The holidays were amazing. I spent my days out with Mama or with Lwazi. Sometimes I hung out with Molutsi, but I got tired of listening to stories about the baby and Lerato. I felt that Lerato and I had pulled away from each other, we were too different now. She couldn’t go out because of the baby and she no longer gisted me about other things. I got bored. She was a woman and a mother, I was still a girl. I regretted wanting to be the mother of Molutsi’s children because I actually hate children. I don’t want to have any. Not now, not ever.

One day, Lwazi took me to his house in the suburbs. I couldn’t believe that he lived there only with his mother. It looked so big! It was the kind of a house I can say was nice to look at, but not to live in. I could get lost in his house. He gave me lunch and we watched movies on his flat screen TV. It didn’t feel real.

“Where’s your father?” I asked. He looked at me as if I’d just sworn at him.

“He is around,” he said.

“Where? Why doesn’t he live with you?”

“We don’t get along,” he said. “He is married…”

I stopped immediately and hugged him because I know how it feels to not have your father around, to feel as if he doesn’t care… I think I led him on, because he tried to kiss me after I hugged him. I pulled back because Molutsi’s face just appeared under my eyelids.

Lwazi just smiled and kissed my forehead.

“So are you ready for your last year at school?”

He swallowed hard. “I hate school. I only do it because I want to finish and go to varsity and become a business man. I want to show my dad that I don’t need him,” he shrugged and looked as if he was remembering something.

“Well I love it. It makes me feel special.”

“How?” he laughed.

“I’m so good at it,” I bragged and we laughed together.

“I’m definitely average. A few seventies, a couple of sixties and maybe two distinctions. That’s always what I get.”

We watched TV until around six, when his mother came in. I greeted her and she smiled, but she looked tired. I got enough courage to follow her and help her to place her things in order. When I realised that she enjoyed being helped and how tired she was, I rubbed her back like I do to Mama every day when she comes back from work.

Lwazi’s mother was so kind and sweet, I couldn’t imagine a reason to leave her. When I was done, she stood up and asked if I needed a ride home and I smiled. I didn’t realise how late it was until I got outside. She and Lwazi took me home and she came in and explained herself to Mama.

“I’m Mrs Jane Phiri,” she said. She and my mom instantly clicked. They joined us for dinner and I was so embarrassed for Lwazi to meet my dad. He was drunk as hell and his stench was making my eyes water. Lwazi was understanding though. He didn’t judge my father and when they had to leave, I hugged them both.

***

“Why are you doing this to me?” Molutsi asked, but I pretended not to hear him. I had no answer for that. He repeated himself so I shrugged and kept quiet. I had missed him so much, but he acted as if it was all just about him. I hated that.

When he noticed that I wasn’t willing to answer, he turned pink and his eyes became teary. He cried. I have never seen a guy cry because of me and I was shocked. Super shocked. I felt that I had no words; that I was tongue-tied. I just hugged him.

“I promised I wouldn’t leave you and I won’t. Mo, you know how I feel about you,” I said.

“What about the other guy?” he asked.

“Lwazi and I are just friends. I got bored with you continuously talking about the baby and Lerato. When I am with you, I want to be the only thing that’s on your mind,” I said and he pulled me closer. No words were said after that.

As we walked down to my house, there was Lwazi! I wanted to turn around, but he had spotted me and was shouting my name like a mad man. Molutsi looked ready to fight. That got me afraid.

“Lwazi meet Mo, Mo meet Lwazi,” I said, but Molutsi wouldn’t shake Lwazi’s hand.

“I’m her boyfriend,” Molutsi snapped, “and who are you?” Lwazi was shocked. I don’t think he knew I had one of those. I’d never mentioned it really.

“I’m a family friend,” Lwazi said. Then he turned to me and said: “We agreed we would do something today. Is it still on?” I nodded and smiled. The movies!

“You and I are busy!” Molutsi commanded, but then his phone rang and his baby mama called. She needed him. He got angry and hugged me, then he looked at Lwazi and kissed me. I think that was just for show.

***

Tell us: How does Molutsi have any claim on her? What right does he have to chase another man away like this?