Things started to move fast. I met Jimmy at lunch and sometimes we met later at night. He came to Queensdale in his red Jaguar every day and parked it in the street far from home. We talked and enjoy each other’s company. I would sneak in through the window, knowing my mother would not like it but I had to. I would put pillows and cover them with my blanket so my sister Rudo didn’t see that I left. Rudo was talkative and never kept a secret but she was only 5 years younger than me.

I was in love and I couldn’t control it. I wanted to be with Jimmy every day; I missed him when I was in class or at home.

One night things got tense. I wanted to hold Jimmy and kiss him; he had bought me a nice bracelet. I hugged him tightly but to him, it was a surprise. When our eyes met, our lips touched and I let everything go with the flow. I felt his hand going inside my blouse, felt his hands on my skin.

“I am not ready…” I pushed him.

“I am sorry… I shouldn’t,” he said shyly. I considered his feelings, he wanted more but I was not ready. I’d never seen him shy or maybe he felt wrong. I touched his hand.

“Jimmy it’s OK. I also wanted to kiss you,” I smiled, rubbing his fingers with mine.

“The moment I saw you, I knew you would be the one,” he uttered gently.

“I will not push you to do what you don’t like. I will wait for you,” my heart screamed. I didn’t know of any man who accepted no sex in a relationship. This was true love.

My stomach had butterflies, I just laughed and smiled. I never felt like this before; it was as if I was in heaven where only happiness existed. We talked about our lives and Jimmy had had a tough life, his parents strived to make him go to school. He stayed in Harare and was raised by his older sister and now he could manage on his own. His father had a small farm which was the only financial support they got.

Jimmy liked hearing about my sister, Rudo. He would look at my lips, he only would open his eyes in shock. It made me nervous though but I liked how I felt. I didn’t normally talk about Rudo, she and me were not that close because she was a big mouth. I didn’t notice the time, it was late. He drove back and dropped me at the side of the road. I climbed inside the window quietly.

It was so dark but I walked straight to my bed and dressed into my pajamas and removed the pillows and slept. Rudo was sound asleep and was snoring horribly. Her snores sometimes terrified me, I would think it was a cat. Her snores sounded like a cat meowing.

I quickly closed my eyes and tried to sleep. All I thought about was spending time with Jimmy, he was so gentle and funny. I fantasised with dreams of Jimmy. I smiled when sleep overpowered me.

I think I heard my phone beep twice but I kept sleeping. I was in a dreamland, a garden with all sorts of flowers in different colours. I and Jimmy sat on a bench holding hands, watching doves flying in the sky. He fed me with strawberries and vanilla ice cream. It was the perfect dream.

“Kay… Kay wake up,” Rudo screamed, removing the blankets from my body.

I sighed and didn’t want to wake up. She always disturbed my sleep, now she was disturbing my beautiful dream. I pulled the blanket and covered myself and closed my eyes.

“Mom wants you,” she screamed. I looked at her angrily but if Mother wanted me, I had to go. Rudo was already dressed in her school uniform.

I quickly woke up and checked the time. It was 6:30 a.m. I ran to the kitchen but Mom wasn’t up yet. I returned furious and I wanted to smack Rudo, she liked attention and I hated it.

“I am going to beat you,” I warned her.

“Do it and I will tell Mama you jump through the windows,” she frowned.

Oh God, she saw the pillows. She knew about my sneaking through the window. I didn’t look at her, another warning would make her babble everything I do. I feared my mom and I didn’t want to disrespect her. I made my bed silently.

“Give me pocket money and I won’t talk,” she demanded closely.

She was still in primary so she got less pocket money than me. I gave her a dollar to close her mouth and she vanished and I had to prepare myself for college.

***

Tell us: Do you know guys who can say no to sex?