The prince's choice.

Hortavie recalled the conversation she had a few days earlier with Roxane.

- ROXANE: The news of the day is that the prince will soon return to the country to look for his wife!

- HORTAVIE: Ah, that's good, that's his business!

- ROXANE: Hmm! What kind of answer is that? I expected you to gloat!

- HORTAVIE: Gloating because?

- ROXANE: No, but you've been a single mother for many years now! It's time for you to think about having a man by your side and you have to think about Mimie too! Poor thing, she deserves to have a father around. Yes, Daniel hurt you, but let me tell you, not all men are like him!

- HORTAVIA: I'm sorry, I beg you, spare me this conversation! I have already said that men and I are finished and it will remain so until my death.

Roxane and Hortavie have been best friends for almost five years now. They met in the first grade when they were 18 and 17 years old respectively. Roxane was a girl with a bit of a social standing, but that social standing didn't mean anything to her. She didn't care about it, that's why she chose to go to a public high school and not a private one dedicated only to rich kids. She was sociable and accepted everyone without exception. Money, or rather social status, was not a barrier for her. At that time, she lived with her parents: Papa Ebenezer and Mama Mado. She was an only child, but that didn't bother her because she considered her best friend Hortavie, whom she had met at the beginning of the year, as her best friend and her little sister at the same time. Hortavie was kind of the opposite of Roxane. She came from a poor family that only had the necessities to survive and not a superfluous for secondary needs. Otherwise, she was a very calm and composed girl, especially happy because at the time she was dating Daniel, her first love. The two of them had met in the third grade, so they had been together for three years. Hortavie was so in love with him. She couldn't stop talking about him and swearing by him until she got pregnant in her senior year, which was when she turned 18 and her family kicked her out of the house. In fact, she was sad, but what made it worse was what happened next. She had packed her bags to move in with Daniel who lived alone, but he refused and even told her that he didn't know she was serious about the pregnancy and that he wasn't ready to take on the child. Hortavie sat outside her door and cried her eyes out. She had imagined that everyone could ignore her, but not Daniel anyway, but, he had done so to the point of calling her a girl not serious. She had no choice but to call her best friend Roxane who came to pick her up in her car.

- ROXANE: Oh, my darling, I'm here, don't cry anymore! Roxane held her arm to help her up.

- HORTAVIE: I had imagined everything Roxie (short for Roxane), everything but this! What have I done to Daniel? What have I done to Daniel? Roxie, a three-year relationship where everything always went well. Daniel swore that he loved me to bits and that he would make me his wife and the mother of his children. Now that I'm pregnant with his child, he rejects me. Roxie, please tell me I'm dreaming!

Hortavie was crying, she was in so much pain. Snot was running out of her nostrils to the point of entering her mouth. Her eyes had turned red and pale. She was shaking all over and couldn't even walk properly.

- ROXANE: Just calm down first, honey, okay? Get in the car and let me deal with him!

She sat in the car and Roxane put her luggage in the back seat, then went to knock on Daniel's door. Knock! Knock! Knock!

- ROXANE: Open the door, you irresponsible person! So it's like that now? You bastard! Let me tell you that your ending will be shit, you idiot! You dare to break my friend's heart? The one with whom you spent the most beautiful moments of your life? The one who is carrying your child? No, but men are fucking incredible!

Daniel was lying in his room, fiddling with his phone as if nothing had happened. He could hear what Roxane was saying, but he didn't care. After spending over ten minutes knocking and blaming him while Hortavie cried in the car, Roxane decided to let it go since she knew he wasn't going to open the door. She went to start the car and left with her friend.

- ROXANE: Don't cry anymore, my dear. It'll pass. I know how you feel, because I too experienced a deception that almost cost me my life, but now when I think back on it, it makes me laugh. I'm very happy now and so will you, so stay calm okay?

Hortavie did not have the strength to open her mouth to say anything. She could only express herself by crying.

- ROXANE: We're going to go home, aren't we? I'm going to fix up the guest room, because now it's going to be inhabited by a pregnant woman, ikiiiii (wow). Wait, do you even know that you're going to bring a beautiful baby into the world? I'm already happy at the thought of him calling me auntie, huh.

Hortavie may have been crying, but Roxane found the right words to make her smile...

She smiled, but she didn't say anything.

