Mama had fully recovered by September. She had even found herself a job at the local supermarket. I was so happy because she was righting her wrongs and I was proud of her. I was also proud of me. Mr Goldberg was so pleased with my marks. Miss Tunzi bragged about my achievements to the whole school. I was finally on top.

But surprisingly, the people at the school couldn’t care less about my victory. They spoke more about Lerato. Her stomach was the size of a soccer ball so there was no use hiding it. “Who’s the father?” I heard learners whisper whenever she passed.

She looked at me and I looked at my books. I wasn’t ready to be her friend again. I felt sorry for her. I felt sorry for me. We only had each other, now we had no one. I left for home early each day. I hardly saw Molutsi at school and I heard he dropped out, but those were just rumours. They weren’t true. I knew exactly where to find him but I didn’t bother. It was not because I didn’t care, but because I was hurt.

“Molutsi is the father of my baby.” I remembered Lerato say some time ago. It replayed over and over again. In that moment I hated her. I hated him.

But that was before. Now, all I cared about was my education. I told Mama and she lay by my side the whole night and watched me cry. She told me that it didn’t have to be like this. I could choose to be angry and sad and cry or be happy and take all that negative energy, channel it and use it in a way that would make it positive and productive.

Time heals.

***

“Thando!” Molutsi called out to me. I didn’t expect him to come to my house, but he was already there.

“Mo?” I asked.

“I came to say I’m sorry. Please. I don’t know how to explain what happened, I wish it didn’t,” he said.

“But it did.” I snapped.

He looked over me and saw Mme Maggie and Mama watching.

“I know. And it’s my fault, but I don’t love her. I love you,” he paused. “We can work through this.”

“I can’t.” I said.

But he came closer to me. Close enough to hold me. Close enough to look into my eyes. Close enough to kiss me. Suddenly my heart became a marshmallow. I loved him. No matter what.

“I can’t!” I repeated, pulling away, but he didn’t let go; he only came closer.

I couldn’t do this; they were about to have a baby. I couldn’t stand the thought of him doing that.

“You promised that you would never leave me,” he cried. I had said that, but I regretted it now because I was not willing to be dating him and have him dating Lerato at the same time.

“I’m not dating her. It was a one-time thing and a huge mistake. She wanted me and I admit that I fell for her, but that is never going to repeat itself again,” he said.

“How did it happen?” I asked.

“She came to me while we were at school. Next thing we were on the grass at the soccer field. It hit me that we’d just had sex and I panicked. I didn’t want to hurt you, so I begged her not to tell you, but then some weeks later she came and told me something about her period and that she’s pregnant,” he said.

I stared at him.

“I’m sorry.” he said.

I walked away and went into my house and I watched him leave through the window. His head was really low.

Later that night, I couldn’t sleep. I was twisting and turning and I felt uncomfortable, I craved Molutsi’s warmth and love. Some hours passed and I found myself walking over to his house. He smiled and we kissed and hugged, leading me to fall on the couch, but he pulled back. “I can’t sleep with you, I don’t want you to get pregnant too,” he said.

I looked at him and felt so much pain because that was all he could think about. “I won’t,” I said and pulled him closer. And soon it happened.

***

“Where are you coming from?” Mme Maggie shouted early that following day. I resisted saying anything back. I just dashed to my room and lay on my bed.

“What happened?” Mama asked as she walked in.

“Nothing.” I lied.

She knew that I was lying. I could tell. But she kept quiet and just sat on my bed.

“Lerato’s sister came this morning, while you were out. She said that Lerato needs you.” Mama said gently.

“I don’t care about Lerato anymore,” I snapped, but she just smiled.

“I always thought you two were inseparable. You guys have been best friends from birth. You can’t break up now, not when you have come this far. Thando, forgiveness is one of the greatest things you can offer someone willingly. Think about it.”

But there was nothing to think about. She’d stabbed me in the back. She proved that a boy was more relevant than our friendship. I didn’t want her back. I didn’t want to be seeing more of her anytime soon, especially not with her stomach looking as if it was about to burst. I hated the fact that she was pregnant; I hated it more because it was Molutsi’s baby in there, but sooner or later I had to accept that the damage was done. The baby’s time was about to come. I loved Molutsi and so I needed to support him. I promised I would never leave. I wasn’t going to back out.

“Thando Thebe?” Miss Tunzi said. “Mr Goldberg would like to meet his star achiever in the office. Right now.” I was so excited. I had never met Mr Goldberg in person. I dashed to the principal’s office.

“Good morning,” I smiled.

White! He was white. He stood there in his suit and his face was red. I could not believe it! I had never stood so close to a white person before. In fact, I mostly watched them on TV, but here stood one in front of me.

“Thando, I came today to see my star achiever,” he smiled. “I have been looking at your marks and you really have been quite outstanding.”

I smiled and nodded.

He was satisfied with my work and told me that he wanted to apply at one of the best universities in South Africa for me. He would pay for everything plus he would give me an allowance. I shook his hand and, as I was leaving, I saw Lerato in the sickroom. She was asleep. I went inside and sat on the chair next to the bed. Her face was swollen as she had been crying. Her tears were dry on her face. She woke up.

“I’m sorry!” I said to her and she looked at me.

I got on the bed next to her and hugged her. I missed my friend so much. I had forgotten this feeling. This feeling of being with her and feeling that I have known her my entire life.

“I’m so sorry. It’s all my fault,” she said.

“So what’s going to happen to the baby?” I asked.

She swallowed hard. “Well, I wanted to put it up for adoption. I’m too young to be a mother, but Mo says he wants to be in his baby’s life. I can’t take that away from him, so we have decided to keep it,” she said. Her words we’re cutting through me.

“I’m happy for you. That’s a brave thing to do.”

***

Tell us: Do you think Mo should be involved in making this decision? Isn’t the baby’s mother the one to decide?