School was exhausting, we weren’t getting a break. We had assignments and most of them were projects that counted fifty percent of the term mark, the other fifty would come from exams.

My temporary manager ordred me to reach five hundred followers on Instagram by the end of the month (two weeks left) and he didn’t care how. I had to come up with a plan.

"Please help me with my homework." Zaheed asked. She never asks me to help her with her homework but my aunt was at work so I was her only option. "I can try."

She gave me her books and I took a look. It was basic mathematics, nothing complex. "Okay I'll show you simple ways to do it." I began. She's easy to teach and understands quickly, that made my job so much easier. I thought about it and I could make money this way. "Do you have friends who don't understand too?" I enquired.  

"Yes, ons verstaan nie die nuwe onderwyser." (we don’t understand the new teacher) I could tutor them. Parents would trust me since I had experience with my own sister. I just needed a week with her, to be absolutely sure I can take it with my school activities.

"Okay ek kan hulp." (I can help) I told Zaheed as she continued with her work. I thought about how I was going to make five hundred followers, I only have a hundred on my music account.

*****

At home I had to tutor my sister again. It helped me get a lot of things out of my mind, because I had something to focus on and I was talking to her so it cleared distractions. "Jay, come here." My aunt called out.

I went to the kitchen where she was cooking dinner. "Zee's, friend's parents are saying they'll pay you to teach their child on weekends. Told them you wouldn’t charge much." Ka-ching! "Okay I'll do it." I said excitedly "You better not fail your exams." Well, my mood has been killed. I walked out of the kitchen and went to my room.

I looked at my account and there was no movement. I looked at the suggestions they'd given me. I randomly clicked one. Scarlet had reached more than two thousand followers and she didn't even have posts. That kind of hit me. Maybe if I followed her she'd do a shoutout. I immediately delete that thought from my head and stirred to my work.

Text her, she likes you, she'll probably respond. She's your only option. It's either this or a rundown music career. The spread of cancer cells in the body is determined by whether the immune system can contain it or not. Early...this is so boring.

****

It was dinner time and I was sitting with my aunt and Zaheed. "Your manager said he won't be helping with your music until you do what he said. He even stated that he's serious and he's extended it to a thousand." My aunt said. "And you still have until end of this month." she continued.

"Okay, I know what I have to do."

*****

I had five kids over at my house, six including my sister. Their parents had all indicated what they wanted me to teach them. This was harder than I thought; I had six students at the same time. I even had to assess them to see if they understood, that was the break I had.

Just send it then go offline you'll be fine. "Hey! Scarlett, right?" I pressed the send button. I'm going to regret this. I wanted to switch off my phone or throw it, it was like a bomb and I couldn't defuse it. I got chills from what I'd done.

I looked at her bio and there’s a YouTube link. I didn’t have much time to rest, so I downloaded one video to watch offline. “Jay, we’re done!” my sister yelled. I went back and I was kind of excited and a little guilty at the same time.

“Correct, correct, wrong.” I say as I mark the learners' work. It’s better when they don’t fully understand something, more money for me. After three hours of tutoring I was done. I had work of my own that needed to be complete and handed in on Monday.

“Let’s not waste time, your career is at a standstill. You’re lucky you’re a student otherwise you would be broke and moving to the streets.” my manager said over the phone. “You need to pipe up.” he continued. I really started to question my fate. I’m just one of those people who produce music but no one knows me.
Scarlet was not active at all that day. Maybe she’s busy.