Chapter 10

I take a deep breath before walking in, he's holding

my hand but it doesn't change the fact that my

palms are sweaty and itchy. 'I'm not ready to meet

his parents just yet. Why did I even come here in

the first place? Ok there's no going back Sino time

to put on a smile on that pretty face and put on a

show'

"You ok?"

He asks as we make our way through the kitchen

"Yes I'm ok... just nervous"

I say, he chuckles

"Don't worry, they awesome and chilled people.

They going to love you"

He assures but I'm not convinced at all. What if?

"Mom, dad this is Sinokuhle Mbana. Sino these are

my parents Mr Bonke and Mrs Thandi Mtwa"

He says, his mother smiles

"It's nice to finally put a face to the name. Nice to

meet you Sino"

She says pulling me into a hug, 'ok! not what I was

expecting'. I return the hug to be polite

"Nice to meet you too Mah"

I say breaking the hug

"Thank you for inviting me into your home"

I say and she offers a smile

"Sinokuhle Mbana, nice to meet you"

The father says shaking my hand

"You not in any way related to Lwando Mbana are

you?"

He asks and I raise an eyebrow with a fake smile

"I'm his daughter"

I say breaking the hand shake. He and his wife

exchange looks. 'Ok what am I missing?'

"Your father and I were once good friends that's

all."

He says but I'm not convinced, his look says

something else

"Ok dad stop being creepy"

Bantu says taking my hand

"Let's uhhm. Sit down while I go fetch dinner. You

don't happen to have any allergies right?"

I shake my head and she smiles and walks out. His

father keeps stealing glances at me which make me

feel uncomfortable

"So, my son tells me you studying Computer

Science and Fashion Design"

He says and I nod

"Why two courses? Aren't you a little young to be

putting this much pressure on yourself?"

I shake my head

"It's good pressure, I get to widen my options when

job hunting"

I say and he nods

"I take it your father is the one who got you to do

Computer Science?"

He says and I nod

"It's just like Lwando. I'm not surprised. Your father

and I went to university together, studied the same

course and all. He was always top of the class

while I came second. I guess our friendship ended

when he went to work for your mother's father"

He says and I just nod not knowing what to say

"Ok dad enough with the interrogation. You making

her uncomfortable"

He finally rescues me brushing my hand

"I just want to know the first girl you've ever brought

home that's all. I mean there had to be something

special about her for you to bring her home today of

all days"

His father says. The wife walks in

"I hope you hungry"

She says that referring to me and offer a warm

smile

"She diets this one"

Says Bantu, I shoot him a look

"What? You didn't tell me not to mention it"

He says

"I don't diet; I just maintain that's all"

I say and his mother chuckles

"That's ok, these boys will never understand"

She says sitting down

"May we uhhm bow down our heads and pray"

She says offering me her hand and the other her

husband. We all close our eyes and bow our heads

while her husband prays. He says amen and we all

dig in. The food is good no doubt, we eat over light

conversations with them getting to know me and

me getting to know them. After dinner dessert is

served and then we sit and talk over light

conversations

"So Miss Mbana, did you enjoy yourself tonight?"

Asks Mr Mtwa and I nod

"Yes sir I did thank you. Mrs Mtwa your food was

amazing"

I say

"Hope it doesn't ruin your figure now"

She says and we all laugh

"it won't."

I say

"I should drive Sino home now"

He says

"Isn't it a little early?"

Says his mother

"I have an assignment I have to submit before

midnight Mah"

I say

"Ahhh mahn, I'm sorry"

She says

"It was really nice having you here honey"

She says pulling me in for a hug

"Thank you again for the invite."

I say breaking the hug

"It was nice meeting you both"

I say shaking Bantu's father's hand

"It was nice meeting you too Miss Mbana. Greet

your father for me ok?"

He says

"Will do. Bye guys"

I say as we walk out hand in hand. That was the

weirdest dinner I have ever been too!

"You ok? I'm sorry my father can be a little too

much at times"

he says opening the car door for me

"don't worry about it. I had a great time"

I say

"you didn't tell me you had an assignment"

he says and I chuckle

"no I don't, seeing that you wanted to get rid of me I

figured"

I say and he chuckles

"No actually I wanted to have you all to myself for a

few more minutes before I take you home"

He says that kissing me which I gladly respond to.

We break it when we hear someone call out for us,

it's his father.

"You forgot your phone"

He says handing it to me over the window on

Bantu's side

"Thank you sir, I don't know how it must have fallen

out of my bag"

I say, he smiles

"things happen"

He says

"Goodbye kids"

He says and Bantu starts the car. I really don't

know how my phone ended out of my bag because

I never took it out. I unlock it and I notice my father

called and the phone was answered, why would he

answer my phone without my permission? I check

the time call and they spoke for a whole minute.

Something is going on here! I lock my phone and

put it in my bag. The only time I ever left my bag

was when Bantu took me to the bathroom, could his

father have taken my phone out of my bag then? I

mean it would make sense... We drive in silence

listening to music. He takes me to this place that

has a beautiful view of the city

"This is where I come to clear my head"

He says. Cape Town is such a beautiful place at

night! My phone rings and it's my father

"I have to take this, it's my father"

I say and he lets me be. I walk away from him

answering the phone

"Dad"

"Sino where the hell are you?"

Dad asks sounding furious

"I'm Bantu's home for dinner remember"

I say

"Come home now!"

He says

"But da..."

"NOW SINOKUHLE"

he says before cutting the call on me. I am

confused AF! What's the deal with him?

I walk back to Bantu

"That was my father, he says I need to come home.

It's an emergency"

I say and he frowns

"Is everything ok?"

I shrug

"I hope so, I'm sorry"

I say

"No it's ok. let me take you home then"

He says taking my hand. He closes my car door

and walks to his side and starts the car. On the way

I'm texting mom on WhatsApp trying to find out

what's going on but she doesn't respond. I let her

be. We get to my home and say our goodbye then I

head inside.

"You and that boy are done you hear me"

He says the minute I walk in the door. I'm

dumbfounded.