A fading voice is talking in a distance. My body is heavy. I try to open heavy eyes and a nauseated feeling overwhelm me. I try to push my body up. I feel a pain in my head. Oh, fuck! This must be a hangover. I look over by the door, blurry images of people conversing. I blink several times till I get a clear picture. I am never drinking again.
"Hey babe" He walks towards me. settles on the bed and gives me a peck on my lips. Argh! my mouth tastes disgusting right now. I gag. He glances at me bewildered. I get off the bed and march to the ensuite bedroom. After several minutes, I manage to take out my head from the toilet seat. Argh! I need a bath and wash my teeth. I scan the ensuite bathroom and my eyes land on a shower. I let out a quaked smile. At least that cheers my spirit.
I come out of the bathroom with my body dripped in a bathroom towel. I scan the room and it was empty. Good, I will get to dress up quickly and luckily he comes in when I have dressed. I uncover my body exposing my thickness. I reach for my weekender bag and grab my body lotion. I put on my short floral print off the shoulder strap dress and wear my vans shoes. I am done! I place my nightclothes inside the bag and make myself comfortable on the bed. I fiddle with my phone with the hope that he is going to walk in soon, but the door remains closed.
I decided to send a text and I get no reply. I am becoming restless on the bed. I look at the time on the phone, I will be late for my class. I still need to get to my room, pick up my laptop and few essentials for my first English class. Oh dear Lord, why did I agree to this? This is not what mother will think I am doing. The phone rings. speak of the devil and he appears.
"Hello Ma" my voice was low and soft so that I don't sound anxious to my mom.
"Hello, baby! Are you excited about your first class?" She sounds cheerful
"Uh. I am nervous and scared" I rub my arm with my hand to calm my nerves.
"Don't worry love, it's like any class. Just don't be late. And do your best in school" Her voice is sweet and loving. "Have a great day baby. Mommy loves you!"
"I love you too mom. I will try and make the most of it. Bye!" I end the call.
My phone chimes
"Good morning my love. First day at University huh? don't be scared, you got this. lots of love" The message was accompanied by heart emojis and a kiss face emoji.
My heart sinks. Oh, Cavin. I feel bad for doing this to you. I am a bad lover. I close my eyes in disappointment. When did I become this girl? It is only a freaking few days and already I am cheating on Cavin. Is it cheating when all the attraction and love I used to feel for him is all gone? It vanished overnight. I...don't love him anymore. Or maybe I had stopped loving him before I arrive here. There's no way, you stop loving someone overnight.
I get off the bed and head for the door. I should head to the kitchen and make some food because I am feeling hungry and Musa has deserted me. I walk through the corridor and hear voices conversing in the room I am heading to.
"I can't believe that Shudu would do that...that girl too had taken me by surprise"
"I don't know what to do...hate him or forgive him. he's my brother and I loved her, she was my first love"
"I understand..."
I interrupt the conversation by knocking on the door which was already open because I could not bear listening to their secrets. Everyone turns their heads towards my direction startled by my presence.
"Uh...good morning" I shyly greet them avoiding eye contact. I thought this place was empty. I am hungry, how would I make my food.
"Hi...you are here for breakfast. We are sorry he didn't call you up. Pancakes?" Zoey eyes the plate decked with pancakes.
"Thank you" I head for the plates already on the table. I dish three pancakes and drizzle honey on top of them and the side of the plate. Everyone is quiet and looking at me. I feel uncomfortable. I quickly move to the chair I was sitting on yesterday. I start eating the pancake with the table knife and fork I stumbled on when I was rushed to my sit.
"Here's tea. I am sorry I didn't call you up" He apologises in a low tone.
"Okay" I grab the mug and place it next to my plate. It is not okay, I am angry at you. I fixate on my food.
"Thank you for hosting us. We will visit again soon" He tears a smile at them. They wave as the car pulls out of the built in house garage. The gate opens and we head out of the yard. The car was filled with awkward silence. I won't say a thing, I will just keep my serious face.
"I am late for my class you know...we should have left earlier" I complain gazing at the fast-paced nature we are passing.
"Don't worry we will make it in time. I will drop you off next to the lecture hall. I also have a class" He fixates his gaze on the road with a grim face. I feel uncomfortable, we were just happy...I mean okay and that sex yesterday. Why is he so bitter and serious? I scoff and turn my head and make sure he sees my action.
"What's that? what did I do?" Why is he confused? first the secretive conversation, the reason behind our abrupt holiday. Eish! I am even late, damn it!
"I am late for my class" I mumble the words hiding my raged face.
"I won't know what bothers if you don't tell me" He spit the words in irritation. His forehead creased in vexation.
"This is my first, I must get early" I adjust my body on the seat and glace at the road.
"Really? Because you want a medal for it. This University that ish is not going to appear on your academic transcript. or else..." He turns and I glance at his grinning face.
"You want to be the class rep. Oh, baby!" He burst a loud chuckle. "You should have said so" He continues laughing and picks up the speed of the car.
Seriously? I roll my eyes in disgust.
" Damn it! Why did we sleep at your brother's?" The car loses balance and steady the car speed.
"We will talk about it later tonight. Did you hear anything when you come to the kitchen?"
He sways his look back at me and the road with a sombre expression. This is a trap, say no.
"Yes, I did" I push the words in a confident face posture. What the hell!
"Oh...I guess you know everything. I should have..." The car makes a premature stop on the traffic lights flickering red.
"I am sorry about that" He glances at me with a soft gaze mixed with hidden gloaming emotions. What's bothering him?
