The last dawn

The Shock

How is this possible? I thought. Fafa and Kofi? I just refuse to believe it, that's a horrible match!

"This might be one of his silly jokes," I said touching her shoulders lightly comfort her.

"I know right?" She asked absentmindedly and it rather sounded rhetorical.

We remained in our shock state for a while with all sorts of thoughts running through my mind. The least said about Fafa's state the better.

"Let's just go home before we get grandma worried," I said remembering how grandma would feel with us gone for some time now. 

 I hardly go out due to grandma's restrictions and due to the people of this village. Most of them see me differently, others see me as an outcast just like how that arrogant jerk Kofi called me earlier.

Kofi, the name alone made me come out of my thoughts.

"Fafa are you okay?" I asked worriedly because I hardly see her like this.

"Kofi's father has lately been visiting my father a lot," She paused as if trying hard to remember an incident "I remember he once called me in-law which nearly made me sick." She said with an awful look on her face. 

"This must be some kind of a sick joke! Joke of the century!" She blurted.

"Yeah, I'm sure it is." Faking a laugh to release the tension created by that jerk.

"Let us go back now, I'll deal with that fool later" We both burst out laughing. I'm glad my Fafa is back from that short exile. That's a relief!

"Let's hurry before the old lady come out in search of us"

"Yeah," I said in agreement.

................................

We walked home talking and making silly jokes about our encounter and the drama we faced earlier. It was really funny and satisfying having to tease her as Kofi's wife and mother of his fifty children.

It's always fun being around Fafa because she has been the only one aside grandma who has given me unconditional love and support throughout my trying times.

I have always been a mockery among my peers since we were kids because of my color. They believe I'm an outcast.

Just kile how Fafa's mother also thinks me an outcast contrary to her daughter. Her father has always been a very strict and stern man even with his kids and wife, which makes Fafa secretly call him a ghost.

He is a no-nonsense man and we don't go close to him until it is necessary. Due to this, I hardly visit Fafa's house. But she spends her entire life in my house which annoys her mother a lot even though there is nothing she can do about it.

We got home and realized that grandma wasn't around. 'Where could she have gone to at this hour of the afternoon?" I asked concerned.

"Relax, I'm sure she's somewhere near," Fafa said calmly. "Grandma! Grandma!"

"What are you doing? Stop shouting!" I whisper yelled getting her to shut up so as not to attract our inquisitive neighbors.

"What?" She asked accusingly

"You'll attract the neighbors." I continued to speak in a low tone.

"Whatever" She just dismissed the warning just like that! Whatever am I to do with this crazy girl? I thought shaking my head.

"Yaa" I turned to see who had mentioned my name. To my dismay, I found out it was one of the neighbors. Great!

"Aunt Maggie" I responded obediently to avoid the spread of gossip. There is no news in this village that goes beyond her ears. She's often referred to as the news of the Ejisu village.

"Your grandma has left for the town square. There is going to be an announcement at the square today." She told us as Fafa and I exchanged surprised looks. I wonder if she's thinking what I'm thinking right now.

"I'm off to the square," Aunt Maggie announced as she turned to leave"You girls should also come along and listen." And with that, she hurriedly left.

"I wonder what announcement it is?" Fafa asked still having the surprised look.

"We better hurry and find out for ourselves," I said for which Fafa nodded in agreement.

We hurried to the square in silence, all the while thinking of the possible announcements. I just pray it has nothing to do with the white men in that big castle.

The walk to the square is approximately a 400-meter walk from my house but it already felt as if we've been walking for 100miles! 

"Finally we are here," Fafa nudged at my side. "Ouch! what was that for?" I asked faking an angry look but being Fafa, she just brushed it off.

"We are here. Just look at the crowd." pointing to the people gathered in the middle of the square.

"How can we get past that crowd?" I asked

"Let's fly to over their heads to the center," replied with sarcasm and I just gave her the 'go to hell' look.

"Of course we can't, except to either go back home or wait here till the messenger finishes with the announcement and then hear it from the people." She said pissed off with the fact that we can't get past the crowd.

"For once you make a whole lot of sense!" I exclaimed and then run for my dear life, I know she wouldn't spare me this time.

"Hey! get back here you little imp!" " I'll skin you alive today" as she chased me about the square.

People just looked on with bored because they're tired of our childish behaviors always. I finally settled on the fallen log at the far end of the square where we normally hang around.

"I'll get you next time," she panted as she settled beside me on the log. "Better luck next time," I said sticking out my tongue playfully at her.

"What do you think the announcement is about?" I asked after a while.

"I have no idea, we have more than two full moons to go before the festival and so it wouldn't be that," She replied.

We sat there in silence until we saw the people dispersing and whispering to each other. This has better be good. Most of the people have an indifferent look, others have surprised looks that made me wonder what the announcement was.

"Fafa! Fafa!" 

Oh God, that's the last person I wish to see right now. "Not her again," I said to Fafa slowly as Ama approached.

"I'll handle her don't worry."She reassured me.

Ama and Fafa have been very good friends at childhood until she one day insulted me which made Fafa give her the worst beatings ever. Since then, she has avoided me especially when Fafa is around.

"You won't believe what the announcement is about?" She said breathlessly

Girls and gossip, well this time around I also want to listen.

"Do you know that the next to be king, nephew of Nana Prempeh "I" is getting married soon?" She said clasping her hands excited about the news.

"Kofi?" Fafa and I asked in unison while exchanging a knowing look.

"Yes of course! Who else?" Ama said rolling her eyes.

"The wedding ceremony would take place on the next festival, that's two full moons away from now," She continued.

"I wonder who the lucky girl is, the queen of Great Ejisu, wow that'll be awesome!" 

I wonder what's awesome about being a queen or marrying an arrogant jerk. Ewwww! I thought.

Just then Fafa started coughing hysterically. 

"Fafa are you okay?" I asked patting her back to prevent her from choking.

"Are you okay?" Ama also asked concerned about Fafa's state.

"I'm fine, I'm fine" she forced out after she recovered from the cough."Yaa please let's go home,"

We raised to leave when Ama asked "I hope all is well with you?" "Won't you say anything about what I just told you?" She continued.

I was about replying to her when Fafa pulled on my arm to signal for us to leave. We left the confused Ama there beside the log and headed to my house.

"Are you sure you're okay? Let's..." I was then interrupted

"I'm sure she'll be fine." We both turned to meet the arrogant jerk with his ugly smirk on.

"What are you doing here?" Fafa asked angered by his presence.

"Is it forbidden to speak to the future queen of the great kingdom of Ejisu?" He continued when he saw our awestruck faces.

"I warned you earlier, didn't I?" He asked with a sense of triumph in his voice.

"You are officially mine now."