The drive back to Zee's house was a smooth one, no hassle. She was already standing outside as I drove into her driveway. I parked and got out with her plastic bag.
"You are such a handful my friend," I said.
"I know my friend and you love me like that," she replied. I handed her the plastic bag.
"What is it that you needed help with?" I asked.
"Let's go inside," Zee said.
"Okay," I replied.
As soon as I walked in, I heard screams of "Surprise!!"
"What!!" I jumped in excitement. I noticed a sign that read: Welcome back Beauty and Zama.
Zamacirha, short for Zama, was one of my close friends. She had been in the U.K. for the past five years and we had always kept in touch. I turned and jumped as I saw her.
"Oh my God!!" we shared a hug, the warmest one.
"When? How? And why am I only finding out now?" I asked.
"It's called a surprise darling," Zee said.
"Wow, I don't know how to feel. I am so happy to see you, Gosh!" I pulled her in for another hug and she laughed.
"I missed you too Beauty," Zama said.
"Okay, okay, you are going to make me cry now," Zee said.
"Sorry," I replied.
"Well we haven't seen each other in a while, so," Zama said.
We laughed and I was introduced to the faces around the house, about six people. Among them was Zama's fiancé; my friend was getting married. We walked to the kitchen.
"When did you arrive Zama?" I asked.
"We landed at O.R. Tambo five days back, then Ncube and I decided to do a road trip down here," Zama said.
"You actually haven't told us how on earth you met a Zulu man in the U.K.?" Zee asked.
"Like chances of that are slim to none," I added.
"Through social media friends," Zama said as she smiled and giggled.
"You know what, we do not want to hear it at all!" Zee cried.
"Keep it to yourself, sister. But as long as he makes you happy, then all is well my friend," I said. She smiled and it reached her eyes. My friend was indeed happy.
"But I am scared though. I am scared of marriage," Zama said.
"Story of my life," Zee replied.
"My friend, if both of you are happy then there's no need to worry," I told her.
"And we are, Beauty. Anyway Zee, how many more guests are we expecting?" Zama asked.
"Just four more and they should be here by now," Zee replied.
"Okay, I'll prepare some green salad," I offered.
"No, everything is ready Beauty. We just need to pour wine and drink," Zama said.
"Yes!" Zee agreed.
"A glass of juice for me please," I said.
"You're still uptight Beauty, an enemy of alcohol," Zama said.
"No, I still have to drive," I told her.
"No sisi, you are sleeping over. Pour her a glass of the white one, Zama," Zee said. The doorbell rang. "I'll go get that. Fill up that glass with wine, Zama."
"Zama, how many more guests are we expecting?" I asked.
"Uhm, those at the door are the last ones, Zee's colleagues. So we are about eleven or twelve," she said.
"Oh that's better. I thought she invited the whole of Port Elizabeth," I said. We laughed.
"You know Beauty, I am quite hesitant on this marriage thing," Zama said.
"What do you mean?" I asked. She poured wine and handed me my glass.
"I don't know. I'm just hesitant," Zama said.
"Don't be babe. Just be happy and if the two of you are down for each other, I don't see why you should be hesitant," I said.
"And we love each other my friend. After two years we are still going strong," she said. Her face sparkled. The happiness glowed, and I couldn't help but smile too.
"And I am happy for you," I said.
"Thank you my friend. I actually still cannot," Zama started.
Zee walked in, interrupting us, followed by four people: two ladies and two gentlemen. Oh my God, I recognized the man I bumped into earlier. He was still in the same outfit. I guess we were heading to the same place.
"Ladies, please welcome my colleagues. I know you don't know them," Zee said.
"Come on Zee, we know them, we just never talked," Zama joked.
My eyes were locked on him. He kept stealing glances too.
"But anyway, this is Luke and Wayne, with Natasha and Trish," Zee said.
"Nice to finally talk to you all. I am Zama," my friend said.
They laughed.
"Definitely, nice to meet you Zama," Luke said.
"I'm Beauty," I said with a smile pasted on my face, my eyes kept going back to him.
"Girl, we all know you here, the famous artist," Trish said. She pulled me in for a hug, and again laughter filled the room.
"Her art is famous and not her," Wayne said. Oh!
"You got it!" I said. We all laughed.
"I'll take it you've already met her because that is her favorite line," Zee said.
"We bumped into each other at the mall," Wayne said. He smiled. God, that dimple!
"Oh, okay, well you see each other again!" Zama said. Zama nudged me and gave me the "stop staring" look.
"I thought he was lying when he said he just bumped into you, nice to finally talk to you Beauty," Luke said.
"How can, an entire Sangoma lies? You want the ancestors to punish you?" Trish asked. We laughed.
"I thought he was joking too, nice to meet you Beauty. And oh, welcome back home," Natasha said.
"Oh yes, Homecoming queens!" Zee cried.
"The rest of the guys are outside making the meat, I'm sure you know your way around the house," Zama told them.
"Oh, we most definitely do, nice meeting you ladies," Luke said.
"Likewise," Zama replied. They both walked out of the kitchen.
"Ladies, there's more than enough things to drink in the fridge, please don't hold yourselves. Beauty, you should be on your second glass now sisi, I'll go check on the other gents outside," Zee said.
"Your plan is to get me drunk, I see," I replied.
The meetup went on pretty great. I was on my fifth glass of this delicious white wine and I couldn't stop smiling. It had me good, great in fact. We took it outside and had our meal on the table where we all fitted, but now everyone was just scattered around the yard. The music was blasting through the speakers, some were even dancing, and my eyes had been trying to locate that man with no success.
Sigh.
The ladies were nice; Trish just fit in with the vibe perfectly. Natasha was a bit shy, she didn't talk much, and the word for her type of personality was observant. She took a few pictures with us and had been quiet since, but everyone was just happy. I walked up to her and stumbled a few times but laughed it off as I sat next to her at the table.
"Hey," I said.
"Hello," she said with a faint smile.
"Are you okay? You've been quiet nje almost the entire time we've been here, what's up?" I asked.
"Oh, don't worry, I am okay. Please enjoy your party and don't think I am not enjoying myself. I am enjoying myself like this," she said, gulping down her glass of whatever was there.
"She's lying, she has a thing for Brother Wayne and she thought they'd hook up here or something, but bro didn't even notice her," Trish said as she came in, already hugging me.
"Trish, shut up! Don't listen to her, Beauty, I am okay and she is just drunk," Natasha said.
"Trish, no man! Okay sweetie, please don't hold yourself and just enjoy, okay?" I said.
"Fine, Beauty, come let's leave her to sulk. Zama is asking for you," Trish said.
"Please don't worry about me, I am fine," Natasha said with another smile.
"Okay," I replied.
We laughed and walked to the fire area. Zee was sitting on Luke's lap on the camp chair and Zama was tangled up in her fiancé by the wall. The other guys were cracking up jokes and I still couldn't find that man. Maybe he left.
"Beauty, get another glass my love, don't be sitting there smiling to yourself like a crack addict," Zee said.
"No, I am actually good. Can you believe I am already feeling the heat? Driving back will be a hassle," I said.
"You should sleep over here," Trish suggested.
"I tried too, Trish, she is not having it," Zee said.
"Don't worry, we will drive her mami. I mean, Wells Estate is right next to truck-in, so we stay close," Luke said.