Star dished the food and took it to the dinner table.
"Bring mine here!" Bonita called from the sitting room.
"Really, Your Majesty? We cooked, we dished, and now we're supposed to bring it to you?" Mandume replied, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
"You cooked? Since when?" Bonita shot back.
"Since today... if you want to eat, get your ass here," Mandume retorted, unfazed.
"Hey, what kind of talk is that? She'll definitely come," Star said, chuckling as she set the plates down.
"Whoa, this dinner seems more interesting than this show…" Bonita remarked, finally making her way to the table.
Mandume called for his mother, and they all gathered for the meal.
"Wow, Boni, this is delicious… I didn't know you could roast meat to this delectable extent... I love it… really," Maria said, genuinely impressed.
"Mom… Star roasted it, not her," Mandume corrected, watching his mother closely.
"Ah… how? I mean, she just said she doesn't know how to do it. I said it's Boni who should do it," Maria replied, raising an eyebrow.
"Maybe she refused to do it. I mean, I haven't seen your daughter in the kitchen for years. I only see her watching TV and shouting at Star," Mandume added, his tone pointed.
Star felt a sudden pang of confusion at Mandume's words.
"What? Yes, I was in the kitchen starting to prepare dinner, and Star came in telling me to leave because you said so. And, because we do everything Brother says in this house, I left the kitchen," Bonita said, her words laced with bitterness.
Star's jaw dropped at Bonita's audacity.
"I asked you to leave the kitchen? On what account?" Star asked, trying to keep her voice steady.
"Mom, I wanted to roast the meat so badly, but when I came back, Star had already roasted it," Bonita continued, a clear accusation in her voice.
"What? What is she talking about? Why would you accuse me of such? I asked you to roast it…" Star began, but Mandume cut her off.
"And Bonita refused to. What are you up to, Boni? After everything Star did for you, this is how you repay her?" Mandume said, his disappointment evident.
"At first, I thought it was Tiffanie influencing you, but now you've just shown your true colors," Mandume added, his voice rising with frustration.
"Why? You're supporting Star?" Bonita scoffed, glaring at her brother.
"I'm not supporting her. I just hate lies, Boni. Why would Star, of all people, ask you out of the kitchen?" Mandume said firmly.
"Mandume, Boni might be right. Something is off about Star… she…" Maria started, but Mandume interrupted her.
"Mom, not you too," Mandume snapped, the tension mounting.
"Son, let me finish…" Maria tried again, her voice more measured.
"What's wrong with you? I'm right here! And Bonita, I don't know what you're up to, but you won't succeed, okay?" Star said, her patience thinning.
"Really? Prove to everyone that what I'm saying is a lie," Bonita challenged, her eyes cold.
Mandume stood up, pulling out his phone.
"I have proof," he said, his voice cutting through the tension. Bonita's eyes widened in shock.
"Here. I took this video to show Mom what her daughter did. Star went out to ask Mom to roast the meat, and I went to the toilet. When I came back, I saw Star standing in front of Bonita, asking her to roast it because Mom was busy. To my surprise, Bonita didn't even listen to her, and I recorded it. Star even switched off the TV, but mighty sister here almost climbed onto her head and wrongly directed her on how to roast the meat." Mandume narrated, showing the video to everyone.
Star felt a wave of relief, while Bonita's fury only deepened.
Maria stared at the video, her face hardening with anger.
"Boni, why would you do something like this? You're the daughter of this house; you should lead by example," Maria said, her voice shaking with disappointment.
"Of course, Mom… I am the daughter of this house, but I'm not treated like one. Brother gives orders like a prince, and this new staff… she just came into this house days ago, and suddenly all the favours and good-girl credits go to her. What about me? What about what I have to say?" Bonita shot back, standing tall and furious.
"Boni?" Maria said softly, her tone pleading.
"Mom, not today. Let me talk," Bonita snapped, her eyes fixed on Star. "And I want to thank you, Star, for not allowing the police to arrest me. But for you to come into this house, you made a deadly mistake. I hate you, and I will make your life here a living hell," Bonita spat, her voice dripping with venom.
Star stood frozen, her shock giving way to disbelief.
"Bonita!!" Mandume shouted, his voice thunderous with rage.
"What? I'm not pretending to like her stay in this house. Star, mark my words, you won't survive here. Trust me," Bonita said, her eyes narrowing before she stormed off to her room.
"Star, don't mind her. Nothing will happen to you, okay?" Mandume said softly, trying to reassure her.
"Bonita, how did she turn into this? Please, don't mind her… she won't do anything to you," Maria added, her voice tinged with concern.
"Of course, Madam, nothing will happen to me. I'm just shocked she confidently told me to beware of her because she's not good news," Star said quietly, her mind racing.
Maria, still upset, stood up and left the table in a hurry.
"Ouh oh…" Star muttered as Maria walked out.
"Why is Madam mad now?" Star asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Because of what my sister did, she slandered you on purpose!" Mandume said, frustration evident in his voice.
"Do you think that's what Ms. Davids is mad about, though? I mean, that case is closed, right?" Star asked, confusion in her tone.
"Yeah, to you, but to Mom, I think she'll have to scold Boni and teach her manners some more," Mandume said, trying to shift the conversation.
"Hmmm, Mendu, you sure have to wake up," Star said cryptically, her eyes scanning him carefully.
Mandume didn't fully understand what Star meant but chose to let it slide.
"I mean, maybe she's angry about other things. Or maybe she's stressed. She said she was doing paperwork, maybe it didn't go as planned, you know?" Star continued, trying to make sense of the situation.
"Ah, I don't know; she'll sort it out," Mandume said, uninterested in the details.
"Mendu, why does it seem like you don't care about anyone?" Star asked, her voice laced with concern.
"What do you mean?" Mandume asked, confused.
"You just said your mom should sort it out," Star pointed out, her eyes narrowing.
"That doesn't mean I don't care. You don't expect me to ask why Mom is angry in such a situation, do you?" Mandume said, brushing off her concern.
"Nah, of course not! But that comment, though…" Star murmured, her thoughts still swirling.
But before she could continue, Mandume said something strange.
"Ah, don't worry, you see, when Dad left, even though I have Mom on my side, I've always felt lonely... kind of orphaned, even though Mom gives me all the love and care I need. I always feel lonely... but now that you're here, I need to find Dad!" Mandume said, his voice tinged with something unfamiliar.
"What does Mendu mean, 'felt lonely,' those are his instincts…" Star muttered under her breath, her gaze distant.