NALEDI

Grandma’s voice cut through my door. "Princess, wake up or you’ll be late for school! It’s your first day!"
I groaned, rolling out of bed. "I’m up, don’t worry. You can go."
"I hope I won’t have to come back here," she warned.
I hurried through my routine, making my bed before heading downstairs. Grandma was already dishing up soft porridge, my favorite. She always ate with me, knowing I hated eating alone since my parents died. Living with her in North-West under King Kabelo and Queen Thandeka’s rule meant she was all I had.

After breakfast I said bye to grandma and took my lunchbox and walked to school.
I got to school and I found my best friend Thandi waiting for me at the gate.
Me: My Princess.
Thandi: You do know that it is wrong to keep a Princess waiting right?
She said joking.
Me: Sorry I'm late Princess.
Thandi: Mxm don't call me Princess.
Me: Kante aren't you one?
Thandi: I am but I don't want people to know that.
Thandi is the daughter of King Kabelo and Queen Thandeka, she also has a brother Ndumiso. We go to a semi-private school. People at my school are very friendly to us except Mimi (the mayor's daughter) and her group.
Mimi is friends with Thandi because her father and the King are best friends, but she doesn't like me. I mean I don't mind.

Mimi strode up, her smile tight. "Thandi, how are you?"
Thandi replied coolly, "I’m good, and you?"
"Stressed about maths. Can you help me?"
Thandi gestured to me. "Bathong, Mimi, I struggle too. Naledi helps me. Why not ask her?"
Mimi’s eyes flicked to me dismissively. "Yoh, never mind. I’ll find someone else." She turned away without a glance, leaving me gritting my teeth. At least Thandi had my back.

With that said she left us and we continued with our journey to go to class. Since we are in matric and we know our classes, we didn't go to assembly.
We got to class and we were given our timetables. Thandi and I have the same subject except when I go to History she goes to Geography.
The subjects we have in common is Life science and Physical science.
Our first day of school was not that hectic at all, we didn't do anything.
It was after school and we were waiting for Thandi's brother to come and pick her up. I mean it would be unfair for me to leave her alone.

Thandi’s brother pulled up, and I hugged her goodbye.
"Naledi, wait!" Thandi called. I turned as she grinned. "We can take you home. Right, brother?"
Ndumiso nodded, his gaze warm. "Yeah, you waited for us. Least we can do."
"Ndumiso, meet my best friend, Naledi," Thandi said proudly.
"Nice to meet you," he replied.
I slid into the back seat, directing him home. When we arrived, I murmured thanks, catching his smile in the rearview mirror before stepping into the yard, the engine fading behind me.