Chapter 16 - Zinhle's House

Inside the VW Polo Vivo, Zinhle's nervousness was palpable. Her hands trembled slightly whenever she changed gears, and a tense silence filled the car. Tristin noticed her anxiety and chose to remain silent, not wanting to distract her.

Zinhle had never been in this situation before, driving alone with a guy she only met yesterday. Yet, for some reason, she felt she could trust Tristin.

As they drove, they entered an area near the dam where the storm had caused significant damage. Tristin was shocked by the sight: uprooted trees lay scattered with their roots intact, pieces of roof tiles were everywhere, and people and officials were busy with repairs and cleanup.

"Is your house also affected by the storm?" Tristin suddenly asked, breaking the silence. He didn't want to impose on Zinhle's household while people were busy with repairs and cleanup; it seemed inappropriate.

"My house is fine. It's on the other side of the dam. Just a few flowers were damaged, but other than that, everything is okay," Zinhle replied nervously.

Tristin was relieved to hear that. He decided not to continue talking, afraid he might unsettle her further. He then lowered the phone's volume of the speaker and called Mr. Masombuka.

Mr. Masombuka answered after two rings. "Hello, young master. Thank you for helping me earlier." He had wanted to thank Tristin but didn't want to disturb him. When he saw Tristin's call, he answered almost immediately.

"Don't mention it, Mr. Masombuka. I'm passing through the areas affected by the storm. I didn't expect it to cause this much damage, so I couldn't help but think of you. How are the repairs?" Tristin asked.

"Thanks to your help, the repairs are done. Now we're busy with the cleanup," Mr. Masombuka said with gratitude.

"Alright then, I won't disturb you from your work. If you need anything, please let me know." Tristin said his goodbyes and hung up.

Zinhle couldn't understand how Tristin could help someone affected by the storm. From what she knew, it was impossible for Tristin to help other than with manual labor.

Tristin ignored her confusion and looked out the window, hoping the storm hadn't caused too many casualties.

Soon, they arrived at the Mnisi residence, Zinhle's home. The yard was filled with numerous houses, some traditional and some modern, all beautifully designed. A lush garden and a large pool completed the picturesque scene. Tristin thought he might get lost if he had to come here by himself; he wouldn't know where to knock.

"You have a beautiful residence, Zinhle. It's almost like a small town in here," Tristin complimented.

"Thanks, Tristin. It used to be a big farm back in the day, which is why it's just outside of the city. The core branch of the family lives here, hence the many houses. I live in the main house," Zinhle explained.

"Oh, I see. It must be fun having your family in one yard," Tristin said.

"Yeah, it is, but as you know, everything has advantages and disadvantages," Zinhle replied. "Come, Grandma is this way."

The two navigated to the house where Zinhle's grandma usually stayed during the day. Zinhle sped up, trying to avoid trouble, and Tristin noticed her looking in all directions. Just as Zinhle thought she had dodged a bullet, she bumped into one of her aunts.

"Oh, Zinhle, why are you in such a hurry?" her aunt asked teasingly. "Come introduce your boyfriend."

With no other choice, Zinhle introduced Tristin. "Hello, Auntie, this is Tristin, my classmate. Tristin, this is my second aunt, Rebeca, but we call her Aunt Beca."

"Hello, Aunt Beca. I'm Tristin, Zinhle's boyfriend. Nice to meet you. Now I know where Zinhle gets her beautiful looks," Tristin said with a smile. He could tell that Zinhle was trying to avoid this situation, so he took matters into his own hands and went along with Aunt Beca's assumption.

Zinhle didn't know how to react; she didn't expect Tristin to introduce himself as her boyfriend. She was also a bit grateful. Her aunts always teased her about getting a boyfriend, and maybe now they would stop.

"Oh, Zinhle, he's a keeper. He's handsome and a smooth talker. I like him," Aunt Beca said with a smile.

Tristin smiled too, knowing that middle-aged women appreciate compliments from young men; it makes them feel attractive.

"Sorry, Aunt Beca, we'll talk more later. Grandma is waiting," Zinhle said as she dragged Tristin away. She knew she couldn't linger too long; Aunt Beca might call others, and it would be hard to escape.

Aunt Beca also knew Zinhle was shy, so she didn't insist. "Nice meeting you, Tristin," she said, waving.

Tristin waved back. "Did I do too much?" he asked.

"No, you did fine. I'll deal with the aftermath. Thanks," Zinhle said with a smile.

Soon, they arrived at the small round house. Zinhle took off her shoes and entered. Tristin followed suit, removing his shoes before entering.

Despite it being daytime, the house was a bit dark inside. The windows were covered with red cloths, candles lit the room, and the smell of traditional medicine filled the air.

Sitting on a mat made from reeds was an old woman about seventy years old, dressed in red traditional attire. Her neck and wrists were circled with white and red beads. She was studying bones, white rocks, small wood pieces, dice, and other small objects Tristin didn't recognize.

Zinhle and Tristin didn't talk, afraid they might disturb her grandmother's divination.

As they sat on the mat, Zinhle's grandmother spoke words that shocked them both. She looked at Tristin and said, "The Leviathan has already chosen you, Tristin."