Mira
Mira’s father named her with purpose. Her name meant ‘ocean’ and it was given to her because the ocean feels endless; its vastness stretching beyond what your eyes or mind can grasp. He often reminded her that the sky was the limit, and that her life, like the sea, had no boundaries.
From a young age, Mira wanted to make him proud and live up to the meaning of her name. She strived to excel in everything she did. She was a hard worker, a solid A student, and currently in matric. Mira threw herself into various activities to discover her strengths, and being anything but lazy, she always managed to fit everything into her schedule.
Mira went to school at Noord-haven Academy. Private school on the South side of the city. She played on the school hockey team, and participated in the debate team. Though she considered signing up for more, her mother advised her to hold back, noting that Mira was already overworked.
Her father was always proud of her and reminded her of that daily, even when she failed. Yet, Mira felt an ongoing need to make him prouder and, in doing so, to make herself prouder as well.
To call Mira a “daddy’s girl” would be an understatement. Her father was her biggest cheerleader, always encouraging her to rise after failure and try again. He was her role model, not only as a supportive parent but as someone who had given her a privileged life.
As the Minister of health, he provided their family with a beautiful home in an affluent suburb. Mira had access to an excellent education and opportunities to travel the world. She knew how fortunate she was and felt grateful for the life she led.
She had never had a boyfriend, because there had never been anyone she was interested in dating. During the summer break right before her Matric year, she met someone while taking a walk in the neighbourhood. His name was Marcus, and something about how nice and charming he had been when they spoke made her give him her number.
He texted her that very night and they started talking daily from then on. He seemed genuinely interested in knowing a lot about her life. He would ask her what she liked, what type of person she was, and what it was like being in her family.
She told him about how she was a hard worker and got good grades, how she was going to be head girl the following year, and how excited she was about that. She also told him how she liked Italian food, chocolate and ice cream. She told him about Samina and Jessica, who were her closest friends at school, and what it was like being in her family.
Being in her family was a privilege not just because they were affluent, but because they all had a tight family bond. Her brother, Leo, was closer to her mom, while Mira was closer to her dad. Both their parents were attentive and loving to both her and Leo, so they never felt neglected. They also talked about the type of guy she wanted to date, and she made it clear that she liked someone who was attentive, caring, a gentleman, and who did cute little grand gestures.
She was also interested in knowing about Marcus, and she asked him questions back. He told her that he studied at varsity and was in his second year. He was studying computer science, loved attending varsity parties, had not dated since high school, and was also from an affluent family. He said he had a friend in the neighbourhood he was visiting when he bumped into her and introduced himself. She loved how he would constantly tell her how beautiful she was and that he liked talking to her. He told her how he likes watching horror movies because he enjoys watching people willingly try to get themselves killed which Mira found funny.
They would mostly talk at night, for no more than thirty minutes, since Marcus told her that he was studying for supplementary exams during the time they were talking. When the two weeks were up, she felt like she knew quite a bit, but she wanted to know more.
On the first day of the new school year, Mira walked confidently through the high school hallway. Being a matriculant felt surreal, especially since she was not only a prefect but also the head girl. Wearing her head girl badge with pride, she strutted through the hallway, exuding confidence.
“Hey, head girl,” Jessica Sethole, one of her closest friends, greeted her cheerfully. Mira smiled and rushed over to hug her.
“Hey, prefect,” Mira replied with a grin. “It’s really weird being in matric, isn’t it?”
“Definitely. I feel like grade eight was just yesterday for me.” Jessica said.
Jessica had transferred to Noord-haven academy two years ago, and she and Mira had clicked almost immediately. Her kind and helpful nature had made her popular quickly, and Mira valued her advice and support.
“Guys!” Samina Pillay, another close friend, called out as she rushed toward them. She hugged them both tightly. “I’m so glad to see you!”
Samina had been Mira’s friend since grade eight. She was the most nonchalant girl she knew, and that helped her to relax when she was overwhelmed. She was also incredibly supportive friend and stuck with her through everything.
The first bell rang, startling Mira. She realized she had to deliver a speech to the entire school in the morning assembly as head girl. Panic set in; she had barely practiced. Jessica and Samina tried to reassure her, reminding her that she always came across as confident. Though her friends saw her as outgoing, Mira privately doubted herself and was more nervous about being head girl than they realized. She had simply mastered the art of hiding her insecurities.
During the assembly, Mira sat on the stage with the teachers.
“I’ll now invite our head-girl, Mira Manuels to come and say a few words.” The principal announced towards the end of Assembly. When the principal introduced her, she walked to the microphone with a smile, masking her nerves.
“Hello, everyone. I hope you’re all excited for the new year because I certainly am! I am honoured to be your head girl and promise to fulfil my duties to the best of my ability. If anyone needs help navigating the school year, please reach out to me, the head boy, or any of the prefects. Let’s all strive for excellence this year. Have a fantastic year ahead!”
The students clapped, and Mira sighed with relief as she returned to her seat. Though the speech was over, she knew many more responsibilities awaited her throughout the year.
After the assembly, Mira and Dumisani, the head boy, stayed behind to discuss their plans for the start of the school year. Mira was glad Dumisani had been chosen as head boy; they had been friends since grade eight.
