Becoming Nani

I don't know what I'm feeling right now but anxiety is definitely part of it. I feel like throwing up breakfast.I knew the tea and bread wouldn't go down so well. Nothing is soothing my nerves and the air conditioner isn't helping one bit, it's so cold in here. The car feels claustrophobic all of a sudden, it's getting so hard to breathe. “We are almost at the school, “ the driver says. The announcement, which he probably thought will ease my obvious displeasure, does nothing to soothe it. “Thank you, sir,” I said to him without looking up, my eyes glued to the words on my phone. I'm not understanding them, but I've gone through them at least a thousand times in the span of twenty minutes The drive took a whole twenty minutes, I genuinely don't know why my parents wanted me in this university. I'm transferring overseas in my third year— completely new school, new country, no friends, no guide,clean slate, just me trying to figure it out. I haven't even met my parents yet. They needed me to process my transfer first, and the “interview questions” I've been skimming over weren't sticking. I'm too anxious to focus. Honestly, who wouldn't be?Who could focus with this much pressure?. My adoptive parents finally accepted me as their daughter and let me move abroad for my studies in my third year, They decided they wanted to know me better before I finished my degree when I would have finished university In South Africa and finally be free from the clutches of my so called “responsible adoptive parents” who only provided for me financially but never checked in emotionally. “We are here, miss” the driver says, looking back to pull my attention from the interview papers which I still can't make sense of. “Okay sir” I say dusting the invisible dust from my skirt, I jump from the jeep because of how high it is, and I almost trip on air, the driver lets out a little chuckle at my embarrassing feat. “You can go attend to other things ,sir, I'll call you when I'm through with the interview” I say. The Driver stares at me like I Just said something insane.. “Your parents’ instructions were to wait and drop you off at home when you finish your transfer “he says. I almost argue, but bite my tongue,mum already thinks I'm ill mannered, I don't need to add him to the list of adults who think I'm a spoiled brat. “Okay sir”, I say, and walk away, trying to navigate my way to the office for the interview. After ten minutes of moving around,I can pretty much confirm I'm lost. I keep my eyes peeled out for students who might be familiar with the university but the school is basically empty, students are barely seen anywhere and I can't tell who is a student or a staff member. “Excuse me?” I look up to see a guy who is probably eighteen or nineteen at most. He's at least a foot taller than me , but his baby features betray his height. “Yes hi?” I say, staring awkwardly. Don't get me wrong, I'm a people person, always outgoing, but this isn't the time to be flashing me dorky smiles when I am lost and overwhelmed. “I just needed to say I loved your hair,” he says, still smiling like a dork. “Thank you “ I flash him my sweetest smile because that was the greatest compliment you could ever receive. “what's your name? “ I asked sweetly. “I'm Malcolm, what's your name?” “Nanira, you can call me Nani” I reply “I'm so lost, Malcolm, and I have an interview to attend. I'm transferring and don't know where to go” I added. “Well, you've met the right person,” he says. “I'm in my second year and I'll be your tour guide around the school while you process your transfer. I'll take you to the office— My mum is the secretary of the university. Are you in your second year?” he kept on bombarding me with information as he guided me across the huge halls. We finally got to the office after walking. “How does one transfer in her third year? You're definitely a nepo baby “ he says, giggling. The random use of “nepo baby” makes me cackle for a minute, but I'm grateful he landed me in the right place at least. “Just go up and the first door on your left— you can meet the vice Chancellor “ he instructs. I thank him and we exchange contacts because I really needed a cheerful friend like this and like I said earlier I'm a people person “Byee Mally” I say as I close the door behind me, okay! I can do this. I greet the people I see along the way, and I follow Malcolm's instructions, finally spotting the door with the Vice Chancellor's nameplate, “YOU DON'T TALK TO PEOPLE LIKE THAT, MUM!” I hear booming from inside.I pound a louder knock to overshadow the voice, “Who is that?” a tired voice calls from inside, it sounds like a woman's., I take this as my cue to enter. “Good afternoon ma, It's Nanira Franklin ” I say as I enter inside. My eyes meet a guy sitting at the edge of the table, his locs fall over his brows. He looks clean, casually dressed but sharp, My gaze sweeps over his moustache and goatee before landing back on his eyes, and I find myself swooning over someone I just met, only to be taken aback by what he says next : “What are you staring at me for?”.