"Mom I will be fine okay" I reassure my mom. "I am a phone call away. Few kilos away", "Yes... I will always call you". She chuckles. "Yeah right, been there, done that". We hug each other and I walk her out to her car. I watch her get inside the car, she waves goodbye and I wave back; she drives off. I take a deep breath. "to new beginnings...to learning new truths", and turn around and hit my head with someone's body. "I am so sorry", "it's okay". The body passes without me capturing the face. Oh well, this is varsity and I am just a fresher. I walk to my room filled with excitement for new beginnings and fear of how am I going to pull it through alone in this place. I am going to miss my mom, but I can always go home whenever I want. "hey there!", a stranger greets me, "hi", I greet her back. "you must be the new girl in the residence, a first-year huh? Uhm I am Funi and you are?", she looks at me with a friendly face. "I am Deya...", I answer shyly. "awesome name, strange name but beautiful. You look beautiful too", she compliments me. "Thank you", I reply shyly. Another girl approaches us all friendly and smiley. "Funi!", "Lerato! Welcome back". They hug each other joyously. "Lee this is Deya, our new res mate, she's a fresher", she introduces me to Lerato. "uh... Another girl on our team. You look beautiful, I am pleased to meet you" she introduces herself and I reply "my pleasure and thank you for the compliment". "so... Today, there's a get-together, a tradition in this commune which we practice casually. But now this get together is a welcoming party for everyone and you are invited. If you try not to come...", "We will come and get you", concludes Lerato. "okay I will come", I reply. "Cool. See you at 20:00. Just listen to the direction of the music and you will find us," says Funi, and they leave to their respective rooms. Wow! What a way to spend my first night here, with a party. This year is going to be an interesting one. I walk to my room.
19:45
"Yes mom. I will take care of myself I promise. Uhuh. Yes. I will do so. I will pray before I sleep, goodnight mom. I love you too". The call ends. I sigh. My mom is being overprotective. I put on my sandals, scrutinize myself if my party outfit is appropriate for a casual residence party. I think a casual dress with sandals is okay. It's a residence welcoming party, nothing major. I rub my lip balm on my lips to give nice moisture and a healthy look. Run the comb through my extension hair. I look good. Should I take a side bag? But it's not like I am going out, I am in the commune, if there's anything I need, I will come and get it. I gaze at myself in front of my hand portable mirror and feel pleased. As long I am comfortable I tell myself that. I do a little prayer and I walk out of the room with my phone and hold the keys by hand. The atmosphere outside is really warm, I think my outfit fits the weather.
I follow the sound of music which led me to the front entrance and I was met with a crowd that seemed like a large circle of friends chilling together. When I further looked I saw bottles of soft drinks, water and types of liquor. So this is the welcome party, oh wow! That changed real quick. "Dee!", I hear a voice calling, I wonder who they calling out. It's so dark, I don't see people. Why is it so dark? Where are the lights at this place? Mom was so right, communes here at P West are just expensive, but do not deliver, what a scam. "Deya!". Oh, that's me. I look around to see who's calling me. "Over here". Oh, it's Funi, I see her. Whew! I was about to have party social anxiety thinking I was going to stand by the pillar alone throughout the party. I walk over where they were sitting by the corner on top of buckets, crates and chairs, looking all ghetto but urbanized. "Hey, guys" I greet them again. "She has arrived!", Lerato calls out to me and raises her cup in the air with a jolly spirit. "This is our new baby. DEYA!", " yeepy!!! Welcome to the club. To the Black and White mountain commune", another girl welcomes me with a drunken tone. The Black and White mountain, what a name, I wonder what's so black and white about it, because the building is painted in classic colours, toned Grey and cream white on the inside, a low toned navy blue and deep bold red on the outside, it's a rainbow to me. Yes, they should say the Rainbow commune.
The people kept on welcoming me, I smile through it all, say my gratitude. Funi and Lerato stay by my side to chase away all the thirsty people who wanted to try their luck and fed me with snacks and soft drinks like a baby. Watching people talking, drinking, dancing and having fun was fulfilling to watch, for a minute I understood what varsity life is like. Having the freedom to have fun, but responsibly. "Do you know how to dance?", Lee aka Lerato asks me, "not really", I answer doubtingly. "Let's dance then, you will learn on the dance floor". Lee leads me to the dance floor which is the front pavement of the front side of the building.
