“Who the hell is she?” Ellie shouts.

I met Ellie a month earlier in Yeoville, I was in a relationship with Sue at the time. She liked me and soon we bonded over sex. I charmed Ellie with the prospect of love but honestly there was no such thing. We started soon staying together because flats were expensive and sharing made it easier financially. I wanted sex, that’s why I agreed to the idea. I couldn’t sleep with Sue because she was in Pretoria due to work reasons.

My heart beats only for Sue, she stole my heart and I was weak only for her. I don’t know how but when I first saw her I immediately fell for her and my feelings were in a stir. I met Sue in Pretoria while I was visiting my folks, they stayed in the same neighbourhood. Her beauty attracted me and our conversations made me fall for her. We just met, spoke for a few minutes and that was that, it was love at first sight. We exchanged numbers and the rest was history.

At first I found her to be a challenge, she wouldn’t reply immediately to my messages so I thought maybe she already had someone, but my love for her still grew. I thought she wasn’t serious about me.

Now I stand here, not knowing what to do. How do I tell her that I am sleeping with another woman? She will be heartbroken and I won’t be able to go back home to her. Ellie has already seen my chats with Sue on WhatsApp.

I had left my phone charging before leaving for the bar and that’s when Ellie saw my messages with Sue and was furious by the time I got back.

“I don’t love her. She is the one who loves me,” I answer defensively.

“I read your chats, Paul, why not just block her?” she retorts condescendingly.

I act as if I know nothing. Ellie walks slowly towards me, making me nervous. Ellie is a Ndebele and word from my homeboys is that Ndebele women are vengeful. When we met I took the chance and one day she hired some gangsters to beat me up. And now she’s hugging me and I have no choice but to return the hug with the same loving nature.

“I love you,” I whisper in her ear.

We kiss and then we have make-up sex it’s the only way I know how to make her forget our ‘misunderstanding’. But I know it’s not a misunderstanding, I cheated on her, it’s in my blood. I caress her smooth body and she returns the motion. It leads to me climbing on top of her, and we progress until our naked bodies brush closely against each other.

My body is with her but mind is filled with thoughts of Sue. Ellie thinks staying with me will make me marry her but a future together is the furthest thing from my mind. We finish and Ellie falls asleep, snoring as loud as a vacuum cleaner. I put my phone on silent and check my messages. Nothing from Sue; my heart sinks, she isn’t thinking about me, I think. So I decide that I will message her. Her last seen was ten minutes ago and it’s already midnight.

Miss you.

Miss you 2.

I tried to text you but you didn’t reply.

Sorry I got held up. How is life?

It’s fine.

Baby, tomorrow my birthday.

Oh sweet. I’m broke, I wish I could have done something for you.

It’s OK, there are ways to do something for someone you love, what matter is love.

I love you.

She went offline, leaving me blue-ticked.

I want to do something for Sue but I don’t have any cash, thanks to Ellie. I just wish I could have spent more time with Sue and leave Ellie. I hope she isn’t seeing anyone yet. If I was close to her maybe we could have had a place of our own by now. Instead I am broke and staying with a woman who controls me. Satisfying two women is like ploughing on a hard soil.

***

Tell us: Have you ever dated two people at the same time? If so, how did you manage both relationships?