"I don't blame her too." I said. "She has every right to be scared for her life. Look at poor Sona, his was just taken away from him just like that." "But I will try my best again to talk to her tomorrow at the well." Uma said. "Thank you." I responded. "Don't say thank you. Bring me the corn that Yoké owes me." "You'll never get it." Yoké told him. "Rena, do you see the man that you would like to marry one day? He doesn't even know how to return things he owes." "In brotherhood there is no owing." Yoké told him. "Anyway, you two are not even afraid to sit here like this after everything that happened. I told you two not to sit like this. You two are something else." Yoké got up and went inside his hut. "So, when are you going to confess your love to Gamu?" I teased him. "Never. I don't love her." Yoké came back with a flute and sat back down next to me. "I thought you would have changed your mind by now." "No way. I need someone that will love me more than an
We didn’t wake up at the crow of the rooster. When we heard it Yoké drew me closer to him. “Don’t mind that rooster.” He continued his sleep with his arms wrapped across my chest. I smiled and snuggled into his arms. After a little while I was woken by someone’s looming image over us. I opened my eyes, and it was Uma. He had his hands to his waist, and he was shaking his head. I smiled and attempted to sit up, that’s when Yoké woke up. “Are you forgetting that we go farm every morning at the cry of the cock.” Uma was asking Yoké. “Or was the cock not loud enough this morning?” Yoké laughed. “Rena, ignore him.” He laid back down on the sleeping mat with his arm covering his eyes. “So today you are not going?” I asked him. “He can’t not go. The last time he didn’t go too. We do not want the elders to start keeping their eyes on him.” “Rena come here.” Yoké drew out his hands. “And the last time you didn’t go because of Rena too. That day that Furah asked you to take ca
When we got to the turn which leads back to the huts, she did not take it. I didn’t ask her. I continued following behind her. She was not saying anything, not even looking back. “Gamu…” She did not respond. Did not even stop walking. “The way to the huts is the other way. Where are we going?” “To the river. She said before you come you must first bath.” "Did you bring my things?” I asked her. She looked back at me and rolled her eyes. I didn’t ask her anything after that. When we got to the river I bathed and changed into the same clothes I wore yesterday as it turned out, she didn’t bring anything for me. After that we went to the well and she filled two buckets with water, picked them up in each hand and then started to leave. She left the other bucket, and I knew what that meant. I’ve never taken water from the well before, but I’ve watched them draw water countless times, so I had an idea. I used the handle and released the bucket into the well and watched it as
We sat around the wooden table eating the delicious vegetables that Gamu had made. As we ate in awkward silence I was only thinking of one thing: Furah’s last words. Each time I looked across the table toward her I was sure that maybe I had misunderstood her. She did not look like the person I was with in that chamber. She did not look like the person that told me what she had just said to me. The chief on the other hand wore an unshakable frown that I knew oh-so-well. I would always wonder how one person could hate me so much that he refused to speak whenever I was around but today, I finally understood his hate. He hated me for trying to take his daughter’s place in their life. He hated me for sleeping in his daughter’s chamber and wearing her clothes. Perhaps I brought back the memories of his beloved daughter each day. Being called by her name each day… I understood his anger, it was pain. I suddenly remembered that Yoké had asked me to come back to him. He had to know what Fura
“Why are you talking as if you support this ceremony?” I asked him. He looked at me. “I don’t. And you know that.” “So why aren’t you supporting me?” “Because it’s you, Genesis. I know how dangerous what you want to do is. I don’t want your life in danger. You only have one of it.” I sighed and looked away. “Especially that they don’t consider you one of us, they won’t even want to listen to you. It would be like just showing all of them that you are a threat and then watching them try to eliminate that threat in the village.” “I won’t be alone. I will try to gather as much villagers as possible. If my life means nothing in front of the elders, the rest of the villagers’ life will mean something.” “Don’t do this to me Genesis.” Yoké covered his face with his hands. “Please.” “Besides, Furah said she already knew a few people whose family had died the same way and probably wouldn’t mind joining.” “Genesis I know our elders very well. I know how serious they are about keep
Shortly after we got to the well, Uma showed up with two buckets. When I saw him with two buckets, I already knew that Yoké would not be coming to the well and I knew the reason very well. "How are you, Rena?" Uma asked me as he got close to us. Gamu was busy filling up our first bucket. Uma only greeted me, and I really didn't want to upset Gamu in any way before it made matters worse than they already were. I had to find a way to make them two speak to each other. "I'm good Uma. How are you?" "I'm well, just a little tired. They assigned me to uproot the weeds today. That's the worst task at the farm." "Gamu, let Uma fetch water for us." Gamu looked at Uma, but Uma looked away. "Will you?" Gamu asked him. "Or are you too tired?" Uma did not reply, just looked back at me. "Won't you ask me about your Yoké?" It was such an awkward moment, and I had to answer Uma back to cut that moment short. "Where's Yoké anyway?" I asked him after a gulp I'm sure they all heard. "I