- ROXANE: There, I like it when you smile like that!

It was 2:00 a.m. when the two young women arrived at the house.

- HORTAVIE: Paa Ebenezer and maa Mado are already asleep, I'm sure!

- ROXANE: Yes yes, that's why we have to get your luggage in quietly.

- HORTAVIE: Okay!

They put the luggage in the guest room, or rather Hortavie and her baby's future room, and went to Roxane's room.

- ROXANE: I prefer that we sleep together today, because I know that if I leave you alone, you will cry even more. Oh yes, I'm telling you that I've been there myself!

Hortavie burst into tears again and ran into Roxane's arms.

- HORTAVIE: Thank you for everything Roxie, you are the best!

- ROXANE: No, you're the best here because there are now two of you and not one. Haha!

Even Hortavie burst out laughing even though she had tears in her eyes.

The two girls slept until morning and it was the noise when the parents knocked on the door that woke them up.

- MAMMY MADO: Roxane, your father and I are going to work.

- DAD EBENEZER: And it's eight o'clock, so you better get up so you don't miss your language class.

Roxane was the first to get up and she opened the door. That's when Hortavie got up too.

- ROXANE: Good morning mom and dad (stretching and yawning). Ah, I'm going to do the class there after only, because today is going to be a bit of a busy day. Look!

She opened the door wide and they peeked in and saw Hortavie sitting on the bed, looking pale.

- HORTAVIE: Hello paa Ebenezer, hello maa Mado.

The parents were not surprised to see her there since they knew that the two were best friends and often called them "the twins" so they shared almost everything together. But what intrigued them was the look on Hortavie's face.

- MADO MOM: Yes, hello. Hortavie, why are you making that face, girl?

Hortavie felt her bones crush and her heart break into a thousand pieces, then she collapsed to the floor and burst into tears. Roxane went to pick her up and take her in her arms. The parents entered the room.

- PAPA EBENEZER: What's going on?

She wanted to answer, but she couldn't, so Roxane took over.

- ROXANE: Well, she's pregnant and her parents kicked her out of the house, and what's even worse is that Daniel refused to assume paternity and kicked her out.

The father and mother looked at each other. They were stunned!

- MADO MOM: Wow, that's hot!

She went to hug Hortavie and the father did the same. So all three were hugging her at the same time, while comforting her.

- DAD EBENEZER: Don't worry, you know you're welcome here!

- MADO MOM: And it's true! You don't have to worry, Hortavie, you know that we all love you here and that you have added a touch of happiness to the family, because Roxane has learned a lot from you. Look, for example, since she met you she has become good at math, because she learns from you. If you are rejected, it is because you have not understood life, my little one. This is your home and you know it...

- HORTAVIE: Thank you very much!

- ROXANE: You're welcome! Well, Mum and Dad can go to work, I'll look after her until you get back so you can help me.

Everyone laughed, even Hortavie. The parents left and Roxane stayed behind to arrange the guest room as planned while her best friend was in her own room, digesting her disappointments.

Yes, this was the story that had made Hortavie decide never to be in a relationship again for fear of being disappointed a second time.

She had decided to be a father and a mother at the same time for her daughter, Mimie, who was now 3 years old.

It was a Saturday night and Hortavie was sitting in the living room of her friend's apartment where she lived while waiting to find her own when the latter came to tell her that the prince was going to return home to choose his wife.

The two women used to exchange daily news. For example, the day before this day, it was Hortavie who told Roxane that the news of the day was that the elections of an American miss had many frauds.

"Anyway, it's up to you, but let me tell you that he will come straight from France where he lived for a long time, that he is very handsome and charismatic. He is counted among the most beautiful men in the world".

"His pictures are all over the net, so yes, I've seen him before. But I'm not interested in him and even if I were, I've already told you several times that men and I are over. It's better that I stay alone for life.'

"What? You're being too hard on yourself, Hortavie! »

This story started to get Hortavie drunk and she slapped her hand on the table, then she stood up and said angrily:

"He's coming to get his wife? Okay! But that's his problem, you understand? And then you think he'll look for her in a category of women like me? Haha no! Of course he's going to look for her among the rich and beautiful women, the women who are on the throne of this country, I mean the stars of course! So please my great my best friend that I love so much, stop with this story! »

Roxane didn't say anything for fear that her friend would get more angry.

