YOLANDA
If it was not for Kyle, I would be not looking forward to this day, but he got me so enthusiastic about it. The day that I have been waiting for has finally come, and I cannot wait to show him my complete look. Both Thando and I are using mom’s dressing and make up room as the glam team is here to make us look like imperative superstars. We still have two hours before we have to leave, so while one gets my nails done, the other is busy on my face. Anele is our photographer, and she seems more excited to this day than anyone else.
“I am so going to brag about you two on social media and to my friends,” She says, fervently.
“I better not crusty in those images, Anele!” Thando complaints.
“Argh, Thando, who cares?” I ask.
“Uh, duh! My followers care, but what do you know about being a social media influencer?” She snaps.
I must admit, Thando is a content creator, and she is really good at what she does. She has over one hundred thousand followers on i********: and people just love her. I follow her content too because it is nice to watch her being herself. She becomes someone lovable on social media, but not the evil stepsister I have to deal with every day.
“I am almost done with your face, Yolanda. What kind of hairstyle would you like to have?” The male stylist asks.
“Actually, I prefer these braids as they are. I just want some edges only,” I say. I have long knotless braids done on my hair in a maroon colour, and I think leaving them loose is the best option, plus they are quite painful.
“Wow, are these my girls?” Dad walks into the room holding flowers in his hands. “I got you girls some flowers. This is just to show you how proud I am of you, and I am rooting for you on your final exams. Both your moms are surely proud of you as much as I am. Tonight is your night and I want you girls to have fun because this night only comes once in your lives,” He hands Thando her bouquet and pecks her cheek before he comes and does the same with me.
I close my eyes as his cold soft lips come in contact with my cheek, so close to my lips, but stay calm and do not show how flustered I am. He still has an effect on me, and I hate it.
I catch my breath as soon as he moves away from me.
“Anyway, I cannot wait to see both of your final looks. See you later,”
“Thank you.” Thando and I both say.
***
The time has come, and I am just so nervous about what my father will think about my dress. It is too revealing on my upper body. Remember, this is a custom-made dress by Versace, specially designed for me, so it fits me perfectly like a glove. I am ready to go downstairs, so I check myself one last time in the mirror before I walk out of the room.
I slowly descend the staircases and to my surprise, Kyle is waiting on the ground floor, wearing a formal outfit that matches exactly my dress. Should I ask why he is wearing that way?
He has black slacks, a black shirt with the top two buttons unbuttoned, and a burgundy suit jacket that is the same material as my dress, also with diamonds all over it. He has his hair nicely cut and his moustache trimmed. He looks even hotter than the Kyle I know.
He had his head down, busy on his phone so I stop in the middle of the stairway and clear my throat. I cannot believe that even today he is still the first person to see me in my final look. He is so lucky.
He looks up at me, staggered with his jaw dropped. Isn’t he cute?
“Wow, sis… is this really you?” Anele breaks the ice and walks up to me before she hugs me. “You are going to make me cry, sis; you are so beautiful,’ She says.
“Don’t cry because you are going to make me cry too,” I drape my arms around her body. “Thank you, baby… I love you,”
“I love you too,” She then let go of me and as I look up, dad is there with his usual expressionless face. He is looking deeply in at me, and I am just so scared to keep up with his gaze. Does he like my dress, is he happy with my look?
He steps forward and brings out his hand with a smile. Relieved, I take a few steps down and hold his big hand as I step onto the ground floor.
“You look really beautiful. Mom would have loved to see this day, but I know that she is probably watching from heaven. Enjoy your night,” Oh, God, I am going to mess up my glamorous look before I make it to the ball.
He takes out a small jewellery box from his pocket and hands it to me. I sceptically open it and I find a silver bracelet with small diamonds cut diamonds. He helps me put it on my left hand and I just couldn’t wait to hug him and thank him.
“One last thing, I asked Kyle to be your date. I couldn’t just let you go without someone to compliment you, but if you don’t want—”
“I don’t mind!” I quickly say, almost making it obvious that I want to be with Kyle. Kyle and I have something that I cannot even name going on between us and I like it so much. Ever since we had our first in my room, we do it often randomly and it is just so comfortable. I think I am falling in love with him, but I am scared if I tell him, things will change and get awkward between us. I am also scared that dad would throw a fit, finding out that I am dating Kyle. He never wants me with boys, and I do not know what he ever did to Fana, but I can’t let him do it to Kyle.
“Oh, really?” Dad asks, astonished.
“Uhm, yes… well, it’s okay, dad,”
“Perfect. So, which car do you want?” Definitely, the red Bugatti.