When we were about to reach the hut Gamu suddenly stopped. "Rena, Furah is there, help me put this bucket on my head quickly." I looked toward our hut, and I saw Furah seated outside the hut. We stopped and I helped her quickly lift one of the buckets on her head. "You didn't even put a wrapper." I told her. "Your hair will become sandy." She then carried the other two buckets in each hand, and we continued. "Rena." Furah called me once we reached her. "Yes Furah." "Let's go, I was waiting for you." When we were away from the hut I looked back and saw Gamu standing and watching us. "Where are we going?" "Where the uprising will begin." She said. "I found someone who agreed to have us in their hut for any discussions based on the uprising." My heart lit up. "Who was it?" "Sona's mother." We walked a little while more and then reached the hut. Furah clapped thrice. "Who seeks me?" A woman's voice answered. "It is I, the chieftess." We heard scurrying and then
Even though I couldn’t sleep, I resisted the temptation to run to Yoké and tell him everything. I kept thinking about what happened. I couldn’t believe that Abu was finally getting his way. Why did I keep provoking him knowing very well that he actually had the ability to do this to me? Maybe if I had made him believe that I liked him too, I could have asked him to not talk to his father. I wished I had listened to Yoké when he told me that I should act like there was nothing going on between the two of us so that we do not upset Abu. Why didn’t I just listen? This was all my fault. I don’t know how long it took but after much more regretful thoughts I finally fell asleep. After a short while I was woken up again by Gamu’s rattling and moving around in the house. I laid awake for a little while longer and then got up when I heard Gamu coming towards my chamber. It was now time to go to the river. When we got to the river Gamu didn’t wait for me to finish bathing like she normally did
Brian looked back at me sadly. “Ma’am I’m really sorry.” He replied. “I can’t do that. We’ve received strict orders from your father to return with you. The whole country is awaiting your return.” “Please.” I begged him. “I’m sorry ma’am.” I turned to Malcomore. “I’m begging you.” “The boss is in front, I have no right to do anything I’m not ordered.” “I need him, I’m carrying his child.” “I’m sorry ma’am.” He told me. “If it were up to me I would let you stay since you are pregnant and maybe keep supplying you with proper food, water and clothes every week but it’s not up to me-“ “Malcomore do you want to walk all the way back to Duran?” Nathan asked him. “No sir.” “Then shut the hell up.” Nathan said. “She’s my fiancée. Not some village girlfriend.” “Forgive me sir.” Malcomore responded. “She’s still my fiancée.” Nathan replied. “We’ll fix it when we get home. She’ll remember everything soon again when she sees a doctor.” “How do you fix pregnancy?” Brian mumbled under
“You have to go with them. I'll go to Kuja village. Gamu is right.” “No. What are you saying, Yoké?" I shook my head at him” “We will both run to Kuja village then.” “Please stay safe. I’m leaving now.” Gamu said quickly. “Bye Rena…” She turned to leave hastily. “Gamu.” Yoké called her. She turned back again. “Thank you.” He told her. “Just forgive me for what I’ve done and take care of this baby. Although I still can’t believe you two.” “We will.” Yoké said turning to me. “Bye Rena.” Gamu said. “Bye, friend.” I replied. She gave me a small smile, turned and left us. “We will take care of this child. You'll leave with the Durans.” Yoké told me. “If you go to Kuja village you won’t be able to hide your pregnancy for too long. Soon they will start noticing and might suspect us. I don’t want to put our baby in danger.” “Baby?” Francis asked me. “Genesis are you pregnant?” I looked up at him and he was holding a camera towards us with one hand and the other hand holding his u
“How could you do this to us, Gamu?” I asked slapping my hands over my mouth as soon as I saw the people she was with. “I’m so sorry Rena..." Gamu told me. She was trembling with fear and shaking her head. Her hair and clothes were damp and her feet were covered in mud. “You’re sorry?” Yoké asked her angrily stepping out of the hut leaving me at the door. “I’m so sorry but I really had to do this.” Gamu told Yoké.I looked over at the Durans. They were standing with umbrellas and watching me. They were four. It was the same three people that had come the last time plus one more. The new man was a tall brunette and was wearing a black suit. He looked so superior compared to the others. For a second I thought it was my father but he was too young to be my father. He looked in his late 20's. When he saw me his eyes Popped.“Genesis?” The man said taking a step forward towards me. “Genesis Leticia Roseburg…” I looked back at Gamu. “Why did you bring them here, Gamu?"“Because you have
