NQOBILE MSIBI
I was always an ambitious girl. Never afraid of going after what I want, whatever the consequences. I am originally from a town in Mpumalanga called Middleburg, which is very big on farming. Most of my peers opted to study for agriculture just so they could obtain jobs easier after finishing their studies. But I stuck out like a sore thumb with my passion of becoming a pastry chef. I finished grade 12 at 15 years. I wasn’t only forward at school, but I was also smart. That’s why I skipped two grades. I went to University of Pretoria at age 16 to study BSc in Culinary Science. I always thought I was going to get work easily after obtaining my degree but that wasn’t the case.
Somehow, I started applying for apprenticeship in KZN and one of the hotels in Richards Bay called me for an interview. I spent my last savings and booked a bus trip. When my interview failed, I was devastated. I thought of the money I had spent to come to Richards Bay. I really thought I would succeed but somehow, I failed. Even with my attractive qualification.
I am grateful for Hlengiwe. She took one look at me and just believed in me. She trusted me even though she didn’t know me or where I came from. She welcomed me into her home and gave me a job. I thought she would turn on me and start illtreating me but that wasn’t the case. Two years later, she is still treating me the same way as she did when she first saw me. That woman has a big heart and I love her.
“At 1KZN TV, they are calling for chefs to participate on the new season of Umshayi Webhodwe and I have submitted my profile.” I start off the conversation and she looks up from her laptop. She smiles.
“That’s great. I really hope they pick you so that you will show those people how things are really done in the kitchen. I am not dissing the chefs there, but I know you can do a better job and even win while at that.” She responds and goes back to what she is doing. She always wish for the best in everyone, and she is not a jealous boss who will castrate you for wanting to do something better with your life.
I clear my throat and she gives me a bored look. She knows I am summoning her attention. I am sure she is going to go crazy when she hears the news, I have for her. “I may or may have not compiled a profile on you and sent it to one of the biggest cooking shows in the country.”
She frowns and closes her laptop. I now know I have her full attention. “What are you talking about, Nqo?”
“Don’t hit me, okay?” she groans, and I laugh. “I submitted your profile on MasterChef South Africa, and I just received an email from them. I don’t know whether it’s a ‘we regret to inform you’ email, or it’s a ‘we congratulate you for’ email.”
Her eyes pop out and she literally freezes. She breathes in and out after a few minutes or so and then she screams. “Give me that laptop.” I laugh and walk over to her. “Wait, don’t give it to me. Check the response for me. I don’t wanna be disappointed.”
I laugh and then clear my throat. “Dear Chef Hlengi. Congratulations on making it past our first qualification round. We were very intrigued by your portfolio and your reputation. We would like to invite you to an on-camera interview at our headquarters in Sandton on the 15th of May 2024. We hope to hear from you soon and if you are still interested, please respond to us soon. Kind Regards, MasterChef South Africa.” Wait, what?
She looks at me for a while before standing up and screaming. She does a mini celebration dance before she remembers her injury and curses, sitting back down at her place. “Wow, Nqo. You did that for me?” her eyes water and she heaves. She starts breathing heavily and I place the laptop on the table before rushing to her. I squat in front of her and hold her hands.
“Are you okay? Do you need water? Or something else?” I ask and she shakes her head while smiling.
She swallows hard. “I am okay, Nqobile. I am just happy. You have made me the happiest woman alive. I can’t believe this.” She smiles and tears start falling from her cheeks. She hugs me tightly and starts sobbing. “OMG! Nqobile, I don’t know what to say.”
I laugh. “A simple ‘thank you’ will suffice.” She giggles.
×××
Phelelani stays in this really magnificent house near Mzingazi lake, in the Mzingazi Golf Estate. It is a state-of-the-art house that takes away your breath the moment you approach it. One of the weirdest things is that he stays alone in a 5-bedroom mansion. There is even an incredible deck with a built-in-braai, an infinity pool and an exclusive jetty on the lake. The place feels just like heaven, and whenever I visit, I never want to leave.
