Another two months later, we were back in JMS, this time for the farewell party after the results were out. Bagomotsi and I had decided to wear matching outfits for the party: black designer tuxedos with white sneakers and white bow ties. The whole idea was to look metro and just ignore the usual formal wear. It was a sure thing no one would think of dressing like that. The diversity and flexibility of fashion, right? Letting go sometimes can get you the right kind of attention.
The school hall was decorated in accordance to the theme, which was dubbed “Electro Summer Night”. There were flashing lights of different colors everywhere, adding a touch to the dancing teens on the dance floor. The DJ was dropping Rave beats to the masses' enjoyment. Everyone looked quite good in their designer outfits, more especially the rich and spoilt. As we looked around the beautiful hall, some of our friends called to us. We joined them, sat for a chat with soft drinks going down our throats. We congratulated each other on the good performances and imagined how nice Junior High School would be. It was nice to be back together, boys being boys once again.
A few minutes later though, the girls started to arrive and one by one, the boys started to disappear into the dance floor. That was so not good. The seven guys we were with left until only three of us were left. I was happy to still have Bagomotsi standing with me, but not for long. Soon Masego arrived, looking as stunning as ever in a metallic black dress and matching heels. Like always, heads turned as she made the grand entrance and Bagomotsi was taken.
‘Hey, babes,’ she said as she gave him a kiss that lasted a few seconds, right on the lips. Seeing these two kiss really made me jealous. I looked away. Bagomotsi was very lucky.
‘Hey, Brandon,’ she greeted me.
‘Hi, Masego,’ I said as I took a sip from my cold drink, and then looked away again.
‘Brandon, guess I’ll be seeing you later because my girl’s here. You’ll be cool alone, right?’ was Bagomotsi.
‘I’ll do just fine,’ I said paradoxically.
‘Ok. I’ll try to find you someone to keep you company though,’ he added before they disappeared into the crowd.
I was left with this one guy; the one guy I had never pictured could ever have a date. I turned to him, lifted my glass and said, ‘Looks like it’s just you and me now, mate.’
Before he could answer he was summoned to the dance floor by the weirdest girl in our class. Most of the students thought Maria was weird because she had rabbit teeth and her other eye was partly closed due to a pre-birth defect, as we would come to hear. The guy stood up with a smile and joined her. I watched as they joined the rest of the couples on the dance floor. I guess you don’t just underestimate everyone. What was happening to me? Oh yes, I had no date on my first prom night.
I was left sitting there all by myself and honestly speaking, I felt like crying. I watched the couples dancing happily in each other’s arms. They did deserve it for they had all worked so hard for it. That made me think of Esther and I so wished she could appear at the door, all beautiful and take me to the dance floor as well. But it was all a wish. I started to slowly lose interest in the no-dating stance because it was really starting to suck. I was planning my exit to go home when a girl came over and joined me.
‘Boring when you’ve got nobody to keep you company, isn’t it?’ she asked me. I looked at her and nodded before I took a sip of my then-warm drink.
‘Stupid and strange as it might sound, I was wondering if you would like to dance...with me?’ she invited.
I took another look at her. She was attractive and all, but I just didn’t feel like dancing.
‘Um... no thanks, I’ll be just fine’
‘But then, how about some company ‘cause I’m also bored sitting all alone?’ she pressed on.
‘Well...some company would do but definitely not a dance,’ I said, more to myself. She pulled a chair and sat next to me. We just sat there looking at the dancing couples. No conversation. When we eventually started talking, the conversation turned out to be the most important of my life.
‘Why are you all alone though? It’s kind of surprising to see an attractive girl like you date-less on such an event,’ I asked.
‘Same applies to you. I am surprised to see a fine-looking guy like you date-less on a night like this,’ she bit back. I had never known that I was that attractive until that day and I just laughed and she gave me this cute smile, revealing her braces.
‘By the way, my name is Neo Motsweding. I was in 7A’
‘Well, nice to meet you Neo, I’m…’
‘Brandon Chidzala. Yes I know your name. You were in 7B.’
‘Oh! Okay... I didn’t know I was a celebrity,’ I responded with a chuckle.
She chuckled too and continued, ‘Well, your name and Bagomotsi’s were in every girl’s lips in my class, and probably other classes.’
So Bagomotsi was right? There were girls who liked me in school? I had doubted him when he said so one day, but here now was a girl confirming it.