Roland's POV

As soon as she left the hut, I held my head in my hands and went to sit on the bed. After resting there for a while, I let out a low groan.

"What was I thinking? Like, seriously??"

I flipped onto the bed and looked up at the roof, replaying all that I said and did.

Dance for me, Amana.

Don't stop.

I raked my hands through my hair in pure frustration. What I'd done there was not right, in any way. I violated her, used her even. How was she even going to look at me now?

Speaking the truth, I had been angered when Enzi came and took her to dance. Everyone had begun cheering for her, and I was quite intrigued myself. Then, she began to dance.

I couldn't get my eyes off of her. My, oh my, she could dance. The sway of her hips illuminated by the fire just made the scene even more enticing. My eyes suddenly saw red when that boy began to make moves on her. I wanted to wring him off of her, to........stake my claim?

Sitting up suddenly made me pull a vein, and the pain was explosive. I groaned in pain as I massaged the pulled jugular and rested on my back again.

Amana was beautiful, but, stake my claim? Was I jealous of Enzi? Is that why I'd asked her to dance for me, just so that I can feel that she is......mine?

I looked up at the roof now, and began what I did when I had no idea what to do about a particular situation.

Pray.

"God, I don't know what's going on with me. I just met this girl not a while ago. A month hasn't even passed yet, but I feel like.......like.......I like her. For once, I actually like someone. There are many girls from where I came from, but I just happened to like one who's in another continent, and knows nothing of you and your existence. I know that what I did was wrong, and I ask for forgiveness. Is she.......the one?"

I felt a little bit better after that prayer. The thoughts of her and what I did were still strong and vivid in my mind. If only I had my Bible.....

Lead her to me.

I sat up abruptly, and I suddenly remembered the deal I made with her. She was to teach me Swahili while I taught her about God!

That way, we both got something out of it all. I sent a silent prayer of thanks to Him and went to sleep, but not before stating it in my head that I was not going to go after her again, no matter how much I liked her.

💤💤💤💤

The knock on my door made my stomach churn. I didn't think I was ready to see her again. The previous night had been haunting me for the most part of the night.

Seeing her again after what happened last night made me feel terrible. I had made my bed, now I had to lie in it.

Holding on to the door handle, I mustered up my courage and opened it. To my surprise, it was princess Banoa standing there, a small smile on her face.

"Good morning, Roland. I thought it best to accompany you to breakfast this morning."

Seeing the genuine enthusiasm on her face, I agreed to her invitation. As we walked to the eating hut, we had a small conversation about the celebration of the night prior. I had left early, but, it was quite intriguing and fascinating.

"Ah, you are here, Lord Roland. Sit, let's eat, while the food is still warm."

I tried to chow down the contents in the plate, but it proved to be difficult. Where was Amana? She was supposed to be here already.

"Lord Roland, how have you found your stay here?"

I couldn't help but smile at that question.

"I love this tribe of yours. The way you act around one another, how you live basically, is a beautiful thing. All the people in this tribe are strong and fit, very beautiful people too."

The chief's face broke into a huge grin, satisfied with my response. It wasn't a lie though, I truly admired this tribe and its nature.

"Well, I hope that they won't surpass the beauty of my only daughter here. She is the most cherished in this tribe and the ones close by as well."

I looked at her, and indeed she was beautiful. No doubt about that. Her head was bowed slightly as she ate her food.

Not as beautiful as Amana though.

"Lord Roland, can you accompany me to the gardens today? I want to see the flowers once more, but doing so alone can be quite boring."

As a man who was being protected by this family, rejecting such a request would be considered ungrateful. I nodded in the affirmative while i took in more food, just so I could talk less.

"Guard, go call Amana."

My heart flipped in my chest. She was fine, but didn't come to the hut. Now, I was worried about our relationship. What does she think of me now?

Just as I was in the middle of thinking about it, in she came, looking like the beautiful black goddess she was. I just kept on staring at her while she bowed and talked to the chief who was telling her instructions on what to do today. Finally, those brown-black orbs were cast upon me, but just for a second, before she looked down.

I messed up big time.

A small pat on my shoulder brought me back to mother earth. I looked for where it originated, and it was from Banoa, whose eyebrows were drawn together slightly, a small smile playing on her lips

"Are you fine, Roland? You seemed to have left us.", she said, laughing slightly.

