Joy could be seen all over their faces — every one of them holding a red card with a fancy royal emblem printed on it. That card alone was the reason they were so excited, each one of them feeling proud just to have it in their hand. Some even showed it off to others, bragging how it felt so damn good to have something like that.
It was a group of girls from the University of Dar es Salaam, proudly showing off their invitations. To them, it felt like an honor — pure luck. They even swore to dress to kill that day, just to prove they weren't behind when it came to fashion.
Same said they'd make sure to turn heads with how hot they'd look. That was the kind of joy they had been waiting for — the moment finally coming true after a long wait. They said there was no way they'd waste such a chance; it was like fortune itself had come knocking at their door.
As they sat on the campus benches, they kept smiling and laughing, still holding the cards tight. It was an invitation card, but to them it felt like a blind man seeing the moon for the first time.
"The great Maliga family will be in town at their mansion for the crowning ceremony of the chief's firstborn. No way I'm missing that! I know rich people will be there — all kinds of classy kids — I gotta be there," said one of the girls wearing a short red dress.
"Exactly! And me? You think I'll miss seeing that Yosefu guy get crowned as the next tribal chief? No way! Maliga is the talk of town right now," another girl said, wearing tight cloth trousers that hugged her body.
"Next week Saturday… I can't even imagine how that's gonna be — it'll be fire! Clothes will tear, I swear. That's where we'll meet real men, the kind that can lift us out of this broke life," another girl said proudly, feeling high just talking about it.
While they were still chatting, a male student passed by. He was wearing a plain red T-shirt, neatly pressed black trousers, and leather shoes — clearly thrifted ones. He walked alongside another guy dressed simply, like someone living an ordinary life.
The two greeted the girls as they passed. The girls paused mid-chat, glared at them with disgust, and ignored the greeting. Then they burst out laughing, the kind of cruel laugh that could slice through silence. The two guys just kept walking quietly, carrying their bags, saying nothing.
The laughter continued, though one of the girls sat silently. She hadn't replied to the guys' greeting either, but she slightly nodded her head as if to acknowledge it politely.
"You know, that's not right," she said finally.
"You guys always give that guy dirty looks. It's just a greeting — is it that hard to reply? You won't die if you just say hi back."
"Heeeh! Everenta, are you even thinking straight? Those trashy boys don't deserve to hear our voices. I can't stand them. You and your little soft heart, always caring about losers like that. They're just nobodies. Not even worth a glance," said the girl in the short red dress.
"Yeah, I don't get her either," another chimed in.
"Her and Helena, I swear Bright must have bewitched them. That guy's got nothing — he used to live deep in Tandale, their house leaks whenever it rains. Now he's here acting all friendly, greeting everyone and smiling like an idiot. And Helena? Is she even sane? A rich kid dating that kind of trash? Then dumping Morris, the son of the luxury bus owner? Come on!"
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The two boys who had passed by kept walking until they reached near the lecture halls. There, they ran into a group of four other guys — flashy ones, clearly living on a different level. The rich boys burst into laughter when they saw the two, blocking their way completely.
The two poor students, their bags clean but old, smelled faintly of cheap cologne. They tried to move past, but the rich boys blocked the path. One of them tried stepping forward, but suddenly a sharp whistle pierced the air. Everyone turned to see another young man, dressed stylishly, walking toward them with another guy carrying two different bags.
"Jusper, what the hell are you guys doing?" he asked as he approached.
"Ah, nothing man," Jusper replied. "We were just trying to pass, but the path's tight, no one was letting the other through."
"Let them pass first," the stylish one said firmly. "You don't go picking fights with people just 'cause you've got money from home. Chill out."
They obeyed instantly, stepping aside to let the two simple boys go by quietly.
As the one who had been blocked passed, he greeted the stylish guy. The latter smiled warmly, returned the greeting, and kept walking, leaving the others behind.
"Yose, man, you're really something," one of the rich boys said. "Didn't know you hang around that poor kid who stole Helena from Jusper here. I'm shocked, bro."