On a sunny day I was coming back from school when I suddenly heard arguments. It was my friend Kayle. Kayle was my good friend, we shared everything including our deepest secrets.

“I don’t know you nor do I like you! You just believed the rumours that school children were spreading,” said Thabiso to Kayle.

Thabiso was a friend of my brother Logan’s. Apparently, rumours were that they were dating but they did not even know each other! So they involved me, Mellisa.

“Oh gosh, Kayle, can you stop victimising yourself!” I said.

“Wow Melz, so much from you,” Kayle said.

“Not everything is about you, Kayle!” said Thabiso. They started fighting. I tried stopping them with no luck.

Days passed. They became close again like never before. Nonkululeko, who lived next door, used to send Thabiso to give letters to me because they were friends. Thabiso brought two letters to me.

“The second is letter is from Thabiso himself,” said Logan, and I was happy to hear this. I could not help but fantasise about the guy daily.

***

Two years later, Kayle started behaving weirdly. She was always defensive when it came to Thabiso. I knew then what the meaning of love was, how it felt to love somebody. Thabiso always made me feel like a queen.

We became closer, he was like a brother figure to me. He always freed up his time to talk to me. Kayle started badmouthing me to people because of her insecurities. She would always ask Thabiso what we were chatting about.

Thabiso kept blocking her even though she created different accounts. She wanted Thabiso’s attention, she spoke ill of me to him to strengthen their bond. But my Thabiso wasn’t any hypocrite! Kayle befriended Thabiso’s neighbour, Mabatho.

One day, Mabatho texted Kayle using Thabiso’s phone just to gossip about me. Thabiso showed me and I ignored it but it kept eating me because I saw her face every day.

At school, a few weeks later, I got into the top-ten position, which Kayle couldn’t make.

“There is this boring girl who lives next door, she doesn’t even see I’m pretending to like her. That fatty!” Kayle posted. I felt like hurting her, but my mother told me to thank God when He shows me my enemies.

Our parents tried to resolve the conflict in vain. I hate to say this but I despise that girl next door for everything she did to me. I haven’t forgiven her, not now and not ever.

Thabiso, a sweetheart, always brought home sweet treats for me just to make sure I was fine. On August 5, he finally confessed his feelings for me. We bond like we’ve known each other forever. My life taught me that when you find something good, hold on to it, ‘cause it doesn’t matter who you are or where you come from, the world won’t wait for you to make up your mind.

Tell us: What are your thoughts about the manner Mellisa’s friends treated her?