The Mysterious Prince

26. Birthday girl

26.

𝕬𝖉𝖊𝖑𝖆𝖎𝖉𝖊 𝕯𝖑𝖆𝖒𝖎𝖓𝖎

It's been a week since I was stuck in London. I've enjoyed the beautiful scenery of London and spent most of my time accompanying Milly shopping. She's been shopping for the baby while I,the mother, haven't even bought a sock. I'm just feeling overwhelmed, but today is my birthday, so I hope my day is going to be as beautiful as me.

I woke up around four am. and posted a picture of me, which I took yesterday and captioned, 'Cheers to more life full of surprises'. I don't look pregnant on the picture and I think I'll reveal my pregnancy to my followers on my my nineth month when my bump is visible,hopefully otherwise they'll just see the pictures of the little prince once he's born.

My door opens while I'm on Instagram and commenting to people who commented under my posts and those who tagged me or mentioned me. Some have already sent flowers to my workplace while some send me vouchers. Beauty vouchers,shopping vouchers, you name it.

"Happy birthday to you,Happy birthday to you,Happy birthday, Azibo's mom..." Qhawe continues singing. He's been calling my baby Azibo. Who's Azibo? I'm not Azibo's mom.

"Make a wish." He is done singing in his not so terrible voice, and he hands me the cupcake with a one lit candle on it. I take it from him and blow off the fire. It reminds me of when I was still a child and Asante would bring one of the cupcakes she baked for me with a candle. She loved celebrating, and little things mattered to her. She was so down to Earth.

"What did you wish for?" Qhawe ask expectantly, but I'm not sharing my birthday wish with him.

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I decided to spend my 24th birthday inside the house while learning about the Elephants history. Apparently, they were the Ndlovus back in the days. Bab'Ndlovu,the cherished ancestor, was a traditional healer who used to go to far places to fetch divine plants. One day on his journey,he met a beautiful woman whom he fell in love with her. His ancestors warned him of the curse he would bring to his entire lineage if he went ahead and consummated their union, but Bab'Ndlovu went ahead, and their first child was named Azibo.

Azibo was born with unusual qualities which Milly didn't want to share with me but just that as the world modernized, so did their surname, and the unusual qualities were passed from one generation to another

"Is that why Qhawe chose the name Azibo?" I just thought it was just a name, but clearly not. It's an ancient name in their family that holds a deep meaning.

"He didn't choose it. There's a book back at the kingdom where there are some names of our ancestors generation by generation, and they get repeated. First, there was my dad,Ariel Elephant, and then he gave birth to Qhawe,then Qhawe is giving birth to Azibo. Azibo is also going to name his child according to the book. As a girl child,I'm free and can get named however my mother wants." She explains. I've never really been one to follow traditions. I'm a modern woman, but to go is to see.

"Morning family." A voice says from behind us, and when I turn around, I gasp at the presence of Petal McPhee. What is she doing here?

"Petal? We were not expecting you." Milly tells her, but Petal just shrugs her off. Her attention is on me.

"So you've made it into his life? You took my position after I've considered you a friend. You backstabbed me, Adelaide!" She yells while pointing at me. She looks like a girl on a mission. I didn't even know she knew this place, but why am I surprised? She is Qhawe's ex or whatever she is. I'm not really in the mood to fight,it's my birthday.

"Petal, could you kindly leave,please?" Milly asks her, but she doesn't even listen to her.

"Millicent Elephant,shut up! I'm not even talking to you." She walks further to me, and yet I'm just sitting there calmly and not willing to give her even a spare of my time. She knows the door, so why should I bother showing it to her?

"Petal, you're just embarrassing yourself here. You lied about being pregnant and hurt my brother, and now you're here to insult his girlfriend? You're either ignorant or a fool."

"I said, shut up, little girl! You,what do you have that I don't have?" She's giving me a murderous look. She wants to know what I have? I have his baby, but I'm not going to tell her that. My baby is not going to be my weapon to fight battles. I won't use him as a leverage.

"What's going on here?" Qhawe descends the stairs. He's looking so yummy with his hands inside the pockets. Petal starts crying hysterically and falls down as if we beat her. Imagine booking a ticket from Ghana to London to come and cry for a man?

"Q,she beat me." She points at me, and I start laughing at her accusation. I never even said a word to her, let alone even touch her.

"Petal, if you want a beating, just say so." I stand up from the couch and fold the sleeves of my jersey while I get ready to give her a fight she wants.

"Whoa..." Qhawe stands in front of me. He gives me a 'don't try it' kind of look before focusing on Petal.

"Petal, please stand up." He asks her nicely while he offers his hand for her to take it. She takes his hand and balances herself on him as she stands up and hugs him,more like cling to him.

"Q,please forgive me. I didn't mean to lie to you about the pregnancy, but you cheated on me with her, and I kept it to myself. I got hurt and cried in my room, but I never told anyone or tried to confront her, so why are you leaving me for her? She's not even royal." She says between sobs.

"I apologize for hurting you." Qhawe gently pushes her away from her. "I hate seeing you like this, but I don't deserve you, Petal, and I can't keep lying to you. I can't pretend to be in love with you while I love someone else, so please choose yourself." He walks back upstairs while Petal wipes her tears.

"I'll show you who I am." She points at me before she walks out. Now what is she upto?