Back home

Martina
After the way my father answered Tania on the phone the last time, I made the decision to go home and beg him, only for the sake of Tania and my little brothers. These children need to go to school this year. Even though he's mad at me, he shouldn't reject my brothers and my sister, because they have nothing to do with it.
"There's no point going to see him Marty." Tania tells me with a hint of disbelief in her voice.
"There is nothing to lose by trying anyway." I answer with hope.
"If you want to do it, go ahead. But to tell you the truth, dad has disappointed me a lot. How can he act like this?Not only does he not even try to listen to you, but he rejects us as filthy. What did we do! were we not on vacation when all this happened ? And mom in all this? What has she done?" While speaking, Tania's face was very hard and I felt a lot of hatred in her.
"No Tany, don't talk like that. He's doing this because he's mad at me, but you know daddy loves us right... Don't doubt it and don't blame him please. He will eventually get back to feeling better about us."
"Stuipppsss. Just go and see him if you want. I'm not going to stop you anyway." She replies me without paying attention to what I have just said to her.
"Please, I don't want mum to know that I'm going to dad's house. I'm going to make a round trip very quickly and I'll be back in the evening. Cover me with her."

"Okay." She said casually.
So the next day at dawn, I took the bus to Edéa. I arrived home around 7 am. My mothers-in-law were already outside with some of my siblings. They all looked at me strangely and didn't even respond to my greetings, except for the little ones.
"What do you want here?" My father's first wife asks me aggressively.
"Mom, I would like to speak to dad please." I respond to her calmly.
"He is still sleeping." She says with the same aggressive tone.
"Okay, I'll wait until he wakes up."
I sit on a pebble in the yard and an hour later, I see my father coming out finally of his apartment. I get up and walk over to him. He hadn't seen me yet. As soon as I approach, I tell him in a nonchalant voice
"Hello dad!" He looks up and sees me. I feel his face change and he becomes furious, as if he had turned to another person. I don't understand his reactions from me. He starts yelling at me in wrath.
"What are you doing here you slut? I think I asked you not to put your soiled feet in my concession again!"
"I know dad, but I'm not coming for me. If I'm here, it's in the name of Tania and the boys. Please dad, it's back to school and we have to register them for school. I accept that you have banished me from your home, but these children, what did they do wrong to suffer the same fate? Please dad, allow them to come home with mom and I promise you that you will not see me again at your house, as you wish." I tell him begging.
"Before all, stop calling me daddy. I don't father a prostitute myself. Then, I believe that the money from your prostitution is enough to pay for their school. Unless you were offering yourself for free during all that time ?!" He replies with an insulting tone.
What my father says to me breaks my heart and tears flow from my eyes that I cannot hold back.
"Dad, I think you know me well enough to know that I can't do such a thing. It was a trap, believe me please. It's still me Martina, your daughter. I don't know what happened or what you saw that day, but I'm innocent, please believe me, I'm telling you truth daddy!" I beg him, bursting into tears.
"Stop your crocodile tears there and get out of my house! I thought you were better than your siblings, but you humiliated me by showing you're worse. Get out before I drag you by force." He telles me, looking more angry.
Paula pov
I am watching the little scene between my father and Martina. I smile just seeing how my father kicked her out of our house. What a beautiful sight! I don't think I could have dreamed of better. To go out early in the morning and be served by such a scene is worth all the best breakfasts that can be served to me. Martina comes out of the family compound with her head down and crying. I wait for him in front of the gate, smiling. As soon as she gets to my level, I proudly throw her
"So, we play the stars less now?!"
"Paula... I'm innocent, it was a set-up." Martina stammers, looking up at me, her eyes filled with tears.

"I'm not telling you dear little sister!" I say with a smirk.
"Do you believe me?You know I can't do such a thing, right?" She hastens to interrogate me.
"Of course I believe you, my dear, since I'm the one who set this up."
Martina's face falls on hearing this and I revel in this beautiful painting which even Picasso cannot compete with.
"H... how? Paula... You mean you're the one who orchestrated it all?" Martina looks at me with all the surprise in the world.

“Yes my dear! Why do you look so surprised? I think you know very, moreover, I didn't hide it to you and everyone, that I hate you with all my womb. You'd better rejoice that I did not kill you once. Know that it's not the desire to do it that I lack." I reply to her with eyes soaked in hatred. Martina looks at me, I can see fear in her eyes. Not fear of me, but surely fear of what she feels in my voice and what she sees in my eyes. She questions me with a small voice, still not coming back.
"And that restaurant date? I thought..."
"Blablabla! My dear, stop thinking. Did you not hear that it is often said, and it is advice that I give you for all your life, that keep your friend close to you, but your enemy even closer? Only you can be quite naive to believe that I could have let go of this hatred I have for you and had a peaceful relationship with you. Get out of your world of Care Bears my dear!" I tell her without any ounce of pity.
"Mom was right." Martina stammers at the end of her lips.
"Yes, that's for sure! You should listen to your mother more often, because at least she's smart. Unfortunately for you, no one will be able to believe you now. You've become the ugly duckling, and I've become the princess who saves everyone. And know that your Steve and I always got laid right under your nose. And I'll send you the invitation to our wedding." I back up, rubbing the knife in the wound.
"Why Paula? What did I do to you to deserve this?" Martina asks the question me in tears.
"Nothing my dear. Just blame God who gave you intelligence and made you born after me. You always monopolized daddy's love and we were all relegated to second place. world is happy without you. Now get out! You're not welcome here anymore. Don't come back!" I shoo her away with a hand gesture.
Martina turns around and leaves. I have been waiting for this moment for a long time and I am so happy to witness it. Dad is already talking to me very attentively. I do everything to gain her trust because she will be very useful to me for the rest of my plan. Besides, speaking of a plan, I'm going to see Mr N'sang, my father's great competitor, with whom I have an appointment. After my household chores, I go out in the afternoon to go to Mr. N'sang. As soon as I arrive at his place, I am taken to his living room and he does not take long to join me.
"What is a Manga doing in my house?" He asks me the question in an aggressive tone, without even bothering to sit down.
"I came in peace and for peace, Mr N'sang." I respond calmly.
"What do you want ?" He thunders without lowering a tone.

"I came to talk about business and future." I reply without batting an eyelid.
"I will never talk business with my enemies!"
"Calm down! I'm not your enemy. I want to be an ally. Can you imagine, your competitor's daughter being your ally! You have to win big, and even very big!"
"And even if you really become my ally, what can you offer me?" He asks the question becoming more interested, and he sits down.
"Much more than you can imagine! Already, I am sure to succeed my father. My brothers are rascals and do not get along with my father. My sister on whom my father relied, he chased her away of the house. Therefore, if I'm your ally, chances are you'll get a good deal out of it." I tell him, trying to be persuasive.
"What do you want in return? Because I know those promises aren't without value on your part." He asks me more excited.
"That you convince your son to marry me." I respond by looking him straight in the eye.

"What, never such a thing can be!" He exclaims, sitting up in his seat.
"Mr N'sang", I resume, still calmly. "You have a lot to gain in this case. Put aside your hatred which prevents you from opening up to new horizons, and look to the future. I hope you won't allow this hatred dating from Mathusalem time hinder you taking a wise decision! Don't miss a chance offered to you on a silver platter! With that, I'll leave it to you. Make up your mind and call me in case you're up for it."
I leave Mr N'sang's home feeling satisfied and very proud of myself.