It's been a Year

Dylana II

After a rough landing and a panicking Helia, we arrived in Cape Town. We must stay here for a week. A week. My dad already booked a hotel close to the Victoria Alfred Waterfront. Whatever that is. My dad is busy waiting for our luggage and I'm trying to connect to the internet, but it's not working. My mom went to fetch something against nausea for Helia. She was brave, but still very hysteric. She's been sitting and whimpering on the arrival's bench since we came. Which was 45 minutes ago. Because of our 'emergency' landing we have to 'be more patient' with our luggage, as the flight attendant said. Well, since I am not expecting to get my luggage in the next hour, I decide to go wandering around. My dad gives me a worried look, but he lets me go. He still looks half asleep. And so, I take off and go looking for a shop that can sell me something to drink. After a short while I spot one and I look at the drinks. I see a drink called Cream Soda and I take it out of the fridge. It's in a bright green tin and I wonder if the drink is as green too. When I get to the cashier I give her my ten pounds. ,,We don't accept pounds, ma'am." Damn. I turn around to put the drink back, just as a black woman, who was queueing behind me, says that she'd pay for me if I give her the pounds. ,,I'm going to London next week, I'll need them." So, she pays my Cream Soda, that cost a full ten Rands. I give her my ten pounds and head back to my dad. On the way I bump into my mom. ,,What's that?" I shrug and open the tin. The drink, which really is as green as the tin, squirts out all over my white t-shirt. I must've shaken it too hard. My mom starts to laugh. Annoyed, I take my first sip. Very sweet, indeed. But really good, just what I need right now. Together we head back Helia, who is throwing up in a plastic bag. Again. I offer her a sip of my drink. My mom glares at me, but Helia reaches her arm out and takes the tin. I didn't expect her to do that. She takes a few big sips and leans back. ,,Thanks, Dyl, I needed that." I carefully pat her shoulder, trying not to touch the puke on her t-shirt. She gives me the tin back, but I pass. ,,Keep it. It's a gift for your bravery." She stretches out her tongue and takes the Soda gratefully. I'm not the only one that likes it. My dad joins us with our luggage. ,,Where did you get that from, Dylana?" I tell him the story and he raises his eyebrows. ,,That woman played you. Ten pounds are worth- " he closes his eyes to calculate ,,-around 170 Rands. But it's okay, you couldn't have known." I roll my eyes and my thoughts drift to Colson. He would've known this. He's a finance expert. Well that's what I called him a lot. Finance expert, honey, baby, smartypants, boo. I think there were more, but I tried to ban them from my brain. I shouldn't think about him anymore. It's been nearly a year. Nearly a year since we broke up and nearly two years since we started dating. I glance at my watch to look at the date. The 29th of June. In a few days it's our anniversary. I'll be the only one remembering it. He's not the kind of person that remembers days. Even his mom's Birthday he forgot once, until I reminded him. I was also the one who bought a present for her. He had had soccer training and that meant he didn't have time. But he had described the colours that the flower bunch should have. 'Like your lips', he said. ,,Dylana, why are you smiling? Did you want to stay here longer?" My face is probably a big red question mark, because my dad repeats what he said. ,,There is a lot of traffic in front of the airport, so our hotel taxi can't come through. He said he'll be here in around two hours." I sigh. First, because we must spend more time at the airport, while all I want to do is sleep and lie on a bed and second, because I realize that I'm not over him yet. Definitely, not.