We have been in a relationship for three weeks and I have visited his house twice. I didn’t think he would fall for me, but the man is head over heels. One thing about being confident and approaching a guy, it has its pros and cons. Some guys actually expect you to do almost everything in the relationship just because you asked them out. With Phele, I only had to light the match and let him take care of the rest. He didn’t mind taking the captain reigns from me.
I drive into the estate and park in his driveway before heading inside the house. He gave me the car keys. I did tell you he is hooked. His kitchen is every chef’s heaven. So spaced and filled with different types of ingredients to blow your mind. I change into one of his t-shirts and then set up my camera before I start preparing our dinner. I am starting with our main course, which is beef rump steak with roast veges and mushroom sauce. I will make a tabbouleh salad while I wait for the steak to cook. I help myself to some white wine as I cook.
I finish preparing dinner and end my video. I take a few pictures before I start on dessert which is a crème brulee with vanilla bean. Just as I wait for it to cool off, the front door opens and I rush over to welcome Phele, but I stop dead in my tracks when I see a really tall lady dressed in a bodycon dress and heels. Her frontal is on point, and so is her makeup. My God. Is she Phelelani’s woman? She frowns when her eyes land on me.
“Who are you and what are you doing in my fiancé’s place?” say what now?
“Fiancé?”
She chuckles angrily and takes out her phone. She taps on it for a few moments before making a call. “Phelelani, who is this cockroach at your house?” Hebana. Now I am being called a cockroach? “You better get here now, and start explain this mess before I do something I might regret.” Wenana. She may be tall, but I am a decent fighter. I will whoop the floor with her fancy frontal, and she will regret messing with me. She ends the call and gives me a condescending look. “Get me something to drink while we wait for him.” She walks over to one of the couches and sits down.
I chuckle and shake my head. “I may be a chef, but you didn’t hire me. So I am not going to serve you.” I head to the kitchen and drag a bar stool back to the lounge. I place it in the doorway and then sit down. I wanna be able to see this man when he comes in. yes, we have been dating for a short time, but the man has a whole fiancé, no gal. I need an explanation soon before I let my inner psycho loose. Soon, we hear a car driving in and I take a deep breath. I am ready to take all the food I prepared and drive with it to Esikhawini. I won’t let his ungrateful ass taste my hard work. He walks inside a minute later and frowns when he sees the setting in front of him.
He shakes his head, looking at me. “Did you have to drag the chair from the kitchen though, babe?”
I shrug with a straight face. “All the couches were preoccupied.” He chuckles and then looks at the Naomi Campbell in the room.
“What are you doing here, Nomali? You know you are not allowed in my house without my supervision.”
Nomali scoffs and stands up. “I haven’t been gone for longer than two seconds and already you have replaced me with a child. Are you for real, Phelelani? You want me to go and arrest you for this statutory rape you’re doing here? You want me to expose you?”
“Nomali, we were engaged to each other because I loved you and I thought we had a future together. You ruined all that when you cheated on me. Now, we are nothing to each other. Nothing gives you the right to come to my house unannounced and insult my woman. She is a qualified chef, and she is old enough to be my future wife. Please leave. You know very well that there is nothing left that’s yours in this house. Leave before I call the security.” Wow. Phelelani is calm even when he is pissed. He hasn’t raised his voice ever since he came in, but I can see that he is pissed.
“You are really going to replace me with a child? Really?”
I chuckle. “I am a psycho, we Naomi Campbell, so call me a child one more time and I will make your frontal fly to the pool with a spin kick, I swear.” She must not provoke my inner karate kid.
“She is also a hood rat? Wow.” She just can’t help herself, neh? I stand up and Phelelani acts fast. He grabs Nomali’s upper arm and drag her outside. He comes back a few moments later and locks the front door. He comes to stand before me and folds his arms to his chest.
“Hhayi wena, don’t give me that look. You didn’t even tell me you were engaged before.” I turn my back on him and head back to my sanctuary. Hebana, this man.