Morning has arrived. Today is going to be different, new, the absolute opposite of normal. Butterflies dance in my stomach every time Moses crosses my mind, which is every five minutes.

“Gcina I’ll see you later. There’s money for paraffin on top of the cupboard, so buy five litres when you come back from school ne.” I can hear Ma talking to me but I’m not exactly focused on her.

I do respond though. “Okay Ma, ube nelanga lihle.” I have an uncontrollable grin on my face. “Aah Moses, why now?” I whisper and pull the blankets over my face, imagining that Moses is holding me.

“Okay ntombi, you too.” Ma shuts the metal door behind her and leaves for work.

My phone vibrates under my pillow. A text from the Head Boy.

Morning sunshine.

Heat rises from my belly into my chest and my gut tightens.

Good Morning Mr.

How did you sleep?

I slept well, thank you. And how did you sleep?

I slept alright …
I guess …

You guess?

I missed you.

I want to tell Moses that I too missed him, but I feel like things are moving way too quickly.

I love how Moses makes me feel but I also hate it, I don’t like the vulnerability it puts on me. I don’t like that Moses has broken down my wall of pride, but I also adore that he can do that to me.

I had always thought Moses was good-looking, a school hunk, but it never occurred to me that his lips could ever touch mine. It seems surreal, dreamlike. I wonder if he has always had a thing for me … or if it had started that morning at assembly when we were both announced as Heads of school …

* * * * *

“Hello, earth to Gcina!” Nombulelo rolls her eyes.

“Huh? What?”

She has a frown on her face. “You have not heard a word of anything I’ve just said. The entire walk you’ve been zoning in and out. Tell me, where do you keep drifting off to?”

“Lelo, I’m right here.”

“Right. Of course.”

“Okay I’m sorry friend, I’m just a bit distracted.”

“No kidding. So tell me what’s up; something definitely is up.”

“Yoh, Lelo I don’t even know where to start. Oh my God there he is.”

“Who?”

“Don’t look, don’t look Lelo. He’ll think we’re talking about him!”

“Okaaaay. Uhm Gcina kuqhubeka ntoni ngawe …what’s going on with you …?”

“Shhh shh, he’s coming.”

Nombulelo folds her arms. “This I have to see.”

“Nombulelo, morning. Or can I too call you Lelo?” Moses joins us just outside the school gate.

“You too?” Nombulelo asks with suspicion.

“Yes, Gcina said ‘Lelo’ will be joining us in the study group. ‘Lelo’ has a nice ring to it.”

“Oh, well, sure. You can call me Lelo.” Lelo is staring at me and I can tell that she thinks this is weird.

“Uhm … if you don’t mind, I need to borrow Gcina.”

“Oh not at all. I’ll just be on my way,” says Lelo.

“Yeah, I’ll see you just now friend,” I say.

“Hmm … now she speaks.” Lelo is being sarcastic.

Moses turns to me. “I got you something.” He pulls out a slab of chocolate from his blazer pocket.

I smile and I am filled with joy, but I keep my cool. “Thank you.”

“Dare me to kiss you right now, right here, in front of everyone,” Moses says, looking serious.

“No Moses. No way. Do not do that!”

“What? Are you embarrassed to be seen with me?”

“Okay, now you’re being ridiculous.”

“I’m just joking. But I do want to kiss you though.”

Just then the bell rings.

“Gcina Nxumalo, saved by the bell,” Moses chuckles.

I giggle and rush off to class where Lelo eyes me like a hawk from the moment I walk in.

“Hmm … Head Boy and Head Girl seem to be hitting it off,” she says and nudges my shoulder as I sit down.

“Oh Lelo, I’m falling for him.”

“What? Miss Serious Gcina has a crush on someone?”

“Shh shush Lelo, not so loud.”

“Yooohh!” Lelo exclaims.

“Ohhh Lelo … the way he kisses …”

“Oh my God. Oh my God. Oh my God! You cannot just spring this on me like that. I need details and Mam just walked into the class. Gcina you are so evil.”

I laugh. “Go sit down. I’ll tell you at break.”

“Class, settle down and take out your textbooks please,” says Mam Hlophe.

“Uyabona ke ngoku Gcina. How am I supposed to settle down after you’ve just dropped this bomb on me?”

I am in stitches, laughing at how badly Lelo wants the details. Just to tease her even further I furtively pull out the chocolate and show it to her. “A gift from the Head Boy.”

She goes crazy, her eyes light up. “Oh my God Gcina, you are killing me.” Her hands are on her head. “Yooh Gcina.”

“Hamba ngoku, hlala phansi Lelo.”

Lelo takes her seat, eyeballing me, in shock and intrigue.

***

Tell us: Have you ever ‘fallen in love’ very fast, like this?