After my parents woke up before the sun even rose, which is the time that they always wake up whenever they are home. They sleep at 18:30 and are awake by 05:30, and when I open my eyes an hour later my mum's already cooked an entire buffet for breakfast. She prefers to cook for us instead of having a chef because we were once poisoned by a chef that my father hired. It turned the chef had an affair with my father at some point and because he didn’t want to be with her anymore, she tried to kill the whole family. It was a long time ago, I believe I was three at that time, and my mother has long since forgotten about that incident so I didn’t dwell on it either.
During breakfast, my parents promised to spend the day with me and forced me to call into work sick. Which is why four hours later I'm all dressed up for the mini birthday celebration. I had on one of my new wigs because I wanted to try a new look. It was a shiny black bodywave of rich and luscious hair that reached until my lower back. I had on minimal make up, which was just a touch of foundation, mascara and lip gloss and, I had on a rose gold sequins long mermaid off the shoulder formal sexy gown that hugged my hourglass figure like second skin.
I did all of this for the lunch that my parents had set up in our backyard where everything was perfectly set up.
I smiled as I walked through the open sliding doors and met the gorgeous sight of the back of my family home. The pool deck was made of concrete, with design furnishings to create a modern laidback poolside feel, if that makes any sense. My mother was standing by the bar, dressed in a one shoulder ruched designer party dress as she danced to the loud amapiano music that was coming from the outdoor sound system.
My father was standing along the poolside with a glass filled with his favourite whisky as he looked out at the view that could be seen from here. The home was situated at the very top of a mountain and for that reason we could see the skyline of the city of gold. It was a marvellous sight during the night I can guarantee.
My mother was the first to notice me and when she did, she grinned proudly at me, encouraging me to dance to the beat as I made my entrance. I didn’t need to be told twice. I loved to dance but I am horrible at it and the painful thing is everyone in my family can dance. I was the only one with two left feet. That still doesn’t mean that I don’t dance because I very well do no matter how hard people laugh around me. That was another thing that I loved about my parents was the way that no matter how bad I was at anything, they always cheered me on and supported me.
I nodded, "you two are so evil in making me believe that I can dance," I said as I walked to the table, laughing uncontrollably as I sat down by the bar and looked around, "thank you," I said to them.
My father nodded, "I know you've been very busy with the butcher and taking care of the home. It's a little something to show our appreciation."
"Well, it means a lot," I said with a smile.
It was like good old times because it was just the three of us. This is how it used to be everyday four years ago and right now it feels like things are starting to fall into my old routine and there's nothing that I love more than a routine.
"Well," my dad cleared his throat, "I bought you a birthday present. I know I'm a bit late but I was saving it for today because I couldn't give it to you on your actual birthday."
I smiled wide as he handed me a big box, "open it," he encouraged and my smile faltered when I held the box and it felt...light. I opened it eagerly because my father doesn’t disappoint when it comes to birthday presents, and my eyes widened as I looked at the set of keys placed right in the centre of the box, on top of a picture.
"What?" I gasped as I took the keys along with the picture into my hands and scanned my eyes over the photograph of a Porsche.
My mother clapped excitedly, "those are the keys..." she paused doing a dramatic drum roll, "to your brand new-"
"Porsche Panamera!" They finished off together and at the end we were all screaming and celebrating together.
"Thank you!" I kept repeating as I jumped up and down, eager to go check it out but it seemed they stayed put.
"You're welcome, baby," my father responded as he held my hand, "but there's something your mother and I need to tell you..."
They went from happy to scared and quiet, "what's wrong?" I looked between the two of them, "what? You didn't actually buy me the car?" I asked them, thinking that maybe this was all some kind of sick joke.
"No, the car is there," my father corrected, "but it's something else..."
"Ok...well then please say what it is that you need to say," I urged, getting nervous as well.
"Baby," my mother began as she turned to face me, "you know that we love you, right?" I nodded.
"I love you too."
