-alcoholic and it tastes amazing.
“Please, this is not for me.” He says, I heave a sigh and push my glass towards him. He gives me his, this is a lot of whatever he ordered. I take a sip, there’s alcohol in here.
“I did not want any alcohol Katlego.” I say, I’ve never been a fan of alcohol—not that I’m judging anyone who drinks alcohol but honestly, I’d rather drink water or juice.
“It’s not that bad baby, it won’t do anything to you.” He says, I heave a sigh—if I get drunk then it’s on him.
“We’re gonna take a family selfie. Make sure your pose is good because I’m gonna take only one.” Kaboentle says, do they have a plug somewhere? One that I can actually pull out so they’d zip their mouths?
“Can you stop? you’re very annoying.” Mapule says to her, she instantly stops. They listen to her, probably because she’s the oldest. I take my phone and swipe to unlock it. I’m just scrolling through it, there’s nothing interesting going on here.
“Here’s our food, oh finally!” Onthatile says, I wish there wasn’t any starter or main course, or dessert. We should’ve just ordered food and ate then left, I feel like I’m over this dinner.
Everyone receives their food and I’m still trying to figure out what Katlego ordered.
“What the hell is that?” I ask him, I’ve stopped eating my own food because what?
“Steamed mussels with some white wine, garlic and cream then these are crab cakes with remoulade sauce and micro greens.” He says, I might have not heard what he just said.
“That looks so bad, I don’t wanna lie.” I say, he chuckles and reaches for what he called a crab cake.
“Try this, it’s not bad—I’m being honest with you, it’s full of flavour.” He says, I shake my head.
“Nope, I don’t wanna throw up Katlego. Don’t even try to do that, I’m okay.” I say eating my calamari—something I actually know, he has traveled the world—he’s bound to know these types of dishes.
“You need to try new things, it’s not a crime to explore.” He says, I know that but not when it comes to food—I just know that it’s gonna come back in vomit if it actually disgusted me even before I ate.
“I’d rather not try new things, trust me.” I say, he leans over and plants a kiss on my lips—has he lost his mind? why is he kissing me infront of his family? oh Katlego no get sense ohhh!
“As they always say, get a room guys. Some of us are single and we get hurt watching such.” Thabang says, trust Katlego to make me a shy fool infront of people. I clear my throat and focus on my food.
“It’s not the first time you’ve seen a couple so why are you crying? you’ll get used to it because this is what you’ll be seeing forever.” Katlego says, I’m sure my face is half an inch away from falling onto this plate of food.
“So you see a future with her?” That’s Mapule’s husband, Xola speaking. I raise my head and glance at him, he just spoke.
“Of course. If I didn’t forget her for 14 years then why would I forget her now? or for another 14 years and 100 more 14 years?” He asks him, I just wanna hide under this table.
“All it ever takes is trust and commitment, listen to your heart and embrace the vulnerability of what comes with love. Follow your destiny too.” He says, he just glanced at me as he was saying that—what the hell is wrong with him? he’s starting to scare me.
—
—
So they decided to skip the main course and take dessert as a takeaway. Katlego just paid the bill that looked like its over R10K, he didn’t seem to mind so let me just keep quiet.
“Hey, can we speak for a minute? I have something to discuss with you.” Mapule says before I get in the car, I thought they already left. I close the door and follow her to the side.
“Is something wrong?” I ask her, she heaves a sigh.
“My husband is in the car right now having a trance, he said he has a message for you but you’re not letting him in.” She says, my body tenses up.
“What?” I say, shocked. I should be running to Katlego’s car right now, I don’t know what in the world is happening with that man.
“I’m sure they’ve already told you who he is, Bayanda.” She says, I shake my head.
“They have told me but where do I come in? in all of this? I don’t understand.” I say, she holds both my hands.
“He can’t disclose the message he has for you to me so I’m asking you to let him in, don’t be afraid. I know it’s scary especially if you don’t believe in them, but trust me.. he means good.” She says, I shake my head again.
“I have to go.” I say rushing to Katlego’s car, I get in and close the car. My heart has started pounding fast.
“What’s wrong? you look shaken.” Katlego says, I take a deep breath. Trying to calm myself down.
“When you go spend time with your cousins, can you leave me behind? I’m not comfortable around Mapule’s husband.” I say, he drives off—in silence.
“What did he do?” He finally asks.
“I don’t know but Mapule just pulled me aside and told me he’s having a trance, he has a message for me but I am not letting him in. That scared me Katlego, I’m not into these things.” I say, reaching out for the bottle of water that was left in the car.
“So you don’t want to hear what he wants to say to you?” He asks me, isn’t it obvious?
“No..” I say, he heaves a sigh.
“I’m definitely not a sangoma but refusing to hear a message that could be important might lead to imbalances in your life Yanda. Of course, I am not pushing you to see him. If you don’t want to hear anything then that’s your choice, I’m just worried that if it’s important then you’ll miss the opportunity of knowing what it is.” He says, that has me zoning out immediately—me and these people don’t mix, I’m afraid of them.. terrified!
“What if it’s a message from your parents?” He asks me, I heard that and my heart instantly sinked.
To be continued..