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INSIDE THE INTERROGATION ROOM

 

Lieut.: I’m done with this guy… I’m leaving!! You guys take over from here on, I can’t do this anymore. This man is speaking in riddles on purpose, he is doing this to annoy us and clearly, it is working on me.

Det.1: maybe try to change the way you think, he can’t possibly be that of an ick to you.

Det.2: you’re more than welcome to leave sir, I feel you.

Lieut.: aren’t you leaving?

Det.2: nah.. this is too entertaining for me, it’s like watching a drama so I’m staying to see how this unfolds.

Lieut.: I’ll be waiting for reports, I just can’t stay here any longer

Det.1: so long…

Lieut.: gentlemen, take care…

 

 

LATE SUMMER OF 2016

 

1 MONTH LATER

 

It was now going to 3 months of college life and Thando finally settled. Apart from struggling with getting rid of old habits, like biting his nails and being introverted everything was going pretty well. He had made a friend after 3 weeks of classes and that one friend was more than enough for him. His life changed for the better after meeting Chuma. He was just another version of Sandile but less tow-faced and very out there that many of their peers despised him and described him as rude rather than very open. This trait, Thando did not mind, in fact, it was his favorite trait of Chuma. It was nice having a friend that almost half of his class despised, he felt like a cool kid for once. He had the dream friend.

 

In this space of a month, he also got to understand that Sandile did not see him as anything more than his little brother and this made him feel some way that he tried to keep his distance from him as much as he could, this included coming back to the dorm in times he knew were most likely that Sandile was not around. During this time too he got to know that Sandile was an all-round student, the model student, the popular student that everyone on campus knew. Even lecturers praised him. He got to know a little bit more about Sandile too, firstly- that he was 3 years older than him, came from the Beaufort West, his family was well off hence his risky-life behavior, that he was a last-born child, he only had a big sister hence the comment about him being like a little brother figure to him.

 

His repetitive behavior of partying, having crazy hangovers, going to class, and even moderating some classes while offering advice to freshmen did not change. He’d go to a party one night and come back in the wee hours of the morning, have a class the same afternoon, and be at a club practice and basketball late evening and manage to look just as fine while living on the edge, something Thando could not even dream doing. He was also into sports like basketball, hockey, and soccer and in many campus clubs too, like the chess club and the drama club which made it hard for Thando to sign up for any extracurricular activities because this man was everywhere.

 

This afternoon after class he was with Chuma, his newly found hobby. They had just had lunch and were lazing around and stretching before their next class which was in 20 minutes.

 

Chuma: your face is getting sourer by the second, what is up with you these days? Where did my bubbly friend go?

Thando: I’m anything but bubbly… please don’t. flattering me won’t get you anywhere.

Chuma: you could’ve at least made that sound convincing and given me a little hope…

Thando: what do you want? I know you. What do you want?

Chuma: you know I’m a socialite right?, so I’m gonna ask you this once and please answer as truthfully as possible.

Thando: what is this about?

Chuma: who is your roommate?

Thando: huh… I’m confused, how does that have anything to do with your social life?

Chuma: uh-uh, I do the questioning, and you answer.. truthfully. Now, who do you share your dorm room with?

Thando: I don’t get the gist of this… where is this going?

Chuma: just answer me.

Thando: I so not wanted to do this. I wanted this to stay a secret but… my roommate is Sandile- the popular campus guy.

Chuma: betrayal!!! I knew I did not see wrong… I knew that was you in the background… how could you keep that from me?! The friend we make!!!!

Thando: background?...what background?

Chuma: I’ll try to stay less excited and explain this to you in words you can understand… one day I was scrolling through Facebook minding my business when I ran past a list of people in my area or people I may know. I saw Sandile’s profile amongst many and stalked to go through it… he had a very nice picture he had just posted recently, captioned ‘ I hate mornings’ and everyone in the comment section was thirsting over him. He was shirtless in the picture he posted, and I saw something no one else saw. Your side profile reflected in the mirror selfie Sandile posted and that’s when it dawned on me that I am friends with a roommate of a superstar.

Thando: okay Sherlock Holmes. So, you went through all that for?

Chuma: to ask you to introduce me to the guy. His charm is undeniable, and I want some lessons on that and possibly a selfie I can flaunt in the face of haters and revive my dying Instagram account. One story feature from that guy, I’ll have all the ladies… or at least I will have them use me to get to Sandile.

Thando: just like how you’re using me now…

Chuma: yes!

Thando: well, sorry… that’s not going to happen, buddy.

Chuma: what?! Why?

Thando: what gave you the impression that I even talk to the guy… we’re just roommates and nothing more. I barely get to even get to say 3 words to the guy. So, that is why your dreams are not going to come true.

Chuma: but he seems like a nice guy… you’re just…

Thando: just what?

