Chapter 7

Exploring the city nightlife

Later that evening, I was panicking, nervous, and felt knots in my stomach. I felt little nausea as well because Anna decided to drop me at the last minute. She came up with so many excuses I just had to let her be. She did call Maureen to come and make her magic on me though and I was very grateful, I just hated the fact that I was going to explore the nightlife of Johannesburg without my friend. We always did a lot of things together and clubbing without her didn’t feel right. But I had to go because I already made up my mind about it. And there was no way I was going to lose my luck with Billy because Anna doesn’t feel comfortable.

‘Chomee Maureen is here.’

‘Ok, I am coming.’ I got out of the bedroom in my usual T-shirts and jeans. ‘Hello Maureen, how are you?’

‘Hey, I am good, thanks for asking and yourself?’

‘Wow, that was formal, hahahahaha I am okay.’

‘Good, Anna tells me you are going out tonight and you want to look your best.’

‘Yes, may you please help me. You told me last week that you did a good job with your practicals and I believe you can do me good too. Please say.’

‘Okay hold your horses,’ Maureen said, ‘I will help you of course. But you must first get out of those hideous clothes.’

‘What’s wrong with my clothes,’ I asked with a little disappointment in my voice.

‘You cannot go on your first date in sneakers.’

‘It is not a date, it's just a group of friends meeting for a drink.’

‘Either way, a guy asks you to go out with him, you have to look the part. First impression honey.’

‘Okay, whatever you say, you are the professional and I am the client.’ I said jokingly.

‘I have a red number I can borrow you and beautiful black stilettos.’

‘Stilettos, I have never worn those.’

‘There is always a first time for everything girlfriend,’ Maureen said sternly, now let’s turn Mrs. Shrek to Cinderella.’

‘Geez, as for Mrs. Shrek. Thanks’

‘Hahahahaha sorry.’

Maureen and Anna were both fussing over me. I liked the attention very much, it really felt good that my friends made a big deal out of me. When someone was busy with my hair, the other one was preparing the outfits. I really felt like a bride on her wedding day. Billy called me to confirm and that just made my hair stand. His voice was even more charming on the phone than in real life. I was still nervous about wearing high heels though, but the thought of falling into Billy Andersons arms chased all the fears away. Anna and Maureen really made too much of an effort one me. I looked like a superstar at SAMA awards.

‘Wow chomee, Beyoncé has got nothing on you I tell you that.’ Anna said with her mouth almost dropping. ‘I don’t know how a million dollars look, but you sure look like it.’

‘Hahahahaha get out of here. You just want to make me blush.’ I said teasingly.

‘No she is right,’ Maureen interrupted. ‘You look like Bonang Matheba. I have to say I am proud of myself.’

‘Hey, I also must take credit here, I helped.’ Anna had to remind Maureen.

‘Hahahahaha thank you guys so much, if Billy doesn't make me his girlfriend by the end of tonight, then there is absolutely something wrong with the society.’ I said.

Let me give you a short description of how gorgeous I looked. Maureen changed the way my dreadlocks looked completely into long, shiny, curly locks. She had me wear her red mini dress that just did justice to my figure, hugged my round behind, and revealed my spontaneous cleavage. She applied foundation and all sorts of make-up on my face that just made me look like a Barbie doll. Fake nails, fake eyelashes, matching red lips.... the works. I finished it all off with 12-inch black stilettos and a matching clutch bag. I actually hoped Sharon and her friends would be there just so that my new look can stop them from walking around campus like they were at their personalized castle.

‘Maureen, if I were your lecturer, I would give you an A+. You did a great job.’ I said to my brand new stylist.

‘It is all a pleasure girlfriend. If I can make you look this good, I’m going to have to start charging hahahahaha.’ Maureen teased.

‘I don’t mind, Billy will pay.’ I joked back.

‘So, his name is Billy? Ohkaay nice name.’

‘Yes, Billy Anderson is a perfect name.’

‘Wait, did you say Anderson?’ Maureen interrupted. ‘The Billy Anderson? As in the son of Obed Anderson?’ Maureen looked very shocked.

‘Yes, that one I think....’ I said looking as puzzled as I can be.

‘You think? Girl, are you going out with Mzansi's most eligible bachelor? Oh well, not that famous but his father is one of the wealthiest people in the country. He is like, notoriously wealthy?’

‘What do you mean ‘notoriously’?’ I was beginning to worry now.

‘Don’t you know, his dad is supposedly a dangerous gangster? It was said that he has political connections and he is untouchable. A few years ago, a story about drugs erupted, and he was allegedly involved. Somehow, it disappeared, and nobody spoke about it again.’ Maureen sounded serious. But I was not about to let her burst my bubble. All these things she just told me sounded like a movie or an international news report. It sounded....far-fetched.

‘Oh! Was Billy in any way involved?’

‘No, but....’

‘I like the word you used, ‘allegedly’. I believe Mr. Anderson was and still is innocent until proven guilty. And if he is guilty, what has Billy got to do with it? It is not like I Google potential boyfriends and their fathers before I have to go out with them.’

‘What’s with the attitude now? I am not accusing your boyfriend. I just want you to be careful that’s all.’

‘He is not my boyfriend. And for the record, please give me advice ONLY when I ask for it mxm.’

‘Ok guys, that is enough.’ Anna said. ‘Both of you just need to calm down. I think Petunia must give Billy a chance, a benefit of the doubt. But please be careful.’

‘I will be chomee, I am going out with Billy, not his dad.‘I said with an irate voice.

‘Okay, that’s my cue to leave.’ Maureen said as she was gathering her things. ‘Good luck with your date and have fun. See you guys tomorrow.’ She gathered her stuff and went for the door as quickly as she could.

‘Chomee, don’t you think you were a little harsh on her, she was just sharing some valuable information.’ Anna started as soon as Maureen left.

‘Valuable information? Valuable to whom? Did I ask her to be my PI?’

‘She didn’t mean any harm babe. You have a short temper sometimes; you need to control it.’

‘It is not the temper; it’s just that I get irritated quickly.’

‘That’s a temper then.’ Anna argued back. In a way she was right, I have a tiny bit of a temper.

‘Chomee, why do you think Billy asked a rural girl like to go out with someone of his caliber?’ I was a little concerned and avoiding the temper issue.

‘Maybe he is tired of this Barbie doll wannabes, they can be too much of plastic girls at times. Maybe he wanted someone he has never had before. Someone different from these city girls’.

‘Do you think I might be some sort of an experiment for him? Like he tried all types of girls and now he wants to try me?’ Doubt crept into my voice.

‘Hahahahaha I highly doubt that. I think he might just like you more than we ever thought he would.’

‘I hope so too. For my sake hey.’

‘Is he coming to fetch you here? I mean like, will he be in our apartment?’

‘Yes.’

‘Then we better take all these pictures down, we don’t want him thinking that we are stalking freaks hahahahaha.’

‘Yoh, chomee you are right. Or else all this will be over even before it starts.’ We laughed pleasantly while tearing the pictures apart.