I hope you like me too
Adilet Hamid

It was a little after noon and the sun was still beaming with pride. Busi had texted her friend Andiswa, who lived across the street. It was not a posh neighbourhood but one of those crowded townships with kids playing in the streets.

Busi was standing by her kitchen sink. She could see through her window that Andiswa had come outside into her yard and started waving. She finished rinsing off the cup that she was using and quickly left the house without closing the door.

“Mgani!” shouted Andiswa, “Let’s go! I have to come back and cook.” Busi had sent a text to Andiswa and had asked her to accompany her to the spaza a couple of streets away with the incentive of some juicy news.

Andiswa was shielding her face from the sun and it looked like she was saluting Busi as she joined her.

“Come out with it,” Andiswa said.

“Hawu, no greetings or anything? Just straight to the gossip huh?” Busi said feigning shock.

“Oh, please! We have never greeted each other. Stop stalling and spill the beans,” Andiswa said as they started walking in the direction of the spaza.

“Well, there’s this boy in my class that I really like. His name is Thato and…” she was interrupted by Andiswa who started squealing with excitement at this piece of news.

Busi, with a smile that could almost pass as shyness, said, “He is so cute and tall. I think he likes me too. I caught him staring at me during English.”

Andiswa was about to speak when Busi’s phone vibrated in the back pocket of her jeans. She took it out – it almost slipped through her fingers – and looked at Andiswa with that, ‘close call’ look in her eyes.

She opened the WhatsApp text and started to scream.

“Mgani!”

Andiswa, worried, also screamed, “What?”

Busi giggled and jumped up and down while handing the phone over to her friend. Andiswa read the text out loud. It read:

Hey Busi, it’s Thato from school.
got your numbers from your friend
thing is I like you and I have been meaning to tell you
but got scared all of a sudden.
I hope you like me too as I would like to take you out sometime

She finished reading and handed the phone back to Busi.

“What’s wrong?” Busi asked with a fading smile, “Don’t you like what he said?”

“It’s not that Mgani!” she replied, “It’s just that… why can’t I find someone?”

Busi put her arm around Andiswa’s shoulders to comfort her. “You will find someone who is cute and funny and one that will love you, cause you are an amazing person,” Busi said. With a mischievous smile she continued, “It’s okay, you will find someone, but just not as cute as Thato.”

They both laughed as they continued walking in the blistering sun.

Andiswa’s Envy
Mothebang Diseni

Busi couldn’t wait any longer. She was eager to let her friend know. She strode to her best friend’s house to fetch her. She was going with Andiswa to the nearest spaza where her mother had sent her to buy spices and a loaf of bread for the next day.

Andiswa was already standing outside of her gate waiting for Busi. They hugged and walked slowly down the dusty, gravel street of Sonwabo. Busi was blushing non-stop.

“So, are you going to tell me what’s got you red like a ripe tomato? Or would you prefer me to poke it out of you?”

“I think I like Thato, the tall dark guy from 12 C, and I think he likes me too!” Busi blurted out.

Andiswa stopped in her tracks and faced Busi with a stunned expression. “Yeah? And you know this, how?”

Busi told her how she had bumped into Thato that day at school as they were moving between classes, and how he had blushed and called her name.

“He knows my name, friend, how crazy is that?” Busi said jubilantly.

A phone beeped, disturbing Andiswa from asking a myriad of questions that buzzed in her head.

It was Busi’s phone and she opened the text. From an unknown number! It read:

Hey, don’t be spooked.
I got your number 4rm Facebook
I would like to grab a pizza with you someday.
Holla back.
Thato

“Oh, my God. Oh, my God!” Busi was literally dancing and shouting making other people stare at them.

“What is it?” Andiswa was confused.

“It’s Thato! It’s Thato, friend. He texted me asking me on a date. Here — look!” she thrust the phone into Andiswa’s hand.

Andiswa read the text to herself and was oblivious to what Busi was saying. She couldn’t believe that Thato, the hot, quiet guy, wanted Busi not her. All boys liked and loved Busi not her. She was envious and sad.

The chimneys from nearby houses were emitting thick smoke that brought Andiswa back to reality and reminded her that it was getting late and they hadn’t arrived at the spaza yet.

Andiswa instantly gave Busi her phone back, grabbed her hand roughly, and hurried forward, shocking Busi.

“It’s getting late, let’s go before your mother gets worried!”

Down the road they went.

That Colgate Smile
Justice Ripinga

“Mngee, you know it’s so busy it doesn’t even look like covivi is still here,” Andiswa said to Busi as she gazed at the many people who were going about their business.

“Please friend, leave me alone about your corona virus. I have to tell you something!” Busi said, her cheeks turning pink.

“Oh, really now?! Tell me the name of the guy! Please dish up the news.”