A sound like something falling on the floor was heard from the room and then a crying sound followed.

"Oh shit she probably fell trying to get off the bed," Hortavie said, opening her eyes and mouth wide.

"I agree with you! Let's go see her" replied Roxane.

They went to Mimie's room and found that she had really fallen. Hortavie took her in her arms to stop her crying. Mimie, whose real name is

Lara Chloe Nsang since her father's name is Nsang, was a very loving and playful little girl. Her family and friends loved her so much! She was a very beautiful little girl. That's why Papa Ebenezer and Mama Mado called her "Mimie" when she was born and started calling her that. She had never tried to find out who her father was. Maybe it was because she was still little. In any case, she didn't care. What mattered to her was her family, the kids her age who were in the same neighborhood as her, and her classmates from preschool. She enjoyed playing with them.

"Don't cry anymore, okay?" Hortavie told her.

"I fell down," Mimie replied, crying even more.

"I'm sorry, my little Mimie. You know what? Auntie Roxanne cooked the spaghetti while you were sleeping. Do you want to eat?" said Roxanne.

"The spaghetti?" asked Mimie when she stopped crying.

"Yes, the spaghetti, I'll serve you!

Mimie climbed down from her mother's arms and started jumping up and down and screaming with joy. Hortavie and Roxane laughed.

"She loves this food so much! What do you put in there that she likes so much?

"Haha. I don't know myself! Hortavie tell me, do I serve all three of us or are you going to eat afterwards?

"Hum, I prefer that we taste this meal together at the same time hachai"!

"Haha, I got it! I'm coming"!

She went to the kitchen to serve the food and they ate together. After the meal, it was time to say thank you.

"Thank you Auntie Roooo (Roxane), it was too too too too too good" said Mimie smiling.

"You're welcome baby! You're going to spend the evening with Grandma and Grandpa okay? Because your mom and I are going out tonight. Mimie started to gloat and said " youpiiiii".

She loved staying with Papa Ebenezer and Mama Mado. They thought of her as their granddaughter by blood and she thought of them as her grandparents. She loved them very much and the feeling was mutual.

A few minutes later, they came to pick her up.

Hortavie and Roxane got ready to go into town for some fun. That's how it was in Yaoundé. Every Saturday night there was a place, or rather a room, where people gathered to eat, dance, drink, and make new friends. So the two girls used to go there to take their minds off things and enjoy life by chatting with people and dancing like crazy. They went there and sat down not far from the wall where the TV was placed: a big flat screen that the owner had installed. There were several TV channels and while the owner was flipping through the channels to put on a music channel, he came across several news channels that were talking about the prince coming to Cameroon and the adventure that was going to be organized. At some point, people asked to follow this information because they found it interesting, so he left the channel that talked about the subject in question. Roxane did not hesitate to remark to Hortavie,

"See? Look how beautiful he is!"

"Daniel was handsome too. Besides, don't you see that Mimie took his beauty? She took almost everything from him, even his complexion, he looks like a half-caste! But fortunately she took my character hum!"

Daniel, Hortavie's ex and Mimie's father, was very brown unlike Hortavie who had a dark chocolate complexion. Mimie had therefore taken the complexion of her father and the beauty of both... Tall, with a rather stout build, Daniel was very much in demand by women. Cute with a very small face and a body of model, Hortavie attracted the glances too, even if she did not pay attention any more because she did not believe in love any more.

"She also took your beauty huh! Look how beautiful you are with your beautiful black complexion, um! And let me tell you, just because a man is beautiful doesn't mean he's necessarily irresponsible like Daniel!"

"Anyway handsome or not, I don't care! Love and I are over, period!"

"I hope you'll tell me the same thing in a few years! Anyway, let's focus on watching TV!"

# Canal 2 International (Presenter's voice-over) #

Pierre Abena was born on November 8, 1991 in Paris, Île-de-France, France. This handsome man of 1m92 is from a royal family, an Italian mother and a Cameroonian father. Although his father lives in Cameroon in the castle, he grew up in France alongside his mother who often brought him to his native country. Today, he has everything in life: diplomas, he has traveled a lot, he is an actor and model, he has houses and cars, but he does not have a wife. In fact, he has decided to find one, but in Africa and more precisely in Cameroon where he will be back in exactly three days. Casting has already started and several stars like Sonya Pembe, Indira Baboke, Valerie Ayena, Olivia Yacé and Diana Bouli have already applied to have the heart of our charming prince, Pierre Abena. If you are a woman and you would like to have his heart, register on wwcoeurdepierreabena.

