Oyama: Her Story

CHAPTER 62

I’m walking to History class, which is my favorite class of all, because of Mr. Modise, he’s been teaching me History from Grade 8 till now in Grade 11. Mr. Modise is the cool teacher, he’s not strict but o hotse kasi(he’s from the hood), so if you don’t work he’s gonna make fun of you, and you can dish it back, but that’s not recommended, trust me. Modise is also the teacher, you can go to when you need advice on certain situations that involve ladies, and he gives solid advice most of the time. Other ke advice ya’majita(advice from the guys) so you pick and choose.
I walk up the final flight of stairs and text James if I should come to the gym today, Thursday’s are usually my off days, but sometimes he wants me in to help train the little ones who are still working on their confidence on the mat. Its fun, but other times, the kids can be assholes, GOD I LOVE MY JOB. I sound crazy, but when a young student is competitive its because they wanna be the best and most of the time they are ready for it, other times, they never know what’s about to hit them.
He texts back, ‘no’.
I send back a thumbs up.
I walk closer to the class and Kim is standing texting her phone, she has her usual mean-bitch-face on. Its to deter anyone that isn’t me or her boyfriend. I walk closer, and stand in front of her, she looks up from her phone and looks up at me with a Kubrick stare.
She smiles and looks away, I lean over and wrap my arms around her waist.
“How are you?” I ask and she smiles and shows me her smiley piercing, “Oh shit you got a new piercing?”
She nods, “I’m good, why weren’t you at school yesterday?”
“I had something, I needed to handle” I answer.
“Something like what?” she asks.
“Something like none of your business” I say moving my head side to side.
She shoves me lightly, and shakes her head, “Did you watch the Anime I sent you?” she asks. “Nah, been busy, but I’ll get to it, you know, I always do” I say.

“Did I miss anything yesterday?” I ask.
“Nah, Modise had a discussion about women’s rights and the feminist movement, he wanted to play Devil’s advocate” she says.
I laugh, “So I’m guessing he said something that triggered yall” I ask.
“Yeah” she nods, “He said woman are incapable of leaving emotions out of decisions and we only want certain equalities but not others” I laugh, “How he became a teacher, is baffling” “Don’t take it personal, Modise has always been Devil’s advocate, that’s what makes him a good History teacher, because he always makes you question what happened, what could’ve been different, what similar situations are we facing, yeah he’s an asshole, but he’s damn good teacher” I smile at her.
She smiles back at me, “I won’t, lie that smiley makes you look sexy” I lean down and whisper. “You should see the dermal’s on my back, they make things interesting from behind”
I feel a rush to the man downstairs, “You just give me a date” I say.
“How about Saturday” she says, “Parents won’t be here for the weekend”
“I got work on Saturday, but I can maybe wing it” I say.
“OK, you’ll let me know” she bites her lower lip.
“Definitely,” I say, stepping back from Kim as the second bell rings saying anyone in class after that is late.

Mr. Modise walks up to the class and opens the door, “Don” he calls.
“Ekse ekse Bra. T, dingstang”(Wassup Bra. T) I call him Bra. T because as you guessed his name is Tebogo. I greet, dabbing him up and giving him a guy’s hug.
“Ke botsesa wena?”(I’m asking you)
“A ke rase wena”(Can’t complain)
“Ah standard” he says, “Why osatla sgila mabane”(Why weren’t you at school yesterday)
“Eish, bra T” I step back, my hands on my head.
“Dingstang!!!”(Wasupp) he asks excited.
“Nne kele ko Pheli”(I was in Pheli)
“Werang?!!!”(Doing what) he asks excited.
“Mfana di ander kind a re pull through,”(This other girl said) I say.
He nods, “And then!!!” he’s still excited.
“Kere vandag bra T. letheka la ka le bohloko”(Today Bra. T my hip is sore) I say smiling and look down.
“MFANAKA!!!!” he shouts excited.
I had to lie to him, its not like I could tell him, ‘I was in Pheli to sell Drugs’
The rest of History class was cool.