Another day came and the taxi was waiting at the gate. Nathi was always late, he hated to wake up early. He didn’t know if he had to be excited or angry after everything that happened yesterday between him and Bheki, and the text he got from the unknown, who turned out to be Sphesihle.

He didn’t know how he was going to face Bheki after lying to him and leaving him standing there while he was trying to help him. And then Sphesihle, how was he going to look at her? He loved her but was afraid even to ask for her number. He felt like he was beginning his day badly already.

Nathi saw Bheki sitting alone under the small tree next to the grade 11 class. He saw a look he never expected from him. It felt like he knew that Nathi was hiding something, and he was hurt that he couldn’t trust him enough to talk to him. He was like a brother to him, now they were like twins.

“Hi buddy, I see you standing alone here. Are you fine?” Nathi greeted with fear.

“I am fine. I guess I just needed to be alone,” Bheki said without even looking at him

“Look, man, I am really sorry about yesterday. I shouldn’t have left you hanging like that, I know you were trying help,” Nathi replied.

“And I am sorry for trying to interfere. It’s just that I thought we were buddies and we could trust each other to talk about anything.”

“You are not interfering. It’s just that it’s nothing big, nothing to worry about and we are more than just friends, we are brothers,” Nathi said.

Again he lied, he was afraid to talk with his friend.

“If you say you are fine, then it’s cool. Then tell me about the girl you wanted us to talk about.”

“Can we talk about that during break time? It’s a long story brother, but I promise you we will talk about it.”

“You are always running now, but it’s cool, we can’t talk about love life now. Let’s go to assembly.” They were both laughing and teasing each other. That’s the kind of friendship they had.

Time ran fast in the morning. The first and second periods were over already and it was the last period before the break. There was no teacher in the class because they were short-staffed. Nathi and Bheki went to grade twelve C and there was Sphesihle looking at them when they entered the door. Nathi didn’t know what to do or how to greet her. He just stared at her and couldn’t say a word.

Sphesihle raised her hand as a signal to greet them. Bheki looked at Nathi as if he wanted to ask him if Sphesihle was the lover. He still had to tell him about her, but he stopped him before he popped any question. They sat with Lethu at the back and Nathi was just there in body, his thoughts and mind were with Sphesishle, telling her how he felt about her.

At break time Nathi and Bheki sat under the small tree where they usually ate.

“Tell me, dude, I saw the way you shook when you looked at Sphesishle. Is she the woman you wanted to talk about?” Bheki asked.

“What are you talking about dude?” Nathi asked.

“Don’t answer me with a question. You know very well what I`m talking about,” Bheki replied.

“Yeah dude, she’s the one and only. I was afraid to tell you because I thought you were going to laugh at me. But the honest truth is that girl is the only woman I see that can take my mother’s place,” Nathi said.

“Dude, you must be loving her for real. Did you at least try to talk with her?” Bheki asked.

“Say what to her? Tell her I love her and embarrass myself? I mean, did you look at her? Who am I to try my luck with her?” Nathi replied.

“Don’t underestimate yourself, my friend. I know you, you go for what you want. If you really love Sphesihle, you have to let her know before you lose her for good. I guess you don’t want to lose her without trying.”

As they were talking, Nathi was shocked, as if he had just seen a ghost. He saw Sphesihle approaching them as they sat under the tree. She was with Nosipho, her beautiful friend. They joined them for the lunch during break and they had their Kotas in their hands.

Sphesihle looked at Nathi for a while, then she asked if they were disturbing them because Nathi looked so shocked he couldn’t even speak for himself. Bheki told them they were not disturbing anything, and he had some Rands in his pockets. He bought a Stoney cold drink for them to drink while eating their lunch.

***

Tell us what you think: Do you think Nathi will finally make his move?