XILUVA

Chapter two

It's already morning! This bed is too comfortable. I'd sleep all day here if i had nothing to do. I get ready for the day then go and look in the cupboards. There's no food. Does this guy even cook? Last night he got us takeaways. I have to buy grocerues. It's the least i can do. After all i am staying here for free. I don't pay for anything. And when my bursary starts paying i will save on accommodation money. I will have about 50 something thousands of rands from accommodation in my bank since i won't be paying rent. Plus the one that i will save from allowance. And some from my book allowance since I'll buy second hand textbooks and the bursary will give me a laptop. The only thing they require of me is passing. I'm going to work very hard to make that happen. I'm here for a reason. Beside making someone pay,that i won't forget about it.  I'm here to work for my mother. I find a R50 nite on the table. With a piece of paper written "it's for breakfast" i take it and get my backpack. I walk to campus and it's just boring being here. Especially if you don't have friends and it's your first year. I sit next to someone who is also bored just like me.
Me:hi.
Her:hey
Me:I'm Xuluva.
Her:Keletso. Nice to meet you.
Me:nice to meet you too.
Her:so you're first year mmh? It shows.

I think I'm not going to like her. She's judgemental. I try to focus on what the lecturer is talking about. By the time he's done i take my backpack and leave the hall quickly.

Keletso:wait for me!

I wait for her then we walk together.

Keletsk:I'm sorry if what i said hurt you. I meant that i could see that you're a first year because of how you were focusing on that lecturer. Those things they were doing today don't matter. The real work start next week.
Me:which year are you doing?
Keltso:second. But i failed the module of that lecturer so I'm repeating it. Don't worry. I'll show you around this place. Where do you stay?
Me:at a flat near S@B. With my cousin.
Keletso:that's not too far. I stay at the wall. Where are you going now?
Me:i have to go and buy groceries at the plaza. Then after that i will sleep.

FOUR MONTHS LATER

All this time i haven't met Evidence. Even during recess she doesn't come home. I think her ancestors are on her side. I swear when i catch her she'll wish i died.

Keletso:you're always looking around. What's wrong? Are you running from someone?
Me:I'm looking for someone. She's doing second year. We were all interested in doing Bcom Accounting in high school. And you're also doing the same thing and in second year.
Keletso:this campus is very big. Yu might not find her. Why are you looking for her?
Me:she's my sister.
Keletso:i thought you were an only child.
Me:sister from another mother. Like a cousin. My mother's husband and her father were brothers.
Keletso:oh i understand now. Show me her picture. Maybe i  know her.

I show her and she shakes her head.

Me:let me just forget about it.
Keletso:I'm going to a party tonight. Do you want to come?
Me:maybe next time.
Keletso:please come. We don't start exams until after two weeks. We will start studying next week.
Me:okay! We can go together.
Keletso:i have an outfit for you. Don't worry about that. Come to my apartment at 5pm.
Me:see you then.

We go our separate ways and I call my mother as soon as I get to the flat. From her tone i can hear how happy she is. I haven't talked to her all day.

Mom:Xiluva. I've been waiting for your call.
Me:i had classes mom. I just arrived now.
Mom:how is Austin treating you?
Me:good mom. I don't even do anything here. I just cook and clean and that's all.
Mom:good. Don't forget to study.
Me:okay mom. I will send you money just now.
Mom:save that money for rainy days. I'm fine.
Me:still mom. How is everyone treating you there?
Mom:i moved back home. They kicked me out of the house. But don't stress about that. I'm fine now.
Me:but that's your house. I grew up there!
Mom:I'm fine. As you said one day you will build a very big house for me.
Me:okay. Have a good day. I love you.

I put my phone on the couch and go and take a shower. I don't bother changing since I'll change at Keletso's place. I let my afro hair breath. It's hot. The weather around here changes all the time. I find Austin in the kitchen/sitting room with his friend Mnqobi. I take my phone from the couch.

Austin:Keletso called.
Me:oh. I thinking she wanted to talk to me about this party that we are going to.
Mnqobi:you're going to a party?
Me:yes. And it's my first time. If it's fun i think I'll always go with Keletso.
Austin:you're not going.
Me:you can't stop me from going somewhere every time because you think i might do something wrong.
Austin:i promised your mother to take care of you.
Me:I'm 20.
Austin:you're still not going. I'm going somewhere. You're also coming. Go and change.

Man of the house has spoken. I call Keletso to cancel and change into black skinny jeans and a denim jacket.

Austin:now we can leave. We'll come back on sunday. I'll get you something to change to.

I was quiet the whole way. I didnt even answer when he asked something. Ever since I came here he always has his eyes on me. I even regret not getting my own place. After a long drive we got to this beautiful place. A woman came running to us.

Austin:babe this is my cousin Xiluva. Meet my girlfriend Lucia.
Me:nice to meet you Lucia.

Hee! White girlfriend. I wonder if she will be able to cook with fire when he takes her to Limpopo. We ciok with fire even though there's electricity in our village.

Lucia:nice to meet you too.

She gives me a hug and takes my hand.

Lucia:babe I'll look after her.
Austin:here's my card. Lucia will take you shopping tomorrow.

We get inside this big house and everything is just so clean and shining. I'm even scared of touching. What if i break something?

Lucia:feel welcome. There are a lot of people here. Black, white and coloured.  I sit next to Lucia but she just looks at me and tells me to go and serve the kids. Am i a maid here? She directs me and I go there. I'd be at the party maybe enjoying myself instead of doing this. I'm serving the kids when I feel someone look at me. I look up and a guy who looks like Mnqobi but younger than him is staring at me.

Me:hi.
Him:hello.

My phone rings. It's Keletso. I pick up and it's so loud where she is.

Keletso:chomi you should have come with me. I just saw your cousin here.
Me:at the party?
Keletso:yes!
Me:arggg. It doesn't matter anymore.
Keletso:i could look for her and tellher you are looking for her.
Me:no! Um we'll talk tomorrow. Bye.

The guy is laughing.

Him:boyfriend?
Me:no. A friend.
Him:ohkay. That's good.

That's good?

Him:I'm Luyolo. It's nice to meet you chef.
Me:nice to meet you too. I'm Xiluva.

I continue serving the kids then go back to sit. Lucia smiles at me. This night is going to be so long.  I'm bored and know no one here. To think i have to spend the whole weekend!