Arriving at school, I parked the car and went to the principal’s office. Everyone looked at me as if I was a young, grown lady. I might not have been committed to my religion but I always dressed like a Muslim woman. I liked how good I felt that nothing was showing on my body, not even one little piece of skin; just your neck and a little bit of leg. I felt like a new mysterious woman.
I walked pass all my friends and greeted them as I walked passed. Santana, an exchange student from Spain, called me. She had a Spanish accent but spoke English fluently. She was great at Afrikaans also.
“Bishni! Bishni!” she called.
“Hey Santana. How are you?”
“I should ask you that.”
I started to giggle. “I’m doing fine thank you,”
Santana smiled and hugged me really tight.
“I missed you so much,” she said while hugging me. “Is everything okay with you?” she let go of me.
“I’m okay and I missed you also. I was just at home for some… well it’s personal problems really,”
“Do you want to talk about it? You know I’m always here for you if ever you need to talk,”
“Maybe some other time. I can’t chat now, I need to be somewhere in a while. We can meet up later the day if you’re not busy,”
“Sure! It’s great with me. I’ll come to your…”
“No! I mean, I’ll pick you up at your house then we’ll go somewhere and eat out. You’re okay with that?”
“Yes. Anything is okay with me, Bishni. See you later.”
“Yes, bye,” I said while walking off to the principal’s office.
He wasn’t really busy with anything so I just went in.
“Good morning, Sir,” I said.
The principal looked at me, very surprised.
“Ms Savahl. Be seated,”
“How are things going here at school, Sir?”
“I get the idea that you aren’t here to pry into that Ms Savahl,”
“Sir… I know. I just…” he didn’t give me time to explain. He just went on and said his thing.
“You just zero. You drop in at my employment after duration and you think I should be gracious about it or be amused by the fact that you’re back. No, Bishni, that is not how things function here. I called upon all the pupils last year at this alma mater, who was also AWOL for such a continued era, that there was a waiting bulletin of learners who wishes to school here. I can welcome them when I want to and just erase all of the absentees off this alma maters register. It’s simple as ABC Bishni.”
“Sir, I understand but…”
“By no means Ms Savahl, you don’t apprehend. Do you realize that I can do that?”
“Do what, Sir?”
“Erase you from the registry?”
“Yes, Sir, I know but….”
“I’m regretful Bishni.”
“What does that mean, Sir?”
“I’m suspending you until further notice. I’m impelling to obtain the fresh pupils who wish to school here and not vacation at ease for an extent!”
“Sir, I wasn’t at home all month, if Sir could just hear me out please!” I said, while crying. He didn’t want to budge.
“So long, Ms Savahl.”
I stormed out in tears and ran in to Rico. Rico was the clever guy in my class and also my friend in class.
“Bishni, are you okay? Why are you crying?” Rico asked.
“Rico… I-I-I…”
“Ssshhh… it’s okay… it’s okay” he said while wiping off my tears.
Rico took me to the bathroom and I washed my face and blew my nose. He then walked me to the car.
“Are you going to be okay while driving alone?”
“Yes, I think so. Don’t worry about me Rico. I’m just going through a lot right now.”
“Nah. I don’t believe you.”
“You don’t believe that I’m going through a lot right now?”
Rico started laughing.
“No not that. I don’t believe that you’ll drive okay alone. I’ll drive you. I’m anyway on my way home right now.”
“You saying you want a lift?” I started laughing.
“If you say so then yes,”
He then got in and he drove to his house. It was 2’o’clock already.
“So, thank you for the lift and I’ll see you soon,” Rico said.
“It’s a pleasure but I should thank you, you made me smile again.”
“It’s nothing. I have that charm you know.”
“Ag please Rico! You and your charms,” we both laughed.
“Ride safe.”
“Bye.” I said, waving and driving off to Dario’s home.
When I got home, Dario was sitting in the living room.
“Where were you? All day?”
“Dario? You’re okay?”
“Where were you all day Bishni! Answer me now!”
“I-I-I was at school and then…”
“So you were at school for what, 4 to 5 hours?”
“No. I drove after that… I was on my way to you…”
“Don’t lie to me Bishni, I never lie to you!!”
“I was with Rico.”
“I didn’t want to believe it but now you’re telling me it’s true!”
“I’m sorry Dario. It isn’t what you think. I swear!”
“Then what do you want me to think Bishni! You were with another guy and he is a player and any girl would fall for him just like that and even YOU know that! But STILL you went through with it! You spent the whole day with him while I missed you in hospital. I went in and out of surgeries and YOU weren’t there! MY OWN GIRL WASN’T THERE FOR ME!” Dario started crying, “You’re making me feel like years back when I was all alone and had nobody! Not a mother or a father or family! You brought all those hurtful feelings back! I hate you for that!”
“Dario, Rico isn’t like that…He”
“You’re still thinking about him! While I’m talking about my feelings! Go to hell Bishni.”
“But… Dario…”
“Please just leave me alone.”
Dario left the house.
***
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