The girl who wanted everything
The first thing Zinhle noticed when she entered the university residence was how small the room was.
She stood in the doorway, staring at the two beds, two desks, and one small wardrobe.
“This is my room?” she asked.
The residence manager nodded. “Yes. You will share it with another student.”
Zinhle slowly looked around.
She was wearing a short black dress, black heels, gold hoop earrings, and a gold necklace. Her long black weave fell neatly over her shoulders. In one hand, she carried her luxury handbag. In the other, she held her iPhone 17 Pro Max.
She sighed.
“I expected something better.”
The residence manager smiled politely. “You will get used to it.”
Zinhle did not answer.
She walked inside and placed her handbag on the bed closest to the window.
“This one is mine.”
Before the manager could respond, someone appeared behind them.
A young woman stood at the door, holding an old black suitcase and a simple backpack.
She wore a cream knitted sweater, dark-blue jeans, and clean white sneakers. Her natural curly hair rested around her shoulders.
She looked nervous.
“Excuse me,” she said softly. “Is this Room 18?”
“Yes,” the residence manager replied. “You must be Ayanda.”
Ayanda smiled.
“Yes, ma'am.”
The manager pointed toward Zinhle.
“And this is your roommate, Zinhle.”
Ayanda looked at Zinhle.
“Hi.”
Zinhle looked her up and down.
“Hi.”
Ayanda entered the room and placed her suitcase beside the second bed.
For a few seconds, neither of them spoke.
Then Ayanda smiled again.
“I hope we can get along.”
Zinhle picked up her phone.
“Sure.”
Ayanda began unpacking her books.
Zinhle watched her.
There were nursing textbooks, notebooks, pens, and a small family photograph.
“You study Nursing?” Zinhle asked.
“Yes. Nursing Sciences.”
“That sounds difficult.”
“It is,” Ayanda said with a small laugh. “But I really want to become a nurse.”
Zinhle nodded.
“I study Business Management.”
Ayanda smiled.
“That sounds interesting.”
“It is,” Zinhle replied confidently. “And I have big plans after university.”
“Like what?”
Zinhle smiled.
“Money. A big house. Expensive cars. Beautiful clothes. I don't want to struggle.”
Ayanda looked at her quietly.
“I also want a better life for my family.”
Zinhle laughed softly.
“Family?”
“Yes.”
Ayanda took out the photograph from her bag.
“This is my mother.”
Zinhle glanced at it.
“She looks nice.”
“She is everything to me.”
Ayanda carefully placed the photograph beside her bed.
Zinhle looked at her own reflection in her phone.
She could not imagine living a simple life like Ayanda's.
To Zinhle, life was about looking successful.
She wanted people to notice her.
She wanted expensive clothes.
She wanted beautiful cars.
Most importantly, she wanted money.
That evening, Zinhle's friends arrived.
Lerato walked into the room wearing a short pink dress and pink heels. Bongi followed behind her in a short white dress and white heels.
“Zinhle!” Lerato shouted excitedly.
The three friends hugged.
Ayanda sat quietly at her desk, reading her nursing textbook.
Bongi looked at her.
“Is that your roommate?”
Zinhle nodded.
“Yes. Her name is Ayanda.”
Lerato looked at Ayanda's simple clothes and old backpack.
“She looks very serious.”
The girls laughed.
Ayanda pretended not to hear them.
She continued reading.
Zinhle leaned closer to her friends.
“She is always studying.”
“So?”
“I don't know,” Zinhle said. “Maybe she thinks studying will make her rich.”
The girls laughed again.
Ayanda's eyes slowly lifted from her book.
For a moment, their eyes met.
Zinhle smiled.
Ayanda looked away.
She knew something already.
This friendship was never going to be easy.
Later that night, after everyone had left, Ayanda called her mother.
“Ma.”
“My child,” her mother answered happily. “How is university?”
“I am okay.”
“Are you eating?”
Ayanda smiled.
“Yes, Ma.”
Her mother paused.
“Study hard, my child. We are counting on you.”
Ayanda looked at her nursing books.
“I will.”
“I know you will.”
After the call ended, Ayanda placed her phone beside her bed.
Across the room, Zinhle was taking pictures of herself in the mirror.
She smiled at the camera.
Everything looked perfect.
She had no idea that her perfect life was about to change.
And Ayanda had no idea that the girl she had just met would one day return to her life in a way neither of them could imagine.
For now, they were simply two roommates.
One was chasing money.
The other was chasing a dream.
Neither knew the price they would eventually have to pay.
