Episode 6

Bridgette 

My mom, my sisters and I have finally arrived in the kingdom and at my res. We’ve just been shown to my room and as I walk in, I find my roommate already here, unpacking and being assisted by a man I assume is her boyfriend. They seem very close and cozy… there’s a hint of their chemistry that reminds me of Bongani. I miss him instantly.

“Hey roomie. I’m so glad you are finally here. I’m Wehweh… Nomawethu, but Wehweh for short. This is my best friend, Wandile.”
Best friend?! Ha! This is why I’d never allow my man to have a female best friend. Spoonkie annoys me enough and he’s a guy.
“Bridget. Nice to meet you.” I say, shaking her hand and returning the excitement. 
She meets my mother and my sisters. She seems nice. I think I’ll be  able to live with her. 

“Kukuphi ekhaya ngane yami?” My mom asks Wehweh. 
“South Africa, mah.” Wehweh. 
“We are from South Africa too”, Amanda says. 
“Really?! I’m from Gauteng”, Wehweh.
“No way! We are also from GP”. Amanda. 
“This is so exciting. I’m from Pretoria.” Wehweh. 
Oh… she’s one of those. 
“Kulapho sihluka khona ke. We are from the Eastrand… Benoni.” I say.
“Well, you are still umkhaya.” Wehweh.
She’s too nice mahn. 
“Where in Pretoria, ngane yami?” My mom. 
“Waterkloof”, Wehweh.
Oh! It’s worse than I thought. But I should’ve figured… Polo Travel Set, MacBook, Apple Monitor, removed the study desk and chair provided here then brought in her own – a glass study desk with solid white drawers… and her chair is a black and brown ergonomic chair. Her bedding is Egyptian Cotton. She brought in a couch here – our room is on the first floor and it comes with a double couch, but she brought an extra one and it’s a nice nude-coloured double couch that’s well-padded, and has a throw blanket plus cute cushions. Actually, her side of the room is very… I mean these tall lamps she has next to her desk AND next to her bed are so unnecessary but absolutely gorgeous. She is even unpacking her groceries in her OWN bar fridge that she brought even though we have a fridge in here. Why is she even living in res? Why isn’t she living alone? I must date her father. This money could do a lot for me. I also notice that my mother and sisters are looking at her side of the room. The Wandile friend is looking at us as if we are about to rob his bestie.  
“Imali ithi dadobawo la kuwe neh”, my mom is so embarrassing. 
“It’s not like it’s a crime”, Wandile. 
Now there’s silence. 
“Uhm… Wandile, maybe we can head to town and finish up our shopping. We can give Bridgette some space to settle in”, Wehweh says to Wandile. 
They pack everything into her cupboards. Of course, she grabs an LV sling bag then leaves. Yerr! 
They leave. 

“And then? Mugwanti waPitoria?” My older sister, Zoe says.
“She is such a rich bitch”, Kayla says.
“Are we really going to have a problem with someone because she’s rich? Because she actually had parents who made responsible decisions that ensured that their children don’t have to be prostitutes to survive?” Amanda. 
“Amanda, is there something you’d like to say to me?” My mom. 
“I’m just saying… I wonder what some parents were doing when people like Wehweh’s parents were securing the bag so their kids could live soft”, Amanda neh.
I can just see the pain in my mother’s eyes. Amanda is the harshest on my mother. 
“So Wehweh also does paid promotions?” Zoe says. She’s on her phone. 
We all look at her.
“I’m stalking her on social media. Daddy is rich. But she also works to secure her bag above and beyond daddy’s riches.” Zoe.
“Maybe she’s exactly what Breezy needs. At least she can introduce you to good deals then you can do honest work and not have sex with people for money”, Amanda. 
“Amanda, you are beginning to get on my nerves now.” My mom.
“You actually like having a prostitute in one of your daughters so that you can live comfortably while getting pregnant for yet another man?” 
Now my mother slaps Amanda across the face. 
“Guys, can we tone it down a bit… please. We are kinda in public.” I say. 
“You may not like me or like the decisions that I’ve made, but I’m still your mother. You will watch your mouth when you speak to me.” My mother hisses at Amanda. 
“Let’s hope that doesn’t mean you are encouraging Breezy to date Wehweh’s father.” 
“AMANDA!” We all say as my mother looks at her with so much hurt and disbelief.
“Please… let’s not pretend we all don’t think that thought crossed mom’s mind when she told rich Wehweh that imali ithi dadobawo kuye.” 
Silence. Absolute silence.
Then I just decide to chase them out – I’m so glad I booked them a return flight. We arrived yesterday and they leave today.
“Guys, you need to head back. You don’t want your flight to leave you. And I need to get to my unpacking. Phone me when you get back home. I love you.” I say. 

