The warm summer air left Ayooh in a joyful mirth as she lay in that wide and beautiful meadow in the late morning, the cool breeze blowing past left her giggling as it blew through her skirts naughtily, she didn’t mind though, it felt nice, not as good as he always left her feeling but enough for her to imagine it all over again. She had chosen a nice spot just beside the river for their rendezvous meet, Joromi had said he wished to see her seriously, she knew he had a surprise for her, he had been hinting at doing something special for her soon, she never really hang so much on it but now that he mentioned it she was rippling with anxiety unsure of what he had planned for them. She was a bit scared that maybe he wished to propose to her, not that it was a bad thing, she just wasn’t ready for that yet, heck she was almost sure she didn’t want such a heavy commitment, it just wasn’t her thing, plus she knew so well she would have made a terrible wife, but she also knew he would have loved her either way.
In his small manyatta, rushed preparations filled the air as he struggled to get ready, it wasn’this intention to keep her waiting but he had to wait till his father took off so he wouldn’t go around prying, especially with the ongoing preparations for his betrothal to a certain Lucia, the king’s daughter from the next village. His father, the king of his village wasn’t ready to let down on the Idea of his son marrying from a lowly family, maintenance of royal blood ties, that was the point. He wasn’t at all for this idea. He loved her, Ayooh, actually he adored her… she wasn’t so odd but she still had her way with warming his heart without trying, she wasn’t at all perfect, more like a mess that weirdly brought him all together, he almost broke at the idea of losing her but he also didn’t want to go as far as defying his father. It would smear gravely on their family, tarnishing the whole idea of the great Bigambo legacy, and all for love? He found himself torn against family and love, brought asunder by the thought of having to shove one down the shitter. He had been struggling with this for a while, he knew it would break her, he thought of how purely she loved him, how she gave her all but also one with dreams to fly high someday. He needed that, stability, she was his. She held him down and gave him a sense to live with, all that would be lost should he choose responsibility over her.
His father, the great Bigambo had made it clear that he was never to entertain the idea of his sons marrying anyone who wasn’t from royalty. His elder brother had defied the king once after choosing to elope with his male lover two seasons back. Their father was just about to hand down his throne to him when he sprung out with this. It left him shocked and untrusting, he felt almost a helpless failure, the only thing holding him together was the idea that his only other son was going to continue in his reign and do it right. So a wife seemed a good idea to keep him tied from exploring his way into this world of many crazies. He knew he had to be fast before his son got distracted by something out there, who knows what you meet in this sea, he was also terrified that maybe Joromi had his own wishes against this marriage but he knew it would take him a while to grow the balls to face him, so for the past few weeks he had kept stern and distant with him so that gleam of hope in his eyes would disappear. He wasn’t one to force misery on his own son but he also feared for what he would leave behind, an alliance with the other kingdom would guarantee more security and wealth for him, that was enough to keep that shard at the edge of his heart from scratching deeper, he almost felt cruel sometimes, but a kingdom required strength, not love. Otherwise a fall would soon be his itch, he wouldn’t budge.
As he walked towards where she sat waiting for him, he wanted to run, he had been keeping this from her for long enough now and he still hadn’t mastered the wits to tell her about it, he could hear her singing from a far, and the soft tunes and coos did well to calm his almost bursting chest. For a moment he stood behind a tree and watched her as she toyed playfully by the stream, her giggles stretching far and out so beautifully he had to smile, she looked so beautiful and composed, patiently waiting even though he had kept her a while now, unfettered by his poor timing and seemingly just happy with the idea of seeing him. He hated himself for what he was about to do, he knew hers was a love so innocent, you know that kind that just loves without fear and prejudice or questions, just one so beautiful he was so lucky for such. But with every step he took towards her, he could hear his father’s words reverberating through his head, “a kingdom requires strength, not love”.
Now just a few steps away, he called to her, turning to face him, she smiled so warmly and lovingly he loathed himself for even thinking about leaving her. Dropping to his knees, tears flow from his eyes and he finds himself seeking comfort in her arms regardless of how weak that made him appear. Drawing him closer to her, Ayooh wondered what was troubling Joromi, she prayed silently that all was well as she held him gently against her chest, letting him weep, he seemed to need it. Moments later, Joromi finally gathers himself and pours his heart out to her, leaving nothing out, he gives her the whole truth and his final verdict, it wasn’t an easy choice for him, but he had made up his mind, after all, every man must choose a path sooner or later in life, and Joromi had taken his.
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