They arrived at Midfields High School with two of Ma Patiwe’s security guys dragging Anathi along. He was yelling and shouting, but he calmed down when the principal came out of his office. 

“What is going on here?” the principal demanded. 

“They set me up,” Anathi whined. “They’re crazy!”

“Do you have a few minutes?” Ma Patiwe asked politely and pointed to Song. “This young lady and I can explain everything and we have some cellphone photographs you need to see.”

The principal stood staring at them with his mouth hanging open at this strange scene in the school corridors. 

Ma Patiwe was very patient. “You probably also want to call this young man’s parents. They should know what he’s been doing.”

Anathi looked shaken. “No, don’t call my parents. This is nothing to do with them.”

The principal shut his mouth with a snap of his jaw. He gestured to his office. “Yes, please come in. I’m very interested to hear this.” 

Ma Patiwe turned to K8 and Sbu and her two security guys. “Can you wait outside? This might take a while.” 

K8 and Sbu sat on the bench waiting, while the security guys went outside for a cigarette.

There was a lot of shouting and then a lot of ominous silence while the principal’s voice rumbled. They couldn’t quite make out the words, but it sounded like Anathi was getting exactly what he deserved. 

Sbu fumbled with his phone, he couldn’t bear to look at K8. Eventually, he got up the courage to glance at her, and found that she’d been watching him. 

“I’m sorry,” they both said at the same time. And then both exploded into relieved laughter. 

“Thank you for coming,” Sbu said. 

“That’s what friends are for,” K8 shrugged. Then she looked down at the floor. “But I’d like to be more than just your friend.” She glanced up at him, nervous and hopeful at the same time. “If you’ll still have me.” 

“What happened at the clinic -” Sbu started to say. But K8 interrupted. 

“It’s my fault. It’s got nothing to do with you. It’s me. I was scared I might have something.” 

“What do you mean?”

“We’ve never really talked about it, you know, our sexual history. I’ve slept with some people before. I didn’t want to put YOU at risk. But I also didn’t want you to think less of me.” 

“I promise not to think less of you,” Sbu said, “as long as you don’t think less of me because I haven’t slept with anyone else before.” 

“A hot kasi boy like you? You expect me to believe that?”

“Never found the right girl.” 

“Til now, right?”

“Maybe.” Sbu said, teasing her. 

“I was an idiot.”

“Me too. Want to try again?”  Sbu reached out and took her hand. 

Just then Song and Ma Patiwe came out of the principal’s office. 

Song gave them the thumbs up. “Sorted!”

Image: Teach and Learn, CC-BY-NC-SA

WHAT DO YOU THINK: Why do you think the pressures on boys and girls to have sex or not to have sex are different? Should Sbu think less of K8 because she’s slept with other people? Should K8 be freaked out that Sbu is still a virgin?