"I didn't hear much...Just that you are struggling to forgive Shudu and She was your first love" I glance at my lap with tear glasses in my eyes. I feel bad for him. I feel bad I didn't keep my word of being supportive, instead, I am nipping him into a corner. Poor Musa.
The car picks up speed and leaves the traffic lights.
"I...We should talk about it. Since we are in a relationship...and...this part is important for you to know" He keeps silent and I nod into an agreement. I relax my tensed body on the passenger seat.
"I need to pick up my laptop and some stationery" I whisper the words out.
"Okay. Then we head for school. I won't get in, I have everything with me" His face is still grim. I can't bear him in this mood. I wish he could smile so I can see his beautiful smile and droll over his dark lips. I let out a hidden smile and gaze at the road.
We reach the residence I quickly hop out of the car to fetch my stationery and drop off my weekender bag. All eyes were on me when I run to and fro my room. And whispers when Lala saw me hop in a mahogany red polo TSI and gave me a nasty sneer. I brush it off, the only thing that matters right now is my class.
We depart and within a six-minute drive to the University of Venda, the car was packed next to the A3 lecture hall parking slot. Whew! Thank God. It is 08:40, I made it before 09:00.
"Your ex called, I didn't pick it up because I didn't want to upset you and you looked peaceful and beautiful when sleeping" He glances at me with a grinning face full of mischief. This guy! I roll my eyes.
"No ex of mine has my number" I snap at him back with a grin on my face. My smile fades when his eyebrow rose in confusion.
"Uhm...Cavin called? Oh," My eyes drop with disappointment. But he seems not shaken by what I said.
"Don't be sad Deya. You have an understanding lover. I don't fuss over my lover's former lovers" He rubs my dimpled chin with two fingers and tears a warm slight smile. I peer into his eyes, his eyes were sparkling with mischief. I wonder why is all of sudden happy, especially when, Cavin called, is he aware that I have not broken up with Cavin?
"Moenie worry nie My lief. Jy is myne! " He leans into my seat. My body tensed up. We are in a public space. He places a warm passionate peck on my lips. When my lips try to capture his, he pulls back and let out a sinister smile. I let out a shy smile, ashamed that I was looking forward to more kisses.
" Ek is lief vir jou" He pulls back and hops out of the car.
I am still sitting mesmerised by his kiss and his fluency in Afrikaans. Damn...this man can praat Afrikaans.
I hop out of the car. I cling to my bag in my hands. I scan at the crowd sitting on the green lawn outside the A block lecture halls looking at me suspiciously. He walks towards me all loved up. What the fuck is with this guy! Changing his moods like unpredicted weather. My heart starts racing. Please, please don't kiss me, I hate PDA. My insides are cringing. I fix my eyes on his walk towards me.
"Come on let's go to class. I Am attending mine at A2" He grins and we walk together. I am so glad we didn't do PDA, I am not a fan.
*
"So is that your lover? He's handsome. I am Linda, what's your name?" A slim and short girl sitting next smile at me.
"I am Deya" I smile at her.
"The class is over, do you have plans?" She asks. I open my mouth and my words were cut off.
"Of course not, she's going to have breakfast at spur with Mr Mala, the rick kid. I am Shirley " She waves her pen in the air in imitation of a fancy lady.
"Actually...no. Do you? I haven't toured the school, have you guys? " I ask them.
"What is there to tour? Old lecture halls, the bushy forest, what else? " Shirley, a short average build woman in Afro hair she's expressive, I like her.
"Or we can go to the cafeteria to buy vetkoek and connect eduroam" Linda with her slender body suggests. They nod in agreement.
"You have the wifi passwords already? I don't have" damn! I couldn't make mine because I was busy chasing Musa. Argh!
"You will use mine till you get yours, we can connect to only three devices" Shirley grabs my hand and the three of us head to the Cafeteria. I think I have made new two friends. I smile secretly. They should not see it, or else they will think I am odd.
We climb the staircase and settle for a table on the top floor. So the University thought building a two-floor storey cafeteria was attractive. It looks strong, firm and the blue and red colours blend in well but I can't help feel like it will break and we all die or get injured. It is all in my head.
We settle on the corner table with built-in four plastic seats. We place our takeaway vetkoek and chips and the cold fizzy Fanta-grape drink. We start digging the food right away. Attending a two-hour English class with Dr Chauke has proven to us that it is not easy and that English in high school is nothing compared to advanced English in Univen.
"Wait...isn't that your man? " Linda points me by sneaking a peek at them.
I secretly lift my gaze so that I don't seem like I am looking at him. My eyes lock with his. I quickly turn away. Shit! It's him and he is with Shudu and Lala. Okay....why? I lift my gaze to take a sneak peek and Lala was gone. It was only him, Shudu and some new strange guys.
"Uh...he is with other rich kids. Their families run this town. I graduated my grade 12 from their Academy, Funza Lushaka Academy. it's the best academy in the freakin province. Girl you be swimming in money dating one of those boys" Shirley shocks me with this new revelation. No wonder...It explains why Lala is so hung up on Musa.
Phone chimes. Ting!Ting!
"What time do your classes end? I am done for the day" I gawk at the phone with astonishment. so quick.
I text back
"Around 17:00. I have a class at 13:00 then 15:00-17:00, double class."
" Okay. let me know when you are done. I will pick you up"
"Okay"
"Argh! For real girl? You be chatting with him whilst you can get your ass up and claim him in front of everyone. Look at those ladies throwing their gaze along his way" She pouts. Shirley is a drama queen. I chuckle. Oh, I love her. This will balance me. This is going to be an interesting year with her. I gulp down the residue of the drink in my plastic cup.