Roxane quickly took her phone and took the email address in picture...

"Wait until I take a picture because you never know! We don't know the future!"

"You can file your application instead of forcing me to do it Roxane!"

"You want me to leave Gabin where? He and I are for life!"

"You dream a lot you know! I remind you that you are not in a relationship with him!

«

"Yes, that's true, but I've been in love with him since the second grade and I'm hoping we'll end up together."

Roxane had known Gabin, an unremarkable young man who had enrolled as a sophomore in the college she attended, and since then she had talked of nothing but him. She had managed to befriend him, but the two of them had never talked about a relationship. He was rather a serious man, who knew what he wanted to do with his life. He had told her so in a discussion.

"Roxane, you know, my parents don't have enough money and because of that, they are counting on me to change things. I plan to open a business after my Master's degree, but for now, I'm focusing on my studies first and everything related to relationships will come later. I want to be ready and financially stable before I can get into a relationship with a girl.«

He was tall and thin. He had black skin and most of the time he wore suits that went well with his build. People saw him as an intellectual, and he was! He was a very intelligent man, a gifted man even, and people had a hard time understanding how he functioned, because yes, most gifted people are quite unique in their behavior. But Roxane liked him just the way he was.

She was even attracted to that uniqueness. So she waited until he was ready and made the first move. She was sure that he was the man of her life, which is why she had made the decision not to be in a relationship with other men.

"Ah, so be it then! And as for your love for him, I don't doubt it for a second. I know you love me to bits since you talk about him all the time," said Hortavie.

"So you see, my case is already settled! It remains yours my dear Hortavie Mpondo!"

Hortavie stood up because she was angry and said, "Damn, you're getting on my nerves! I'd rather go eat braised fish with the others than stay here with you!"

Roxane laughed and Hortavie left.

The evening ended quite well. People had eaten, drank, danced, met other people, made jokes, etc. The two best friends had had a lot of flirts as they had most of the time but they turned all of these men away because they weren't interested in them.

Hortavie was adamant that she wanted to end up alone and Roxane only had eyes for Gabin. It was two o'clock in the morning when Roxane started the car for them to go home.

"I'm so tired Hortavie!"

"I am too! I feel like I'm going to sleep for at least 20 hours of time!"

"Me even more! And Mimie is even with the mom and dad so, we'll be able to sleep for a long time without hearing the sounds of crying in our ears haha!"

"Haha you are absolutely right!"

They went home and each went straight to their own rooms to sleep.

Two days passed and on the third day at about 06:30, the prince took the flight to Cameroon, more precisely to Yaoundé, the political capital. To be continued...

While he was in the air, people who knew about his trip went to the airport to wait for him, especially the girls. Everyone wanted to see the prince they hadn't seen in a while. It was Tuesday, a holiday. Hortavie, Roxane and Mimie were at home watching as people jostled each other to get as close as possible to where the prince was going to pass. - ROXANE: What if we went too? No, but we're sitting here doing nothing and it's boring! - HORTAVIE: You can always go with Mimie, so I can rest my overthinking brain.

