BAYANDA
02
BAYANDA
This friendship has been everything I’ve asked for in my entire life, in my 12 years of existence. I finally have someone I can call a best friend, i didn’t even expect it to turn out like this but I’m loving it. Katlego is a good friend and he has been taking good care of me.
“Have this, it’s much sweeter..” He says giving me the candy, I don’t like sour candy so he accidentally got them for me but he went back to get me some other ones.
“Thanks. Where are yours?” I ask him, he sits besides me with his juice.
“I don’t like candy.” He says, I look at him in shock. He’s actually the first person I’ve ever heard say that they don’t like candy.
“What?—you do know that candy is the best thing on this entire earth right? Why on earth would you not eat candy?” I ask him, he chuckles.
“I don’t know why but I’ve never liked it since childhood. I don’t know if I’ll like it in the future but right now, I don’t .” He says, playing with my hands. He likes playing with my hands, I don’t know why.
“What else don’t you like?” I ask him.
“I don’t like peanuts, I’m not allergic but they disgust me. I also don’t like cheese, because I’m allergic to it.” He says, I love cheese like I’m mad. I’ll melt cheese and eat it as it is, I love it.
“Oh, I’m not allergic to anything. I eat everything but I’m also a very picky person.” I say, he nods.
“What do you want to be when you’re older?” He asks me, the only person that has asked me this question was my English teacher and I couldn’t say what I wanted to be at that time because it didn’t feel like I could be whatever I wanted, not in a wheelchair.
“I want to be a pediatric nurse.” I say, I did my research and I’ve found my passion. If it’s possible, I’d like to be a pediatric nurse and help children with different disabilities find their purpose in life. Teach them that it’s not wrong to be disabled, Katlego told me that.
“What’s that?” He asks me, I sigh.
“I want to help kids like me. Like… disabled kids, I want to help them medically and emotionally. I don’t want them to regret being born just because they’re disabled, I want them to know that it’s not a crime to be disabled.” I say, he smiles and nods.
“That’s a good reason, your dream will come true—by God’s grace.” He says, my aunt—Aunt Thandeka walks into the lounge. He’s visiting me so we’re watching a movie right now.
“Are you two hungry? I’m about to make lunch, I’m famished.” She says walking past us to go to the kitchen.
“I’m not hungry but you can make some for Katlego. He seems hungry.” I say, obviously mocking him. I don’t even know what a hungry person looks like.
“And that’s funny?” He asks me, I laugh and hit his shoulder. He likes telling me where to get off.
“Sorry, I’m only joking.” I say, he brushes my cheek.
“You’re very special, do you know that?” He asks me, I glance at him. He’s very different, different from everyone I’ve met in my life. He genuinely accepted me for who I am, all he wanted was a friend and I’m that friend for him.
“You’re also very special, you’re the best friend ever. I’ve been happier with you around, atleast there’s always someone I look forward to seeing everyday at school. I don’t even seem to care about Ashley and her bullying anymore.” I say, he heaves a sigh.
“I don’t want you to mention her name when we’re sitting together. I despise a person that makes another person feel like they don’t belong. She’s not a nice person.” He says, yeah he’s right. You’d swear her bullying me determines her intake of oxygen.
“Okay, I won’t mention her name when we are sitting together.” I say, he nods.
“You didn’t ask me what I want to be but I’ll answer you eitherway. All I want is to be a CEO of a huge finance company, I want to be a businessman and travel this world. ” He says, he has dreams and I pray to God that they get fulfilled.
“And take me with you when you travel, please. Don’t leave me behind or I won’t be your friend anymore.” I say folding my arms, he laughs.
“Don’t be a dummy. I won’t leave you behind Yanda, I would hate myself if I travel this world without my best friend.” He says, I unfold my arms and nod.
“Good.” I say, his phone rings. He never comes with it to school because they don’t allow it, it’s a really nice phone. It’s evident that they have money kwabo.
“My mom’s calling, let me just answer.” He says picking it up and putting it on loud speaker.
“Hey mom, you still have a few hours left before you pick me up. What’s up?” He asks her.
“Katlego, I just got an email right now telling me that I have received a job in another place. That means we have to leave, I’ve packed everything. I’m coming to Bayanda’s home to pick you up.” His mom says, I thought I didn’t hear her properly at first but judging by Katlego’s facial expression. I heard her very well, my heart is breaking. She has packed everything and they’re leaving? I’m about to cry.
“Mom, do we have to leave? I really don’t want to leave.” He says, his tone changed.
