I slowly open my eyes as I feel the sun heat piercing through my curtain. I look for my phone under the pillow and look at the time. It's 10:00, I overslept. I drag myself out of the bed and walk towards the only big window in the residence, which happens to be in my room. I look at this big window wondering what they were trying to do, was this a home before? I turn. I won't lie, my room is big and it shows that I am fresher, I don't have much furniture besides the studying table, the chair and the wonky bed. This look in my room is nothing like what they show on TV, varsity commune rooms, this is the real thing with no filters. Phone chimes. I walk towards the bed and pick my phone up. I read the message: "Hello Sunshine. Today is your first day at school. You can do it. Go Deya!" I smile. My mom is my life support. I text her. "Thanks, mom. I got it. GO GO Me!". As I was about to put my phone down I see a message, "Arrived safely. Sleep, tight Angel". Okay...guys in Varsity are a little bit strange I guess, I think to myself. There was no need for "I arrived safely", we live in the same residence, but you never know, 1000 ways to die teaches us that it is easy to die and anything can kill you. I take the bucket to fetch water with. My commune is not luxurious, so we only have one tap with running water, no bathrooms and two toilets outside our rooms. Why did I choose this commune? I wonder to myself. Oh yeah, I remember now, because I choose to eat nice than live in a fancy place. It was either a nice place or abundant food to buy. My mom gave me a limit of R3500 as my monthly allowance for everything, I mean everything, food, toiletries and rental money. So I had to be wise and make a wise decision that would allow me to be flexible and I saw it fit that an R900 rental pay would not do much damage to my purse.
I walk to the tap, and luckily there's no one in the corridors. I get to the tap and open the tap for water to get inside my bucket. I lazily stand there, waiting for the bucket to be full while yawning. "Morning....". I hear a husky, lazy voice greet me. I greet back shyly, "morning Musa", "mmmh she took my advice. I am flattered". I turn around and met his lazy smile. I give him a friendly smile back. "How are you?", I ask him avoiding any awkward silence as I see him leaning against a door room and comfortable. "I am good and you?", " I am good". I reply and closing the tap. I close the bucket with the lid. I move the bucket with two hands from the tap. Musa lazily looks at my movements. I am hoping he offers help but I see he is not determined to, I thought he was a gentleman. I shyly carry my bucket and toddle with it till I reach my door room. I get inside. I look at the time and realize time is not by my side. I have to multitask right now. I boil water with my kettle while fixing my bed and everything in the room. I pour water into my plastic portable bathtub, and add cold water to reach a warm temperature; then bath. I bathe and dress up as fast as I can. I wanted to look spot-on for this day, but I can't afford it, I am late and who cares about how I look. My boyfriend is not even here with me, yes I have a guy, Cavin, he's handsome and... Good to me. That's all matters, as long he is nice to me. I leave my room looking all messy but confident, I got no time. I lock the room with my backpack in my hand. And hurry to Univen to attend my orientation day.
I arrive at Univen's Library looking all sweaty. "I am here for the Orientation", I say to the security by the library entrance. They let me pass and point me in the direction of the room where the orientation presentation is taking place in. I follow their instructions. Fortunately enough I arrived before the orientation started, so I made it. I walk through the packed room and head to the back seats. I love back seats, because there's less attention given, although they have a bad reputation, back seats are associated with bad kids or savages in class. A young lady and a guy walk in, and the room settles down. The lady and the guy give us a presentation of the library verbally, then took us on the tour of the library, showing us the different sections; the book area, study area, computer area, the receptions, and the self-assist machine for students that they use to check out leased books. Lastly, we got stickers on our student cards and activated them for any use that needed identification at school. Then the orientation ended. I am surprised that the orientation day only consists of the library, I thought we are touring the whole school. This was a disappointment. Since the orientation is done, I have no choice but leave. I did not make any friends and nothing is exciting on this campus. I put my earphones on maximum and play sorry, not sorry by Demi Lovato. I jam to it while I walk back to my commune.
I reach my commune, as I enter the commune an entourage of guys were chilling outside. They scrutinize me as I walk past. As I walk past, I feel an arm hangs on my shoulders and squeezes me to a body. I look up, only to find out is Mr weirdo Musa. "Musaa..." I mumble. "What's wrong sweet. How's the orientation day for you, did you have fun?", "Are you mocking me?", I question him. "I am being sincere", he chuckles. We walk past the entourage, as we walk towards the start of the corridors, he removes his arm. "What was that?", I ask him. "To chase the flies away. All eyes are on you and I must protect you. I am fulfilling the duties that my uncle failed to do", he answers. "we are not sure whether if it's the same Bama", I challenge him. "I care less, I am smitten by you", he smirks. We reach my room. I take out the keys to unlock the door.
