Age Is Nothing But A Number

Chapter Six

I drove back home. There wasn't as many people as there was when I left, in fact It was super clean which made me happy. I parked outside and went to knock at the door...

"Who is it at this time?" I heard my dad complain before he opened the door, when he realized that it was me he quickly pulled me into a hug, "Hey honey... God where have you been I was worried thinking you went back to New York..."

I hugged him too and inhaled his fragrance, "I'm so sorry dad... I just couldn't stay here at home.. I had to get away for a bit..."

He pulled me inside and closed the door behind me. I turned to my little sister's hug. I hugged her and kissed her forehead, "how are you Sindy..."

She shrugged and pulled away, "okay now that you are here..."

Maa Sophia was already standing behind her daughter. She gave me a very tight and long hug, "Hey Maa...."

"Come sit down.. do you need anything to eat or drink..." She asked while walking me to the couch.

We sat down and I shrugged, "food will be nice thank you..."

Their faces as soon as I walked in changed. They seemed sad or depressed and I hated that. I shook my head a bit knowing I'll sound like a b***h for what I'm about to say, "look guys... I know mom is gone and I'm hurting anyhow I am, but you shouldn't be like this... this feeling, the sadness you put on when you see me is why I left in the first place."

I sighed, "I don't need to be looked at differently than before. I am hurting like hell yes, but I just need my Maa, my dad and my little sister back. I know it won't be the same, I'll lash out and cry and be angry and all that but I need you guys... I'm good...so.. I'm hungry now..."

"We Love you and you are not alone.... just know that... other than that anything you say goes... we are here for you.." Maa Sophia said handing me a plate full of food..

I laughed at it, "you know Maa this food will make me fat...."

"Just eat..." She said playfully pushing winced in pain, "ouch..."

She stopped laughing and quickly took the plate off my hand and my dad asked, "what happened to your hand?"

I shrugged it off not wanting to worry them, "nothing serious dad."

He came closer and lifted up my shirt on my arm and then saw a few scratches, "and this? Have you been drinking?"

Great.. this pissed me off, he had so little faith in me. I ached my brows at him and uttered the first thing that was on my mind, "typical of me right daddy? so what my mom dies and the first thing I do is go get drunk?"

He sighed totally not liking my response, "don't give me that attitude.. what do you call this then?"

I rolled my eyes, "I got into a car accident the day I left here. I wasn't drunk, I just shouldn't have been driving..."

"An accident?" He flipped, "Thandy what were you thinking?

I flipped too, "that I was better off dead like mom... I just wanted the pain to stop.. I couldn't take it anymore..." tears were now flowing down my cheeks uncontrollably, "now don't get me wrong, I didn't pack my staff to go get myself killed. When it happened, when our cars collided I wished I was dying. But Katherine saved me, I begged her not to but she told me...."

"God... did you see a doctor?" Maa Sophia cut me off... as she pulled me to a hug.

"She's a doctor.. it's why she saved me. I have to go see her again later she's a bit busy now..." I sniffed.

My dad was about to say something but I felt Maa move a bit, like she was advising him against whatever it is that he was going to do or say.

I let myself cry on Maa and soon felt a small hug behind me. I turned and saw Sindy. She was crying too. I hugged her, "I'm sorry babe. I am so sorry okay.. I won't let it happen again.. I'll be careful so I won't leave you okay..."

"No need for that.. I'm taking you to this doctor later.."

I pulled away from my sister within the speed of light, "Umhh dad I'm good.."

"No... I'll hear that from this Katherine woman of yours..."

No...

No...

Just f*****g no.. maybe tonight I was going to gain courage and kiss her or something, I just couldn't bring my dad.. it was a huge no..

"Daddy I'm really fine I can bring the files here..."

"No... I wanna see if she's a professional doctor or what.... and then know what's the damage and pay for the consultation..."

I sighed and got up, I went to my bedroom and heard my Maa call, "Your food Thandy..."

"I'm just changing my clothes I'll be back..."

"Put on a dress... you won't go there looking like a boy..."

I frowned at my dad when he said that but put on a dress anyways and sandals... trust me I rocked anything I put on.. I looked sexy as hell..

After eating my dad was already bugging me about going to the doctor and in honesty I was waiting for a phone call.. so to buy time I said, "can I call Maudy and tell her I'm here, last time she heard. I was at the doctor she might be waiting for me"

They nodded and I went to my room and dialed her ass. She quickly answered, "Hey.. you cut me off last night."

"You fucken i***t because Katherine heard what you was saying.."

"What?" She asked shocked. and I whisper yelled, "like didn't it down on you that I'm using someone's phone you shouldn't talk Shit..."

"Oh f**k I'm sorry...."

"Anyway pass that... Daddy wants to go with me to a check up later... please save me..."

"f**k dude.. Tshepo has this thing planned so...."

As soon as she mentioned him my mood changed, "yeah yeah....save it. I have to go..."

