Ch: 2
There was a storm outside and all the windows were wide open in the night time in Annita's room. It has been a month since she came to Pietermaritzburg. She was so focused on her phone that the lightning didn't even bother her while her roommate was scared of the thunderstorm she even stopped studying.
Twitter made her laugh. She got to interact with different people from different places in the country and even outside the country. She posted selfies and retweeted funny tweets. She was even a part of several groups that helped each other with social media content and supported each other by retweeting each other's tweets. It was almost as if that was her family. She'd talk in the group every day and most importantly through Twitter she felt validated and seen. It was almost as if it now mattered what she had to say. Her opinion mattered. Her jokes were funny to people. She was seen as beautiful and people complimented her selfies saying she's pretty. She felt seen by those people behind those screens. So she'd camp on Twitter every free minute she'd get. She was using it as a crutch instead of forming real connections. Almost at 16 000 followers she was considered famous on Twitter by anyone who'd ask her if she has Twitter. While she was enjoying her daily Twitter feed she got a phone call.
📞-Hi Annita!
It was the new girl she met on campus during a lecture.
📞-Seema why are you calling me in the middle of a thunderstorm? Annita chuckled.
📞-Babes I'm not scared of any thunderstorm. I'm currently studying but do you think I can come visit you tomorrow?
📞-Uhm, okay you can come but I have a lecture midday so preferably you can come in the afternoon
📞-No problem. That's great I'll see you then. Hope you sleep well tonight.
📞-Thank you. See you tomorrow bye bye
Seema seemed like a nice girl. Down to earth and friendly. Annita had hoped that she had made a friend that would last. She carried on with her Twitter. She would usually have guys slide in her DMs but she would ignore them. Guys will try their luck anytime.
After the storm had calmed down she decided to sleep and continue with schoolwork tomorrow.
******
Annita woke up quite early to shower and get ready to go study on campus. She checked her emails and the email showed that school lectures were suspended for some reason. She then sighed a sigh of relief and sat down. She messaged Seema to let her know about it. Seema was way ahead. She told her she would now come over to visit her in the middle of the day. She waited for her and she came around 12pm. They sat and laughed for a while. They ate cookies and drank cooldrink. Annita couldn't keep her hands off her phone even though she was having a good time. She kept touching her phone and scrolling on Twitter.
"Do you know it's not good to always be on your phone huh?" Seema says.
"I know but I can't help it" Annita protests, "it's like I have to constantly have something to look at on Twitter."
"Well you can't be addicted to your phone it can affect your performance at school, girl." says Seema.
Annita quickly changes the subject and asks why exactly the academic programme was suspended today.
"Ooo apparently not all students have their module issues and accommodation issues sorted out so the school SRC threathened there be a suspension or there would be a strike to the Dean of the school until matters were sorted",says Seema
All the while Annita was thinking about what Seema said. She's not addicted to Twitter and her phone right? It just makes her feel validated and good inside, like she matters. This phone was a gift from her parents for passing her classes well in grade 11. Everything was all good right? She wasn't addicted to Twitter. Annita was deep in her head that she didn't realise Seema was still talking.
"Sorry uhm do you want to go sit outside and enjoy the grass", Annita interuppts.
"Sure!" Seema screamed.
And so they went to sit on the grass and talk about boys and school and things and how Annita finally wants to make steps in moving out of this place.
Foot notes: cooldrink=soda, pop, softdrink, fizzy drink.
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