Me: Okay mother, what am I doing here exactly?

Zodwa: Hello Monalisa, I'm doing great, how are you?

I looked at her as she sat cross legged with glass of whatever it was she was drinking, I'm totally not in the mood for this, I'm horny and cold, this rain is not making anything easy too.

Me: Get to the point already, I don't have much time.

Zodwa: Fine, at least order something, just a drink, I have a feeling you might need it.

I clenched my jaw, she looked at me with a very wicked smile, she looked somewhat content and proud for some shit. She signalled for a waiter to come take my order.

Zodwa: Can you get my sweet daughter something to drink.

She's really riling me up with her fake morality and virtue. The waiter turned to me with a warm smile.

Walter: What would you like to have mam?

Me: Just water please.

Zodwa: If you say so.

She smirked leaning back on her seat still with that stupid smug face.

The waiter went and came back with my water. Not really in the mood for her antics I decided it was time to stop playing games with mother dearest here.

Me: Enough playing mother, why am I here?

Zodwa: This is anything but a game sweetheart. Drink!

Me: I'm leaving.

I got up, pushing my chair back and grabbed my phone, ready to leave this eccentric woman. I paused however when she said the most outrageous thing I've ever heard.

Zodwa: The man you live with killed your father!

I whirled around and I tilted my head to the side looking at her like she was the most craziest person in the world. Then I laughed, gosh I laughed like I've never before, clutching my stomach, kinda laugh, I ended up plopping in my chair and throwing my head back, tears and all kinda laugh.

Zodwa: If you done acting deranged, you attracting an audience.

True, people were looking at me like I'm crazy but maybe I am, I only got those genes from her after all, because what she just said was utter bullshit.

Me: It does get old mother.

Zodwa: What does?

I scoffed and rolled my eyes.

Me: Your cockooness, you delirious mother and it has to stop.

I was much calmer now, just staring at her with a disbelief look, I had to shake my head and chuckle. She looked irritated, gosh I wanted to laugh more, I held myself as we are in public.

Zodwa: Listen, I'm gonna tell you the truth, it's up to you whether you accept it or not.

Me: The truth? And what's that? That the love of my life, killed my father? Are actually taking me for a poes (pussy) mother?

Zodwa: Choose your words, goodness you just like him, your father.

She made a disgusted face, as those words about my father slipped from her lips.

Seriously I don't know what happened between those two, they were like Bonnie and Clyde doing illegal shit, then Moana and I happened, few years after that, they hated each other's guts, daddy used to tell me everything they did before mother got pregnant, she was not bitter and cold, but I guess people change.

It could be that she never was who she portrayed herself to be.

Me: It's like he never even existed to you.

She simply rolled her eyes and took a sip of her drink.

Zodwa: Monalisa, I'm not here to talk about your daddy, well not precisely.

Me: Talk then.

The sooner she talks about her hysterical claims the faster I get out of here.

Zodwa: Your father, as you know was a gangsta, he was ruthless cruel and ferocious. He met me, the first girl who ever challenged him in everything, he didn't like that he was attracted to my attitude, to me.

She took a breath and rolled her eyes, maybe at a memory of daddy.

Zodwa: We dated, got married and I found out shit about him, dangerous shit, like all gangstas he was a killer, he sold drugs, guns and other illegal shit that he wasn't supposed to sell. He was powerful in his own way, he ruled Cape Town, he wanted more. I got pregnant with you and-

She looked away at the mention of her declaredly dead daughter, I still have to make her aware of some things. I still don't know what any of what she's saying got to do with her allegations about Mndeni.

Zodwa: Anyway, your father got aggressive and greedy, he wanted more power, mind you all this happened years after Moana was kidnapped and never found. He then messed with the wrong people, dangerous people, higher people than him.

She chuckled shaking her head, I saw that hatred in her eyes, it was like each memory evoked a different emotion in her. I found myself leaning back on my chair as well, it's subliminal.

Zodwa: He was crazy, but you of course never saw that side of him, your daddy was cockoo, a madman, thirsty only for money, power and fame.

She seethed staring at me with utmost hate, as if I was supposed to take the receiving end of daddy's issues.

Me: Were you jealous of the love daddy had for me mother? Because that's just pathetic.

She looked away from me, typical mother.

Me: You know it's funny you say that, because last time I checked, you also sold me for money and power, in fact all I see here is similarity between you and daddy.

Zodwa: He made me that way, he left me no choice, I was nothing like him, like now!

Why did you change then, why are you a monster now? But I didn't say that instead I scoffed and gestured for her to continue her pointless tall tale.

Zodwa: The people he messed with, they were on to him, they threatened our family, sent gifts with disgraceful, impermissible things inside

I saw how this was beginning to have an effect on my stomach, was not sure I wanted this to continue.

Zodwa: He never listened, just like the presumptuous person he was, put our whole family in danger over and over again, then one day, you were at school like the little perfect child you were, we got visitors, unpleasant visitors.

She finished her drink, she looked as if she was dreading to talk about the day, I know about that day, I was at school, the day daddy died.

Zodwa: They questioned and threatened us, it was three guys but I'm guessing they had backup somewhere lurking hell I think they got your father's men to work for them or planted their own men there, because all his men that were there that day died, executed to be precise. That was his signature, the two men he was with held me and your father down on our knees, I thought I was gonna die.

I never got to know what exactly happened that day, I never really knew who was daddy's killer.

Zodwa: He was light skinned, broad and one hell of intimidation. He had a cold look in his eyes, like he had done that before, it was as if killing was his passion, he lived for it. Oh your father! When shit got real, he refused to talk, I got shot on the shoulder. At that point I was done with him, I wanted him dead, so I talked. I told them everything about his business and his empire, in return he dies.

I couldn't believe it, my mother was the reason daddy died.

Zodwa: Oh don't give me that look, what was I supposed to do huh, let them kill me? No, I had to save myself, otherwise you would've been an orphan you welcome.

I felt like slapping her across the face, she thinks she did me a favor by snitching on daddy and getting him killed? How screwed up can she get.

Zodwa: I almost got killed too, but by some omerta shit, I lived. Omerta was a code of silence, refusal to give any information of any illegal activities I knew about to the authorities, it's like an oath. The Mafia take that shit to heart, you break it you die, I had to sign a contract and I lived. As for your father, your lover killed him in cold blood, a bullet in his head in front of me, and he died in front of me.

By the end of her rant I was panting, no Mndeni couldn't have- he wouldn't right?

Me: You lying! He wouldn't do that, he's a great man okay. And how do you expect me to believe you after everything you've done.

Zodwa: Fine, go ask him about daddy then, I'm sure if he's such a great man he won't lie to his girlfriend right?

I just stared at her, my cheeks getting wet, I can't believe her I won't believe her.

Zodwa: A few months back, I think, he came to my house; remember that day I called to confront you about James, a day after that he came to my house. That's when I found out he was the man you left James for, the man who killed your father and the man who spared my life. He was so shocked upon knowing who I was, but I didn't pay any heed to it back then, I was scared for my life but then I thought aww man, wouldn't you like to know who murdered little Monalisa's daddy.

She laughed and got up, she picked up her phone and bag. I was too shook to move.

Zodwa: I have no reason to lie to you, and I just risked my life by telling you all this, if I'm dead by tomorrow it'll confirm my story.

With that she wore her sunglasses on and walked out of the restaurant like a fucken model. I watched her disappear as I sat there unmoving. I can't trust her, I won't trust her but my gut is telling me to go home and ask him about this. But what if he gets insulted and she's wrong. With that I got up and grabbed my phone and requested an Uber back home.