Beginning of Grade 9 was great. Nokozo found Grade 9 a little easier than Grade 8. People were starting to think that Ntokozo was weird even her friends were starting to think this. As beautiful as she was but had no boyfriend, while others understood that her books came first to her.

One day as she sat alone in one of the classes during break, while her friends were busy with their boyfriends, a boy came to her.

“Hi, Ntokozo,” the boy greeted.

Ntokozo got a fright as she wondered how he knew her name. She didn’t know him, she had never noticed him before.

“Hi,” Ntokozo said feeling shy.

“My name is Sabelo Mbhele aka Trey Songs,”

Ntokozo looked at this boy. He was cute and he looked just like Trey Songs.

“Oh nice to meet you, Trey,” Ntokozo said, feeling comfortable to call him Trey. “Did you need any help with Maths?” Ntokozo asked.

Sabelo laughed.

“No I’m doing Grade 10. Unless if you know that Maths too,”

Ntokozo laughed as well.

“No I don’t know that Maths,” Ntokozo said, feeling shy.

“Ntokozo listen, I’d really like to get to know you better. I mean I really like you,”

Ntokozo couldn’t believe her ears.

“Really, you do? But wh… why me?”

“You are unique, special and you are very beautiful,”

Ntokozo couldn’t help but blush. And he saw it.

“Give me your number and I’ll keep in touch. That way we’ll get to know each other better,”

“Sure thing,” Ntokozo said as she was about to call out the number.

Ntokozo’s heart was like fertile soil. Sabelo could plant his love in it at any time and it would grow fast and big. Ntokozo really couldn’t stop thinking about Sabelo. Not just because he had Trey’s looks but there was just something about him.

What is happening to me? she asked herself, a day after they met.

Even if she were to cross the plains and hills, she still wouldn’t find an answer. So she just waited to find out.

The following day Ntokozo went to the very same class Sabelo found her in, hoping that he would come again. He hadn’t called her the previous night. Indeed, Sabelo came just like she was hoping.

“I knew I’d find you here,” Sabelo said smiling as he walked in. Ntokozo threw that smile back at him.

“Hey Trey,”

“Are you good?” he looked at her straight in the eyes as he asked.

“I’m good,” Ntokozo stared at Sabelo. She gave a half smile that didn’t even show one of her teeth, this was a sign of appreciation.

Sabelo’s face became a mirror for his heart, Ntokozo could read every beat.

“It’s amazing how beautiful you are and how you make me feel,” he said.

“How do I make you feel?” Ntokozo smiled, blushing.

“You make me feel love. You make me feel fire, you make me feel like heaven and I’m so in love with you,” Trey said.

Ntokozo could slightly see tears in his eyes as he said those words. His shoes were shining, his school trouser was well ironed and his pullover jersey suited him. He was neat and clean; a daring gentleman.

“I hear you,” Ntokozo said these words gradually as if she was trying to run away with the truth.

“Don’t you think I deserve to know if you feel the same?”

Ntokozo stared at him for a minute.

“Can I please think about it?” She said.

“Yes of course you can,” said Sabelo after what seemed like a long pause. “I guess I’ll see you around,”

“Yeah, see you around,” said Ntokozo.

After Sabelo left Ntokozo went to the cafeteria. As she walked she couldn’t understand why he was there with her, when he could be with any girl he liked; when some girls would even kill to be with him.

***

Tell us: What do you think Ntokozo should do?