Ugly Duckling: No One Wants Me by Hlengiwe Mathebula (best manga ereader TXT) 📕

"Hey guys" I greet them. As soon as Smanga sees me her face brightens, she rushes over to me and pulls me into a tight hug. "I missed you" she tells me.

"I missed you too" I hold her tight imagining it was Njabulo not her. Joyce also comes over for a hug and the next thing I know all the siblings hug me even Mpilo and Simon Njabulo’s brothers. But Bobo, Mel, Njabulo and the new girl are watching TV. So Njabulo bought a TV, I thought he doesn't like it. But here he is watching and laughing totally ignoring me. He must've told the siblings because they are acting awkward. Oh no this can't be his new girl. It's been what 4 months and he has moved on?

"Who are you?" I ask the girl. She looks to shock to answer.

"I asked you a question. Who the fuck are you?" I didn't know I could swear until now. Everyone is starring me like I'm crazy or something.

I turn to Njabulo. "I've been gone for like what 5 months and you replace me like I was never there" I raise my voice something I've never done before. Njabulo just ignores me. Making me super mad. I turn to Smanga hoping she'll answer me but she looks scared, or maybe guilty.

"Smanga who's this?" I ask her pointing at the girl. She just shakes her head indicating that she doesn't know her.

"Joyce who's this?" she also shakes her head. I ask the whole house. They all go mute.

"I've had enough of your drama. You decided to leave me no one forced you. You can't come here and question us like that. We don't owe you an explanation. You can leave now like you did 4 months ago" that's Njabulo. His words hurts so much I came here to fix things not to ruin them forever.

"Guys I’m sorry you guys know what I've been through. It's just that sometimes it's hard to believe that someone cares" they still ignore me. Discussing the movie they are watching like I'm not even there.

Njabulo finally answers. "You can’t use that excuse forever. We never treated you like your family. We were always there. I told you every day that you're beautiful. I fought for you, stood up for you when you couldn't we all did. But you decided to turn your back on us. So what if I moved on. Maybe I found someone who'll love me enough to stick with me like I always stick with her. I never gave you a reason to doubt me. I almost lost my brother because I chose you over them. Remember that day at the Zoo I was ready to walk out because they mistreated you. But now I'm happy you talked some sense into me. Sometimes love is never enough I guess that's why you left me hanging like that"

"Can I have one more chance guys?" I ask them after some times. "I'm sorry for the way I acted"

"Those are the words we've been waiting for you stupid girl" Bobo stands up and walk towards me with a smile. We hug, Mel joins us. Njabulo also walks towards me taking my hand leading the way to other room.

"Don't do anything I wouldn't do" Bobo calls from behind. We walk into the room he locks the door.

"I have something to show you. That girl is not my girlfriend. I only have eyes for you." he tells me while opening a safe. He takes out some cash." I was waiting for you come back so I can send delegates to your house. I want us to get married as soon as possible"

Am I dreaming. What is he saying to me? I jump sending him to the floor. We just laugh I can't believe this is happening. Hope my parents won't cause any drama.

"Thank you so much" I tell him planting kisses all over his face. My God this is really great.

One year later

Two months ago there was umemulo and umkhehlo ceremonies that are done by the husband to be, before the actual wedding ceremony.

Today is my wedding day.

"Never thought we'd live to see this day" that's my mom. I just ignore her. I am just happy that I am getting married. Njabulo is a traditional person. There won't be a white wedding. We'll have a Zulu Traditional Wedding.  So it means I have to be bare breasted I didn't like that part but Njabulo insisted I'm so uncomfortable. But because I'm a virgin I have to be bare breasted.  I just hope ngeke ngigide more than 2 hours

It's going to be a long day. So much has happened in the past year. Nobuhle moved back home even though my parents didn't want her to because she disgraced them. She wanted to stay with me but I said no. She's a cashier at PnP at Lenasia. There's nothing with being a cashier but I told her about the importance of Education she didn't want to hear anything, she just wanted to get married. They are no longer close with Nonjabulo. She's been trying to get close to me since that day but no thank you. We hired a venue Njabulo has the biggest family ever. We drive to the venue and the wedding ceremony starts.

There goes my heart.

I never thought this day will come. I've never been so happy. Finally met my prince charming and I'm now I’m getting married to him. I'm just happy they didn't give up on me. Nobuhle says it's wrong to marry during the honey moon stage in a relationship, cause they got married during that stage with Richard this is not Richard.

