They arrive at Ntsiki’s house in subdued silence.

“Thanks for walking with me,” Ntsiki says.

“The pleasure is all mine, but I want to do more than walk you home,” Themba says, with a subtle wink.

Ntsiki ignores his comment, re-positions her bag over her shoulder, opens the gate and steps through. As she turns around to close it Themba persists.

“May I come in and greet ugogo wakho? Even if she klaps me for breaking your heart.”

Ntsiki considers his request for a second before answering. “I never told … OK fine, come in.” She pulls the gate open.

“You’re the best, babes.” Themba places a kiss on Ntsiki’s cheek as he passes her.

“Wena undwebile, neh Themba.”

“And wena, Ntsiki? Umhle kakhulu – especially when you pretend you’re angry.”

“Hayi suka. You talk too much nonsense.”

“Fact!”

Ntsiki feels the heat creeping from her neck onto her cheeks as she unlocks the door.

“Molweni,” she and Themba greet in unison as they enter the house.

“Ewe, bantwana bam,” Ntsiki’s grandmother, Mrs Simpala, answers from the lounge.

“Unjani, Gogo?”

“Hayi, kusekuhle. Akukho ngxaki,” Mrs Simpala responds, as Ntsiki kisses her on the cheek. “Maara tjoh, tjoh, tjoh,” she grumbles, looking at Themba with a twinkle in her eyes. “There goes my beauty sleep.”

“Hauw, Makhulu, you don’t need beauty sleep, mos. Look at you – fresh as the first day of spring,” Themba teases her, then places a tender kiss on her cheek and puts his arm across her shoulder, hugging her. “Unjani, young lady?”

“Hayi, mntwana wam,” she says, giggling like a school girl. “Ndiphilile. Wena? Ifemeli yakho?”

“Siphilile, enkosi, Makhulu. Everything is okay. Only, the son is patiently waiting for the love of his life to say ‘yes’ to his proposal,” Themba says and winks at Mrs Simpala.

Mrs Simpala guffaws. “Hayi, never! You are too old for me.”

Ntsiki watches the familiar antics between her grandmother and Themba, and catches him peering at her over her grandmother’s shoulder. Although he always calls her grandmother ‘the love of his life’, she knows he referred to her this time.

* * * * *

At the school gate the next morning, Lilitha stops Ntsiki before she passes. “Hey, Ntsiki.”

“Lilitha.”

“Jonga, there’s something you need to know,” Lilitha says, shuffling her feet.

“And what’s that?”

“It’s Themba. You have to be careful. He–”

“Nkosi yam!” Frustration crinkles Ntsiki’s eyes. “Themba and I are not even back together, and already you’re trying to break us apart.”

“I’m not! I’m trying to warn–”

“I’m not interested in your warnings, Lilitha. Get a hobby or find someone else to obsess about. This is just pathetic.” Ntsiki pivots on her heel and storms off, shaking her head.

***

Tell us: What do you think Lilitha was trying to tell Ntsiki?