I can't believe this day is finally here, the day I officially say goodbye to high school. After 12 long years of school uniforms and just school in general, I am tired and I am ready to just chill a little and focus on my non existent social life. For an 18 year old, I sure am an old soul. Unlike my age mates, I have never set foot at a club, I have never had a single drop of alcohol, not a single puff of weed/cigarettes, not even a single boyfriend not to mention having sex. At school they call me "Gogo" because I wear a long skirt, I have braces on and I wear spectacles too, how could I forget to mention that I am the school's #1 in academics so that also didn't do me any favors in the social hierarchy.
I didn't want to come here I would be much happier if I was at home right now, in bed and binge watching Suits or The Good Wife maybe, but because I've never been God's favorite, I am sitting in this car waiting for my door to be opened by the valet. My mom insisted that I come here because apparently if I didn't, I would regret it and end up resenting myself later on in life for depriving myself of such an opportunity *rolls eyes* that could never be me.
I felt a slight breeze whilst sitting in this beautiful Matte Black Maserati Levante Trofeo with a white leather interior owned by my uncle Mpilo. It is now that I realize that the door has been opened and the valet is holding his hand out for me to take so he can help me out of the car. After some breathing exercises, I took his hand and stepped out of the car, revealing the white satin plunging neckline and bare back ball gown that I was wearing and started strutting towards the red carpet laid out from the drop off fountain, running towards the entrance of this exquisite Hotel. I had almost reached the crowd gathered (the crowd made up of my school mates and hired photographers) alongside the carpet, when I felt a hand touch the arch of my back, I quickly turned to see who it was because I hated being touch unnecessarily and randomly, only to find Bradley, my male counterpart in the school system, I honestly don't know why he is walking with me, I mean everyone knows we are polar opposites and we have never clicked but here I am, entering the beautifully decorated room, with my arm now draped around his right arm, I don't know how it happened either. Many pictures were taken of us, then when we made it in, he ushered me to the table where his friends were seated and opened up a chair for me, another surprise because I wouldn't have imagined that I would be sitting with the rugby squad and their girlfriends at their table, I mean, I am the last person they normally socialize with, so please excuse my shock.
After a short while of enduring uncomfortable stares from some of the boys in our grade, our grade manager took to the stage to officially welcome us and start the night.
Mr Van Der Westhuizen: "A very good evening grade 12's and welcome to your last night as scholars, I know you are tired of us and tired of school as well, so I'll make this quick. As you can see on your tables there is a short list of speeches and items lined up then you will be free to mingle, so without wasting any further time, I'll call upon Mrs Lott, to please start the night off in prayer."
Mrs Lott made her way to the and she prayed, the prayer was so long that by the time she was done, most people were engaged in their own conversations.
Mr VDW: "Alright ladies and gentlemen, next I'll ask for our Student body heads to please join me on stage to share a few words with you. Mr Bradley Smith and Miss Naledi Ngcobo."
Bradley stood up and pulled my chair out after I had stood up and held his hand out, I took it and we walked to the stage with his hand on the arch of my back, he took the microphone, handed it to me and whispered: "Ladies first."
Me: "Good evening everyone, I honestly don't have much to say. I would like to say congratulations to you all for making it to this point it wasn't easy, we started this journey 5 years ago, with a much bigger number but as I said it wasn't easy hence we lost some on the way, but I'm proud of us, I'm proud because we made it here against all odds, and now we are about to start another chapter of our lives, we are about to be removed from our small pond in which we were the biggest of fish and we will now be dropped into the ocean of life and the ocean of Tertiary Education and we will be the Nemo's in that ocean, but we will definitely make it in that ocean by virtue of us being Toti High Alumni.
All the best with your future endeavors and don't forget to enjoy yourselves. Have a great night further, thank you"
They clapped for a few seconds then Bradley spoke up.
Bradley: "Yikes, I swear I had a whole speech prepared..." they all laughed "I swear I did, but after the profound words of Miss Ngcobo, I am rendered speechless. Seriously though, she has said it all, all that's left is 'let the party called life after high school begin' let's do best."
The whole room cheered, Bradley handed the mic to Mr VDW, then ushered me back to our seats. The night went on, it wasn't my idea of fun but hey, it was no use complaining because I was already there so I stood up to get myself some food from the buffet or to go to the bathroom. Later on the dance floor was open and the dj was now playing some nice slow jams, and being the old soul that I am, I was sitting there sigging along to most of the songs, when Happy People by R.Kelly started playing, I started singing along and I was lost in the vocals when I felt a hand on mine, I looked up and found Bradley smiling broadly, he then asked "May I have this dance?" I nodded and got up from my chair with his help, we then went to the dance floor and started moving along to the beat, when the song got to the last part the stepping part, you'd swear it was rehearsed because everyone started stepping and it looked beautiful, that's the only part I enjoyed. Hours later, it was now time for the after party and it was going to be at Bradley's home. I called my dad to pick me up and in no time he was here waiting for me, so I said my goodbyes to everyone and as I was walking out Bradley Called out for me.
Bradley: "Are you leaving? Aren't you coming to the after party?"
Me: "Nope, I know I'd be cramping your style so I'd rather go home."
Bradley: "Who said you'd be cramping my style? Come on, this is the last time we will all be together, please come, you'll enjoy yourself I promise."
Me: "I can't, I'm sorry, I didn't bring an outfit and my dad outside waiting to take me home."
Bradley: "What if I ask your dad on your behalf?"
I wasn't winning so I just walked towards dad's Audi Q5, when we got there he was already standing outside his car.
Bradley: "Good evening Mr Ngcobo, I'm sorry to bother you but I would like to invite Naledi to our after party at my home and I promise if she doesn't enjoy herself within the first 2 hours, I'll take her home myself. " I turned so quickly after he said that and I suffered some whiplash, what does he mean he will take me home? No that can't happen.
Dad: "Okay that's fair." They both looked at me expectantly.
Me: " Ugh fine, but you can't take me home, because you're white and you drive a polo, you'll be an easy target in my hood."
Dad: "You can sleep over at your granddads house instead and I'll get you tomorrow afternoon."
You can tell that my dad is enjoying this because he always sides with his wife, tling me that I need to go out with people my age, make mistakes and learn from them *sigh*.
So 2 hours after that conversation, I am at Bradley's home, dressed in his shorts and t-shirt, well you can barely see the shorts because it's those tiny rugby shorts that they wear to show off that they never miss leg day *lol* and an oversized t-shirt, luckily his sister wears the same size shoe as me so she lent me her AF1 so I could look half decent. I actually looked beautiful, I was just not comfortable in wearing something so short, but I ended up wearing it because Bradley said they're too short I should take them off and wear anything else, but because no one tells me what to do, here I am, getting uncomfortable stares from the other gender, I wish I had listened to Bradley.
