That day, the first day I saw him, had started with a problem.

“I love X-man too, but there’s no ways I can find R200 for the ticket,” I said. “I just don’t see us getting to that show.”

“We’ve got to go, Lily! I’ll die if I don’t,” said Karabo, my best friend in the world. She’s occasionally a drama queen. She plopped a spoonful of beef stew on top of the pap already there and wrapped the foam tray with plastic. She headed to the front of the shop – Go Monate Takeaway – where we both work. I followed her.

Karabo handed the wrapped meal to the woman waiting and turned to me. “Maybe you can borrow some money from your sister.”

“You know Mmakola. A show is not a serious enough thing for her to give me R200. I don’t see us going.”

I leaned on the counter looking out at busy downtown Cape Town. The takeaway was slow at that time of day, mid-afternoon. I thought about taking out my studies. I needed to finish my drawing for my presentation coming up in two weeks, but I didn’t feel like it.

I love architecture, but I also love music and needed to find a way for me and Karabo to go to the X-man show at the Convention Centre on Saturday. Both of us love X-man, all sexy with his signature long leather jacket and wild footwear. He was such a dynamic musician too. He rapped, he sang. He did crossover from jazz, to blues, to reggae to hip-hop. He played piano and trumpet. He was so exciting and I knew the show was going to be fab.

“What about Oteng? He’s working now; can’t he give you some money?” I suggested. Oteng was the father to Karabo’s son Bobo. They weren’t together anymore, but he still helped her out here and there. I know him; we all grew up together in Kuruman. He’s OK, just not responsible enough to be a real father or a husband. A good time boy.

“Oteng? You must be getting desperate now,” Karabo said and we both laughed. It was true, Oteng having R400? Not likely. Especially R400 that he would be willing to part with.

We both leaned on the counter, looking out at the people passing, feeling depressed about our money-less situation.

Just then I spotted a guy across the street. I tried my best to stay out of relationships; I had a No Man Policy. My architecture programme at the University of Cape Town was tough and I needed to keep my grades up to keep my scholarship – without it I’d have no chance of going to university. Between my course and my part-time job at Go Monate, I didn’t have time for the drama of a relationship.

But that guy across the street might change my mind. Ooh-la-la!

He was tall and thin, but not too thin. Muscles where he needed them, just like I liked. He looked smart in his black jeans, black T-shirt, and brown suit jacket. I suspected he was a professional of some sort, but not in a conservative profession, not a lawyer or an accountant. Maybe in marketing or publishing? Maybe a graphic designer? He wore funky glasses with red frames. I think that’s what caught my eye, that incidental splash of colour. I’m a fan of colour. That day I was wearing my rainbow head scarf, purple T-shirt, red jeans and pink Converse. Like I said – I like colour.

“Do you see what I see?” Karabo asked.

“Guy across the street … oops! … I mean … guy heading our way!”

I took a quick look at my reflection in the shiny surface of the hood over the heat lamp, and Karabo adjusted her push-up bra to get maximum effect.

The man opened the door and my first thought was: he’s out of my league. My second thought was: why should he be out of my league? Who said there are even leagues to be out of?

And by then he was standing in front of me, waiting for me to say something.

“Can I help you?” I finally got out.

“I’m dying for some chicken livers. Any chance you sell them?”

He had beautiful eyes under those glasses, and the smoothest skin. And his lips… While I was lost in the perfectness of his lips, Karabo stepped in to save me.

“Sure, we have chicken livers. Would you like anything else with that?”

He was looking up at the menu board above our heads. “How about some chips and a Coke?”

Karabo rang up the order and took his money then disappeared to the back to get his food. I realised that I’d been staring at him the entire time.

“Are you OK?” he asked. And then he smiled and I very nearly brought my hand up to my heart, which was beating far too fast. Could I have a heart attack because of a beautiful smile?

“I’m fine … I … you … ah…” I realised there was nothing I could do to save myself and grabbed up a cloth and started wiping the counter as if I’d not spoken at all.

“What’s your name?” he asked.

“Name? Me?”

“Yes.” He laughed. “I hope I’m not being too forward. It’s just, I like your shoes.”

I looked down at my shoes. “I’m Lily … that’s my name.”

“Hi Lily That’s My Name. How’s it working here at the takeaway? Do you like it?”

“Sure, it’s OK.”

“I don’t take you for a woman who spent her childhood dreaming about working in a takeaway.”

“I also go to school … er … university. Architecture…”

“OK, that seems more like what I’d expect from a woman wearing pink shoes and named ‘Lily That’s My Name’.”

He smiled again and I smiled back. He was not only handsome but funny – a deadly combination in my book. I needed to get away from this one.

“So, Lily That’s My Name…”

“Just Lily,” I said.

“OK, Just Lily, I’m not from here, only in town for a few days. Any chance Just Lily might have a spare moment to give a poor traveller a tour of your fine city?”

I laughed. “Maybe. But I don’t even know your name.”

“Xavier.”

“OK Xavier. I might have a few hours to spare … tomorrow.”

Xavier took out his phone and typed in my number and name. “I’ll call you tonight, if that’s OK. Or will your boyfriend be jealous?”

“No. I mean … he won’t be jealous because there’s no boyfriend.”

“A beautiful girl like you without a boyfriend? What is wrong with these Cape Town guys?”

“It’s me. I don’t have time for anything serious.”

“I get that.”

Karabo appeared with Xavier’s food and just as he took it from her an older man burst through the door.

“Where have you been? I’ve been looking all over for you?” he scolded.

“Chill TT,” Xavier said. “I’m here. I just needed some food.”

“I could have sent someone. We need you that side. You can’t just disappear.”

Xavier smiled back at me. “I’ll speak to you tonight.”

He followed the hassled man out of the door.

Was I about to throw my No Man Policy out the window? It seemed like I might be.

***

Tell us what you think: Is it possible to be a student at university, have a part-time job, and still have a relationship? Or is it better for Lily to stick to her No Man Policy?