Chapter 2 : Romance and love will never put food on my table

'Yolanda?' the surprise was unmistakable in the voice of her roommate when she saw her walk through the doors of their extravagantly decorated room which looked more like a luxurious hotel room than a student's dorm room.

'Hey Betty,' Yolanda greeted the girl at the study table. Kicking off her stilettoes, she walked over to her bed, flopped onto the soft mattress, and crossed her arms over her chest while shaking one of her legs impatiently.

'Why are you back so early?' Sofia her other roommate asked looking up from her laptop. 'I thought we wouldn't be seeing you till morning?'

'Mxxxtch. Can you believe that idiot Gershom? He just ruined my night. I think my mood is ruined for the whole week.'

Curious, the voluptuous second-year media and mass communications student Sofia moved from her bed and slumped on Yolanda's bed. 'What happened?'

Reaching in her bag, Yolanda pulled out the 3K and threw it on the bed next to Sofia.

'This doesn't look like 5k. That bastard, what excuse did he give this time?"

Yolanda animatedly narrated to her friends what had transpired with her date. The girls couldn't hold back their laughter by the time she finished narrating the state she had left him in.

'He's such a miser,' Sofia said rubbing her friend's shoulder.' He is lucky he was with you because if I were you, I wouldn't have bothered to inform the front desk. I would have gagged him up, and then called his wife on him the next morning.'

''You are too cruel.' Yolanda chuckled despite her gloomy mood.

'Sorry girlfriend,' Betty said going back to her study desk.' But I did warn you the last time he gave you that flimsy excuse. Let them off once and he will do it again and again until it becomes a habit. What are you going to do now?'

'Take a shower and wash his scent off me.' Yolanda stood up and begun to shed off her clothes. 'Did you leave any food for me?'

'Sorry girlfriend,' Betty replied nodding towards the two crushed Hungry Lion packs and bottles of CocaCola in the bin near the door. The three never cooked or ate from the school's canteen; they either ate out or ordered their meals in. In the corner of the room was an upright fridge with an array of expensive alcoholic drinks rather than food.' We thought you weren't coming so we only bought enough for two. If you are really hungry, I could ask the girls in the next room am sure they cooked something.'

'Forget it. I'm not all that hungry.' Usually, when they went out with Gershom, they would order room service once they had depleted their energy in their steamy trysts.

'Sure?' Sofia asked worriedly.

'I'm too upset to stomach any food. I will take a shower and head to bed.'

'Don't be too upset, I'm sure after today, Gershom will think twice before trying to make a fool of you. If he acts out and decides to break up with you, no worries, you are a pretty girl. It shouldn't be so hard for you to catch the eye of another wealthy man.'

'Well, I need to find someone fast because my finances are dwindling. I still have to pay Benson for the two assignments that are due next week.'

Betty chuckled.' Why do you trouble yourself with paying the guy? You know he fancies you. Just do the needful.'

“Needful? Are you for real? Take a good look at me. All this,” she said and ran her down her curvy body. “ This body and this face, they were made to be worshipped by real men not some broke and poverty stricken college student who can not offer me any thing apart from love and romance. I cannot intentionally drag myself to poverty. Romance and love will not pay my bills.”

Even though the said student Benson was very handsome and almost all the girls dream guy and crush at campus, Yolanda was very decisive in her decision. She had long ago made a decision to never date a student or civil servant or anyone for who depended on his salary to make a living. Yolanda had told herself since she was young she wasn't born to suffer. Stuck all day in the kitchen sweating behind the stove? Nope, that wasn't a life for her. She was born to live the life of a queen. She needed a man with an endless supply of money. For now, she sighed sadly she was stuck with Gershom. Though he didn't have an endless supply of money, at least he provided for her plenty. She hadn't lacked much since she met him. He paid for her fees and footed her bills.

'Who says it's for the long term? At least you will not have to worry about your assignments in the future. That's a good two hundred kwacha served on each assignment,' the short and skinny Betty replied.

‘Girlfriend, Betty is right. Why waste money when you can just sail through UNI hassle-free? You should make the first move. Once he's all wrapped around your little finger, we won't have to worry about money for those assignments.'

'Speaking of which, “ Betty chirped happily waving her phone in front of Yolanda, “How about you strike now. Look. The third years have a basketball faceoff in an hour. I'm sure Benson would love to see you there.”