–

I’m alone in the room for a good hour and a half after mom and my sisters left. I’m unpacking and putting my things in place. The door is open. The windows are open too. It’s a rainy day – well, it’s been a rainy week – but I still need the air.
“Hey”, some girl says.
“Hi”, me.
“Thendo. My room is the one next door to you.” She says as she extends her hand for a handshake.
“Bridgette. Lovely meeting you.” I say, accepting the handshake.
“Likewise. Want to walk together to the first year’s open field party tonight?”
“Yes! Please!”
“Okay. We will walk together. I got a pain in the ass for a roomie. I might be coming here for stress relief.” She says.
“I got a rich princess. I guess we will be needing each other.” I say.
We laugh. 

My rich princess walks back in with her “friend” right behind her. Where is this guy’s girlfriend? Maybe he’s gay… they type eyingajumpisi.
“Hi”, Wehweh greets Thendo.
“Hey. I’m Thendo. My room is next door.
“Lovely. I’m Nomawethu. It’s nice to meet you.” 
“I hope you are joining us at the first year’s open field party.” Thendo.
“I’d love to! Let’s!”
“Awesome. For now, I’ll leave you two ladies to each other. Ill knock on your door on my way out then we can walk together.”
“Sure.” Me. 
She leaves, leaving me with the couple in denial. 
“Ey, I gotta go meet up with Sanel.” Wandile says.
“Sure. Ungisize kakhulu, Wandile. Ngiyabonga. I’ll be good from here.” Wehweh. 
I just look at them as I unpack my stuff.
“I’ll see you later at the party, okay? Call me if you need anything.” 
Her phone goes off. 
Oh, it’s a message. 
“My car is here”, she says.
This bitch has a car too?!
“I don’t even know where this place is”, she says, showing Wandile her phone. 
“I’ll go get it for you, don’t stress.” He says.
“And Sanel?”
“I’d never say no to driving that A45.” 
A45?! I hate this girl. She’s too rich for me. Of all the people I could’ve shared a room with, I had to be paired with the Queen’s cousin?! 
“I don’t mind if you keep it overnight. I’ll be walking to the party with res mates anyway. Take Sanel somewhere nice with it.” 
Kaze ubani lo Sanel.
“Later”, him.
“Later”, her. 
He leaves. 

