MIRANDA (complete ✔️)

6

September 2017

Miranda is 20.

The compound was filled with chatter and joy as the students and their parents gathered at the school compound.
It was a hot afternoon and Miranda could have not dreaded being an official in the school as she did today.

She took her badge from her table and wore it.
When she emerged at the school gate, she changed her face from that of pure exhaustion to that of a happy girl.

"welcome, students to the university of Nairobi .
As many of you know, this is a school that has been ranked as one of the best universities in the country.
And I know many of you might think this is an overstatement but I assure it is not.
So we are going to start from the school library, to the lecture halls, the hostels, the dining area, the field and all sport venues and lastly to the great monument.
So I would wish you to brace yourselves and follow me. "

The crowd of wide eyed and curious first years followed her.
She felt exhausted,
When she had been chosen as the vice president, she had thought that she would not have to do such tedious work and was actually looking forward to it until she learnt of the work that  it entailed.

*
She let out a sigh and lay on her bed.
"am I already dead?"
She asked.
" must be tiring."
Said Julie.
She was her roommate. She was a slender, tall light skinned beauty.
" I can't feel my legs."
Miranda had had a couple of roommates since she had joined the school three years back.
She had gone through the wild, the mean, the good and now she had Julie who was a combination of wild and good.

She felt her stomach rumble.
She looked at her dishes that were dirty and had some leftover rice from lunch.
"Julie, you know you are the best roommate ever right?"
Julie turned to look at her.
"no."
She immediately knew what Miranda wanted.
"please, I'll pay you back."
Miranda pleaded.
" I would like a week of laundry."
She said.
Miranda weighed her choices, she had weeks of dirty clothes as well.
"done."
She looked at her roommates potatoes and rice.
"oh, and you are coming to a party with me on Friday."
Julie added.

"it's like you are not even trying."
She said smiling.
"ooh, yeah I do think I have a bucket of...."
"fine fine."
She smiled.
Miranda always felt grateful to have her as a roommate.

She grabbed her towel and headed to the bathroom to have a cold bath.
Later she sat down and  her speech again .
She had been chosen to welcome a famous writer, James Karanja.
She loved his books, she had read them since she was a child and was ecstatic to finally have the rare opportunity to meet him.

When she had read it countless times, she opened her own novel. She had written many books but had not gotten to publishing them.
She hoped however that she would get the chance to show her work to Mr. James.

She read it anxious that he would not find it as interesting.
She then switch off her light when Julie shifted in her bed, saying how hot it was.

She and her stomach butterflies slept.

*
Zayn crushed on his bed exhausted.
He looked at his house that was a mess. He had not had time to clean up as he was always busy.
When he was not in school he was working.
He hated this life, but his mum has insisted that he do it so as to learn how hard life could be.
She always kept telling him to be responsible and he had smiled at her each time assuring her that he was going to be and she would let him be.

But this time she had gone and got him a job, and threatened that she would not give him any extra money if he refused to work.

He felt hungry but he was too tired to get some food and decided to give in to sleep.

*

Zayn was out of breath when he got to
M. J's.

"you are late."
Said the middle aged man who ran the business.
"only by ten minutes."
He said.
"that is still late." said the man.
"sorry I had a lesson."
Said Zayn.
The middle aged man looked at him almost as if trying to decide how true what Zayn said was and then decided to forgive him.
"chicken delivery down the street."
He said and left.

Zayn took the order and put it on the scooter.
As he rode, he could help but remember how better things had been 6 months prior.
He would be at a movie right then or at the arcade or with his girlfriend at some fancy hotel.
Now he did not even have time to eat. He was working and school engaged him more now that he was in third year.

He rang the door bell.
"M. J's, here is your order."
A young girl almost his age took it.
"I'll bring you the money."
When she returned she lingered a little bit before handing him the money.
"if you don't mind, can you please give me your number."
She said.
Zayn was not taken aback by her request.
He knew he was good looking.
"I'm sorry but I have a girlfriend." he said and took the money.
Years ago he would not have hesitated but he had learnt his lesson when he had lost Miranda and he did not want to risk losing his girlfriend.

Almost like a habit, he crushed on his bed.
He was almost asleep when he felt a buzz in his pocket.
It was an email from his mother.
"hi, honey I hope you are doing well.
I need you to accompany Mr. James to a certain university. I would have done it but I will not available then. Thanks honey. I'll make it upto you."
Zayn sighed.

He could not remember the last time he had had a day to himself  but he could never say no to his mother.

Thank you for reading.