4.

It was the beginning of the school year and I was looking forward to meeting my classmates and hoping to be in the same room as them, especially Jessy and Patrick because these two people were my best friends.

We had made the second scientific and we had succeeded to go to the first scientific.

I was supposed to be in the second scientific year but I didn't know about them because we hadn't seen each other since.

    I got to school and it was the big rally. I went to slip into the crowd and when we were done, I went to my room and saw Patrick and Jessy and other people from the previous year who had chosen the same major as me. I was so happy.

 

- I didn't see you guys in the rows!

 

- JESSY: Kaberaaaa! We are lucky to be together again!

 

- You are so right!

 

    Our reunion went very well.

I had decided to make an effort on my school dress style. I sewed myself a really nice outfit. At first, I wore sneakers with it but as time went on, I found myself putting on ballet flats at least twice a week. The money I had earned during the vacations had helped me a lot with shopping.

 

    I hadn't seen Ariel in three months and to be honest, I missed him so much. I had overheard him telling his uncle that his sister was going to continue her education in college. But, that didn't stop me from looking for her from time to time at the high school to annoy her a little, just to see her brother again.

 

    So it was Christmas break and my friends and I decided to go shopping.

Jessy was with her boyfriend, and Patrick and I were without anyone. We were single and to be honest, the thought of being in a relationship was already on my mind but it was something I had never experienced. I was afraid I wouldn't be good at it, I wasn't sure how couples worked.

 

    We went to a large clothing store. I had a budget of 60,000 CFA francs and I was going to buy a pair of jeans with a good sneaker, a t-shirt and a few things for the house.

When we entered the store, I almost peed on myself because everything was so expensive.

I bought a small t-shirt and bought the "okok" in another corner of the market, along with all the ingredients and went home. The others stayed, just to visit a bit.

I wanted to have a lot of money to celebrate. I was seventeen years old, wasn't I? The age when we like to dance, to be in the company of our loved ones before the world of work comes to eat up our time.

 

    The next day was Sunday. During the evening, I prepared my shoot, the dishes, etc.

The next day, I woke up very early and put the pot on the fire.

By 9 o'clock, I was already at the market.

Many people were working there because it was the holiday season and when you work a lot, you get hungry and eat. So I was sure that I was going to sell everything and I sold everything after 5 hours. "The okok?" One of the favorite dishes of Cameroonians!

 

    Before going home, I went to a store to buy a pair of pants because I already had the t-shirt.

I went home very happy and I told my mother that she should leave the children at the neighbor's house from time to time so that we would have less money worries. She went to make arrangements with the neighbor and I stayed with my brothers and sisters. My father was at work.

When my mother came back, I went to the kitchen and I made another "okok" but a very small quantity because my mother had already made food and what I was doing was not for the people at home but for Ariel.

Yes, I had decided to go see him.

I wasn't sure what he would say or think. Would he be angry? Would he be upset that I went to his house without telling him?

I was afraid! I was afraid that he would think badly of me with this gesture; that he would think that I loved him or that I was easy... Handsome as he was, several girls were running after him and I was aware of that and I didn't want him to take me for those girls!

At the last minute, I changed my mind and stayed home for fear of making a fool of myself.

A few days later, I was at the market selling and that day I had sold during the evening. It was two days before December 25.

While the customers were eating, a man approached me.

 

- Can we talk please! My name is Rodrigue!

 

- Good evening Rodrigue. Uh yes of course!

 

- Thank you for your time. What is your first name? The best seller of "okok" in the market.

 

- Haha thank you. My name is Kabera.

 

- You are very pretty!

 

    He was a man in his early twenties. He was not very handsome, nor ugly. He was in the middle.

 

- In fact, I used to eat here...

 

- Yes, yes,' I know!

 

- And I think you are a good person. I'd like to get to know you.'

 

    I admit I was flattered but to be honest, I wasn't interested. He was cool but there was no chemistry. I didn't want him to waste his time so I told him I wasn't interested because telling a man that you want to get to know him too makes him already think that he'll get you

I was on the other side of the table with him and we were talking and looking at each other. All of a sudden, I heard:

 

- Good evening, a dish please!

 

    Oh my God, it was Ariel.

 

    He put both hands on the table and looked at us.

 

- Good evening, okay I'll serve you!

 

    I went to serve him and continued my discussion with Rodrigue who only insisted that I give him my number.

 

- Well, give me your number then, please...

 

- I don't have a phone, I'm sorry.

 

    I have to admit, he was already looking pretty bad. I took out the pen I was using to write in my notebook and gave it to him to write down his number and he did.

Ariel just stood there looking at us without saying anything.

This guy was a natural. I couldn't believe he was sitting there on a stool eating with the others.

 

    Everyone finished and left, but he stayed and helped me put things away without saying a word. He was too mysterious and not very talkative.

 

- Thank you very much for what you do.

 

    He didn't answer. He looked at the table and he took my little bag that was on it and then he took out the sheet of paper where Rodrigue's number was and he tore it up.

 

- What are you doing?

 

    He approached me slowly, looking me straight in the eyes and he said:

 

- My birthday is tomorrow!

 

    He took out an invitation and gave it to me, then he turned and left.

 

- And you're telling me this today?

 

    When I said that, he turned to me and said:

 

- It normally starts at 6pm but since you're still a baby, come a little earlier so you can get home early. Have a nice evening!

 

    What was I supposed to say? Didn't I put the invitation in my bag and go home alone without him accompanying me? In any case, he didn't have to.

I was already positioning my rickshaw to push when he returned.

 

- ARIEL: Here's your money!

 

- Thank you.

 

    I waited until he was far away to count and it was 30,000 fcfa. I was really happy...

And to think that I had even forgotten that he had not paid? And I must admit that if he hadn't, I wouldn't have reminded him to do so.

The_following_day...

 

    What I liked was the freedom I had. My parents trusted me completely as long as I came home before a certain time and I did everything I could not to disappoint them. I didn't get into trouble with men, I didn't drink, I didn't smoke, and as far as delinquency was concerned, I had stopped a bit. It's true that at school I was always hard, but as I said, it had gone down.

 

    So it was December 24, his birthday. I got up early and got ready. I put on my jean pants, t-shirt and sneakers that I had bought for the party. I got on the bike and stopped at the market to buy a small gift before taking a cab to his house.

 

    I rang the bell and a man in a suit opened the door...

 

- Yes, hello. What can I do for you?

 

- Uh, I'm here for Mr. Ariel's birthday party. Here is the invitation!

 

    I showed him the ticket but he looked at me strangely as if to say "This one is from the village?

 

- Come on in!

 

- Thanks a lot!

 

    Oh my goodness! I had never seen this kind of house in real life. It was the kind you only saw on TV.

The yard was huge with lawns, flowers and trees. There were couches outside with big umbrellas on top to protect yourself in case of rain or hot weather.

It was just amazing!

I arrived on the porch, went upstairs and rang the bell.