I couldn't believe I'd been absent from school for two whole weeks. I hadn't seen Slavvy in two weeks, and I missed him wholeheartedly. Does he miss me too? I know we didn't exactly start off on the right foot, but there's always room for redemption.
As I got ready for schoo Ashly popped her head into my bedroom. "Tess, are you ready?" Today was civvies day, and I wore my favorite brown long-sleeved dress that touched my ankles. I tied my afro hair back, adding a few hair clips and earrings to complete the look.
"Yeah, I'm ready," I said, grabbing my bag. Ashly complimented me, "You look amazing!" I smiled, feeling a bit more confident.
As we walked downstairs, Mrs. Broncos was preparing breakfast. "Good morning," I greeted, and everyone's eyes widened in surprise when they saw me. Mrs. Broncos joked, "I think we need to call heaven and inform them an angel escaped!" I laughed, feeling a bit more at ease.
But Ashly concern was evident. "Are you sure you're going to be okay at school?" she asked, her voice filled with worry. I reassured her, "Yeah, I'll be fine. It's not like they know... and stuff."
However, Ashly dropped a bombshell. "Stay away from Slavvy, though. He was suspended for almost killing a student at school." My heart sank, and I felt a wave of fear wash over me.
"What?" I asked, unbelievable. "Yeah, apparently the guy stepped on his foot, and he got so mad that he punched him. If Haze didn't stop him, the guy would have probably died," she explained. I felt a stab of pain in my heart. How could she say that? She doesn't know him at all.
, "Okay, girls, wash your plates and let's go to school before you guys get late!" Mrs. Broncos reminded us.
I washed my plate, took my bag, and walked inside the car. Mrs. Broncos drove away, and the atmosphere felt very different. I looked outside at the palm trees, feeling a sense of peace within me, yet my world was falling apart.
"Okay, girls, I'll pick you up later so we can have girls' dinner tonight," Mrs. Broncos said excitedly. She gave us each a fifty-rand note, and we walked inside the school.
My heart was racing, and nerves filled my body. I felt like everyone was looking at me, and everyone knew about me and my dying disease.
"Ashly is it me, or is everyone looking at me?" I asked. "They're looking at you, girl, because you're on fire!" Ashly joked, and I formed a small smile, but couldn't help feeling very self-conscious.
Just then, a familiar voice yelled, "Slavvy, stop!!!" We rushed through the crowd, and I saw Slavvy senselessly beating up a guy. Everyone who tried to pull him off got beaten up, and they didn't dare touch him anymore. I didn't see a human in him anymore; he was a full monster taking revenge on its prey.
I couldn't watch anymore. If he beats this guy any further, he'll die. I walked up to him and touched him; he instantly turned around, his fist turning on me, and I screamed, closing my eyes. I was expecting to fall to the floor with broken teeth, but I didn't feel anything but a beating heart connecting to another beating heart locked in another chest.
I slowly opened my eyes to meet his already glaring ones. My eyes welled up in tears as I saw the deep pain inside them. The screams of a young boy yelling for help echoed in my mind.
His furious anger in his eyes softened when our eyes met. He looked at me with both surprise and shock, but also a sense of "I'm really happy to see you."
The principal's voice yelled, "Slavvy Micheal Junior!!! In my office, NOW!" The teacher's voice was firm, summoning him to the office.
Sky tried to defend him, but Slavvy's response was pure anger. I felt torn between following him and staying back. Ashley words echoed in my mind, "That boy is insane!" But I knew better. I knew Slavvy wasn't insane; he was hurting.
The bell rang, signaling the end of the school day. I rushed to find Slavvy, but he was nowhere to be found. I checked the fields, the school premises, but there was no sign of him. His car was still parked, but he was gone.
My eyes welled up in tears. I turned around and bumped into Slavvy's friend, Haze. His eyes
... His eyes were bloodshot red. He looked down to look at me. "Testimony," he said, as if he couldn't believe it was me. All of a sudden, I was running with guilt, kissing him. "I...I," I mumbled.
"He's not here. He got arrested a few hours ago," he said blankly, and I felt like I was dreaming. "Look, I don't know what you did to him, but he needs you more than anything right now. He doesn't want to tell me what's going on, but he hasn't been the same since that day you were attacked. I have never seen him so messed up in my life. It's like he's no longer in control of his emotions.
Tears dropped from his eyes as he spoke, and I felt my heart shatter into a million pieces. "Haze, let's go," one of his friends shouted for him. He quickly wiped away his tears and left.
I felt as if I was broken into a billion pieces on the floor. "Testimony, let's go," Ashley said, holding my arm and rushing me outside while I collected my tears. Mrs. Broncos was already waiting for us, beeping excitedly, but I wasn't.
I looked at Haze getting inside Slavvy's car, and I wrestled with whether to go with him or stay back. I watched him speed off. I got inside the car. "Hope you guys enjoy your day," Mrs. Broncos said excitedly, and Zikhona started spilling the tea as we drove off.
Just ten minutes into the drive, we passed a church called Assemblies of God. "Stop the car, please," I shouted. "What's wrong, sweetheart?" Mrs. Broncos asked, a little concerned.
"Uhmm, I'm sorry, but I can't do dinner. Can I go to church right now?" I asked. "What's wrong, you fine?" she asked. "Yeah, I'm good. I just need to be in the presence of God," I uttered, my voice low.
"Uhmm, okay then. Call me if you need anything," she said, not arguing anymore. I got out of the car, and the breeze was really cold, giving me a little chill as I walked inside the church.