"Invite me in", he asks, "you are not welcome, it's messy", I argue, "I love messy, I am a treasure hunter", he winks then chuckles. "Are you a poet ?", I ask out of curiosity. "A bit", he confirms. "I see... I have drawn the eyes of the poet and I will get to hear poems all day..." I complain. " Is that a complaint?", he asks. We get inside the room. "it's not messy", he comments. I lied, I just wanted to be alone after walking under the hot sun of Thohoyandou, this place is scorching hot. I thank God for my melanin or else I would have been burned into two coloured skin right now.
I offer Musa a sit, he sits down and moves his eyes with me as I take off my backpack and falling on the bed. The room gets filled with silence, but the silence is soothing and peaceful. I love Musa's aura. I smile to myself. We chilled for a while in silence, just gazing at the walls. A nasty idea comes to my mind, I just want to freak him out. "Musa" I call for him, "Yes Deya", he replies in a chilled tone. "Let's make out," I say with a straight face. Musa straight out laughs at me. "Aren't you the crazy baby Deya? I got a girl" he answers me, "So do I, I am bored", I pursue. He gets up and walks around the room, he turns around and faces me. "That's cool, we both take. Let's be faithful", he comments, "Let's play", I insist. He looks at him with a little frown on his face. Then he says, "I won't be different if I take advantage of your innocence". I give him a bored look. I sit up and say "Musa you suck", then stick out my tongue to him. He laughs at my reaction. Then he sits on the bed with me. Pushes me over the bed lightly, and says "You cray. I don't want us to get burned right now, especially me. If I were to have you, I would want you to be mine, only mine, I don't love to share my lady with anyone, the same applies to me. I have a certain way of loving and get attached lol". "attached?" I comment in startle. "Yeah...sensitive and sentimental being", he adds. "I thought it's a women thing", I question; "Is there such? We all human. Just BS", he defends. Musa seems to be an interesting guy to have in one's life. Since I have low key asked about his love life, I am relieved that he's not making moves with the intention to date, because I like him as a friend. I see us platonically in the next post-graduate years.
Knock, knock. We hear the sound from the door. "Who is it?", I ask. "Funi. I want to say Hi and check on you". I get up and walk to the door. I open the door slightly open and look over as Musa makes himself comfortable on my bed and playing with my pillow. "How are you?", Funi asks. " I am well and you?". "I am good. Yesterday you left without saying goodbyes, I hope we didn't make you feel uncomfortable. Are you alone?" she asks, "No I am not", I reply. "Okay.... Second day and there's a visitor, that's fast. Have you seen Musa, I am looking for him?" Funi asks. I look over at Musa, and Musa shakes his head for disapproval. "No", I answer. "okay. Y'all close. All you needed is few hours to click, now you need just a few weeks to dance in the sheets", Funi replies while she leaves my room.
I close the door. "Why are you in hiding?", I ask Musa. "I want to breathe. And your room is a great escape" he answers. "So Deya... What do you love to do in your free time?", he asks. "Sleep or read something", I reply. "Read what?", "Books, novels....", "Example", "The Alchemist by Paulo Colhelo".
"Do you know Madonna of excelsior by Zakes Mda", he asks. "No.." I answer him. "I will lend you the book. You need it for future purposes in your study. For the second semester. It's an interesting read", he adds. "so I assume you are also into books..." I question. "For academic purposes, nothing more. You should try reading more South African or African literature because when studying English, we use African literature for post-colonial English study", he finishes his statement. I just look at him dumbfounded. What the hell is this guy talking about, bombarding me with the information I can't comprehend. "okay" I agree without saying anything further.
"what are you doing tonight?" he asks. "Nothing" I answer. "I am craving for something icy and sweet, do you mind us walking to town to feed my cravings". He initiates a date with me, how bold, I think to myself. "Sure, I would love to have an ice cream date with you". He smiles at my comment. He gets up and heads for the door. "See you in 17:00". He leaves my room.
Musa is such a mysterious man. So much for a guy who's taken. But there's nothing wrong with being kind. He is just a kind man. I hope so. I hope that he is not aiming for the forbidden fruit. Because if he is, he will regret the day knowing me, I hate perverts. I conclude my thoughts. I lay down on the bed and doze off.