As promised, Sandile called me in the evening and we spent an hour and thirty minutes on the phone talking and laughing. He said that he was going to have one of the greatest nights because he was speaking to me. I was blushing. I believe that’s when I started realising that I had feelings for him. He told me about his childhood, he was open to me about everything that had and was happening in his life. He also said I must meet up with him at the library the next day. God! Is this really happening? I asked myself after we hung up. I punched myself on the hand to see if I was not dreaming. Ouch! This was really happening.

I woke up very early in the morning and made tea for mom; she was so shocked and even asked me if she was dying. But I just smiled and said I was very grateful to have her in my life. She was so shocked she nearly fell off the chair.

Like I was instructed the day before on the phone that I must go to the library, I went there not knowing what I was going to find. As I opened the door I lifted my eyes up and there he was, standing with earphones on. I snuck up him and covered his eyes with my hands. He smiled and said, “I know it’s you Lo.”
He grabbed my hands, turned me around, pulled me close to him and held me tight. The smell of his fragrance took me to a place I’ve never been before. “Don’t let go,” he said as he inhaled heavily. I held him tightly. No don’t worry, it was only the two of us in the library.
“I want to tell you something,” he said.

“Oh, well, you must feel free to say anything,” I answered with an inviting smile.
He just looked me in the eye and held my hand.

“Lo, I don’t want to sound cheesy,” he said in soft voice, “but I want you to know that you mean something to me. In fact, I am trying to say I love you and these feelings have grown bigger than I thought. Being around you just makes me free to be myself.”

My heart skipped a beat. He melted my heart; I was left speechless. I hugged him and we started kissing. It was now official that I was dating Sandile Makubalo.

I ran as fast as my feet could take me to go and tell Nthabiseng but I found her sitting with those three girls I don’t like. They called themselves the “Pussycats” – yeah I know, I said that too when I first heard it. Nthabi loved those girls so much; she seemed to get along with them more than with me.

“Where have you been? Or were you with Sandile?” Nthabi said.

As I was about to answer her, Mandy, one of the “Pussycats”, jumped to it: “Sandile? The player?”

I gave her the look.

“Yep, the Player mgani.” That was Nthabiseng. I stood there like I had seen a ghost as they were busy telling me how much of a player Sandile was, and that he was also hitting on Mandy. Nthabi said that he had also been winking at her. I turned slowly and walked away from them.

Nthabi came running to me.

“The Pussycats are right about Sandile. Don’t fall for him mgani, dlala ngaye, coz he is also playing you and Mandy.”

I hate to say this but I believed them. I mean Sandile was good looking and he was every girl’s crush so vele he must be a womanizer. But he wasn’t like that; he really loved me, but I didn’t know that then.
Every day after classes he would come to me and take me to the park for a stroll. He would hold my hand at campus while walking with his friends and brag about me to them. I guess that’s what got Nthabiseng jealous.

I went to Biology class in the evening. As I walked inside I looked for Nthabiseng and there she was. I went to her but found no free chairs next to her. Because she was my friend, I wanted to know why she didn’t keep one for me? She snapped at me.

“How could you arrive late and expect me to keep a chair for you? You were mingling outside with your boyfriend and I have to guard chairs?! No, go find your own.”

I was so shocked because I thought we were friends and that’s what we did for each other. Then to my rescue, Themba waved at me and called me to go sit next to him. As I walked to him, I turned to look at Nthabiseng. She gave me the nastiest look ever. Mxm, I ignored her and entertained Themba. I couldn’t concentrate, just thinking about what Nthabi was doing to me. She was my friend and I loved her, so I was determined to make her happy.

After class I went to Nthabiseng. Because I am dumb, I asked for forgiveness and I promised her that I would give her my full attention, more than Sandile. She said I had to also promise that I would always be with her, even if Sandile wanted to be with me. And my dumb ass agreed.

Nthabiseng was not a friend but OK, we hugged and walked together. That’s when everything started going wrong. I turned my back on the guy who really loved me for a friend who didn’t care even a little but was only driven by jealousy. My life is ruined, but what’s the point of saying if only I knew?

***

Tell us what you think: What do you think Nthabiseng’s plan was? Did she want Sandile for herself?