After I've taken a bath, I started to clean the houses. My father's compound is just like most of the compounds in the village. A large compound with more than two small houses. The houses are either cylindrical (rondavels) or rectangular prisms in shape, with a thatched roof. In my home, there was one rectangular prismed house and two identical rondavels. One rondavel was my room and the other was my parent's room. The large rectangular prismed house had two rooms. One room was my brother's room and the other is the kitchen. All these three houses were pattern decorated with bright colors.
So I cleaned my house and the rectangular prismed house but didn't clean my parent's rondavel.l couldn't clean the yard too, as the sun was hot enough to scald a lizard. After cleaning, I started to cook a simple brown thick porridge mixed with brown beans(semothwane).
I didn't eat, as I didn't have an appetite. l was still very hurt and disappointed about what happened yesterday however l knew that I have to be there for Masego. Not just there but also be happy for her. Regardless of my broken heart, l went to Masego's home.
On my way to Masego's house, as I passed people, l could feel that they are talking about me and what happened in the Amari Royal dance. I'm trying so hard to stay positive as l can.l honestly want to be happy for my friend.
***
Right before I can open the gate.
"Hey, what are you doing", Masego's mother yelled from where she was standing, in front of her house.
l wanted to say that I'm opening the gate, but it seemed disrespectful. So I said" I'm looking for Masego," in a respectful tone.
"On my gate. Are you looking for Masego at my gate? Stand there, l will call her for you. And don't touch my gate. You should never try to enter my compound again. She said in a very harsh tone.
l couldn't believe that Masego's mother was so rude towards me. ln my enter life, this the first time she spoke to me in that manner. She is one of the nicest people that l knew from this village. Maybe she is stressed or perhaps she was offered by the fact that left early from the dance yesterday. I shouldn't have left that early. l should apologize to Masego and her family.
After waiting for a while, l can see Masego approaching the gate.
When she arrived, she looked straight into my eyes, and before I could greet her, she said,
"Zendaya, l don't want to see you here anymore. Don't even attend my wedding ceremony. As I'm your future Queen, you don't want to disobey my words. Zendaya, perhaps you will be queen one day but I'm still going to be first and my son, King of Amari.
l thought that she is pulling my leg, but she didn't even smile, that is when l realized that she is not playing.
" What are you saying", I said and I was confused by her words."We are best..."
Masego interrupted, with a more serious expression."We are not friends and I don't befriend witches. You think l don't know what are you going here. You want to bewitch me because you're jealous. ln, a humorless way, Masego continued, "Zendaya every one knows that you want to be in my place now. To think of it, you will never be in my place. If the reason for you to come here is to convince me to ask my husband, the King to marry you, then you are a fool."
Just like that, Masego left me on that gate. She didn't let me apologize. l thought that yesterday l was broken but today I'm crushed.
After what just happened, l can undoubtedly say that l lost my best friend. She was probably brainwashed, but either way, l lost her. As much as I'm hurt, it is as much as l know that I don't need Masego to be Queen. Yes, she is going queen but that doesn't mean l will not be one. If it's my fate then no one will change it.
That's right, despite the disappointment l still have hope that one day I'm going to be queen. l may be the daughter of a poor common farmer, but one-day l will be the queen.