Broken Promise

Episode 20

*
The party was pumping and there
were dancing bodies everywhere.

Ntombi was dazzled by the strobe
lights and couldn’t see anyone
clearly. She had to hold onto Mzi to
stop getting crushed in the crowd.

He seemed to know exactly where
he was going, and wasn’t fazed by
the bodies or the noise. They wove
their way between the dancers to
the bar, where Mzi ordered a cider
for her. Ntombi had tasted beer
before, and a sip of wine, but she
had never drunk a whole drink on
her own, and she didn’t know if
she should, or could.

“Don’t tell me you’re one of those
girls who don’t drink, don’t smoke
and don’t have any fun,” said Mzi,
picking up on her hesitation.

Ntombi took another sip. The drink
was really strong and burned all
the way down her throat. “That’s
better,” said Mzi. “I don’t want a
girlfriend who’s an imathakazi.”

Ntombi took another sip. This time
it went down easier. “Good isn’t
it?” Mzi laughed. “Get used to it,
baby. This is just the beginning.” In
the time she had a few sips he had
finished another beer. “Come on
baby. Let’s dance,” said Mzi. He
took her glass from her and said
something to the bartender. “Don’t
worry it will be there waiting for
you,” he said, pulling her close
against his body. He was warm
and strong, and it felt good
dancing with him. She could get
lost in the music and just the feel
his arms around her. It was a slow
number and she wanted to stay
like this forever. But the song
ended, and soon they were back at
the bar. Mzi handed her the cider
again. She closed her eyes and
drank it down in big gulps because
she wanted to get it over with. The
taste made her feel a bit sick, but
she couldn’t tell Mzi.

“Wow,” he said, “that was quick. I
didn’t know you had it in you.”

There was a new respect in his
voice and Ntombi felt confident
suddenly. It wasn’t so bad. In fact
she could even drink another if she
had to. Just then one of the boys
Ntombi had seen with Mzi down at
the shed swaggered up with his
girlfriend. She was wearing
incredibly high stilettos and the
tightest jeans Ntombi had ever
seen. Ntombi smiled at her but she
didn’t smile back.

“So this is how it is going to be,”
thought Ntombi, and scanned the
crowd for her own friends, but
they were nowhere to be seen.

“So, this is your new girl,” said
Mzi’s friend Vusi, running his eyes
over Ntombi from top to toe,
appreciatively. Mzi leant over and
kissed Ntombi’s cheek. His lips
were soft and the kiss was tender.

“Isn’t she beautiful?” said Mzi.

“Don’t get any ideas,” he warned
his friend. Vusi laughed but his
girlfriend gave Ntombi a withering
look.

“Hey, there’s something I want to
show you,” Vusi told Mzi. “Can I
prise you away from Ntombi for
just one minute? It’s important.”

Mzi turned to Ntombi: “You’re a
big girl,” he said, winking. “I won’t
be long. Priscilla here will keep you
company.” Priscilla opened her
mouth to object. But the two guys
were gone, weaving their way
between the dancing bodies until
Ntombi couldn’t see them
anymore. Ntombi smiled at
Priscilla; perhaps she was just shy,
and with the guys gone maybe she
wouldn’t feel so threatened?
“So, do you also go to Harmony
High?” she asked Priscilla. “I don’t
think I’ve seen you.” Priscilla made
a disgusted sound.

“Do I really look like I’m a
schoolgirl?” she asked Ntombi,
then she turned to the bartender
and clicked her fingers. Ntombi
saw the longest, reddest nails she
had ever seen. “Bring me a Spin,”
said Priscilla and turned back to
Ntombi. “He’s going to dump you –
know that,” she said bluntly. “Have
you asked yourself why Mzi’s going
out with a little schoolgirl like
yourself? He wouldn’t have picked
such a mama’s baby without a
good reason.” And with that she
was gone, leaving Ntombi alone at
the bar.

---

Ntombi’s chest suddenly felt tight
like she couldn’t breathe. She
couldn’t get enough oxygen into
her lungs. It was a horrible,
panicky feeling. Her palms started
to sweat and her head began to
spin. It must be the drink, thought
Ntombi. She had to get out into
some fresh air before she fainted.

People would dance over her,
stand on her face, crush her fingers
into the dance floor. She thought
of Priscilla’s spiky stilettos and
started to push her way through
the bodies. But she didn’t know
which way the exit was. There
were so many people and it was
dark. The only lights came from
the spinning silver disco balls,
which she suddenly hated. This
wasn’t fun any more. She needed
to get out. And where was Mzi? He
said he would only be a few
minutes, but it seemed like he had
been gone for hours. She pushed
and fought her way to what she
thought was the exit door, but
when she got there, she saw that it
was the ladies’ toilets.

At least she could get away from
the noise and the crush. But the
smell was overpowering and
suddenly she felt sick. She ran into
the toilet and threw up. Then she
began to cry. She just wanted to be
at home, and wash herself clean.

“Take a deep breath,” she told
herself. “Pull yourself together. You
are stronger than this!” The
survivor in her began to take over.

She washed her face with cold
water and looked at herself in the
mirror. Then she took a tissue from
her bag and cleaned the running
make-up from around her eyes.

That was better. She took three
more deep breaths and made her
way back out into the party,
sticking to the wall to guide her
around to the exit on the far side.

She was nearly there when she
saw Mzi. He was standing with his
back to her. She went closer and
saw that he was chatting to a girl,
and that the girl was laughing at
what he was saying. Ntombi saw,
with a sinking feeling, that the girl
was very pretty and was obviously
flirting with Mzi. As she watched in
horror, Mzi stroked the girl’s cheek
and leant and whispered
something in her ear. She
pretended to be shocked at what
he was saying, then giggled.

Ntombi froze. Part of her wanted
to disappear into the crowd and
leave. Part of her wanted to
confront Mzi. The choice was made
for her as Mzi, as though he sensed
her, spun around.