After Kwanita left, I spent my time consumed by the food and drink she had prepared earlier. With a considerable amount of money tucked in my bag, and several men lurking outside with their eyes set on her safety, I couldn't shake off the worry for that lady.
Why did I let her go alone? I should have accompanied her to ensure she arrived safely at her destination. There would be no forgiveness for myself if she didn't return to this home. As I contemplated all possible scenarios, I paced restlessly around the room, gnawing at my fingers. Anxiety and stress became my only companions in this uncertain state.
Soon, a knock came at the front door. I hoped it was Kwanita returning, but when I opened it, I found a short man with a thick mustache staring back at me.
The man was taken aback upon seeing me at the door. "Who are you? Where is the lady of this house?"
"She has business at the town hall. I've been entrusted to guard her home until she returns."
The short man glanced around, ensuring no prying eyes were watching. He leaned in, whispering, "You should leave this town immediately. Every man who saw you enter this house is not pleased. Especially if the mayor finds out, you'll be in serious trouble."
"What's wrong with your mayor?"
"Our mayor is not an ordinary man. Anyone who causes trouble with him will never know peace again. Kwanita is one such person."
"Kwanita has had trouble with the mayor?"
"Let me enlighten you: Kwanita is a gem born in this squalid town. Her beauty has spread far and wide, captivating even the mayor himself. In fact, every man here dreams of courting her. There was a time when the mayor directly proposed to her at her home, only to be rejected. Since that day, her life, along with her sister's, has been fraught with turmoil, constantly ensnared by debts. Especially if he learns that Kwanita has brought a man into her home, you will find yourself in grave danger."
"Now I understand why all the men gaze at Kwanita with such lustful eyes."
"Exactly. Merely sharing this information with you is a risk for me. But I'm just an old man, and I wish to avoid any disturbances next door. So, you should leave this town and never return."
"Thank you for your warning, but I'm sorry; I've promised Kwanita I would watch over this place until she returns safely."
"If anything happens to you, I bear no responsibility. I've warned you."
The man departed with a scowl etched on his face. I looked around the house, noticing many eyes were directed at me with disdain. Whispers filled the air, shrouded in secrecy. Before trouble could arise, it was better to lock myself inside until Kwanita and her sister returned.
I waited alone in the house until nightfall. The moonlight was obscured by thick clouds blanketing the sky. Many townsfolk were still active at this late hour, while I struggled to calm myself. All day, I had paced about the room, unable to occupy my mind with anything else.
I hope Kwanita returns safely.
Not long after, a knock echoed at the door. When I opened it, Kwanita stood there, accompanied by a young girl. I nearly embraced her out of sheer relief but remembered my status as a stranger in her home.
"Kwanita, you're finally back. Is this your sister?" I said, filled with gratitude.
But she did not respond to my greeting. Instead, she rushed into the house, her expression a mix of panic and fear.
"Quick, lock the door! We're in trouble." She and her sister hurried to secure the door.
"What happened?" I asked, bewildered.
"There's no time to explain. Lennin and his gang are coming here, armed and ready for revenge."
"What! We're all in danger."
"Precisely. We must secure all doors and windows. They cannot breach this house."
"No, we must escape this town as far as we can. If we don't, they will capture us."
"It's too late; they've already arrived. Look!"
I peered through a crack in the wall. A group of men wearing red headbands shouted angrily outside, brandishing torches and knives.
Upon further inspection, I realized they had surrounded the house. There was no escape now.
"Come out, Kwanita! We know you're inside!" Lennin shouted from outside.
"How are we going to escape?" the young girl, Kwanita's sister, cried nervously.
"If you don't come out immediately, we'll burn your house down!"
The voices of the crowd grew louder, urging the two women to surrender. I watched their faces closely; tears and despair were all that showed. They clung to each other on the bed, helpless to do anything. My heart ached at their plight. How could I help them?
Then, a voice boomed from outside, commanding the crowd's attention. The raucous noise gradually subsided, replaced by the sound of one speaking.
"Everyone! Please calm down. We can resolve this matter peacefully. Allow me to speak with the owners of this house. During our discussion, I ask for no interruptions."
"Who is that?" I whispered to Kwanita.
"It sounds like the mayor. What is he doing here?"
The mayor? Damn, I recalled the conversation I had with the mustached man earlier that day. The mayor's presence at this moment did not bode well.
Not long after, there was a knock at the front door. I sensed that whoever was knocking was no ordinary individual; he possessed a formidable aura. I had yet to open the door, but his presence compelled me to show him respect.
"Kwanita, please open the door. It's me, Mayor Sambra. I've come to mediate the trouble you're facing."
