I walk into On the Rocks and it looks so different. There’s no-one here, probably since it’s still early, and there are no flashing neon lights.
“Hey, you finally stopped vomiting,” someone tells me.
I turn round to see the girl from last night smiling at me. I blush, embarrassed at what she’s said.
“Don’t worry,” she says and walks over to me. “I’ve seen much worse.”
Working in a nightclub, I’m sure she has.
“Sorry. I’m back because I think I left my jacket here.”
“Well, our rule is ‘finders keepers’ so I doubt you’ll be getting your jacket back.”
She must have noted the shock on my face because she says, “That was a joke. Chill. I’ll check the lost and found.”
She disappears behind a door marked ‘Staff Only’ and returns with a huge box.
“Have fun,” she tells me.
I go through the stuff. Keys, cellphones, jackets galore. There were even clothes. I lift up a particularly nasty looking pair of boxers.
“Can’t imagine the guy who lost these was very happy this morning. Doubt he’ll come back for it.”
She laughs. “You’d be surprised, vomit guy.”
“I’m JT,” I cringe. “What’s your name?”
“Not available.”
“Okay, ‘not available’. Nice to meet you.”
“I’m sorry,” she explains. “I just got out of a long-term relationship and I don’t think I’m in the right head space to start anything right now.”
“Whoa,” I say. “I’m the one who should be apologising. I’m sorry, but I didn’t know ‘what’s your name’ means ‘would you marry me?’”
“Ha ha. But you’re not the first guy to pull the ‘I left my jacket here so I had to come back to get it’ move.”
“That’s a move?!”
She nods.
“Wait. Does it ever work?”
She chuckles. “Not with me.”
“Then what does work with you?”
I almost have to pinch myself. Am I really flirting with this girl, who I met last night, while I’m still hung up on Khanyi? I must be more messed up than I thought.
“Nice try, JT,” she says. “It’s not that easy.”
We share a moment during which I genuinely think that if it wasn’t for Khanyi, I could actually start something with this girl.
“Well, I guess I should get going. Lots to do.”
Lies. I had nothing to do.
“What do you do?” she asks.
Shit.
“To be honest, I’m looking for a job. So if you know of anything …”
“Actually, we’re hiring here. That’s if you’re interested.”
“I don’t mean to sound rude, but this isn’t my field. I just graduated with a BA from a top university.”
“Okay, big shot. I just said it cos you asked. No need to open our pants and start showing whose degree is bigger.”
“Sorry,” I smack my forehead. “I was being a jerk. Thank you for telling me – hey! This is my jacket.”
I pick up my jacket and turn to leave.
“Myrah,” I hear her say. “That’s my name.”
“I’m sure I’ll see you very soon, Myrah,” I smile to myself and leave.
***
Tell us: What is your impression of Myrah? Do you like her attitude?