“Yes, Katlego. We have to go, this job pays so much better than the one I have now. How can you say you don’t want to leave? we’re moving to a much better house too, with a pool.” She says, I sigh and look aside.
“(sighs) , fine.” He says, he’s not even audible. The phone hangs up and it’s silent for a while.
“I don’t want to leave.” He finally says, there’s nothing he can do. It’s not like he’s an adult that can make his own decision though.
“You don’t have a choice, do you?” I ask him, he looks down. Tears are forming in my eyes. He cups my face and makes me glance at him.
“Don’t cry..” He says, wiping off my tears. How can I not cry? my best friend is leaving.
“Do you think that I will leave you behind and go forever?” He asks, sitting closely besides me. I wipe off my tears, I genuinely don’t like being attached to people—I’m attached to people that will leave my life eitherway. Our friendship has just started and his family is relocating to another place, he has stayed in this school for less than two weeks but they’re already relocating?
“But you are leaving, you are leaving me behind. I will never get to see you ever again.” I say, I didn’t mean to cry. He has just been an amazing friend to me, a best friend.
“I can always visit Yanda, it’s not like I’m leaving forever. My mom just got a job that side and we need to go. We can always talk over the phone too, I don’t want to lose you or our friendship.” He says, he has made me feel positively better for the past few days.
“I’m sad that you have to go.” I say, I feel so attached to him. The thought of him leaving makes my heart drops.
“I will video call you everyday, I promise you that. Please stop crying, you’re going to make me cry too.” He says wiping off my tears, I would be standing up right now—giving him a hug but I am unable to do so.
“Promise?” I ask, holding out my pinky finger. He holds out his and we make a pinky promise.
“Maybe when we are older, we’ll get married. My mom told me that you can love your friend and even marry them. Would you marry me in the future?” He asks me, I’m 12. What do I even know about being married?
“I would marry you if we were older, you are a good friend to me.” I say, he smiles and takes my hand.
“Can I make a promise to you?” He asks, his mother’s car parks right infront of the gate. He’s allowed to visit me and she picks him up a little later. We just came outside, I’m seeing him out even though I don’t want to.
“You’re leaving..” I say, he glances at the car and heaves a sigh.
“I promise to marry you when we’re older, to be your best friend and love you. I promise to protect you, to care for you. Bayanda, I promise to save you from the troubles of this earth. I promise to buy you a big house, one that we will stay in together.” He says, he sounds like he means what he’s saying and I believe.
“Please come back..” I say, he gets up and kisses my forehead.
“Katli, we have to go. We will miss our flight, Bayanda—he’s only gonna be a few hours away. He can always call you and visit you. Don’t cry sisi.” His mother says, Katlego gives me some sort of album.
“I made this for your upcoming birthday, I thought of giving it to you then but I won’t be here to give it to you. Hence I’m giving it to you now.” He says, I open the album and my heart breaks.
We took pictures when his mom took us to the movies, to the park and to the beach. I’ve never realized how much I smile when he’s with me, I’m smiling in these pictures. I’m sure I even forgot I’m in a wheelchair.
“This is beautiful.” I say, he smiles.
“Bye, I promise that this is not the last time you see me. Alright?” He says, I nod. He leans over and gives me a hug, I heave a sigh, glancing at the bracelet he gave me the first time we met.
“Bye.” I whisper, he pulls away and walks off. I’m watching him get in the car, he looks sad as well. He closes the door and his mother starts the engine. He waves his hand, slowly so.
“Bye Bayanda.” The car drives off and my tears stream down. I watch the car fade in the distance, I heave a shaky sigh and push myself inside.
“Your friend left and you’re crying? Bayanda, don’t make it obvious that he was the only friend that you had. You are so pathetic.” My aunt’s daughter, Phindile says throwing herself on the couch and eating the candy that Katlego got for me.
“Those are mine Phindile.” I say, she glances at me package and shrugs.
“I don’t see your name written on them.” She says, I decide to let her be and push myself to my bedroom. Phindile is just the worst person ever, after Ashley. She bullies me for not having parents and relying on her own parents.
I close the door behind me and place the album on the bed. I open it and stare at the first picture. When will I ever see him again?
“Katlego..” I say, running my finger around the picture. The last time I ever felt like this was when I woke up in the hospital and I was told that my legs would never work and that my parents didn’t make it. My heart couldn’t take it.
“I hope this wasn’t the last time I see you, please.. don’t disappear.” I say, wiping off my tears and closing the album. I open the drawer and place the album besides my parents’ own album.
—
14 beautiful years later ….