They planned how to help the grade eights settle in and brainstormed ideas to make then more at home. They also assigned prefects to assist each grade eight class, completing their tasks in about fifteen minutes before heading to their first classes.
During break time, Mira sat with her friends at their usual spot in the stands overlooking the sports field. Taking out her phone for the first time that day, she noticed two messages from Marcus.
His texts read:
Good morning, beautiful. How are you today?
Mira couldn’t help but smile, catching Jessica’s attention. “What are you smiling at?” Jessica asked, prompting Samina to glance over as well.
“Nothing,” Mira replied quickly, but Jessica grabbed her phone before she could stop her.
“Marcus saved with hearts?” Jessica teased, laughing and showing Samina.
“Ah, I’m not surprised. It was only a matter of time before you got a boyfriend,” Samina said, grinning.
“Right? I’m surprised it took her this long,” Jessica added.
Mira protested, “He’s not my boyfriend, and can I have my phone back, please?”
“Not until we read everything,” Samina said, scrolling through the messages. Mira’s face turned red as she remembered the romantic texts and flirting.
“Oh my gosh,” Samina squealed. “You said he’s cute!”
Jessica, less impressed, commented, “He said you have a nice ass? I don’t like that. It’s giving pervert vibes.”
“Chill,” Samina said. “It’s giving lover vibes.”
Mira finally got her phone back and explained, “We’re just talking right now. Yes, I like him, but he’s not my boyfriend yet.”
Her friends teased her, but Mira texted Marcus back:
Hey, I’m doing great. How about you? This year as head girl is already putting a lot of pressure on me.
Marcus responded quickly:
I’m good. Don’t worry; you’ll be a fantastic head girl.
Mira smiled, feeling reassured. When he suggested meeting at the beach after school, her friends encouraged her to say yes, eager to hear all about it. Mira agreed, texting him back. Marcus said he would pick her up with his car afterschool, since his university was not far from her school. The rest of the day flew by as she daydreamed about what he might have planned, her excitement growing with every passing moment.
After school finally came around and Mira felt a wave of relief wash over her. She barely said goodbye to her friends before rushing out of the school gate. Marcus’s car was already parked outside, and she couldn’t help but smile as she walked toward it.
To her surprise, Marcus got out of the car when she approached. She had expected him to stay seated, but here he was, stepping out in full view of the bustling parking lot. To say he was attracting attention would be an understatement. Every high schooler nearby stopped to watch as he walked around to open the door for her.
Mira froze momentarily, processing the gesture. He was openly showing her affection in front of everyone, not caring about the stares or whispers. The act was sweet and chivalrous, and it made her heart flutter. Marcus smiled at her, motioning for her to get in.
Finally, she snapped out of her daze, slid into the seat and he closed the door after her. She knew this scene alone would spark endless chatter at school, and she was dreading that.
Marcus got back in on the driver’s side, flashing his charming smile. “Hey, beautiful,” he greeted.
“Hey,” she replied, smiling.
“How are you?” he asked, his eyes warm and attentive.
“I’m good,” she said, though her hands were folded into fists on her lap to stop them from shaking. She was nervous as this was her first time sitting in a car with a guy she liked. She didn’t trust herself not to embarrass herself in his presence.
Still, she was excited. It had been almost three weeks since she’d last seen him in person. Video calls didn’t do justice to how handsome he looked now.
“What are we going to do at the beach?” she asked as Marcus started the car.
“You’ll see,” he replied.
“Not even a little hint?” she teased, but he shook his head firmly.
“Nope.”
The drive to the beach took about fifteen minutes. When they arrived, Marcus parked and quickly got out to open her door. He extended his hand to help her out.
Mira stepped out and paused, taking in the breathtaking view. She had always loved the beach. From the calming sound of the waves crashing on the shore, to the feeling of the ocean breeze on her skin, even the smell of it was soothing. The waves sparkled in the sunlight, the sky was a perfect blue with just a few scattered clouds, and the golden sand shimmered slightly under the sun’s rays.
Marcus went to the trunk and pulled out a huge bouquet of red roses. “For you,” he said, handing them to her.
Mira gasped softly, her face lighting up with delight. The roses were gorgeous. They were so red and vibrant, more beautiful than any flowers she’d ever seen.
“Thank you,” she said, her voice filled with awe.
Marcus then pulled out a picnic basket and a rug. “Are you up for a picnic?”
“Yes!” she replied enthusiastically.
They walked to a spot on the beach, about fifteen feet from the water’s edge, and set up their picnic. Marcus had brought a pizza and two types of drinks. There was also a small box on the side next to the pizza.
“I hope you like the flavour” he said opening the pizza box first. It was Mexican. She didn’t mind it. She was just touched by the thoughtfulness.
As they ate, Marcus shared funny stories, most of which she didn’t quite get, but she laughed along anyway. When he switched to cringy dad jokes, she pretended to enjoy them, though she made a mental note to tell him later that he wasn’t as funny as he thought.
After eating, Marcus revealed another surprise. Inside the small box was a small caramel cake written the words ‘Be my Girlfriend?’.
“Mira,” he said, holding the cake, “will you be my girlfriend?”