- ROXANE: You think too much because you want to think! Sorry, let's go! - HORTAVIE: I said no! In fact, I'm going to bed. Mimie was sitting on the carpet, playing with her doll... - HORTAVIE: Mimie, are you coming with Mommy? - MIMIE: No! I want to see the prince. Roxane burst out laughing until she fell to the ground. Then she carried Mimie. - ROXANE: You want to go see the Prince? - MIMIE: Yes! Hortavie was so overwhelmed that she herself started laughing. - HORTAVIE: Hahaha you two huh, I see the trick you are doing, but I am not talking. I want you to know that when I give you back, you'll see. Anyway, you win, let's go! Roxane started to dance and Mimie came down from her arms then she started to gloat saying: - MIMIE: Yippee, we're off to see the prince. Roxane with her body and her fine and big size wore a pants jean, a dismembered and a small jacket without forgetting a pair of basket. She had made a make-up which went very well with her black complexion, but slightly clearer compared to that of Hortavie who had rather opted for a black dress with white stripes and barefoot. She had left her hair short, which she had trimmed to the wind, and she had not worn any makeup. She was very cute. As for Mimie, her mother had put her in a little top and panties (pants) with ballerinas and her little backpack. She looked like Dora the Explorer, but with a very brown complexion. They took the car and went to the airport. It was so crowded that even parking was almost impossible. They were forced to park in a lot not far from the airport and continue on foot. - HORTAVIE: Gee, all these people came to see the prince? Wow! - ROXANE: Is this just anyone's guess? Anyway, we're going to see him in real life for the first time oh! - HORTAVIE: Until my child wanted to see him too! - ROXANE: Who do you think that leaves? Excuse me, let's sneak past all these people and go to the front! Isn't that right, Mimie? Mimie was so focused on opening and then closing her little bag that she had unhooked from her back, that she didn't even answer. - ROXANE: Um, now you leave me alone to talk, huh! Hortavie carried Mimie and they all snuck in until they found a good spot in front. It was 11:20 a.m. and there were 10 minutes left for the prince's plane to land. Some girls started to fix their makeup, others started to shake, to stress, to gloat, in short there was all kind of emotion. - ROXANE: I can feel how almost every girl in the country has applied! - HORTAVIE: I'm telling you! And I'm sure some of them are even in relationships. Lol! Anyway, may the best one win! I just hope we invite all of Cameroon to the wedding so I can go eat. - ROXANE: You won't need to be invited because you'll be the bride! Hortavie jumped up and looked at Roxane strangely. - HORTAVIE: You're a prophetess now, aren't you? I've already told you that men and I are finished, so stop bugging me with this story! No, but I'm serious! She got a little upset. - ROXANE: There's no need to get angry, my little sister. I won't bother you with this story anymore! - HORTAVIE: Thank you very much! They continued chatting until people started shouting "the prince is here, Pierre Abena is here". He had worn a long black coat, a black knit and dark gold leather pants. He had made a gradient and the hair in the middle of his head had formed a tuft and it was light and not hard like rubber. He had a beautiful beard that had been well trimmed. He had an indescribable beauty and charisma! He walked like a lion going on a mission. He didn't smile, but rather watched people applauding him and shouting his name, and he held out his hand to greet them. There was his mother by his side, Mama Abena, and two guards. A Bugatti came straight out of the airport parking lot to follow them... - ROXANE: Tall, mixed race, handsome, sexy, charismatic! He's not even close to us yet, but we can already smell his perfume! Hortavie, you know what? Hortavie's eyes were on him, unlike Mimie's who didn't even manage him, yet she had insisted on seeing him. She was still focused on her bag. - ROXANE: Hortavie? Hortavie? She touched Hortavie and Hortavie finally answered, but, after she flinched. - HORTAVIE: What? What is it? - ROXANE: You're here, but you're far away in your thoughts. Anyway, I was saying that the prince here will be my brother-in-law! If you want, you can get angry, but... Hortavie looked at her, but without saying anything this time! - ROXANE: Mimie, there's your future daddy over there, right? You wanted to see him, right? Now that he's here, you don't have time for him anymore? In fact, Hortavie wasn't even paying attention to what Roxane was saying. She was focused on looking at this prince who looked mysterious, because it was impossible to know what he was thinking in his head. One could not know him by looking at him. The closer he got, the more the girls became alarmed. The police had to get even stricter so they wouldn't go over the line... He finally got to where the crowd was and started greeting some people with "hello, how are you?" and a slight smile. He was on the opposite side of the row first. The girls he was greeting were getting excited and