They were playing house music then they switched to Gqom music and everyone was breaking their backs dancing Vosho, it is just so fun. I try my luck too because there's no way I live in South Africa in 2017 where Gqom is the Centre of music right now without knowing how to do Vosho. We danced and drank, I drank soft drinks and they drank their liquor while I watch them in amazement. Sometimes they would ask if I have never drunk or want to taste it. The truth is I have, I have drunk four cousins wine once, it was nice and the story ends there. I am not a casual drinker, but I didn't tell them that, I said to them I don't drink or smoke. And they asked if I was a virgin, I sensed the sex topic coming, and I said I am abstaining, I am trying to be a celibate, to cut the story short. I am getting quite good at answering these weird and personal questions nicely without offence.
"Enjoying the party?", a husky, low toned male voice comes from the side. "yes", I answer without looking at the person. " That's nice. Enjoy it while it lasts. This is the happiest you can be in Varsity. University is a scam and a prison", he says this and sips his drink in slow motion. His words caught my attention that I look at him and want to see this face that is putting fear in me. "Don't be scared. We got you. What are you going to study?", he asks. "Education of Bachelor, I mean Bachelor Of education in FET", I answer still shaken by his previous statement. "Majors?", " English and Geography". He chuckles and says "don't worry I got you. We are playing on the same field. I am doing my third year on the same degree", he smiles at me weirdly. "oh that's nice. I will come to you for help", "Don't hesitate", he assures me.
Lee walks in on us. "Brian please don't try and flirt with Deya, she's a baby", "I was not, just creating a conversation since she was sitting here cold by herself", he looks at me with a friendly smile. I smile sheepishly back at him, and his straight-line friendly smile turns to a grin. "Whatever! I am coming back now now", she leaves. "She is drunk", he burst a soft chuckle and I smile. "what's your name?", he asks, "Deya", "I am Musa or Brian. But you, you should call me Musa, because that's what I will be to you". He says that with a straight face looking at the dancing crowd. "Uhm... Well since we are flexing with names You can call me Saseki or Deya or Nala or Bama", he turns around and looks at me with amazement. "Aren't you an Angel? Your surname sounds familiar to me. Let me tell you a story real quick. Apparently, in my family, there's a certain uncle who once dated a lady named Bama as her last name, but it never worked out because he impregnated another woman blah blah old people and their traditions, so he had to marry the lady he impregnated and broke up with Bama", "so sad", I empathize, "he deserved it", he replies curtly. "I guess the world is round", I comment. "it is", he smirks looking at me in the eye.
He gets up, and he says "Aren't you cold?", "Not really", "Let me walk you to your room, you can never predict what happens in the dark corridors". He was right, it was late and I was feeling sleepy. So I get up and let him lead the way through the dark corridors of the building. "Why is it so dark? Where are the lights?", I ask innocently. "They are there, working very fine. But you know the best things are felt in the dark", he answers, "I don't understand", I replied with confusion, "People want to get drunk and make out, and you can't do that in the light", he concludes. "oh... I get it", I chuckle.
He stops walking. "Lead the way, I don't know your room", "Oh yah yah". I lead the way to the door of my room. This residence is not big, but walking with him makes it feel like we can walk throughout the night, we are going to be goooood friends. "It was nice meeting you Deya", "Same here", I smile. He takes out his phone and hands it to me; then he takes my phone out of my hand. He swipes my phone and starts typing his numbers, then he looks up and he sees I am not moving, he says "please put your contact"; and I do it. Wow! So this is the life in Varsity, this is how we exchange contacts, interesting. We exchange our phones. "Please get in your room so I am sure of your safety". Aww! He is so caring. I unlock the door and get in, turn around to face him. "Good night Lady Deya", he smiles, I smile back, "Same to you too". And he walks away, disappearing into the dark corridors.
*Gqom is a South African music genre
*Vosho is a South African dance move