Zinzi: (on a call) Hey bestie.
Mpho: Hello my love.
Zinzi: (laughing) Please don’t call me that.
Mpho: Don’t you love me?
Zinzi: I love you but you are dating my friend.
Mpho: You are the one who was telling me that she is cheating.
Zinzi: That doesn’t mean she doesn’t love you.
Mpho: Really? Then why did you tell me?
Zinzi: Don’t worry about it. I am out of airtime.
Mpho: No, I will call you back now.
Zinzi: Okay.
Mpho: (calling Zinzi back) Tell me about it.
Zinzi: I told you because you are my friend and I love you.
Mpho: You just want to flirt with me?
Zinzi: Maybe. I’ve got to go, your wife is coming.
Mpho: Where are you at?
Zinzi: Home.
Mpho: Talk later.
[A few minutes later…]
Mmathapelo: I got plans today with Mpho.
Zinzi: Wow, where?
Mmathapelo: At his home.
[Zinzi quickly and secretively sends a message to Mpho: If you love me today you won’t meet Mmathapelo]
Mmathapelo: You are busy with Mxit this days?
Zinzi: Yes, I’ve got new boyfriend. I will tell you more about him tonight.
[A message from Mpho returns: Do you really love me or do you want me to be away from Mmathapelo?
Mmathapelo: Wow, we can do double dates sometimes. It will be so great.
Zinzi: Eix, we are taking things slowly.
Mmathapelo: Let me go and bath for my date.
*****
[Mpho and Thabo are sitting and chatting before Thabo goes for his date with Mmathapelo. Thabo has feelings for Zinzi but he has never told Mpho about it.]
Mpho: My bro, things seem to be going according to plan between me and Zinzi.
Thabo: What do you mean?
Mpho: She doesn’t want me to be with Mmathapelo more often.
Thabo: Good luck man. So will you date friends?
Mpho: I don’t know man. I love both of them so much. The thing is, Zinzi wants this as much as I do.
[Mpho gets a call from Zinzi and he picks up.]
Zinzi: Mpho, I can’t date you but you can be my friend with benefits.
Mpho: Let’s talk about this face to face later on. Can we?
[They hang up and Mpho goes for his date with Mmathapelo.]
*****
[The next day: Mmathabo had boyfriend which none of her friends knew about. Mpho had a crush on Mmathabo before they became friends. And now they are at Mpho’s place chatting.]
Mmathabo: Mpho, can I trust you?
Mpho: Yes, why are you asking this now?
Mmathabo: Would you sell me?
Mpho: Why then sudden questions?
Mmathabo: My boyfriend called you yesterday.
Mpho: Yes, who gave him my number?
Mmathabo: He took it from my phone. Would you sell me out?
Mpho: No, I’m your friend.
Mmathabo: Thank you.
Mpho: You thought I would tell him about your new boyfriend?
Mmathabo: It doesn’t matter.
Mpho: That is your private life. I wouldn’t dare do that.
[Later that day Mpho, Mmathapelo and Zinzi meet at the shop.]
Mmathapelo: Look who is coming.
Zinzi: Yeah, you see your plan to meet that other guy here will end up bringing trouble?
Mmathapelo: Mpho trusts me, I will say he is my friend.
Mpho: It looks like some people are happy to see me!
Zinzi: Yeah, we want a Coke and Chips.
Mmathapelo: Yes, you’ve got good timing.
Mpho: You are happy to see me or to take money from me?
Mmathapelo: I’m your girlfriend right?
Mpho: Maybe.
Mmathapelo: I also need airtime.
Zinzi: You are my friend’s boyfriend. I also need airtime.
Mpho: Yoh! Okay, I will do that but I’ve got to rush back home.
Zinzi: Just give us that money.
[Thabang is meeting Mmathapelo for the third time during their dating period and it is at Mmathapelo’s place. But Mmathapelo gets an unexpected call.]
Mpho: Hey babes, can I see you?
Mmathapelo: No, I am busy today.
Mpho: I am already near your home.
Mmathapelo: I can’t see you.
Mpho: (running out of airtime) Eish OK, but… (Thinking to himself of going to check on his old friend Tebogo)
[After being rejected by Mmathapelo, Mpho goes to Tebogo. He stays on the same street as Mmathapelo.]
Tebogo: Man long time no see.
Mpho: Yeah, I’m not around always.
Tebogo: Have you seen madam? She’s changed too much these days.
Mpho: No, she said she is busy, exam time I think. Why do you say she has changed?
Tebogo: She is dating multiple people these days!
Mpho: I heard from my cousin and her friend and I didn’t believe them.
Tebogo: It is true man. Check, there she is outside, looking at you. Go for her.
Mpho: No, she refused to see me.
Tebogo: She changed her mind, oops there comes one of her boyfriends.
Mpho: What is his name? He looks familiar.
Tebogo: I think it is Alex but no, that one is a little taller.
Mpho: Alex who is doing Grade12 this year?
Tebogo: Yes that one.
***
Tell us what you think: What do you think of having multiple partners?