Allow me to quote another guy’s proverb: After getting the numbers, thou shall call as soon as possible.

That night I called her.

“Hi Nomsa, how are you?”

“I’m ok, who is this?”

“Sira, we met today at cafeteria.”

“Oh… ja I remember.”

“I was just calling to test your numbers, to make sure you didn’t give me your boyfriend’s numbers or something.”

“Ha-ha-ha you are crazy, why would I do that? I don’t even have a boyfriend.” She said she doesn’t have what? Just exactly what I wanted to hear.

“I don’t know joe these things happen.”

“Nah man, I am not like that. If I didn’t want to give you my numbers I wouldn’t have given them to you.”

“OK cool I hear you, I’m happy to hear your beautiful voice again. Look I will call you again some other time have a goodnight.”

Another proverb: Thou shalt act fast before thou gets friend zoned.

I know I had a girlfriend but I must admit Nomsa was also hot. I was beginning to like her. So I thought to myself let me date her as well and none of them will find out about each other. Dating two girls at the same time can’t be sin, I am not playing them I am just diversifying my love, I justified it to myself. To cut a long story short, Nomsa became my second girl.

“What are doing on Saturday babe?” I asked Nomsa.

“Nothing much hun, in fact I will be bored. My roommate will visit her family.”

“Can you please visit me?”

“OK cool babe, I would love to see your place.”

Saturday came and Nomsa was in my house. We spent the night together. Around 03:00 am she asked me a question.

“Sewukhe wa-towna babe? Have you ever towned” I didn’t know what she meant.

I asked, “Kuthini utowna?”

“Having sex without a condom.” I could not believe what I heard

“Oh, nah… I… not really,”

“We should try it, sex it’s more enjoyable without a condom.”

“Sure babe, we will try it on your next sleep over.”

First thing that came to my mind was that if she knows that sex is nice without a condom, how many people had she had unprotected sex with? Besides, it was her first sleep over, we hadn’t been dating for that long for her to make such requests.

So from that night I made up my mind. I ended things with Nomsa. I was not ready to have unprotected sex. There is pregnancy and there are sexual diseases. I had a future ahead of me.

Thembi moved to res and changed completely. She was clubbing a lot; spending most weekends in the clubs. I told her I couldn’t trust someone who goes to those kinds of places. So we decided to break-up and be friends. After the break up I was single and lonely.

However, I decided to take a break from relationships and focus on my studies.

“Hey Sira, would you mind to visit me in my room I need someone I can talk to.” It was around lunch time when I received Thembi’s call.

“Sure I will after my last lecture.”

After my last lecture I went to her room as promised. She was looking miserable, still in her pyjamas. We talked and started to cuddle. After a while she sounded better.

“Thanks for coming Sira, I really feel better now.”

We didn’t stop cuddling. Then the next thing I knew we were naked. I had no condoms with me. My man was ready for some action. One day won’t do any harm, I convinced myself.

“Shu, you were like an animal today.” She said releasing her breath. I lay next to her worried about what happened.

“Look Thembi I have to go, can we please pass by the chemist to get morning after pills.” I woke up to put on my clothes.

“I will get them later don’t worry.” She said.

“Please do I am not ready to be a father.”

For some strange reasons I felt like taking a shower, just like my president. It was my first time towning. I won’t describe the feeling, but all I can say it’s that I knew why Nomsa requested it. But all that feeling was washed away by stressing about HIV and pregnancy.

Two months later I hadn’t heard from Thembi since ever that day. I never called to confirm if she did take the morning after pills. It was at midnight when I received a call from her.

“Hi Sira, it’s been a while. Are you sleeping?”

“Ja I was asleep,” I said yawning.

“Sorry for waking you up man, I thought I should call you since its nightshift.”

“No prob, undicingiswe yintoni?” wondering why she called.

“Look man, I want to apologise for something I did, I will understand if you don’t forgive me.”

“Apologise?!” I was confused.

“Ja, I know I should have talked to you first before doing it.”

“Thembi I’m confused, what are talking about?” I was beginning to get annoyed.

“Look man, I….” she started crying. I started to get nervous; I was shaking. My mind was everywhere. I said a quick prayer inside “Please don’t tell me you are HIV positive”.

“What’s wrong Thembi?” I asked expecting the worse.

“I had an abortion.” She said and continued to cry.

“You did what?! Who was the father?” I just asked not that I cared to know.

“It was your baby, Sira.” She said sobbing.

“How come? Please don’t tell me you never took the morning after pills.” I was furious.

“I did, clearly they didn’t work. But it doesn’t matter anymore.” I kept quiet not knowing what to say.

“Are you still there?” she asked.

“Ja”

“I just wanted to apologise for what I did, I was feeling guilty and I think you deserved to know.”

“It’s OK Thembi, you did what you thought was the best at that time.”

If Thembi had never aborted the baby, I would have been a father. Maybe I was going to be forced to quit school and go to work so that I can support the baby. Basically, my future was going to be ruined. Just because of one moment of pleasure.

***

Let’s chat: Who do you should take responsibility of contraceptives?