Kwanita quickly descended from the bed, wiped away her tears, and opened the door. Sambra entered with a commanding presence, his physique striking for a mayor. He had sharp eyes, a strong jaw, and a muscular build. He was slightly taller than I. He tipped his fine hat and stepped into the house.
"Thank you for your visit, Mayor," Kwanita said, her tone filled with respect.
"Hello, Jessica, I see you've emerged from prison. And you are?"
Mayor Sambra asked, turning to me, raising an eyebrow.
"He is the man I mentioned earlier at the town hall," Kwanita clarified.
"Is that so? You have exquisite hair, young man. A pleasure to meet you; I am Sambra, the mayor here."
"It is an honor to meet the most powerful man in this place. Thank you for calming the crowd outside. We were at a loss for what to do if you hadn't arrived."
"Well, that's my purpose for being here."
Kwanita and Jessica quickly served him a cup of drink and some small cakes. I felt out of place, an anomaly among them, unsure if I even deserved to listen to the conversation that would unfold.
After taking a sip of his drink, Sambra spoke directly. "I'll get straight to the point. Kwanita, your situation is hanging by a thread; the crowd outside has run out of patience with you. Now I ask, how do you intend to find a way out?"
Kwanita bit her fingers nervously before replying, "I don't know. I've spent all my money on Jessica's ransom. I don't even know if we can eat for a week."
"I see. This is indeed a dire situation." Sambra stood from his chair, his gaze sharp. He walked back and forth in the room, occasionally glancing out the window at Lennin and his gang. "You know, I might be able to offer you a way out."
Kwanita and Jessica's eyes lit up at his words. They exclaimed, "Really? How?"
Sambra smiled broadly. "I am willing to pay off all your debts to Lennin and his gang. You and your sister will never have to worry about hunger again. With one condition: you must agree to marry me."
Silence.
Everyone fell silent. I too was stunned, unable to believe what the mayor had just proposed. At this chaotic moment, when a mob threatened to break in, this man was proposing to Kwanita?
"I'm begging for your pardon?" Kwanita replied, confused.
"Become my wife, and I will ensure your life will no longer be filled with suffering."
"Sir, this isn't the first time you've made such an offer. Don't you already have three wives?"
"Come now, Kwanita, with all my wealth, taking on another wife is no trouble at all. Think of it: you and Jessica have lived in this slum, suffering from hunger day by day. By marrying me, you could achieve the life you've always dreamed of. Your sister's future would be guaranteed."
"I'm sorry, sir, but my answer remains the same as before. You already have three wives; have you never considered how they would feel if they knew you were attempting to court me?"
Sambra then grabbed Kwanita's hand with a feigned tenderness, "Come on, I don't care about such trivial matters. Your beauty is enough to make me fall for you. Don't you realize? You're renowned throughout the city for your striking beauty. Every man here would do anything to have you, including me."
"I'm sorry, sir, my answer is still the same. Right now, my heart is too troubled to fall in love with anyone."
Upon hearing Kwanita's repeated refusals, Sambra's composure finally cracked. His face flushed with anger as he struck the door, causing the entire house to tremble. In an instant, his rage evaporated into thin air.
His face returned to calmness, swallowing all emotion. He took a deep breath and said, "Well, if that is your decision, then there is nothing more I can do. I take my leave."
We three exchanged glances, caught in an awkward silence. I couldn't shake the feeling that Kwanita's refusal and Sambra's calm demeanor would not lead to a favorable outcome. Sambra took his hat and strutted out the door.
He then shouted, "Everyone, listen to me! Kwanita Imara and Jessica Imara have been found guilty of failing to repay their debts. Furthermore, they have been hiding a suspicious outsider in their home. Their crimes are worthy of trial; take them to the execution grounds!"
Cheers erupted from the crowd. Lennin and his gang broke through the door.
We were all cornered. I positioned myself to shield the two sisters as best as I could. Three men burst through the front door, knives in hand, grinning like devils.
"Hand over the women behind you, you strange-haired man!"
"As long as I'm here, none of you will lay a finger on them. Not a single hair."
I hurled a table at the three men, sending them sprawling. At that moment, Kwanita and Jessica dashed out the back door. We sprinted into the darkness of the narrow alley, desperately trying to escape the pursuers.
"Hey, look! They're escaping through the back door! Hurry, chase them!"
The crowd in front immediately ran toward the back upon seeing us flee. In an instant, they caught Jessica. The girl screamed, tears streaming down her face as she was separated from her sister.
"Help me, Kwanita!" she cried out with all her might.
Damn it! What should I do now? Is there no way out for the rest of us at all?