"Woaaah what's with that attitude Thandy?"

"Not directed to you.... I just dont like the dude. He's creepy...."

"Well ain't it a good thing that he's f*****g me and not you..." She said sarcastically and I rolled my eyes, "better me than you...."

"Stop being an ass I actually like him..."

Ohh f**k!

As soon as She said those words my heart felt heavy like s**t. She liked him.. She... She flipping likes him. He is an ass, I know his kind. He will break her and leave...

"We will talk about this she We are together babe..."

She sighed, "ass there is nothing to talk about.. I like him.. that's it...."

"Sure... I need to go, dad has to take me to Katherine..."

She laughed, "you got to kiss her please..."

"Oh I forgot to tell you, she has a husband.. his name is Mike... so she's straight..."

"That has never stopped you before..."

I sighed not wanting to get to this, "this is different Maud..."

"You actually are crushing on a married woman... you are screwed.. just go.."

"f**k you...."

"Tshepo does that pr.."

I hung up before she could finish the sentence. I got up and thought about calling Katherine... God I didn't know her personal numbers... just the office numbers..

I sighed and scrolled down my contacts, her office number will do.

"Let's go... you been in here long enough..." dad said standing by the door. I sighed and got up. We made it to his car.

"Daddy can't we take my car....instead..."

He looked at my car and then at me, "if you crashed your car why doesn't it have even a dent..."

"Daddy It was at the garage this past week.. they fixed it..."

He shook his head and started driving. Of course I should have known he'd say no to my car and take his flipping Audi instead..

"And how did you pay for that..."

I shrugged remembering Katherine saying the insurance company took care of it, "the insurance of the other party paid...."

He nodded and I punched down the address. I was a bit nervous going there without telling her. What if she was busy? What if she was not even back from the hospital wherever she had to operate people.

"So.. this is in Centurion...." he said and I nodded.

He asked me a lot of questions that were seriously giving me headache. I answered him anyways or else he wasn't going to stop. I know my dad.

See him and I had a good relationship, that was before mom was in this accident.. things started changing a bit, I don't know why but they did and I hated that..

"So when are you going back?"

I knew he was talking about New York... so I shrugged, "I don't know daddy, maybe in two weeks... I'm just enjoying home a bit..."

He nodded, "Sindy misses you..."

"Yea dad I'll spend the last week with her.. I know i have been neglecting her....I'm Just dealing with my demons.. then I'll be back.."

"You know you can talk to me right. I know this isn't easy and I haven't been there.. but I am now... and I love you..."

He parked outside the place after the voice told us that our destination was on the right.. He opened the door and got out. I took out my perfume and sprayed myself and then got out.

He ached his brows at me, "is the receptionist a guy?"

"Why?"

"Wanna smell nice for him?"

I rolled my eyes.. Ohh yeah if you were wondering... my family didn't know I am lesbian... booooom... I know. 24 and in the closet... thing is I wasn't in the closet, I just didn't feel the need to come out. You never see a straight person come out of the closet. So I wasn't going to announce it. Parents should know that a person loves a person and not based on gender.

I shrugged and said, "Daddy open your eyes.... I did this to smell nice for anyone.. anyone I like... not a specific guy..."

The gate was open so we just went in and got inside the door.. Bianca smiled as soon as She saw me, "oh hey Thandy.... how are you?"

"I am good and how are you beautiful Bianca..."

I saw a blush but pretended not to. She smiled, "I'm great... so she called you? I thought you weren't coming... she's been in her office for two hours and she asked not to be disturbed...I'm sure she cleared her schedule for you.."

I furrowed my brows, she's been here for two hours? And she never called me?

"Hello sir can I help you?" Bianca asked my dad I cleared my throat before dad could answer, "Umhh he's with me..."

She nodded and then looked at the side of Katherine's office.

I looked at my dad, "okay dad you can wait here I'll go see her...."

I didn't wait for him to respond I just left him and went there. I stupidly didn't knock I entered and she jumped and sniffed, "Umhh... Thandy.....? What are you doing here? I specifically asked Bianca not to let anyone in."

I was taken aback by her question but answered, "you were supposed to read my scans and then call me?"

"Look... I didn't call you for a reason so...."

Before she could go on I cut her off since I saw some stupid words that were going to hurt me came, "it's okay I'll leave.. sorry I bothered you..."

She sighed but to my surprise the door bust open revealing my dad..

Katherine greeted her teeth, "Sir you are not..."

"He's my dad... we are leaving..."

"We not going anywhere, at least we should know if you are okay or not...." my father stubbornly said.

"Mr.....?" Kat said and my father gladly responded, "Mr Phakathi.... now, I just want to make sure that there are no complications with my daughter, she was in an accident and she said she has been experiencing headaches and neck pains... and I believe she did her scans earlier..."

She didn't look good at all, it was like she was lost. She sighed, "Mr Phakathi all that is true... and I am going to read your daughter's scans as soon as I can... I just didn't have time..."

