The Sunday News
SHE walked into the room like she owned it. The party was in full swing and every who is who was in attendance but her eye was on one person and she knew his eyes were on her too. She turned around then she saw him, his arm draped around Cassandra’s waist while his eyes were on her, typical men. Cassandra was the classic Cinderella, she was the nice girl that got the guy and would probably get the ring. Don’t get it twisted, Ntombi wanted the ring, wanted the arm candy and eventually a family but first thing on her mind was getting her career straight.
Ntombi took a sip of her cocktail and her eyes met Mike’s and she gave him a wink. Under normal circumstances she would be jealous that he was with Cassandra and that he loved her while she was just the side dish.
Another story for another time, so what was she going to spend her night doing? Just as that thought came to her mind, her best friend was by her side, her usual giggling self. “I don’t know how you do it, watching him being the perfect boyfriend to Cassandra and you are here all alone,” she whispered conspiratorially. “Easily, she is the main chic and well I am the side chic, I shouldn’t want what she has; besides I don’t have time for what she has. If you ask me, I have the better deal in all of this,” Ntombi whispered back.
Time was really moving slowly for her, as she checked her phone for any messages, she saw a text from Mike; YOU LOOK SO HOT. Archetypal of him to send that text, she had heard the story before. She was exciting to him now because she wasn’t giving him everything, he was dancing to her tune while dear Cassie gave him everything he wanted and she suddenly became boring. With a shake of her head, she headed to the dance floor; it was a party after-all.
Being a side chic meant being discreet, never wanting more than a casual relationship and most importantly never falling for the dude. As she was dancing with her girlfriends she felt warm arms around her waist and well she went with it. It was Mthokozisi dancing behind her and in time with her moves. In retrospect Mthokozisi was a great dancer and had been on her case since the time she first met him. Unfortunately for him, they wanted different things as Ntombi wasn’t ready to settle down but that didn’t mean she kept him roped around.
The night went a little faster after that and she found she was actually having more fun by the minute. It was either that or the tequila shots she was taking and the cocktails she kept drinking were creating the illusion of fun. Whatever it was she definitely was enjoying her moment. As she made her way to the powder room she still felt Mike’s eyes on her and she knew he wasn’t smiling about what was going on. But who cares?
Just as she made the turn into the long corridor she felt his arms on her pulling her to him. He growled in her ear; “What the hell are you playing at? You are mine or are you forgetting?” Cute how possessive he could be, but seriously with the alcoholic fog in her brain the claim was just ridiculous. She turned around and kissed him then whispered, “I think you got the wrong girl, I am not Cassie, therefore you don’t own me.” She laughed out loud much to his annoyance, he wanted her but he couldn’t or wouldn’t leave Cassie and there he was thinking he can have them both like he was King Mswati, the dude really had it twisted.
“Mike in case you forget, I do me, that means I can choose whoever I want to be with. You and I have fun so do not ruin it,” she said as she got out of his embrace. She seriously didn’t need that kind of drama in her life. She was on her way to success and she really didn’t need some guy to slow her down. She was an empowered woman, in charge of her sexuality and of her life . . . the more she said that, maybe the more she would believe it. Side chic or not she was determined to be happy.
She knew it wasn’t over by a long shot, Mike wasn’t just going to let it go. She wouldn’t misinterpret whatever feeling he thought he had for her and build castles out of thin air. Just as she made her way back to Mthokozisi and her best friend, her phone vibrated with a text alert; I’M SORRY, MEK T UP L8R? It was from Mike, and she had to admit that it did bring a smile to her face. Of cause he wasn’t Mr Right or hers for that matter, but he was there, her Mr Right Now, like they say love the one you’re with.