“Hawu! How did you know it’s about a guy?”

“Friend, look at how stunning you are right now. I mean, who puts on make-up just to go buy bread at the spaza shop?!” Andiswa questioned Busi, with her eyes scanning her from top to bottom and her hands on her waist.

“You are too forward, yazi, friend! Uyaphapha! And you never know, maybe Thato will show up out of nowhere. I want him to see all this beauty!” Busi said as she flicked her hair back, closed her eyes and pouted.

“Thato? The boy in your class?! What makes you think he’s into you?” Andiswa asked with a tinge of envy in her voice.

“He’s been giving me the look lately you know. Plus I like the way he talks when he explains trigonometry to me. His Colgate smile, his dark brown eyes! His whole face is just…yoooh!” Busi looked up at the sky and held her own face as she described Thato to Andiswa.

“Friend, stop day-dreaming pleeease!”

Busi received a notification on her phone.

“OMG! Ahhhhh! Look friend. Look!” Busi shouted in excitement as she gave her phone to Andiswa.

Morning gorgeous.
I hope you slept well like the angel you are.
Would you like to get a kota and take a walk with me on Saturday?

Andiswa read the WhatsApp text in disbelief.

“Who’s day-dreaming now chomza?! Yoooh I can’t wait to be with him!” Busi said as she snatched her phone back from Andiswa and did a little dance to celebrate her newly found love.

That dimple! Lord!
Lulu Manyathi

The two girls walked down the deserted street. Apart from the breeze teasing the tree tops and their hushed chattering, the shuffle of their feet was the only sound radiating between the brick houses.

“Alright, spit it out,” Andiswa’s voice rose dramatically.

“You said you would tell me who it is. The boy who has you sailing over the moon.” Andiswa rolled her eyes sarcastically.

“Okay,” Busi drew a nervous breath, “It’s Thato.”

“Thato? Thato!” Andiswa screamed, “The one in our matric class?”

“Yes,” Busi’s eyes were animated and sparkly.

“Why?” Andiswa asked, struggling to swallow the tickle of a giggle.

“Why not?” Busi blushed, “Have you seen him? That fresh cut each week, polished shoes and smart blazer. Let’s not forget his eyes, his voice, charming smile and that dimple. Lord!”

“Ah, he is stiff though,” Andiswa burst out laughing.

For a second Busi frowned in irritation before she caught the giggle bug. The girls doubled over laughing a few meters short of their destination, Mam-Kelly’s Spaza Shop.

A vibration crept down Busi’s leg and she fished her cellphone from the back pocket of her denim jeans and scrolled through it. A WhatsApp text had her swallow the last of her laugh.

HOW ABOUT WE CATCH A MOVIE
THIS SATURDAY?
THATO

Sensing the shift in her friend’s mood, Andiswa leaned over to sneak a read. Andiswa felt the ping of envy settle in the pit of her stomach and quickly dismissed it, deciding against destroying Busi’s bubble.

The girls exchanged a single glance before they screamed. Their voices soared high enough to rustle the tree tops.

The feeling is mutual!
Lilonke Sidlayi

“Hey chommie! Wait for me! I am also going to the spaza shop,” yelled Busi.

Andiswa curiously said, “I know you. When you yell so loudly you have some hot gossip. Yiza nazo chommie.”

“You know Thato, mos ?” Busi told Andiswa.

“Thato? Which one?” Andiswa was muddled.

“Thato! The smart, cute and dark guy from my matric class. I really like him and I think the feeling is mutual,” said Busi with such confidence and a blissful smile.

Andiswa surprisingly clapped once. Before she could say anything, an alert of a new WhatsApp message came from Busi’s phone.

“Speak of the devil and he shall appear,” joked Busi, laughing.

She opened the text and froze for a few seconds. She started blushing. She had a spark in her big brown eyes as she started reading the text aloud.

Hi beautiful
I was wondering if you are free this weekend
Can we go out just the 2 of us
we could do movies or dinner

“Haibo, chommie ‘that’ Thato, really?” Andiswa said.

You could sense jealousy from her tone, but Busi was too excited to notice her friend’s behaviour.

That look!
Gugu Radebe

Busi and Andiswa had spent the afternoon helping around at Busi’s family’s restaurant. For the first time that day they found themselves alone and with some time to spare.

Busi had seemed a bit out of character that day, almost distracted, and Andiswa was eager to find out what was on her mind.

“I need to pick up some bread from the shop, want to take a walk?” Andiswa asked, snapping Busi out of a day-dream.

“Sure friend, I need to be in a place that doesn’t smell like oil and chips for a moment,” Busi joked and removed her apron.

The girls walked quietly for a while and just as Andiswa was about to ask Busi about what was bothering her, Busi began to talk.

“Friend…”

“What’s up babe?”