"I believe you were in here for two hours... your receptionist said... now how could you have failed to do this within two hours?"

Ohh God I wish I had called, I wish I wasn't here. Because I wasn't about to experience my father go off at a woman I was crushing on.. who looked really f****d up to be honest..

"Sir.... I didn't just get in here and stare at the walls... I was busy... I still am busy, now I will get back to your daughter's scans as soon as I can..."

"Dr Omarley.... I am not going..."

"Dad...." I stopped him, I really wanted myself out of here, "this isn't necessary.. She said she'll get back to the scans when she can...."

"Why 'when she can' and not now? You are her patient therefore she should put your well-being first. What if there's something wrong while she's delaying you..."

Somebody shoot my dad.. I know he made a point but I didn't want to be here while Katherine looked like she was about to murder someone. She was so mad yet so torn at the same time.

I caught her giving me thee look I couldn't explain. I held my dad, "she saved my life dad. After we crashed she managed to come and get me out of my car and then...."

My daddy cut me off a bit sharply, "wait... you Said crashed... so she crashed you?"

I shook my head.. Ohh f**k this was getting worse, "Daddy I was crying okay, my vision was blurry... so I didn't see... I just woke up when I crashed into another car which happened to be hers..."

"She should have been watching the road..."

"Mr Phakathi... please leave my office...."

Shocked I looked at Katherine and I swear to God she meant that.

"My daughter is not okay because of your dri....."

My father was cut off by the doctor, "I am not made of steal... I got hurt too Mr Phakathi... and I believe that I shouldn't be the only one to take the blame for this accident.. She was there, she was driving the car too.. I wasn't drunk nor crying.."

My throat felt dry. This couldn't be happening. They couldn't be fighting...

"Shut up both of you....." I yelled a bit louder and my dad said before storming out, "we are leaving..."

"What are you? 12 years old? Bringing your father here to fight your battles?" Katherine said making my heart drop.

I turned to her, "I'm sorry for coming... I won't bother you again.. I'll find another doctor.."

She sighed tirelessly and whispered, "Thandy..."

I shook my head, "goodbye..."

I turned to leave but was surprised when her hand touched mine and she locked the door. "I didn't mean that please......"

"Open the door...."

"I'm sorry ... "

"Open the door Dr Omarley...."

She pulled me closer to her, and held my face with her hands then made me face her, "I'm so sorry.. Look I'm a mess... I didn't call you because I didn't want you to see me like this... I'm a mess..."

"I saw that... but I should leave... coz I shouldn't have been here in the first place.. you never called me so I shouldn't have come..."

I tried to pull away but she held on harder that I ended up making contact with her body... She hugged me and whispered, "you smell so nice... please don't go... please."

I hugged her back but pulled away soon, "I have to... I.... Katherine what you said to my dad.. I know he was out of line but the way you chased him out and what you said to me..."

"I am sorry.... I really am Thandy please...."

I pulled away roughly and managed to be free from her. I turned to the door and just as I held the key about to open in she said something that made me freeze...

"I lost a patient...."

I kept quiet and waited for her to continue and she did, "I... uhm... She died while I was operating... her baby lived and she died...this hasn't happened in a long time but when it does I can't help but blame myself.... I...."

She was blaming her for an operation? That could have gone either way she tried to help the person but it was out of her hands...

"You are a doctor and not God Katherine... it was meant to be. Don't blame yourself..."

I felt her sit down, "it's just that..."

I turned around and looked at her. Her cheeks were red a bit and she was crying, "this is just too much... I'm so sorry... I didn't want you to see me like this..."

I took steps to her. I stood in front of her and hugged her, "it's really not your fault... I'm so sorry you are going through this... but I'm here... I'm here whenever you want to talk.. okay..."

She held on tight, "thank you.. and I'm sorry again...."

Without thinking I rested my index finger on her soft lips, trying by all means to stop her from apologizing.

She got up and hugged me, "you are a good kid..."

Then she slowly pulled away as we stared at each other...

God...

Fuck..

Her lips were so tempting I wanted to kiss her right now and never stop. But I couldn't scare her off like that. Not yet...

To my surprise she leaned in and I did too so slowly as if I wasn't sure what was happening. Was this really about to happen, was she going to kiss me finally...?

She held my chin up making me face her as we both leaned in. Our lips were an inch apart, I swear I could felt her breath on my face. I shut my eyes waiting for her to kiss but to my surprise, her office phone started ringing.

"f**k I'm sorry..." She said before she answered her phone, "Bianca?"

"Mr Phakathi says Thandy should come...."

"Okay she's coming..." then she hung up and looked at the door, "Your father is waiting for you..."

She couldn't even look me in the eyes, it was like we kissed and she regretted it...

I sighed, "Katherine...."

"I'll see you tomorrow.... so bye..."

I furrowed my brows at her and asked myself, "why the f**k isn't she looking at me?"