Her Soldier

Chapter 7

I groaned as I opened my eyes and looked around the dim room. I'm glad Martha didn't open the curtains because I swear I was going to lose my mind. I held my hand to my head as I furrowed my eyebrows, wondering what the hell happened. Everything after I gave Jabu my phone number is a blur. I know I probably got drunk and went wild. 

I grimaced when I caught a whiff of my breath and sighed as I tried to lift myself up but I felt so weak and defeated by the pounding headache. I need to get some Panado or Gen-Payne because there's no way I'm going to get better with this headache. 

I slowly climbed out of my bed, finding myself still wearing my trousers and top from last night. I unzipped my pants and kicked them off my legs as I walked around with only my panties and top. I stepped out of my bedroom, hearing the sound of the TV downstairs and immediately knew that my mother's pissed. 

First of all my mother doesn't watch TV downstairs, only I do that because not only does she have her own TV in her room but she's always busy with work to watch TV and prefers to watch movies at the cinema. 

I walked down the stairs, taking slow steps and hands on either side of my head as I felt like there was a whole band performing in there. I didn't even feel like greeting because my mouth felt so dry and disgusting. I just walked to the kitchen and to the medicine cabinet, taking out the pack of tablets and took two Gen-Payne's before gulping them down with a glass of water. 

I sighed as I shut my eyes tight and then leaned over the table top, and waited for at least ten minutes before I moved again. 

"I'm sorry," I began as I sat next to my mother, "good morning," I greeted finally. 

She looked at me, pausing the show as she looked at me with a blank expression, "Duduzile, I don't like what you did yesterday." 

I looked away from her eyes but got drawn to look at them again, "I understand that you're not a child anymore, and so I expect you to act like the adult that you are. I also know that you're old enough to drink, but you're still in high school and you're still living under my roof- don't even think about interrupting me, before I smack the living daylights out of you," She exclaimed when I tried to pipe in and apologise. I nodded, solemnly as I waited for her to finish. 

"You're living under my roof and therefore you're living under my rules. I won't have any daughter of mine sitting on some boy's lap, drinking and smoking weed," she snapped, "and I sure as hell won't have any daughter of mine stumbling and falling all over the place, spewing and slurring like some loose cannon." 

"I am so disappointed in you," she said with her lips in a straight line, "I can't believe that you would act like this, Dudu. You know how I feel about alcohol," she said and I bit my bottom lip. Indeed knowing how she felt about it. 

It's why my father was so abusive. He was addicted to that s**t and he drank it every waking moment. I don't even think he suffered from hangovers. 

"And I just..." She paused, looking away from me and then back again after some time, "I really trusted you to make wise decisions...just," she paused, clearing her throat, "just go to your room and do your work. I'm done with this conversation." 

She stood up and walked away from me as I looked down at my hands and sighed, wanting to cry and holding back my tears as I stood and walked to my bedroom, closing the door behind me as I reached for my phone which was in the charger and unlocked it. 

What happened last night, fam?

I texted Liesl before taking my phone out of the charger when I noticed the battery was full. I wanted to shower but I was too tired. 

I don't know when I woke up again but when I did, my entire room was tidied up and the curtains were open. I was feeling much better and there was no trace of a headache. I smiled as I woke up and looked around the room, spotting my Huawei and unlocked it, checking my messages and I found Liesl's. 

Every1 was drunk and high. Terrible. I don't remember anything. I just woke up with Fricky next to me, naked. It's not such a nightmare but it was unexpected. I'll call u later.

I put down my phone after responding with winking faces and then noticed a white envelope on my dresser. I smiled and jumped from my bed, eager to read the damn thing. I've been waiting for the letter for a day longer than the usual five day waiting period between our letters. 

I walked back to my bed, wiping my eyes of their crust, still lazy to take a shower as I peeled open the letter and laughed like I always do whenever I see the untidy handwriting that belonged to Zack. 

~~~Dear Dudu 

You are so talented in your calligraphy, I love reading your letters that make me feel like I’m receiving important matters from a royal. They are important matters though, important matters from the one I find important in my life. Your letters have changed my life. 

The usual white page, with black pen writing has brightened up my world with such colour that I am blinded whenever I open my eyes. I smile and mumble to myself whenever I read your letters and my heart breaks whenever I read about something terrible that has happened to you. 

You asked me who the most important person was in my life? And honestly, it's you. Don't get me wrong, I am not advancing on you, I am appreciative of the friendship that you have given me. I had no one but myself all of these years and now here you are, sending me letters every week, from 1 page to 4 pages filled with all kinds of information about how your week went and the things that happen in your life on the daily or the usual sneak peek about your past. 

I almost wonder and ask myself...how does this amazing person sound? How does she look? Is her smile just as bright as I imagine it to be? I just want to see the face behind the letters, the person that has made me feel friendship, excitement, happiness and intrigue.

I hope I'm not overstepping any boundaries when I ask of a video chat with you. If you decline, I understand. 

Signed off, 

Soldier.~~~