Chapter 34

"Welcome home, my love" Kim smiles as he pushes the door open for mother.

I tail them as they head to their bedroom with mom having Asante in her arms. My little brother is Asante Yoon-gi Kairo Smith.

"Why does he have so many names and of different dialect and origins?" I lean against the door frame with the baby's bag in my hands. They all turn and gawk at me. They look surprised by my question. They chuckle at the same time and mom gently place Asante in the cot next to their bed.

"Because I am paying respect to my origins and your mothers" Kim explain.

" I still don't get it" I retort needing more explanation, I place the bag next to the door.

" Asante represents your mother, the other names represent me. I am a mixed-race, you know that" He picks the bag.

"Your dad is a mix of a black woman and a Korean man. But his mother is currently married to a Scottish man living in Scotland" She settles herself gently on the bed.

"Thus Yoon-gi and Smith, but Kairo is because that's where I met your mother" He smiles warmly.

"Whoa....some kind of movie love story huh. Was it love at first sight?" I grin with joy.

"No...it was not. We were indifferent to each other. And I met him while he was with a woman by then..." Mom retorts with a sense of hesitation. "I hate this topic" She pouts.

"uh...this is interesting to hear, tell me your love story. You were always fighting till one day you accidentally kissed and fell in love" I grin as I use hand gestures to express my words.

"Deya, we aren't going there. There weren't fights and kisses" She creases her forehead concealing her embarrassment.

"Most definitely" Kim chuckles.

"I bet mom was fierce. She is very defensive" I retort and chuckle softly.

"Don't get carried away...anyway off you go. I want to rest" She fixes her pillows and place her head on the pillow.

"Sure, kick me out. I am going out anyway. I will be back late noon" I start to walk away.

"Where are you going?" Her voice was firm and I could tell she was now sitting upright.

"Town" I didn't turn to glance at her cold gaze or I will end trembling and surround to her.

"Buy me chocolate while there. I am craving for some junk food" Her voice is now soft. How did she switch up like that?

I turn and walk towards her to get the money. I glance at her as she pulls R200 from her purse. I accept the money and immediately made my way out of the bedroom.

"Buy yourself something too. You need to feed yourself"

I hear her squeaking voice as I run down the stairs.

"Okay!" I yell. I guess I am keeping the change.

I open the door and in a distance, I see a polo tsi. That's him. I hurriedly walk out of the yard before they see my direction.

I knock on the window. The window slides down and my eyes dilate with shock.

"Hi...get in. Sorry you have to sit at the back"

I slowly open the backseat door and settle myself.

The car launches and drives into the traffic.

"I need to shop some things" I find myself blab, I am trying to understand why isn't he here, why are Thami and Louisiana here.

"You ain't happy to see me, sis?" She turns in my direction and pouts.

"I am..." I slowly utter. I am just shocked. And these days, I am always on the edge, you know when you are keeping an important secret, you always think people are out to get you.

"You are just surprised. He asked us to pick you"

They keep their silence and I keep my thoughts to myself. They are acting strange. They are usually talkative but they are too quiet today. I hear them mutter things but I couldn't grasp it. Let me just close my eyes for a minute.

*

"Are you sure she is alright?" Thami asks scanning at Deya's face with bits of sweat on her nose.

"She looks cute" Musa smiles

"She looks stressed" Kamo retorts with a frown.

"Back away give her space" Louisiana reprimands them.

I hear voices squabbling. I jerk my eyes open.

"She's awake"

"Hey. You seemed peaceful we didn't want to wake you" Thami retorts and they smile. They walk around and settle themselves on the sofas.

"How did I get here?" I ask feeling numb.

"I carried you" Musa replies and offers me a glass of water.

I gulp the water down my throat. I scan around and see new faces.

"Let me introduce you to most of my family" Musa utters.

"This is a first" A lady walks up to us with a smirk on her face.

"You know Shudu, Thami, his lady, my little sis, This is my elder brother Kamokgelo, and this one here is Ria, Shudu's Sister" He bit his lower lip. "These are like official meetings before my parents" he runs his fingers on his hair. He settles next to me waiting for my reaction.

"Uhm...pleased to meet you all" I utter in a soft voice. I am shocked and I am not feeling my best.

"Who is she? " Ria asks

"His mother!" Louisiana snaps. "It's obvious"

"Chill...I meant her name" Ria settles on the armchair with a wine glass in her hand.

"Don't bring your bad girl vibes here please" Louisiana scolds

"Watch your tongue...I am older than you and I will discipline you, if you seem to forget your position" Ria gives her a scathing gaze

"I would love to see you try" She challenges Ria back

"Girls! This isn't about you" Thami interject their squabble with a high pitched voice.

They sneer at each other and glance away.

"Where's the toilet?" I whisper to Musa

"Let me take you" He rises to his feet and we vacated the room.

"Who is she really, her face is familiar" Ria tries to pin it out.

"Yes, she is familiar, she is the girl who he was involved in an accident with" Thami tries to trigger her memory

"My half-sister" Ria jerks her head as she burst a loud chuckle.

"Ria..." Kamokgelo tries to reprimand her.

"Fine! But she will never be accepted in this family" Ria retorts arrogantly

"Whose family?" They all ask her at once.

"You forget that you are a Mulaudzi, not Mala. How does she concern you?" Shudu asks and Ria acts like she is hurt?

"Look at you, acting like what I am saying ain't true. Dream on!" She rises on her feet and heads to the kitchen counter.

"Just behave " Kamo gives her a warning gaze

"Of course, I will. She is now related to the Smiths" She sneers.

I stand there in shock, after hearing such gruesome words from a stranger, who I just found out is my half-sister. She hates me. I feel tears roll down.

"Babe..." Musa tries to take my hand but I move it away.

"Take me home" I try to walk but I feel a surge coming up to my mouth, I ran towards the direction we are from.

I hear his footsteps run towards me.

"Babe...you feeling sick again?" His voice is soft and concerned.

I am pregnant, I am pregnant! That is all I want to say to you. So that I feel free.

"Maybe I am. Please take me home and they will take it from there. Please..." I plead because I could feel him wanting to take me to the clinic himself.

"Okay" He brushes my back while I gaggle my mouth with water. My mouth tastes bitter.

We pass through the lounge room.

"Bye Deya! I hope to see you soon" Ria hails at her.

"Wait" Kamo hails at her. "Here's something as a welcoming gift and please greet your mom for me. Say Kamo greets her" He pulls her into his embrace then tear himself away and walk away coldly.

That is an odd gesture. We walk out.

"She seems different" Charlotte remarks

"Yeah...I agree. Always sick for no reason" Shudu nods

"Of course! She just realised that her half family hate her" Kamo retorts.

"I don't" Shudu defends himself.

"What was with that weird hug anyway?" Thami asks Kamo who was sitting by the sofa next to him.

"I wanted to confirm something" Kamo smirks

"Eww! Don't tell me you are having hots for her?" Thami frowns.

"You know that weird thing I always have when something is about to happen. She gives me those vibes. Something drastic is about to go down" Kamo stares at the TV that was out.

"Like?" Thami asks baffled by his brother's riddles.

"I don't know. But she is a sweet girl. She is too good for this family" Kamo shakes his head. He glances at Shudu who was squabbling with his sister. This is just the beginning of a story untold.