It's really sunny. I'm ready I walk out with my cousins since I need to be accompanied by someone. I was never part of my sisters’ wedding so they're not part of mine, simple as that. Isidwaba is so heavy but I'll do this for my handsome and loving husband and my supportive in-laws. Joyce managed to pay back all the money, divorced her stupid husband, she moved back home. Smanga is currently staying with Njabulo, I'm also moving to his place. But first I'll go to his parents place for ukukotiza (to perform my bridal duties, like cokking and cleaning) he was against that but I honestly don't mind. His parents seem like good people. It's time for ukugida. I am carrying icansi (Zulu mat) and ihawu (buckler or shield) ngiyagida (traditional dance) towards umnikazi wesgcawu. I am enjoying this now forgetting that I am not wearing anything to cover my breast. People are cheering, Njabulo is grinning at me like I'm the most beautiful girl in the world. He's been telling me that but I still find it hard to believe till now. When I am done, we go back to the tent I am so tired but it was worth it. This is not the first time I've done this. This is like the second traditional wedding.

It's 5PM now the ceremony ended an hour ago. I was with my mom, grandmom and Nonjabulo are giving me advice on how to handle things in my household stuff I should've googled all of that they are just waiting my time. I want to be with my husband. I sat for an hour listening to them just rolling my eyes. They think they know it all. It's time to go to Hammarsdale to his parent's house, where he grew up. I can't wait. I hope his parents will love me. I am so tired can't even drive I have to beg Njabulo to drive my car. We leave at 6:30PM we get at his place just after midnight. I am so tired and I need a bath. This is our wedding night, we all know what's about to go down, but ey Njabulo doesn't even touch me. He puts me to bed kisses my forehead and tells me that he needs to fetch my stuff in the car. I feel rejected but I don't say anything. I just cry myself to sleep silently.

I wake up after 10 the next day. Shit I was supposed to be up before everyone. I take a quick bath in cold water no time to warm up the water it will take forever because I have to use the stove. I wear a long dress and a doek. I make the bed and rush off to the kitchen. I find everyone around the table eating and laughing. This is really embarrassing.

"Sanibonani" I greet them shyly.

"Sawubona makoti" they reply in unison with smiles on their faces like they practiced all of this. I just stand there.

"Don't just stand there, come sit down. I made you breakfast" says Njabulo opening a chair for me. I'm still mad at him for rejecting me like that. But I smile and sit down.

"How was your night" his mom smiles with a naughty smile. Oh My God did she really think I'd tell her if we have actually did that. This is really embarrassing but Njabulo comes to my rescue.

"Mom, you can't be asking Mbali that" he replies dead serious.

"Okay sorry. I'm just curious. I don't want to die before meeting my grandchildren. Be quick guys" she tells Njabulo and she winks at me.

Oh God I'm going to die. I was ready but I guess my husband wasn't. I feel tears in my eyes. I'm staring at my hands, Njabulo puts his large hand over mine and asks what's wrong. I just shake my head. Joyce passes me a bowl of porridge while eyeing Njabulo with an evil eye. I eat my breakfast and I excuse myself. They all think it's because his mom questioned me about my night. I assure them it's not. I walk to Njabulo's room to unpack I'll be spending 3 weeks here. Njabulo and I both took leaves. I unpack and clean the room, it's a little messy because of the boxes. After unpacking I boil water for another bath. Njabulo walks in just as I'm putting my shoes. "MaZwide what's wrong?" he asks me.

"Why didn't you touch me yesterday?" I ask looking at him in the eyes. I'm no longer that shy girl. I learnt to say things directly. That caught him off guards, because he choked on his saliva.

"I just thought you tired and needed to rest" he tells me.

"Okay but you should've asked" I tell him.

"I will next time" he walk towards me with a smile.

"Just how many children do you plan on having" he asks out of the blue.

Damn I didn't expect that. "As many as possible" I reply.

"Mind starting now" he asks out of the blue again.

"No, but aren't they going to hear us"

"Nope" he answers then he kisses me.

Three hours later, I wake up with a sore body and Njabulo's big hand over my waist. I'm just glad I waited for marriage.

The End

Images: Google
Publication Date: 11-24-2017

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