I shook my head and more tears fell that he couldn’t catch in time. “We’ll both stay out of it.”“Without you everyone will back out, I will do everything in my power to keep the group together. And they won’t even know that you are not with us because I will lead them on the cliff and I will speak in your place.”“Our baby will need her father too.”Yoké hugged me and began running his fingers through me hair. “Yes she does but she needs her mother more.”He tried to comfort me as I cried in his arms. “Don’t do this to me Yoké.”“If the uprising fails, just promise me that our child will always be safe and happy, that you will give her so much love to make up for mine.”“Stop saying things like this.”He loosened his hug but I did not want to let him go. I couldn’t even imagine my life without Yoké. How miserable would I be? What happiness would I reflect on to my child if my own source of happiness was to be taken away from me forever?He tried to loosen my arms gently and when he sa
Despite the grave trouble I knew I could get into if I was caught sneaking out again, I left the hut and walked to Yoké’s hut. I was trembling, not because of the cold but because of fear. The fear of telling Yoké about my pregnancy and the decision that I have made.When I got to his hut I entered without clapping. He was seated on his bed and painting with the little light from the oil lamp. When he saw me enter he looked up at me with a frown.“Genesis?”I nodded. I was still shaking in fear. He abandoned his wooden board on the bed and came towards me.“What’s wrong?” He asked me taking me into his arms.“I’m pregnant Yoké.” I told him. Even hearing myself say it suddenly scared me.“What?” Yoké asked stepping away from me and looked at me.“I’m pregnant Yoké.” I told him again.“How?”I couldn’t believe my ears. “What do you mean how?”“How do you even know?”“The witch doctor.”Yoké placed his hands on his head and just looked at me, he looked blown away, like he had just heard t
At night the lightning and thunder continued but the rain had stopped. Despite the grave trouble I knew I could get into if I was caught sneaking out again, I left the hut and walked to Yoké’s hut. I was trembling, not because of the cold but because of fear. The fear of telling Yoké about my pregnancy and the decision that I have made. When I got to his hut I entered without clapping. He was seated on his bed and painting with the little light from the oil lamp. When he saw me enter he looked up at me with a frown.“Genesis?”I nodded. I was still shaking in fear. He abandoned his wooden board on the bed and came towards me.“What’s wrong?” He asked me taking me into his arms.“I’m pregnant Yoké.” I told him. Even hearing myself say it suddenly scared me.“What?” Yoké asked stepping away from me and looked at me.“I’m pregnant Yoké.” I told him again.“How?”I couldn’t believe my ears. “What do you mean how?”“How do you even know?”“The witch doctor.”Yoké placed his hands on his h
In the evening I couldn’t even eat the food in front of me. I just kept crying.“Why does this girl keep sobbing like this?” The chief asked Furah.Furah just shrugged.“Maybe she’ll miss this hut.” The chief chuckled. “Well, all good things come to an end.”I got up and left the table.“Where are you going?” Furah asked me.I didn’t respond just kept walking toward the exit.“Rena I asked you, where are you going?”I stopped and looked back at her.“I’m going to sit outside the hut.”“Why?”“Fresh air.”“Okay,” Furah said and then turned to Gamu. “Go sit with her. Make sure she stays close to the hut.”“So what’s this?” I asked her. “You are treating me like a prisoner…”“In fact I should have done this ever since you set foot in this hut.”The chief was just looking at us. He looked a little lost.I left the hut and sat on the bench outside. The other younger girls were playing with the rope. They kept laughing and screaming.“Rena what’s going on with you?” Gamu asked me. “Is everyt
The witch doctor had white drawings on her face, arms and legs. She looked cross for some reason, as if someone had angered her. She did not even get up to greet Furah like everyone else normally did whenever they saw her. Instead she remained seated and continued looked up at the ceiling after we entered her little hut. I looked up too but saw nothing, just straw. The hut did not look welcoming at all, there were carvings of faces which looked oh-so angry. Those carvings hung on the walls of the hut and some were on the floor against the walls. “We greet you.” Furah told the woman. The woman began nodding and didn’t stop. Furah and I exchanged looks. I frowned. Everything about this woman was so strange. “Sit down.” The woman told us, still nodding. I followed Furah closely and sat side by side with her in front of the witch doctor. We then continued watching the woman nod.“What is she doing?” I whispered to Furah. “Shh.” Furah told me quickly. The woman all of a sudden stoppe
“How long have I been an elder?” Elder Ke asked his grand-daughter, Tera.“Since before I was even born.” She scoffed. “About 40 years already.”“Exactly.” Elder Ke responded. “No one will have to act as the bait. I know exactly how to do it. Just tell me when and we’ll do it.”I was so happy. I felt like running to him and giving him a big hug! But obviously I couldn’t do that. Why did I even feel that way?People resumed their cheering, some whistled and some clapped. As everyone rejoiced my eyes caught Uma. He was looking at Gamu. People were still around her praising her. That look Uma had on his face was not of anger and detestation it was of approval and satisfaction. I couldn’t believe my eyes. I wanted to signal Yoké to see what I was seeing but he was too happy to notice.After a while everyone settled down again.“So exactly which laws are we changing?” Kaloy asked us.“The beheading law, of cause, the proposal law and is there any more that’s reasonable to change?” I asked t