HIM: MR LION REDELLO

64. SILENT TREATMENT

5 DAYS LATER

LION

NOTIFICATION.

I look at my phone.

MOM

4 PICTURES
Congratulations Son. Amore and Aria are here

My heart sank. I wasn’t there. I missed it. I failed her and our 4 kids. I open the pictures and I loose my mind completely

Me: my beautiful girl.

Gosh she looked like her mother, that made me wanna protect her even more. I scroll and see a picture of my son. he looked like the twins. I feared what they would be up to, considering how Me and their mother can’t tell between Amani and Armani till today.

Me: oh damn (wipes tears)

The guys appear.

Sergio: are you…
Me: (gives him a death stare)
Serino: whats wrong ?
Reuben: your face is as pink as…
Steven: Shut up man.

Everyone laughs

Steven: Son, whats wrong ?
Me: my son and daughter are here pop.
Steven: (smiles) oh yeah, lemme see ?

I show them.

Steven: that’s a gorgeous Girl right there.
Andre: well damn.
Me: (nods)

I let them look at the pictures mom sent me.

Quinton: (speaks Italian) (you okay)
Me: (shakes head) it’s bad brother. She blocked my number. I can’t call her. No messages. Like she cut me off.
Quinton: 3 more weeks brother, and you will see her and fix things
Me: (shakes head) no brother. It’s bad. She won’t even wanna see my face. I wish I never came here.
Quinton: we’ll find a way to…
…: Chico…

we turn around.

Me: Grandpa.

He was holding my phone.

Grandpa: you have a beautiful daughter. Your son looks just like you and I see Tritan in each and every one of them
Me: (nods)(smiles)
Steven: call her.
Me: I’m blocked everywhere.
Serino: use my phone.

He hands me his phone.

Me: (sighs)
Andrè: Try… at least.

I unlock the phone and call my mom.

MA

(Amore (boy)) (crying)

Me: sorry baby. Sorry.

Her mom appears drying her hands. She needed the bathroom and well Amore likes attention. Aria was a sleeping angel. She always smiles and sleeps a lot.

Mpumi: im here boy.

She takes him and cradles him. He starts calming down.

PHONE RINGS

(Amore cries)

Mpumi: hayi Sbani. Why are you crying now.
Me: (giggles)

I answer the phone.

Me: Serino, you better have a good explanation because you made Amore cry after trying to make him stop for so long

…: its not Serino Mama. Its Me.
Me: Qui… lion. Its lion neh.
Lion: (chuckles) our voices are still confusing you huh.
Me: I mean I gave birth to the same person twice.
Lion: (chuckles)
Mpumi: sorry Sbani sami. Askies baby…
Lion: mom, can I please talk to her.

AMORE BURPS

Mpumi: oh so that’s why. Your cute ass was bloated. (Kissing Amore) Hes okay now Mom.

I look at her.

Me: uh… lion she…

Mpumi shakes her head.

Me: (sighs)
Lion: (voice breaking) I just wanna hear her voice please.

I turn to Mpumi. I cover the speaker.

Mpumi: I am mad.
Me: he just wants to hear your voice.
Mpumi: (sighs)

I hand her the phone.

MPUMI

I place the phone on my ear.

Lion: mom, just tell her I’m sorry. I know I was wrong. The guilt that consumed me, just watching her and knowing how she would be crushed to learn that I won’t be there to meet my new babies. I love them so much. Our daughter looks so much like her, I’ve been staring at her picture all day, that’s how much I miss their mother. Our son, he is triple the trouble now because we will need another name tag for him too.
Me: (wipes tears) (giggles)

There is silence.

Lion: baby. I’m sorry…
Me: its fine lion.
Lion: (sniffs) its not. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you…
Me: lion, I don’t have a problem with you leaving with your brothers, Dad and uncle for business related reasons. I just don’t want secrets. Don’t keep things from me please don’t, no matter how hurt I will be. I will get over it eventually.
Lion: please forgive me.
Me: for what again ?
Lion: for leaving….
Me: honestly, those were mood swings
…: I told you Chico.
Me: is that Pops?
Steven: me, with such a rusty voice. Hell no.
…: who you calling Rusty.

Everyone laughs.

Steven: switch to video call man

Ma comes and gives me the baby.

LION

Pops switches to video call and I finally see her. She was carrying our baby.

Steven: lemme see him.
Mpumi: Okay.

Gosh I missed her. She holds him up and he opens his eyes. He smiles, sticking a bit of his tongue out.

Everyone: awwww
Me: (wipes tears) Hey Amore.

His little red eyes lit up.

Grandpa: he is the most handsome…
Steven: argh shame have you seen me.

We all laugh. A man appears and there is silence. Mpumi hugs him.

Serino: who the fuck is that ?

4 guys appears and they hug my mom. Zithulele and Juxe get hugged and it’s a mess now. I watched all the guys get mad

Steven: what the fuck.
Sergio: who the fuck are those motherfuckers ?
Mpumi: Shut up Sergio, its my older brothers. Nkosinathi, Ntokozo, Nhlanhla, Ntutuko and Nkanyiso

Everyone looks at me. Her mom appears

Ma: Hi Son and other Mean Redello Men.
Everyone: hi.

Quinton was pissed. We watch them carry my sons. All the girls were there meaning they were charmed by Mpumi’s brothers. Dad, Grandpa and Tevin were laughing.

Quinton: (speaking Italian)

I see him looking at one of the brothers holding Nandi's Waist.

Grandpa: Its gonna be so fun going back home with you guys and your Grandma.

I see Mpumi looking at the camera with a sneaky smile across her face.

Me: (whispers) what are you up to Mi Vida