The following day, Dozi is cleaning the mess he made with his girl last night when he hears a knock on the door.

“Hi, I’m officer Zulu, I’m looking for Mr Freedom ‘Fana’ Khumalo.”

“Ah… Did he, he, he do something wrong sir?” Dozi stammers, trying to sound normal and hiding his babalas (hangover).

“Is Mr Khumalo in or not?” the officer asks with his head tilted.

“Unfortunately sir, he hasn’t come back since he went out yesterday,” Dozi says, looking at the police van in front of their house.

“Tell him I came by once he returns. Until I see him, I’m still gonna be your frequent visitor,” the officer leaves Dozi standing there.

Dozi slowly closes the door and goes back in. After so many attempts of calling his friend with no luck, he decides to forward the call to his parents. Maybe he’s with them.

“Sawbona bab’ Khumalo. It’s Dozi here, I’m calling to ask about Fana, did you speak to him recently?”

“Ow hi son, actually I last talked to him yesterday, it was still early in the morning. Something wrong?”

“Oh no, no, Mr Khumalo, we’ll talk again after I talk to him. Here he is, he just came in.”

Dozi ends the call and rushes to Fana.

“Heita ntwana, u-grand?” he asks.

Fana lets out a big sigh as he sits down on the sofa. He looks worn out, like he didn’t sleep a wink. And the babalas had the best of him.

“I’m fucked up bro, big time. Do we have anything cold in this house? I’m dying.”

Fana tries to get up but Dozi jumps and stops him.

“Relax ntwana, I got you,” he strides to the fridge, takes out a bottle of cold water and a can of red bull and gives it to his mate.

“So what happened man?” Dozi asks, sitting down next to Fana.

“You won’t believe it Dozi. There’s this chick I went to see at Ntuzuma. She invited me to that party I was asking you and Thabo to come to. I was so over the moon with happiness. After such a long time trying to get her to be my girlfriend, and she was finally falling for it. Turns out she was just using me, all the kissing, and pretending to be drunk all night until she back stabbed me.”

A ring of tears starts to form in his eyes.

“What happened mfethu?” Dozi can’t look at him, he’s so sorry for his friend that if he continues looking at him crying like that, his eyes are too going to water.

“Ei bro, she got me naked, I was only left with my boxers. Thinking it’s what she wanted, I started undressing her too. I was about to completely take off her skinny jeans when suddenly she started crying and screaming and calling for help. The door flung opened immediately and all her three friends and neighbours filled the room.” Fana sighed, but continued talking, “They attacked me while they were taking a video of all that. I was so drunk but I managed to grab my car keys and clothes and run out of the house. She called and told me that she was opening a rape case, and with all the videos and pictures they took, I’m going down.”

Fana’s face is now wet with tears.

“Who’s this girl? Do I know her?” asks Dozi, looking at the ceiling. Still dodging the tears on Fana’s face.

“Her name is Cindy. The one and only,” he wipes the tears and sits up straight. “Just ask me why she did it.”

“What? What does she want?”

“She said R70 000 by 13h00 today if I want to buy my way out of prison. She will delete all the videos.”

“Damn, she’s sick. Where does she think you will get that amount of money?” Dozi clicks his tongue.

“I dunno man. I can’t even ask my dad for that amount of money. It’s too much.”

“Fuck her, that’s a lot of cash. You should tell her to voetsek man. If that’s the story, let her make a fool of herself in court.”

“It is just so complicated man. I was drunk, she wasn’t. She dates a cop. Maybe I should talk to dad, I really can’t go to jail, I won’t survive even for one day in there man.”

The thought of fighting Cindy in court is the last thing Fana wishes. He knows his life will be changed if he ever sets his foot in jail. If his father has the money, he would gladly give it to Cindy. He’s doing his 2nd year and can’t let 70 grand mess with his life and his education.

Fana makes up his mind and phones his dad.

***

Tell us: Why do you think Cindy did this to Fana?