Chuma: you’re just you… nothing more. I mean that guy is a legend and here you are with the opportunity to popularize yourself and you’re letting it go because the guy is what, busy… or you’re just scared to talk to him or just plain jealous of him.

Thando: yeah right… as if

Chuma: but seriously dude… what do you think of him?

Thando: what do you think of him?

Chuma: I think I’ve expressed more than that… the guy is everything I aspire to be in my senior year too. There’re only 3 types of people who’d possibly have bad blood against Sandile and those types of people are: 1- those he rejected, those he doesn’t foresee a romantic relationship with, 2- those who are just plain jealous of him meaning your type of people, and 3- those he snatched girlfriends from. Clean!!

Thando: I don’t know. I think you’re living in a fantasy. That’s not even true.

Chuma: I’m telling you, my guy, I’m never wrong when it comes to these things.

Thando: maybe this will be your first time—come on class starts in 5 minutes, let’s go.

Chuma: you’re so not fun!

Thando: I know… stop whining or we’ll be late.

Chuma: I’m coming.

 

Deep inside Thando knew that there was some sense in what Chuma said. He was not entirely wrong nor entirely correct, his statements had some truth in them. He was just happy that he did not categorize him as someone who’d be bitter after finding out that the guy he has a crush on does not see him as a potential partner let alone even a fling.

 

Retreating to their final class of the day, they found the auditorium almost full but luckily their favorite seats were not yet occupied- 3 seats away from the window in the third row from the front on the left wing of the room that is. They found their seats and little by little the venue was occupied. The professor came in with the last bits of students as the class proceeded as usual. Almost half an hour in, the professor announced that he had a surprise activity for them and that they’d need help from their seniors. As hard as that may have sounded he had already made things easy for them by inviting a few senior students he knew would do a good job to help his students on this particular task. So, the hard turned to exciting pretty quickly at the announcement of the news.

 

Prof.: everyone, these are my model students. I’ll start assigning them to the groups I’ve created for everyone. If you look on the board right now you’ll see that I’ve already grouped you into groups of 4 making it 5 people per group with the mentor. This was done randomly and no- I will not allow shifting and changing groups. This is for your own good people. You can now start moving around and form those groups, the mentors will approach you after you’ve settled.

 

Chuma: at least we’re in the same group.

Thando: what is that supposed to mean?

Chuma: are you kidding me, look--- Sandile is here and he’s not our mentor. He’s assigned to that crazy group of girls. I’m so jealous.

Thando: he’s not all that… stop glorifying him. Our mentor may just be as good.

Chuma: I don’t believe in trial or possibility; I believe in pure and known good- and that is having Sandile as our mentor for this task.

Thando: you’re taking this way seriously… relax.

Chuma: you just don’t understand.

Thando: why don’t you join his group then and stop whining like a baby?

Chuma: I would if I could. Look at them, they’re having fun. Those girls are definitely drooling over him--- look at him laugh!! Dude … that man is God himself. If don’t get to be like him before I finish here I will die

If anyone was pressed, annoyed, and obsessed with not being in the same group as Sandile here, it would be Thando, not Chuma. Deep down he felt the same way but could not articulate it. He could not bring himself to be as verbal as his friend but seeing Sandile with a group of girls flying desperately around him like flies did make him boil deep inside. He was possessive of him and did not want anyone besides Sandile than himself. In his eyes, the professor was so wrong for this, and he was not going to forget this day and feeling anytime soon.

 

In 10 minutes, everyone assembled and started working on the project at hand. Thando’s mind and heart were somewhere else, somewhere far from the classroom that he made so many mistakes and frustrated the whole group and later was forced to change roles with one other member and was delegated to do trivial work. His being unfocused was going to cost them their G.P.A so changing him for a less important role was their best shot and passing the task. It was like the class was taking forever, never in the history of times was an hour and 30 minutes this long.

 

Prof.: that’s it everybody for today. Those who finished you can submit the work today, for the other groups- you still have time. I want the work later by next week so don’t pressure yourselves, stay focused and do well.

Class: thank you, Prof.

Prof.: thank you for today, have a good rest of the evening.

 

With that, the students dispersed and went their way back to their lives. Thando, who was still in his feelings, had to be shaken by Chuma multiple times before snapping out of his pathetic world.

 

Chuma: what is wrong with you?

Thando: I’m not feeling well, I think I’m coming down with the flu or something.

Chuma: I can tell…

 

They walked out of the venue conversation less for the first time and it was awkward. That was until who was followed by a swarm of girls called out to Thando who was in a trance, again and could not hear him. Thankfully, Chuma did, and he managed the situation well. This was also his chance to fulfill his short-term goal which was getting a picture with Sandile. Thando on the other side was already annoyed.





 

 He wondered- just why did Sandile call out to him?

 

 

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