Leseli went back to her room feeling a little disappointed in herself. She could have taken this chance, besides she had no friends here or people to talk to. She was so deep in her thoughts that she did not notice Petro and his companion as she hurried to her room.
Hungry..... Yes Hungry.
first thing she did when she entered her was to unpackage the food Mr Shale handed to her earlier . "Yummy!" she said as she inhaled the fragrance of the food. mh....home!
That very single thought brought tears to her eyes, she tried pushing them back to no avail. She took a mouthful of Nyekoe [1] feeling drops of tears on he arm. Just when she was about to relax and enjoy her meal she heard a knock on her door...
"Oh God!!Who could it be?" ... looking around the house, she couldn't figure anything she could use in self-defence should need arise...nothing!!
Damn!! looks like she is out of luck....only her little fists and some yelling could do.
She forgot the tears that were on her cheeks and opened the door, four men and one lady stood outside her room looking at her in bewilderment... She forced her racing heart to calm down first: "Hello, how may I help you?"
"Are you Leseli from Phomolong?" the man who looked more mature asked in Sesotho....
"Of course. and who is asking?"
"Come on!!are you inspiring to be a doctor or a detective? Perhaps you confused the two." exclaimed one lad who looked pompous and rich because of the look around his face and the way he carried himself around others.
"My apologies, please do come in."
After being offered a seat they introduce themselves. Mr Makhasane was an elder who asked if she was Lesedi. He looked very mature and strict.
The arrogant one was Mr Fako, he was from one of the richest families back home. He gave Leseli more information than she needed. "..if Ms Leseli didn't look too young, I'd be glad to be her roommate. but looking at you, you never played 'papali ea kalaneng' [2].
"... He is way too much. I wonder if he got here on his own merits."Les thought to herself as she smiled calmly.
The third one said he was Mr Semano; he didn't talk too much, but he looked like the kind of person one should never mess with. He looked young but had stern lines on his forehead....
Scary!!! (it was all Les could make out of his expression and the stiff way he talked.)
The woman was Mrs Sepiriti. She was here in Cuba with her husband and child. it was her final year; so she said. She looked calm, and had no display of emotions on her face.
After the brief introduction, they told her that two were missing; "The crazy Rethabile ran off to some street dancing and Lerato is in her room. Be careful to never cross roads with her; she has a sharp tongue and a lying tongue, however the former is a real joker.... I think he is more suitable being a clown rather than a doctor." Mr Makhasane said with a weak smile.
"...Although I understand there is still time to get acquainted, do tell us little Leseli, how did you manage to get here?" Crazy Fako asked smiling oddly.
"That's still a mystery even to myself Mr Fako."
"Quit being the king of gossip Fako." Mrs Sepiriti hissed.
"Uhh...what can I do? I can't help my curiosity whenever I hear some juicy content." Fako grinned childishly.
"Weird." Leseli thought. "He is stuck between childhood and maturity."
They told her they would visit with the others the following day as they were busy at the moment, and left.
Alone at last. The little girl thought .
She looked at her bedroom, she hadn't unpacked because she was awaiting for the two days period.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Two days passed by. Les had one friend, Petro, who came by regularly to check on her and give her Spanish lessons. Leseli would try to give him Sesotho lessons as well.
When results were announced, Leseli was amongst the top four.... She ranked number two. She felt content, recalling how disoriented she was that day.
Lectures resumed. Little Leseli felt so under water....not because of schoolwork, but because she was reluctant to make random friends, always careful of what others said and always alone. Six months into school, she was named Solo girl.
She chatted with her parents often, and always made sure that they were doing well. They were slowly getting acquainted to the new technology although her father would argue that his wife spends much time pressing the keyboard than feeding him.
living alone was something she could handle but not all the load it came with. "I wish growing up came with a user's manual," she complained as she woke thirty minutes before her lab.
With her schedule, she never had a chance to meet the other two students from Lesotho. it was lonely, but since she had no time to put her mind on it; she easily forgot. She spend most of her time sleeping. her slender body was becoming thinner, Petro often gave her a lesson or two. In his eyes, she never cared about food. one day as he was busy lecturing her in the restaurant, he saw a tear rolling down her delicate cheek.
Petro was petrified. He thought his words had somehow hurt his friend....the little said "Lonely!"
"What's lonely Les."
"Eating alone Petro. Do you know that is whenever I have a meal reality settles in!I'm alone, bored and miss my family. However I have to endure to pursue my dreams."
"Hmk... thinking this deep is so much unlike you Les. has something been bothering you?"
Leseli looked at the drumstick in her plate and said: "This chicken is lucky. it's mysteries are gone. do you know how it feels like being the only foreign girl who had no bridging course? some of the students here have prior knowledge. I struggle a lot on my work. it's too heavy...." She shrugged her shoulders as if she was carrying a load on her shoulders. " Its tough on me Petro."
"But is it worth it?"
"Totally. As the only child in my family, I have to bring light and hope to my parents who have invested their life in me."
"Ohk Les. I think you are worrying for no reason. care less about gossips said behind your back. your grades are so good, you are one of the top students in your class, even the great surgeon Obsessor has agreed to take you in for practicals. Be content and keep working hard."
The two continued their meal. Petro'swife couldn't understand the type of girl Leseli was to spend more time with their struggling family than other students. She knew her husband was a gentle soul, but had no idea how they became friends. soon she was used to having Leseli around. She felt at ease anytime they went around the city....at least he was never drunk, or home late.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Leseli went home once annually. Besides the fact that it was too expensive to buy plane tickets, she also had to attend practicals in an actual hospital. She never gained any weight... and remained a gentle girl who rarely smiled.
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1. A vegetarian dish made from soghurm, beans and pumpkin cooked together.
2. to be physically intimate