Broken Clocks

The Girlfriend

Ntando : and miss my mom's birthday? Never plus i wanted to surprise you guys

Lethabo :And he did hey ubutakho uzenetrombi(your brother brought home a girl) . Tell me where does she work ?

Alwande : Haibo Lethabo zisasuka(already) you already want to milk her

Lethabo: mehhh she looks broke

Ntando: Lethabo!

Lethabo shrugged i laughed

Me : uphi umakoti wase khaya loyo ngizozbonela yena ngamehlo wam ( where's is she ,i want to see her with my two own eyes)

Ntando : I'll go get her she was taking a nap

Ntando went to his room. He came back after a few minutes. "Bheka ngikhamba noban" (look who's here) . I turned back to look at them and...

Me : Funeka ?!

Her eyes enlarged as she saw me and brushed the back of her neck

Ntando : Oh you guys know each other?

Funeka cleared her throat

Funeka: uhm...Ndalo and i work together

Me : wha-

Lethabo : oouuu she has money !

Alwande : Lethabo !

Mom and dad walked in . Funeka's eyes were jumping from one place to another what game was she playing.

Mom : I see you've met umakoti wami(my bride)

Mom had her arm wrapped around Funeka's body brushing the side of her arm.

Mom : isn't she beautiful?

Mom was smiling from ear to ear so was Ntando. I on the other hand i was shocked i was in awe.

Dad : Aowa Lwande sidla nin khantri ?( when are we eating)

Alwande : seklungile baba (the food is ready dad), Ndalo please help me set up the table.

She handed me a set of plates. I walked to the dining area and placed the plates on the table. Lethabo was placing the cutlery and Alwande was setting the food. She made her special oxtail. Alwande really knows her way around the kitchen. We all sat down . Mom and dad were sitting on the far ends of the table. Lethabo was between me and Alwande. Opposite me was Ntando and between him and Tshiamo was Funeka. Kea and Oratile were in the living room . We were all eating laughing over some light conversations. I glanced over at Funeka's hand and she didn't have her ring on.

Me : So Ntando how did you meet lovely beautiful Funeka here ?

I said without removing my eyes from Funeka with a smile.

Ntando : It was six months ago and she was visiting her family in Port Elizabeth , i bumped into her at the beach

Me : awwww sweet , six months ago huh interesting...So Fufu...

Funeka cleared her throat

Mom: Awume Ndalo stop cross questioning umrabantu , wena isokana uzanalo nin ? ( stop cross questioning the other child , when are you bringing your boyfriend)

Ntando : mbuze mama ! (Ask her mom)

Lethabo: Is Bhuti Mnqobi coming tomorrow ?

Tshiamo : i could use a few bucks.

Me : Lethabo! Tshiamo !

Lethabo: what ?

Mom : Who's Mnqobi?

Me: no one mama

Lethabo: oh shi-

Alwande: dessert anyone? Yeah ? Yeah! Lethabo noNdalo izan nizongkelebha .( Lethabo and Ndalo come help me)

We collected everyone's plate and walked to the kitchen

Me : what was that about Lethabo aowa wena uyasilinga mahn ( you annoying man)

Lethabo :Sorry sis my tongue slipped

Alwande : uyaphapha wena ikinga yakho mahn ulastaag ! ( you are too big for your shoes)

Lethabo: haibo guys ngithe sorry . (But guys i said sorry)

I just rolled my eyes at her. We went back and served everyone. After eating i was in the kitchen washing dishes . Funeka walked in and i turned back to look at her

Funeka: Ndalo i know i haven't been the nicest person to you an-

Me : and what are you doing here ? What do you want from my brother?

Funeka :believe it or not but i love your brother and my divorce with Kgosi will be finalised next month and that's when I'll tell Ntando everything just please don't say anything to him ple-

" What should Ndalo not say to me?" I moved my eyes from Funeka to see Ntando standing on the doorway . Oh shit.