Write. Compete. Win Big.

Life is unfair

I walked out of the lecture, stuffing my laptop into my back. I hurried to my room where I knew I would find my mother waiting for me outside the door. “Sorry I’m late.” I said taking out my key and opened the door. “I hope I haven't kept you waiting.” My mother shook her head, she placed the plastics on the small kitchen counter when we both walked inside. My room was small but I was glad that I wasn't sharing my room with anyone. My mother sat on the only available chair while I put the grocery in the cupboards. “No, I just arrived a couple of minutes ago. I went to see your brother.” I paused for a second before carrying on. “How is he?” “He’s okay, he sent his regards.” I shook my head, “If only he would allow me to visit him.” “He is not ready.” My mother gave me a sympathetic look. “It has been eight months, how long must I wait before he becomes ready?” My mother shrugged. “Give him time.” I looked at my mother and sighed, “He doesn’t even take my calls or does he blame me?” “Of course not, just focus on your studies when your brother is ready he will contact you.” I let out a heavy sigh, “How is dad?” I asked changing the subject. “He is better next time, he promised to come and visit you.” I smiled, “I would appreciate that.” My mother stood up. “I have to go now.” She pulled me into a hug and squeezed me tight. I walked her out and waved her goodbye when she got in the cab. “Are we still on tonight?” Shouted Phakamani when I walked into res. “You know it.” I said. It was amazing how I evolved from being a shy boy to being the most popular kid. I was not only known for being smart, or handsome but for being a party animal and still coming out on top with my studies. I never realised how much I missed being an actual kid until I set foot into WITS and I met Phakamani and Sifiso. Phakamani was wild like me, besides liking clubs he liked girls even more and Sifiso was not that into girls or clubs but he still tagged along when we were going out. I smiled at the memory of how we all met, I was lost looking for directions to my class when I bumped into Phakamani. “I’m looking for Prof Johnson's class, can you point me in the correct direction?” In front of me was Phakamani with a wrinkled shirt and a book in his hand. “You’re late for your class?” He asked, I nodded. “Siyafana. (we are the same.)” “So why ain’t you rushing to get to class?” He shrugged. “I’ll ask to copy someone's notes, come I’ll show you the way.” His eyes dropped to my textbooks, he raised his eyebrow. “You’re one of the smart ones huh?” I laughed, “I wouldn’t call myself smart.” “Modest much? I’m doing Law, my name is Phakamani.” “Mongezi, I’m doing a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery.” Phakamani smiled, “And you say you’re not smart, after varsity you'll work as a doctor?” I shook my head. “A heart surgeon, what about you?” Phakamani shrugged, “Probably a labour attorney or become a corporate attorney, there’s money there.” He laughed. “And that is Mr Johnson’s class.” He nodded with his head. After my class, I found Phakamani waiting for me, that was how our friendship was formed. Sifiso we met him in the library, he was looking for an empty space but all the tables were occupied, Phakamani invited him over. “So you want to become a teacher?” Phakamani asked, when Sifiso placed down his textbook on the table. Sifiso nodded with a shy smile. “A mathematical and science teacher.” It didn’t take long for Phakamani to rope Sifiso to be our friend. “We’ll come and fetch you at 7 p.m.” Phakamani shouted once again, his head sticking out the window. I nodded as I made my way to my room, I had a couple of hours to figure out what I was going to wear. IN THE CLUB “I need to study.” Sifiso shouted over the loud music. Phakamani chugged down his beer, “We haven’t been here for more than 3 hours, you need to stop being a bookworm for once.” “You know that we are not like Mongezi right, he can stay here all night and still manage to pass an exam that is to be written tomorrow.” “That is because he is smart.” Phakamani said, Sifiso wrapped his hand over Phakamani’s shoulder and nodded, “And that’s why the likes of us need to study and didn’t you say you have a test tomorrow afternoon, you need to sleep, so that you can wake up and study.” “You know how to kill off my buzz.” Phakamani groaned, “But you’re right, I have a test tomorrow.” We walked out of the club after having three more drinks, “When was the last time you slept with someone Sifiso?” Phakamani asked while laughing. He was still a virgin and he was proud but other times like now he usually got shy about it. “I’ll go and ask one of those girls to sleep with you, just an hour and you’ll come out as a man.” Phakamani walked over to the two prostitutes before I could even stop him. Sifiso and I followed closely behind. “Forgive my friend he tends to be forw…” I trailed off when I came face to face with Amanda, I blinked twice wanting to make sure that my eyes weren’t deceiving me but they weren’t. Standing in front of me was Amanda, she was barely wearing anything. With embarrassment she averted her eyes. “Amanda.” I whispered, I tuned Phakamani out, he was talking to the coloured lady. “Is it really you?” Amanda looked at me and nodded, “Hey Mongezi.” I looked around now somewhat overprotective, “Are you okay? You are shivering.” I said, taking out my sweater. “I’m okay.” “I can tell that you’re cold, here take it.” She hesitantly took the sweater and smiled. “You’re still sweet. “You no longer stay at Alex?” “No, I moved a long time ago, I’m not sure if you heard about Nqobile and my father.” I shook my head, “I cut all contact with my previous life.” Amanda wore the sweater, “Yeah well a lot had happened, I moved to Tembisa from Tembisa to here.” “We can go to my place and we can catch up, for old times sake?” In all honesty, I wanted her out of these streets. It was hard to believe that the hard headed Amanda I once knew was now reduced to being a prostitute. “I can’t, I’m working.” “I’ll pay you.” Amanda looked at her friend, “I’ll be fine, you can go.” On our way to the res, I introduced Amanda to Phakamani and Sifiso. Soon they were talking about everything other than prostitution. I watched as Amanda loosened a bit and chatted with my friends. “I see you’re still a neat freak.” Amanda said when she walked in my room, “Are you hungry? Or you want something to drink?” “Juice will be fine.” She sat on the bed and looked at me, “How is it possible that I always bump into you when I am at my lowest?” She took the juice with a smile and quickly changed the topic. “Anyway, you’re in WITS, you’ve done really well for yourself.” “I suppose.” I said sitting on the chair, “What happened to your sister?” “She hung herself and my father was put to death for raping kids.” Amanda said with no emotion whatsoever. “That’s… I’m sorry.” I said. Amanda averted her eyes away from me, so that I won't be able to see her glassy eyes, I wanted to go embrace her but I remembered how much she hates being shown affection. Instead I stood there with my hands stuffed in my pockets. She went through so much that I wished she would have better luck in life, it hurt way deep in my soul seeing her like this. How fair was life? I managed to pick myself up and she didn't. I went to sit next to her in total silence, I didn't hug or tell her that everything was going to be okay. Me being right next to her was enough for her to know that I was here for her.

by Trixie