“Uyabukeka bo umngane wakho”, I say to her. I want to see if she’s at least noticed that this is one hell of a good-looking man. How does she look at that and not be tempted to do anything? 
“UWandile? Serious?” 
Why does she even sound disgusted at the thought? This is not her sibling. She’s allowed some window shopping. And the way Wandile looks at her… he’d happily tap.
“Yebo. Hai bo! You don’t see those legs, those biceps, that nice fade, that amazing height and that beautiful smile? Mus’ ukuganga wena.” 
She laughs so hard. Then she says, “Hai shame mkhaya wami, I’d hook you up, kodwa uWandile is already taken.” 
“Wandile has a girlfriend? Where? Back in Waterkloof?” 
“Cha… khona la at the University. She’s actually from Durban.”
What exactly am I hearing?!
“Is she comfortable with your friendship?” I ask.
“I’ve never met her. I’ve known Wandile since primary school. We went to the same primary school. We went to the same high school. He stays two streets away from me back home. We’ve always been close, and we’ll always be close. He’s told me that Sanel doesn’t like me –
“Ima kancane… Sanel as in the Sanel that the two of you were just speaking about? As in the person you gave him permission to move around in your car?” 
She looks at me. 
Yoh! 
“I feel like I’m in an episode of Gossip Girl… the Blair and Chuck storyline where you deny you love each other but you actually do.”
“We do love each other… kodwa not like in a romantic relationship kind of way.”
“Real relationships are so much more than just sex and kissing and all that stuff. He shares all the other aspects with you then takes the kissing and sex to Sanel.” 
“Nothing is happening between Wandile and me. Futhi nothing will ever happen. Asibonani like that. At all.” 
“If you say so.” I say.
“Did you leave a man at home?” She asks me. I guess she’s trying to change the subject. 
She’s also unpacking away. 
“I did, actually. His name is Bongani. I really wish I could’ve brought him here with me.” 
“Ahhhhh… how long have you guys been together?” She asks me. 
“Six years now. He’s someone I truly love. My family knows him. His family knows me. We’ve built quite a bit together”, I say.
I actually really love Bongani. 
“Will he be coming to visit you here?” 
“I hope so. I want him to. I miss him already. And I want to be with him everyday.” 
“Well, just let me know makeza. I’ll make a plan to give you some space.”
That’s very thoughtful of her.
“When did your family leave?” I ask her. 
“They never came. Wandile and I traveled together.”
Yazini! I need to meet this Sanel person ngoba lomhlolo lo awunga ngami! 

…

The first year’s open field party is HAPPENING! 
It’s raining, but who cares?! We are all dancing and having a good time. Popular DJs are here performing sets. The SRC has welcomed us first years. The ladies from our res are all dancing together here. Nangu noWehweh is strictly drinking Ice Tropez while we are drinking Savana so that the pocket money that our parents left us with sees us to the next payday. But ke. 

As we are all dancing to Mnike, Wandile shows up to our space with a bunch hunky seniors. We all greet each other, and Wandile already has his one arm around Wehweh’s neck area, drinking beer with his other hand. Wehweh lets him hold her like she’s his reason for breathing. 
These two!!!
Wandile introduces Wehweh to the guys. 
“Maphodile, ujwang?” One of the seniors says to one of the med-students. 
I don’t understand why no one is noticing me.
“Thapelo! I didn’t think you’d remember me. Surely, you assist millions of females.” Mapho says.
“Yeah… but none have a beauty that is as captivating and inviting as yours.” He says.
This is bullshit! 
People are really just flirting in front of us vele? 
Wehweh and Wandile leave, telling us that they are going to the bar. Mapho and Thapelo follow them.
“We need to find seniors. The bar has been set”, Thendo says to me. 
We actually laugh. 
“Maybe we should go to the bar. Let’s hope someone rich will see us and buy us an Ice Tropez or two.” Thendo says.
We walk to the bar. 
Suddenly, we see some girl arguing with Wandile. I think that might be Sanel. I can’t see Wehweh. Let me actually go start shit and ask Wandile about Wehweh so I can understand who this girl is. 
“Wandile, uphi uWehweh? We want to head back to res”, I say. 
“Does he look like he’s Wehweh’s boyfriend? And I’m standing right here, bitch.” The girl yells at me.
“Ubani lo?” I enquire.
Just as she is about to respond, I put my hand in her face saying, “Irrelevant.” 
Yoh! The mpama that meets my face is UNMATCHED! And I don’t take it lying down. I pull her by her hair and she ends up on the floor. We fight until some guys pull us apart. The girl is crying. Wandile has disappeared. I just get up and head back to res. 
I’m actually going to encourage Wehweh to remove that bitch from Wandile.