I was definitely sure that all I needed and wanted was to be with Bongani and part of me knew that he also wanted the same. If he didn’t he wouldn’t have asked me to be his study partner.

Since I was wanted to be close with Bongani, it was obvious that my final answer to his request would be “Yes, I want to be your study partner”. I find this exciting since I’d be spending quality time with him. In the morning we would leave for school together and in the afternoon when we would study together.

Each morning I would wait for him around the corner of block C as our tin shacks are divided in alphabets. Sometimes when I saw him coming, I’d turn the other way, trying to hide my facial expression of impatience. And other sometimes I’d watch his deliberate walk as he approached me.

Every time we walked together youngsters who are school drop-outs would stare at us clumsily.

“You both think you are better by going to school,” they would say. “Ya’ll are the ones who waste your parents’ money by making them pay for your education.”

“Education is the key to success!” I’d reply.

“It’s no use going to school while you’ll end up poor and sit at home just like all of us. Where would ya’ll get money for college, and that is if ya’ll manage to pass matric?” they would add.

“We have applied for a bursary. And yes, we will pass matric!” Bongani would say this in confidence.

“A bursary requires you to study hard and pass with distinctions. And how is that possible if you live in a shack without electricity?”

Sometimes we would stand and debate, other times we would just keep quiet. It amused them when we did. They thought we had run out of things to say.

“Arguing with a fool is as useless as applying for poverty by quitting school” Bongani would tell me.

Me and Bongani liked school because unlike the youngsters who hang around the street corners all day, we knew the opportunities and pleasure school would bring us in future.

Along the way to school we would often speak about school. But sometimes we would be flirtatious.

“Who would you like to date?” Bongani once asked.

The first time he asked me that question I almost to him.

It’s you, I thought to myself. But I held myself from saying that .I figured he might feel embarrassed. The truth was I didn’t know how to reply to that. If I said “It’s you”, that would be like I was an easy girl. And if I mentioned somebody else’s name he’d stay away thinking I was not interested in him, while I was!

“I don’t know as yet,” I answered. “How about you?”

“Someone who can treat me the way I want to be treated,”

“How do you like to be treated?” I asked keenly.

“With love and loyalty. Are you like that?” he asked, surprising me with his question.

“Ye, yes I am,” I answered, trembling. “So does that mean I’m part of those people you would like to date?”

“Only time will tell,” he replied with a smile.

I truly enjoyed being around him and found every minute with him useful. Though I’d wish that we were in the same school, I knew that being in separate schools was a good thing. We wouldn’t be able to concentrate. And the last thing we needed, since we both applied for a bursary, was to play around.

Actually he hadn’t just applied for a bursary; he received it since he was the top learner.

Most people saw it as a threat or rather a competition when someone you are in amity with was clever than you. But to us it was the other way around; we were proud of each other’s success. And we were willing to help each other in every possible way.

There is a saying that says Together we can make a difference, and it was only after meeting Bongani that I understood the true meaning of that saying. But still, one of us had to make a move.

***

Let’s chat: Who must make the first move, the guy or the girl? Why?