Miss Chubby

7 YEARS AGO “Futhi wake up.” I groan and go back to sleep. I hate it when someone disturbs my peaceful sleep. He shakes me again, this time making sure that I really wake up. “Wake up my love. My parents are here.” Oww s**t, I jump out of the bed. I look at him hoping that he will say he was joking. I run my hands through my messed up hair. Me: “what time is it?” Him: “it is 10am.” Me: “s**t why didn’t you wake me up early?” Him: “you are the one who hates being woken up and you refused when to wake up when I woke you up earlier.” I roll my eyes and go to the bathroom, brush my teeth and get in the shower. After showering I dry my body, lotion and get dressed in a below the knee tight black dress. I head downstairs and find him sitting in the longue with his parents. I greet and sit next to him. His mother looks like she is about to bust, I hope I am not the cause but if looks can kill I would’ve been 6 feet under the way she is staring at me. His Dad: “son we came to talk to you about something important.” Him: “you can talk in front of Futhi father, there is no need for her to excuse us.” His Mom: “what is she to you? Girly this is a family matter. Make yourself useful around the house and stop staring at us.” Wow, she doesn’t know me yet she dislike me. Him: “guys just talk so that you can be on your way. We have plans today with Futhi.” His Dad: “we found a wife for you to marry. Mathapelo Shabalala, daughter of Thapelo Shabalala of Mshengu Holdings. This marriage will strengthen our business and we need alliances like these. It is a good business move, the coming together of two powerful families.” Him: “but dad I have my own girlfriend who is sitting right next to me. What makes you think I will agree to an arranged marriage?” His Mom: “what does she brings to the table? Mathapelo will be bringing millions of her family’s money. Yena?” she says looking at me with disgust. I am tempted to tell her that I am a qualified architect but I just keep my mouth shut. Him: “mom I will not allow you to disrespect my girlfriend like that.” His Dad: “son you have two options. Marry Mathapelo, merge Mshengu Holdings and Simelane Holdings, be the CEO of the multi-millionaire company or lose everything, your inheritance, your position in the company, your cars and houses. The ball is in your court. Think about your move wisely.” He stood up and extended his hands to his wife, “let’s go my love.” She stood up and they left. Sabelo kept quiet and stared at the floor. Me: “so what are you going to do?” Him: “why are you rushing me? I have everything to lose here. Can you just keep quiet?” wow. I kept quiet and folded my arms to my chest. 30 minutes passed he finally breathed out loudly. “How about I take you as my second wife? I don’t love Mathapelo but I do love you. I will marry her then marry you.” I chuckled and stood up. Me: “listen here Sabelo. I am Ntombifuthi Cele. I am a qualified architect and an engineering undergrad. I am not desperate. Just because I love you doesn’t mean I will be second best or settle for less. Your suggestions tells me you love money more than me. I will make a simple decision for the both of us. It is over. Don’t contact me, don’t come to my apartment, and don’t bother my siblings about my whereabouts. Whatever that was going on between the two of us ends now. I will not beg you to make me your first because you have already made a decision for yourself that will benefit you. This is goodbye.” I breathed out loudly with tears threatening to come out. I went upstairs, packed everything that belonged to me and left him with his house just like that. That was the last time I saw him. Months later I saw his wedding in a magazine. I was heartbroken and shattered. I loved him and gave him my all. I thought he will come begging for me to take him back. I was wrong. He chose his inheritance instead of fighting for our love. I never really depended on Sabelo for my survival. I was an employee at Hlongwa Architects so I had a job and I was stable and could provide for myself… . .