Ntombi: Relax she will never take your man.

Lebo: She better but she is no competition to me, look at me and look at her. I stand a chance. Don’t worry guys I will sort her, no one messes with me.

Karabo: Are you for real? You are in a relationship with Prince how come we don’t know?

Ntombi: I thought they were friends.

Lebo: This girl has lot of explanation to do. She needs to tell me what the hell is going on between her and Mr Dube.

[It’s break time the 4 girls are eating and just talking.]

Lebo: Do you love him?

Mellisa: I told you I’m single.

Lebo: Prince, you love him right?

Mellisa: (surprised) Who is that?

Lebo: Stop acting funny we both know who I’m talking about. Mr Dube, you still don’t know who I’m talking about?

Mellisa: (laughs) You are joking right?

Lebo: (forced smile) I’m trying to help a friend out here.

Mellisa: No thanks I don’t want him. I know he is way young but still I respect him as a teacher.

Lebo: Talking about respect the question is will he respect you? I’m sure you had those shocking, unbelievable stories about nasty teachers.

Mellisa: Those teachers should be locked in jail forever.

Lebo: (smiles) Glad we are on a same page, exactly Mr Dube is not as innocent as he looks. If he approaches you RUN! What did he say to you?

Mellisa: He said he likes me.

Lebo: You see. Stay away from him I can’t believe he has started with his madness.

Ntombi: Get straight to the point. What is Mr Dube doing that we don’t know, you can tell us something better since you are close.

Lebo: (looks down) Promise you won’t tell a single soul. He… raped three girls claiming he loves them.

[Mellisa, Karabo and Ntombi are shocked.]

[The following day Lebo and her friends are standing in the classroom near a chalkboard, other learners are outside.]

Ntombi: You must warn her, what if she tells the Principal that lie?

Lebo: I will make a plan.

Karabo: You are playing with fire. In my opinion I don’t think Melli loves Prince. I don’t understand one thing, Prince never said he loves you why don’t you give up?

Lebo: Are you listening to yourself? I can’t give up now. They say you fight for what you want, that is exactly what I’m doing.

Ntombi: Shh, she is coming.

Mellisa: Morning ladies.

Lebo: Melli about yesterday, please don’t tell anyone otherwise we will get into trouble okay.

Mellisa: No! What he did is bad, we can’t sit and do nothing. We must tell the police or the Principal.

Lebo: NO! NO! please don’t do that.

Mellisa: I hate him.

Lebo: (smiles) Me too.

[3 WEEKS LATER]

Lebo: She is evil.

Mr Dube: But I love her, she looks so innocent.

Lebo: What? Innocent? I know her better, she is nothing but a slut. Did she tell you she has a child? (looks away)

Mr Dube: A child? How come I don’t know anything about that, but I love her.

Lebo: What about me?

Mr Dube: You are my best friend and you know that I don’t understand why you want to complicate things between us.

Lebo: Oh so you choose that bitch over me? She will break your heart and I don’t want that to happen to you. You know I care about you.

Mr Dube: There is one thing I don’t understand, she is strange this days.

Lebo: You see.

Mr Dube: No! it’s like she knows something bad about me.

[Lebo looks down]

*****

[Lebo and Mellisa are talking in the classroom during break time.]

Mellisa: You said you hate him but it’s like you have a crush on him. I don’t know but something is going on between the two of you.

Lebo: So?

Mellisa: (shaking her head) Lebo, you said this guy is dangerous, why are you after him?

Lebo: You need to listen to me okay, I know he is dangerous but you need to cool stop interfering in other people’s business. I don’t want to be caught in the middle. Those girls who were raped are cool with that. Why did not they report? Who are we to report this matter?

[It’s after school and most of the learners have already left to their homes, Mellisa and Gift are having a chat.]

Gift: Please believe me I love you and I want to be with you.

Mellisa: I don’t have time for this, please leave me alone.

Gift: This is not a joke I’m expressing what I feel.

Mellisa: (bored) Thanks a lot for wasting my time. You are still a kid, don’t you get it. I want your uncles not you, kid.

Gift: (with anger he pulls Mellisa’s hand and holds it tight) Who the hell do you think you are talking t. I won’t allow a girl talk to me like that. Who is a kid?

Mellisa: You are hurting me.

[Mr Dube comes to the two to investigate what is happening.]

Mr Dube: Young man, what do you think you are doing? At home they taught you to abuse women? Leave this girl alone and go home.

Gift: We will talk Mellisa (he walks away).

Mr Dube: Never mind him, he is like this, he gets mad when a girl refuses him. But he will never touch you again, not when I’m still around. Are you okay?

Mellisa: I need to go home now.

Mr Dube: Um I have to tell you something… there is a reading competition and I want you to enter. You will represent the grade 11 of our school. I chose you and Sipho. So are you interested?

Mellisa: I am but Lebo said she is going.

Mr Dube: (surprised) No I chose you and Sipho.

Mellisa: Oh thanks for believing in me.

[They both keep quiet and looking into each other’s eyes]

Mr Dube: Um I am 23 years old, I finished school when I was 17, and I went to varsity to study teaching. Here I am teaching. I am glad you are one of the best learners I like. So how old are you?

Mellisa: That is not important. Tell me, what do you think about teachers taking advantage to learners whereby they give them higher marks for something in return?

Mr Dube: Mellisa, I love my work and believe in learners who work hard and pass fair. Those teachers who are doing that they definitely chose a wrong career.

Mellisa: I’m confused now. You know what I have to go now.

Mr Dube: Why, please stay for few minutes. I enjoy talking with you.

Mellisa: Me too (smiles).

***

Tell us what you think: What do you think will happen with Mellisa and Lebo?