They smiled awkwardly, "so...as you can see, we have been able to buy you everything that your heart desires," she continued, pointing at the house and the car keys I was holding, "we got here because of the success of our business. You know that, right?"
I nodded, pausing, "are we broke?" I asked them, frowning because it sounded like they were going to say that.
"No, Celeste, listen," she stopped me, forcing me to listen instead of coming to my own conclusions, "do you remember how tough life used to be, especially financially? And in order to start the business, we needed money which we didn't have. We tried everything, we went to banks and they wouldn't give us anything more than R20 000 which literally would do nothing. So...we needed help, and we found someone that could help us. And now, we're here."
I nodded, "ok..."
"We've been able to start this business because of this family that we got start-up capital from."
I nodded, understanding the situation.
"And we met for the first time when we went to Switzerland," my mother continued when she saw that my dad wasn’t going to help her say whatever it is she was going to say.
"Why does it sound like I'm getting fired?" I asked with furrowed brows and angry eyes.
"No, actually..." my mother paused as she looked at my father, "that family was wonderful. Absolutely amazing," she said and my father nodded, "so amazing in fact," she laughed nervously and my father cut in.
"We found you a husband."
I laughed, looking at their solemn and nervous faces, "you? Found me? Me? A husband?" I laughed throwing my head back, "what the hell are you thinking?" I snapped as my laughter cut right in the middle and they jumped in surprise.
"We're here celebrating me having turned 32 and you come with this nonsense?" I snapped as I gripped the car keys in my hands, "some sick joke."
"It's not a joke, Celeste. He's a wonderful man!" My mother argued.
"Mama, Baba, I pray for your sake that you're kidding," I said seriously as I looked at the two of them and then shot up from my chair and it flew backwards, "I am not for sale!"
"Celeste, please," My mother pleaded.
"You went to travel the world to sell me to some man?" I spat out in disgust, "my own parents? No," I laughed in disbelief, shaking my head, "no, that's it," I said as I started to walk away.
I stopped at the doors and whipped around, "and you tell that man, that I, Celeste Khoza am never-and will never- get married."
"Are you sure your parents aren't smoking some hectic shit?" Thembisa asked me, her Cape Townian accent thick, as she poured some boiling water into the two mugs for us to have some coffee.I rolled my eyes, "at this point I don't even know. They might be.""Yoh, because let me tell you something, there's this new drug called Flakka, you should see how people act. I'm telling you, your parents," she paused as she dramatically pouted, "your parents are smoking that shit!"I laughed and she joined in as she sat down and opened her legs, cleaning her teeth with her nail as she burped loudly, "what's up?" she asked me as she sipped from her coffee and I fought hard not to slam her legs closed, slap her across t
It was 11:00 on Sunday when I walked back into the house and found my parents walking around casually before they both froze when they saw me. I haven’t been home since that belated birthday lunch when they told me that they found me a husband. I didn’t want to even look at them at this point because more than anything I was hurt and offended. "Cel-" my mother began but I ignored her as I walked past her, heading up the stairs to my room. She called out my name behind me and followed me up the stairs but I ignored her as I opened my bedroom door and locked it behind me so that she wouldn’t follow me into my room before I sighed and tossed my wig to the floor. I heard a knock on my bedroom door but I wasn't going to answer it or even pay attention to it. "Celeste..." she paused and I rolled my eyes, taking off my jewellery as I yawned, "uh, we're having a dinner later on. I was just telling you so that
"Celeste," I heard as I was walking past the kitchen, heading towards my bedroom after the long tiresome day I've had.I rolled my eyes but sighed, I've been ignoring them for three days and I'm not used to not speaking to them and being angry at them. I`m still very much upset at them but it`s getting old now. Instead of ignoring them, it would be much wiser to sit down and talk about this so called arrangement of theirs so that I can make it crystal clear that I won`t accept it."Yes," I replied blandly as I walked into the kitchen and straight to the sink where I started to wash my hands, hoping to get the smell of raw meat off me.My mother was sitting alone by the kitchen island, eating watermelons and I looked at her as she looked at me and patted the extra stool besides her, "we need to talk, my child."I licked my bottom dry lip and sighed as I walked to her and sat down beside h
