Chapter 1
"To say I've broken the law... Well the mask is off so yes. But to say I'm responsible for all the murders and killings..."
Few years back
Papers were scattered everywhere in Tichaona's room. They covered the floor, the bed, filled the cooking pots, hid under the bed and even found their way into the wardrobe. Papers filled his room as if they were the only person he was dating.
The room had two single beds standing on opposite sides, leaving a small space between them. A curtain separated the two sides of the room, creating a small division between Tichaona's side and Derek's side. Near the door were groceries stacked carefully. On Derek's side there was full 5kgs of rice, box of spaghetti, 5kgs of macaroni, 5 liters of cooking oil, tomatoes, onions, potatoes, salad, sugar, salt, cofee, peanut butter, 5 bottles of different spices , and more other things.
On the other side of the room, there was a half 2k pack of rice, a little bottle of cooking oil that cost a dollar, chunks, matemba, and four eggs placed carefully at the corner. That was Tichaona's side.
Derek's side was different. He had three wardrobes filled with clothes and things he could afford. Tichaona only had one worn out monarch which looked as tired as his struggles. It looked like a monarch that if he did not touch it carefully, all his clothes would throw themselves out onto the floor.
The boarding house where Tichaona lived was not expensive, but it was affordable enough to manage. It had WiFi, gas stoves, and rooms to sleep in. That was all he wanted. He did not need luxury. He only needed a place where he could survive while fighting to make it in life.
The boarding house had about 20 students who shared two rooms. Life in the boarding house was private, as students spent most of their time indoors playing games, watching movies, or scrolling through social media platforms. Some spent their time locked away with their boyfriends or girlfriends. Everyone minded their own business; no one cared whether their roommate or the person next door attended lectures or not, or whether they were cheating on their partners.
Who cared? Students were busy dealing with their own struggles and had their own problems to face. Some faced financial difficulties, while others struggled with not being able to go out on weekends or Fridays. In the end, it was their life, their poverty, their wealth, and their choices.
Tichaona had spent the whole day preparing for the Human Rights Moot Court. His books, draft arguments, and legal notes were scattered everywhere. The room looked like a battlefield of law, filled with arguments waiting to be fought.
Everything was a disaster. His thoughts were scattered just like the papers around him. As he tried to concentrate, he could hear his stomach arguing with him. Hunger spoke louder than the words written in his books until he could no longer continue. Frustrated and tired, he threw the book away and sat there in an emotional state.
At that moment, the door opened.
Derek entered carrying two plates filled with roasted grilled chicken. The smell immediately changed the room. The chicken was marinated in a juicy sauce that covered every piece, giving it a rich taste and a beautiful aroma. Beside it were golden fried chips, soft potatoes, and fresh salad mixed with colourful vegetables. The food looked like something prepared for a celebration, not something brought into a small student room.
The smell reached Tichaona before the plate reached his hands. His stomach reacted before his mind could even think.
He could not wait.
Derek laughed as he looked at Tichaona, who was staring at the food like a man who had just seen a miracle. His eyes followed every piece of chicken, every chip and every part of the plate in front of him. His hunger had already started celebrating before he even touched the food.
"Man, woe, I see you can do anything for food," Derek laughed as he handed him his plate.
"You know me bro, as long as there are opportunities, money and food, you see me there," Tichaona said as he started digging deep into the food.
The first bite felt like a reward after a long battle. The juicy chicken melted in his mouth, the flavour of the sauce mixing perfectly with the crispy chips and fresh salad. For a moment, the Human Rights Moot Court, the books, the pressure and the hunger that had been disturbing him all disappeared.
Derek looked around the room and smiled.
"I see the room is a battlefield of draft arguments and litigation. It is a war room," he laughed.
They both laughed together.
"Tichaona, there is a deal here. Listen, there is a girl who will be crashing here tonight, so I want you to find a place to stay just for a night, okay?" Derek said.
Tichaona stopped eating.