Get it together, Roland. Remember what you said last night? No crazy ideas......if only it was that  easy.

"Sorry, princess Banoa. Let us go."

•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~

The walk to the garden was not as exciting as the first time. Maybe it was because what happened between me and Amana last night. Every now and then, I would look back to see if she was there. She was, but very far away from us. I had to apologise when I got the chance to.

"Lord Roland, are you by any chance married?"

My head quickly turned to the princess who was walking besides me.

"What prompted you to ask such a question?"

She looked at the petunias and smiled softly.

"My father can be crazy sometimes, saying that I should try to catch your attention in order to gain favour in your eyes."

My eyes doubled in size due to shock. Me and princess Banoa?? That wouldn't have worked. I did not need to explain anything.

"No, I am not married but I am searching. I am not so sure if I have fully found her."

She lowered herself to the petunias, and I couldn't help but look back for Amana. Where she was brought a smirk to my face. There she was, in the tulips again, eyes closed as she took in their scent. It is truly fascinating how naturally beautiful everything looks when there is the perfect angle and the right amount of lighting.

"It is Amana, isn't it? The one for you...."

I looked at her, eyes wide, but did not try to say anything against her true statement. I was drawn to the woman in ways I couldn't quite explain myself. I heard a sigh and looked to see that she'd tucked the petunia behind her ear.

"It seems like I was a little late."

She laughed loudly in a controlled manner, looking at me with her eyes bright.

"It's okay, Roland. We can be friends, and, I also seem to be drawn to Enzi. I can get him off of your hands for you. I see that he is quite enamored by her as well."

We walked in continued silence, content on roaming in our own minds and imaginations instead. I felt like I had made a friend in her, another one. I was glad that she was not angry at me, because that would have destroyed my good tidings with the chief, and bad tidings with him weren't good news in my current situation.

After the delicious lunch, Amana and I were now situated in the hut, the sun unbearably hot for us to go out. I looked at her, trying to understand how she was feeling.

Ever since this morning she'd looked at everything else except at me, and not even once had she uttered a word to me. I was pained to know that I had done what she didn't want, and I planned to make it right again. Friendship was better than acquaintanceship when it came to her.

"Amana..."

She looked up only for a second to cast her gaze to the weapon she was sharpening.

"Please look at me!"

The slight rise in my voice caught her attention, and wide brown eyes looked at mine. I had never used my booming authoritative voice before, and it seemed like it had worked on her. I let out a sigh and raked a hand through my hair, making it more disheveled than before.

"I am really sorry about last night. That was a grievous mistake on my part. I shouldn't have done that. Now look, you won't even talk to me, let alone look at me! Please forgive me, okay? I really can not bear the idea of you being angry with me."

Her gaze was pinned on me all this time, and I couldn't help but look into those eyes. What was she thinking? How did she view me now?

She cast her gaze to the ground again, seeming to be deep in thought. Some birds outside had been an audience to this whole ordeal, and they were chirping their beaks off, without a care in the world. Did they understand what we were saying, and if they did, what were their thoughts on this?

"It's okay, Roland. I shouldn't have danced in the first place. I am sorry as well. It truly shouldn't have happened."

My heart leaped with joy, realising that she had forgiven me. I wanted to hold her hand and thank her, but I decided on not doing such an action. It could push her away from me again. A small smile grew on my face, deciding on being my normal self again, so as to show her that the past was in the past.

Was it though? Will you not fall for her?

"Let us start the lesson now. You are supposed to teach me, remember? Unless you-"

She raised a hand towards my direction, silencing me immediately. A small smile played on her lips, making mine grow into a grin.

"I had forgotten, actually."

She let out a small laugh, one that made her grin in embarrassment. How could I not like her when she was the definition of cuteness and fierceness combined?

"Let's start now. I'll teach you greetings for now."

The hours went by, and she taught me Halo, which meant hello, habari yako for how are you and, sijambo for I am fine, and many more words of greeting.

We'd laugh when I pronounce it wrong, clapped in mirth when I got it correct. I'd cast glances at her when she laughed, and I wished for a way to keep that expression she had somewhere in a permanent position, that way, I'd never lose it.

Letting this feeling grow into something more than it was now was a terrible idea. I knew that she did not fancy me, heck, she'd closed up on me the entire morning today. I felt sad, but relieved that she still considered me her friend. If that was what she wanted from me, then that was what she would get.