I took my time as I descended the stairs because I knew that they were already waiting for me- I was after all, over an hour late. I wasn’t late just to be spiteful…ok, maybe I was, but just a little. But I was spending all of that time, making sure that I was going to look perfect.Everything of mine tonight had to be absolutely perfect.My short hair had been brushed smoothly against my scalp, my eyelashes were long and sparkled whenever I blinked. My lips were painted a deep dark red that seemed light against my dark skin tone and my contouring was flawless. My facial structure has always been fierce, but tonight I was confident that I looked like a Goddess. I was also thankful that I had taken that 6 months make up course from a famous makeup artist because those skills had come in handy today, and my hands did not disappoint.I wanted to make a statement the second I stepped out of my bedroom and wh
It was such a relief that I had gotten that off my chest finally, it was like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders. I couldn’t really gauge his reaction to be honest but his already thin lips were set in a straight line and his eyes seemed... well, I was never really good at reading people so I can't decipher his mood. But it was definitely sombre and awkward, which was why I needed to take leave.Phew, breaking hearts is a lot of work I really shouldn’t do this ever again. My first date had started off well, but now, well now it's not a date anymore.Silently, I stood from the chair, moving my dress to allow myself to properly stand as I straightened up and was about to walk passed him before he gripped my wrist and stopped me.I froze as I turned my head to look at this man, baffled at his action, "let go of my wrist," I said strongly as I tried to move my wrist out of his strong hold but he was gripping it t
"Hey, it's Thembisa. Listen, I was just checking up on you. You're not picking up your phone calls, bruh, you're not even on Twitter anymore so I know something's going on. Listen, I'm here if you need to talk. Whatever you're going through I'm here for you, don't forget that. You don't have to go through anything alone. My gun is ready and my car is ready so I'm ready to kill a motherfucker. I love you, neh, don't forget that."I almost laughed at that voicemail as I stared at my darkened phone screen.I clicked for the next voicemail."Uh, hello boss, it's Lesedi. I've been trying to call you but it's taking me straight to voicemail. I wanted to tell you about, uh, t-the, what's it called? Oh yeah, deliveries. We got, I think it's fifty cows...the bodies of the cows...no, the skeleton of the cows... wait, how do I say it? Eish, ja, you know what I mean. We've been selling enough, and I stay last to loc
"Hey, are you ok?" Was the first thing that I heard as I walked out of my bathroom, with my towel wrapped around me and found Thembisa lying on my bed. She jumped from where she was, ran towards me and before I could even say another word she hugged me like her life depended on it."Seriously, what's your problem, Celeste?" She snapped as she hugged me even tighter and I couldn't help but just return the hug with just as much intensity, "you had me worried sick! I was calling and you weren't picking up, you weren't going to work, your parents told me you weren't talking to them either, you have to tell me what's going on!" She stressed as she pulled back from me and looked over my face and I tried to keep it together, I really did but I didn't know what to do. The next thing I knew I was crying into her shoulder as she tried to hush me."I don't know what to do," I admitted hopelessly as I gripped onto her and let out everythi
I had been dreading today.All night, I spent it in my bedroom, locked inside it and praying to God that the sun wouldn’t rise. I wanted to just run away, I really did but I was scared to. I could just sense that Daddy would definitely not be happy about my decision and he would do something that would definitely make me regret running away. So, I stayed put. I tried to distract myself by calling my friends but they were all too busy enjoying their cars and money to even talk to me for more than fifteen minutes which was fine, I guess.I sat up all night just wondering how the next day's events would commence and I was expecting the worst but surprisingly, I felt like I was the first lady of the country the way I had been treated so far.When the sun had risen, my bags were packed and I was waiting patiently for the man to come and pick me up and let me be on my way to Switzerland.&n