“Do you remember Thato from the debate competition?”

Busi smiled as she asked and Andiswa knew almost immediately where the conversation was headed. She’d watched them chat at length after the debate. She laughed.

“I haven’t even said anything …” laughed Busi.

“But I’ve seen that look before,” replied Andiswa trying to compose herself.

“So I gave him my number last week and we’ve been talking for a while,” Busi wore a big smile. “I think I really like him!” she finished with an embarrassed laugh.

Just as the girls were chatting animatedly Busi’s phone pinged, drawing her attention to the small screen. She looked down at it and stopped on the sidewalk.

“It’s him,” she said, trying to resist the temptation to open the message.

“And what is he saying?” asked Andiswa, her face beaming with curiosity, “open it!” she playfully demanded.

“Wait, OK…” Busi reached for her phone and started reading the text…

Books before Boys!
Siyamthanda Mabizela

“Mntase!” Busi said with a delightful smile as she approached Andiswa on the busy and dusty streets of Soweto.

“Wena, what’s up with the glow on your face?” Andiswa responded.

“Walk me to the shop, babes, and I will tell you all about it,” said Busi as she grabbed her friend’s arm.

“Heeeh, okay,” Andiswa was really curious of what was going on with her friend.

The shop was two streets away from Busi’s home and there was no different route they could take to avoid Pitso, the neighbourhood tipper, who always asks for R2 if he knew you. So Busi gave him the R2 he asked for, something she rarely did.

“Heh haysana, something is going on with you and I want to know about it. Since when do you generously give money to Pitso?” Andiswa’s curiosity burst out of her as she asked Busi to tell her what was up.

“So there is this guy in my class whom I’ve been crushing on for as long as I can remember. And today he kind of hinted that he likes me,” said Busi.

“Yes wena, babes! Who is he? Is he good looking?” asked Andiswa, overwhelmed with a mix of joy for her friend and jealousy because she hadn’t been asked out in two years.

“He’s about your height, and has a complexion so dark and chocolaty, just how I like them,” Busi replied with a smitten look on her face. “His name is Thato, chommie.”

“Hayini, bethuna,” Andiswa said.

Busi was telling her friend more about Thato when she received a WhatsApp text from him.

“Speak of the devil!” said Andiswa.

“Hayi phof he’s not a devil! He is my prince charming,” Busi said, with so much excitement and anxiousness of what the text said.

With that fervent curiosity again, Andiswa urged her to read the text.

Busi’s cheeks were pink from blushing as she read.

Hey beautiful
I was hoping to walk you home after school
but I saw you with your friends
so I did not want to bother.
Are you busy on Saturday?
Do you mind if we go grab lunch together?

“Sabawe! I’m so happy for you, chommie. He better treat you like a queen. And remember: Books before boys… because boys bring babies,” Andiswa said firmly.

“Heeh, hayi ke chommie,” Busi commented and they started laughing together.

“Chommie, I must go. It’s my turn to cook tonight,” Andiswa said.

The two hugged and Busi strolled back home with her face glued to her screen – she almost got hit by a car.

Love has found you
James Masilo

Busi walked to the girl’s rock where she was going to meet with her best friend, Andiswa. She greeted Andiswa as soon as she saw her approaching.

“Hey, gal! I hope I didn’t keep you waiting for long!”

Andiswa cut in. “You know you have never been early for any meeting that we’ve organised. I’m used to you not taking me seriously, Busi.”

“I am sorry, chommie, for being late and keeping you here waiting for me. I am really, really sorry. Please forgive, friend,” Busi said.

With a shocked face Andiswa asked, “Are you OK gal? You look like you are dying or something? Apologizing is not your thing. What’s up gal?”

Busi, with a smile on her face, replied, “Let’s say I woke up on the right side of the bed. Everything is fine. Actually, everything is perfect. Don’t worry, I am not dying. It is just that I think I am in love with someone and I think the feeling is mutual.”

“What? Tell me more … who is it? Do I know him? Where did you meet him?” Andiswa wanted to know everything.

“Come on chommie, you love to ask me too many questions. By the way, yes you know him. It is Thato, Mr SRC president who sits in the back seat in our classroom. Lately he has been giving me a lot of attention. He even asked for my numbers and told me that he loves my smile and big eyes,” Busi said, all this with a blushing face.

“Judging from your face I can tell indeed someone is in love. But what if Thato likes you only as a friend?”

Busi’s phone vibrated and she took it out of her pocket and stared at it only to find a WhatsApp message. She read the message and nearly dropped her phone on the uneven gravel road.

With joy Busi screamed, “Look! Look! The message I just received is from my president. He says we must go out for a date to any restaurant of my choice!”

“Wow, gal! It seems as if love has finally found you. I am happy for you mgani,” Andiswa said with a low voice as if she was shocked.