screaming with joy. They kept telling him how handsome he is and everything else. Some were even taking pictures with him. Then he moved to the other row and did the same until he arrived near Hortavie, Roxane and Mimie. Hortavie was a bit scared, because this man had a really imposing charisma. To avoid him, she lowered her head. Against all odds, Mimie said: - MIMIE: Hello Mr. Prince! And Pierre Abena stopped. He smiled broadly when he saw her. - PIERRE ABENA: How are you, my little one (touching her cheeks)? Say, what's your name? - MIMIE: My name is Lara Chloe, but they call me Mimie. This is my mother (pointing at Hortavie) and this is my auntie (pointing at Roxane). She was talking in her little baby voice and it was funny and cute at the same time. - PIERRE ABENA: Oh yes, that's right, you are very brave! Hello Mimie's mother! Hortavie felt as if her heart was going to fall into her belly. - HORTAVIE: Uh... hello sir (swallowing his saliva). She started shaking... - PIERRE ABENA: And hello Mimie's aunt (looking at Roxane). - ROXANE: Good morning, sir! Please, can we take a picture with you? - MIMIE: Please, Mr. Prince! The Prince laughed, but in a royal way of course! - PIERRE ABENA: Mimie, you are my star of the day! I'm going to take a picture with you! He took out his iPhone and stood in front of them and took a picture. - PIERRE ABENA: You'll see it on Instagram. Goodbye Mimie (touching her cheeks). - MIMIE: Goodbye Mr. Prince! He's gone to greet the others. - ROXANE: No, but I'm dreaming! ! ! He even took out his phone to take a picture with us? But he didn't do it with anyone! Hortavie was still elsewhere in his thoughts and his shaking continued. - ROXANE: Hortavie? Hortavie? What are you even thinking about? Ah, I see you're not even with me! There was a short moment of silence and then she spoke up. - HORTAVIE: Let's go home please, I don't feel well! - ROXANE: What's wrong? - HORTAVIE: I really don't know, but let's go home, please! - ROXANE: Okay! They went home. Hortavie took a Doliprane and went to bed. Roxane went to cook with Mimie. - ROXANE: There's a mom who's not feeling well. What do you want us to make for her to make her feel better? - MIMIE: Chocolate with yoghurt. Roxane laughed. - ROXANE: Go get your apron. We're going to make her a nice chocolate and yogurt cake. Okay? - MIMIE: Yes! She unhooked her apron from behind the kitchen door and Roxane helped her tie it, then together they made the cake and went to call Hortavie to come eat, but they found her crying. Roxane first took Mimie out of the room so that she wouldn't have to witness the scene. - ROXANE: Mimie, go pick out a good cartoon on TV, okay? Mimie ran to do it. Roxane went to sit next to her best friend. - ROXANE: Hortavie, what's wrong? - HORTAVIE: I don't know, I don't know! - ROXANE: Yes, yes, you do! She turned to face her friend and held her hands. That gave her confidence and she decided to talk... - HORTAVIE: I thought I saw him... - ROXANE: Who? - HORTAVIE: Daniel! - ROXANE: What do you mean? Hortavie burst into tears. Roxane took her in her arms. - ROXANE: Breathe and take your time... - HORTAVIE: He is a bit like the prince. They have a clear complexion, they are tall and very beautiful! Please, Roxane, don't talk to me about the prince anymore, I beg you! Men like that are mean, they have no heart and... She said a lot of horrible things and when she finished, Roxane wiped her tears and then asked her to listen carefully. - ROXANE: Hortavie, not all men are the same. Just because Daniel has almost the same physical characteristics as him doesn't mean he's necessarily irresponsible and mean too. Let me ask you a few questions: has Daniel sought you out since he kicked you out of his house? Has he even looked for the child? We haven't even heard from him, the guy just vanished! But, the prince came to the little Mimie. He showed her a smile that he never showed to anyone. He told her "you are my star". He took a picture with her, well we also "njotté" (enjoyed) and to top it all off, he said we're going to see it on Instagram, proof that he's going to post it... I hope you already see the difference between the two! Now come eat the cake your little princess and I made for you. Hortavie smiled, gave Roxane a hug and went to eat. She congratulated her daughter saying that she is a good baker. The day ended pretty well and the next morning, Roxane saw the photo in question on Instagram. She shared it with Hortavie and Mimie over breakfast. - ROXANE: He posted the photo and he wrote "thank you for the welcome, my little Mimie". They saw the picture and the caption. - ROXANE: We can do that and Mimie becomes a star, right? Create her Instagram account and you go and comment on it saying "thank you Mr. Prince". Haha! - HORTAVIE: Ah, that could be a good idea! You know you're the head of social media here. Excuse me, create his account, I see, and then I'll create mine too. - ROXANE: I'm finding my Hortavia! Well, let's finish eating first. They finished eating and did everything they said they would. Mimie's account was "larachloe16" and Hortavie's was "hortaviempondo". The comment was also posted...