This weekend Ona was not going to pack her laundry and Gautrain home. She and Si planned to go to some part Si was invited to at one of the student accommodations. One of Si's friends she would smoke weed with regularly was hosting a braai in the cold and she had not had braai meat in a while.
This weekend with empty pockets, she met Si outside her residence Madelief and they made the journey to her friend's place. Ona did not remember her name but she remembers being greeted warmly by her on arrival- where did Si find all this time to meet new people? She was in awe of her capability to introduce someone new to her so regularly. While there, Si scored Ona and herself a drink while Ona talked to a boy whose girlfriend clutched him a little too tightly while sitting beside him on a wooden bench. He was interesting and as they sat in front of the fire being prepared for the meat on the braai stand, she enjoyed his company.
The atmosphere was jovial- it dawned on Ona that this was her first ever university party and she liked it! In no time, brownies were passed around to all the guests at the braai.
"This is a space brownie so let's halve one since this is your first time having weed. I don't want you to die on me because you couldn't handle it," Si laughed heartily while she gave Ona her half.
"I'm scared but I'm also excited- this is just like the movies," mused Ona while she took her first bite of the sweet treat with a distinct taste of brownie combined with something strange. She could not place it- it tasted almost… medicinal?
"What's happening with you and that boy, his girlfriend is holding onto him for dear life. Maybe she's threatened." enquired Si.
"Oh please, she has nothing to worry about- I just like his conversation and besides they are clearly an item," countered Ona.
The strangers turned friends danced excitedly as the euphoria of the weed infused brownie kicked in. Everything was big, bold and bright and she loved this feeling.
What had she been afraid of?
***
It had been like what seemed like forever and the meat was still not ready. The munchies had kicked in and Ona felt a hunger so ravenous,she could eat the braai stand! The collective hunger shifted the atmosphere of the party and some of the guests who lived close enough dipped momentarily to grab a bite to eat while the braai meat was being cooked. The girls had arrived earlier in the evening in their Winter outfits.
Ona wore tights with maroon tasseled suede boots which reached just below her knees and a checkered red and black shirt. Her braids, which grazed her boobs when they were down, were tied in a pony with a scrunchie that tickled the back of her neck. Over her clothes, she wore her favourite black bomber jacket she had bought from Cotton On two years prior.
Si wore thick braids she had plaited herself with a pair of jeggings, a black polo neck covered by a beige pleather jacket and brown fluffy boots.
Despite dressing warmly for the anticipated chill in the air, they both felt cold and ended up standing with the team dedicated to cooking the meat. While waiting for the food to cook, another round of space brownies was brought out as a consolation prize. As if it had been coordinated prior, the collective pounced on the brownies as if their lives depended on it. The partygoers had to quell this desperate hunger which was counterproductive in hindsight. Consuming more brownies would only heighten their insatiable hunger.
If Ona was on cloud nine before then, she was now on cloud 99! She ended up in conversation with the boy from earlier whose female companion had set free from cutting the blood circulation in his right arm. She still sat beside him while Ona stood on the other side of him while he engaged her questions animatedly.
She doesn't know how but the next thing she tripped over his lap. She landed with a thud. The whole situation would have been awkward for her ordinarily, had it not been for her sky high status. Her childhood acrobatics skills came in handy when she landed on the grass on her haunches with a boisterous laugh. The girlfriend looked horrified, still seated beside her boyfriend on the wooden bench who tried to help Ona up. She shooed him away with a playful flick of her wrist.
"The meat is ready!" exclaimed their host triumphantly. Ona sprung to her feet excitedly as if executing the iconic bend and snap. It was about time!
***
Ona and Si parted after the party shortly after they had eaten. It had been a long night and both girls could swear they heard the faint lull of their respective beds calling. Ona hugged Si outside her university res, as she crossed the street to walk home. She was still so hungry after the braai meat so she made a stop at the Burger King on her way home. She inhaled the Whopper burger when she got back to her apartment. It was the best burger she had ever had and she felt so lucky!