Thando finally walks out of her room, looking so ravishing in her gold dress. Dad did the same thing he did to me and also offered her a car. Dad made it clear that no boy will pick her up so one of his men will drive her to the ball and pick her up later when we have to come back. Our curfew is three in the morning.
After a few family photos, we finally left for the dance. I don’t wish to be Thando because the person who is driving her to the dance is Scary Face. I would die.
***
I am having the time of my life, and who knew that dad would actually ask Kyle to be my date? I won’t lie; I did imagine going with Kyle to my matric dance, but I did not think dad would approve, yet here we are today, on the dancefloor with Kyle’s hands on my waist and my arms around his neck as we dance in slow motion to the soft song playing. I still am in incredulity that this night is happening, all because of Kyle.
“Thank you, Kyle,” I say, looking into his eyes.
“For what, princess?” He asks, looking back at me.
“For putting the right words into my head. Had we not met at my dad’s penthouse that night, I wouldn’t have come here, with you. How did dad even get to ask you to be my date; I am confused?”
He chuckles and looks around before looking at me.
“Well, this should stay between us, okay? I am actually here to keep an eye on both of you, especially her,” He points with his head in the direction of where Thando and his group of friends are, taking photos.
“What? So, this is not a genuine date?” I ask, almost feeling disappointed. I let go of him without causing a scene to go and sit down. I cannot believe this.
“No, wait, princess. Listen to me,” He sits in front of me and places his hand under my chin to lift my face. “Do you think I want to babysit her rather than putting my whole attention on you? You have no idea how ecstatic I was when your dad asked me to be your date tonight. Look, I even bought a matching outfit to yours. I did not mind coming here to keep an eye on her because I knew I was going to spend a lot of time with you,”
I smile, understanding his reasons.
“Okay,”
“I could kiss you right now,” He says, pulling his lower lip between his teeth.
“Stop, Kyle. You will raise suspicions,” I warn him, hiding my cheeks.
“Damn, you are so beautiful, babe. My mother will be happy to have you as her daughter-in-law,” He blurts out, leaving me surprised.
“Daughter-in-law? Kyle, did we miss a step?”
“Not at all, baby girl. It is just a wishful thought, but I would like to make you my girlfriend. We already have something good going on between us, and we both feel the chemistry. I do not want to dread this anymore, princess… will you be mine?”
I gasp and look around to check if anyone heard him.
“Kyle, you know that my dad would never approve of this,” This is me, dreading my answer. I need time to think about this and not rush any decision I want to make. I love Kyle, there I said it, but he caught me off guard. I did not prepare for this, at least not today.
“He doesn’t have to know.” His hand lands on top of my dress on my thigh and gently rubs it.
I let out a breath, trying to think of what to tell him, but words fail me.
“Uhm, I need to use the bathroom,” I say. He leans back in his chair and nods.
“Do you want me to come with you?”
“Kyle! You need to watch Thando, not me because I am definitely coming back to you,”
He chuckles.
“Don’t keep me waiting,”
I get up and look for Sindi who is all over the place. When I cannot seem to find her, I continue with my journey to the bathroom but as I enter the hallway to the bathroom, I see her.
There she is, kissing my ex-boyfriend. I am not hurt but I am shocked as to why my best friend would kiss my ex-boyfriend. How long has this been happening?
I turn on my heels to leave, but someone shouts my name, causing the couple to pull out of the kiss, busted!
“Oh, my god, friend…” Sindi calls out.
“Yolanda, it is not what it looks like… I can explain,” Fana says.
“Explain what? You dumped me in front of the whole school to make fun of me, remember? You owe me nothing, Fana, NOTHING!” I turn my gaze to Sindi who is embarrassed. She knew how I felt about Fana and how much I still loved him, but here she is, lacking his mouth. I am so disappointed.
“I am sorry, friend… please,”
Without saying anything, I just turn and leave. I did not need to use the bathroom anyway.
When I get to Kyle, he is busy in his phone but puts it away after a few seconds I sat down.
“What happened? You do not look okay,”
“I realised how much I want to be with you too, Kyle. I will be yours — I want to be yours,”
“Whoa, that sounds drastic. What happened in there, princess?” He persists in his question, but I do not want to talk about it.
“I love you, Kyle, and that is the honest truth,” I confess, leaving him gobsmacked.
He hesitates to smile, but he finally does and gets up, pulling my hand so that I can get up too, and follow him. We get to the car and get inside. Kyle couldn’t wait to kiss me, and tell me how much he has been longing for this, but before it gets heated, someone knocks on his side of the window, causing both of us to jerk, startled.
Oh, s**t! I am dead!
Aksara