Phagadi’s voice saying “Promise me you will be strong!” replayed over and over in my head.

I saw her face, with her eyes filled with tears while she was saying “Promise me! promise me!”

My thoughts were interrupted by Mam’Gladys’ voice, “Kedibone, I brought you some food,”

“I don’t wanna eat.” I replied.

I didn’t eat, but I dragged myself to the kitchen to help Mam’Gladys.

She told me to rest, but I told her to rest because she was in pain and I was just upset. After doing the dishes, I walked to the garden and smelled a fresh breeze of flowers while listening to the song the air was singing in silence, and looked around the beautiful garden. It was a whole new world filled with peace! I walked and ran around the garden while playing “Nice to meet you” with the flowers and introducing myself tothem.

I was still in my school uniform, and when I turned around, I found Sibusiso staring at me. I wanted to quickly make my way out of the garden when he asked, “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Tell you? Tell you what?” I surprisingly asked while turning around to face him.

“Everything!” he said.

“Everything? What’s everything?” I rumbled and mumbled.

“There’s no need to deny it, ok? I now know everything.” he said while sitting down on one of the benches.

“But, if you know everything, why are you asking me to tell you everything? Actually, what’s this everything you think you know?” I said, going to sit down with him.

“For starters, I know why you agreed to the arranged marriage idea. I also know what happened today on your way to school, and why you’re white” he said.

I stood up, looked him in the eyes, and told him “I’m not white, I’m coloured, and you know nothing about me.”

He held my hand and said “Mam’Gladys heard us arguing, and when I left your room, she sat me down and told me everything. Tony also called to tell me what happened this morning. I’m sorry I’ve been giving you a hard time while you already have so much going on. I’m such a jerk, and I said I could use a friend when you first got here, but I haven’t been a good one lately. So, from now on you can always count on me.”

“Oh God, what happened to him,” I thought to myself. He was now the same Sibusiso as the one who took the broken glasses that day, and he even smiled. I was deep in my thoughts when he interrupted me by saying, “I know you didn’t have a say in the arranged marriage thing because I saw you crying during diner time the day of the traditional ceremony.”

I thought no one saw me, everyone was focused on food and sharing a good laugh.

He went on to say, “From today onwards, I will make you cry no more, and while I’m still home, I will drive you to school to make sure you are safe. If I’m not around, I will get someone to do that. Promise me one thing,” Before I even asked what, he said “Promise me you will focus on your school work and pass your matric in record time.”

That was a hard thing to pledge, “What if things get tough and I can’t keep up with the pace? What if…?”

He interrupted me again, saying, “There must be no room for failure, and you will tackle everything coming your way because you are strong, smart, hardworking and a fast learner.”

Tell us: Why did Sbu have a sudden change of heart about Kedibone?