Busiso can have any girl he wants in this town, thought Zinhle. Why is he on my case? Maybe I should go to dinner to make it really clear that I can’t see him again. He said he only wanted to get to know me … but what if he wants more?

Then she thought of her ‘Durban Dream’. Living in a flat next to the sea. She thought about the seafood in Durban. It had always been her dream to leave this town.

What if Simphiwe could never give her that? What if he never got a better job; they would never escape. But what if she agreed to go to dinner with Busiso and Simphiwe found out? He had supported her, been her friend and loved her. She couldn’t hurt him.

And what for? Busiso must have other girls in Durban. What was she thinking?

“Is everything OK?” Philip asked. “You look dazed.”

“Everything is fine … I don’t know what I was thinking,” she answered, picking up some menus.

“You have been working so hard this week. I think you need a day off tomorrow. The work is stressing you, I can see, and I don’t need that. The summer has just begun,” said Philip.

“Thank you. I really do need a day off.” Zinhle was grateful. The thought of resting and not having to come in to work helped her to get through the rest of the day.

At five Zinhle was waiting outside the hotel for Simphiwe, after work. She smiled as he came walking up to meet her. And she was relieved that Busiso wasn’t anywhere nearby. Here was the joy of her life, she reminded herself.

“You look nice baby. I missed you. I didn’t see you yesterday,” she said.

“You look mncwaa yourself. I missed you too. I hope everyone has been treating you very well. Let’s take a taxi to your place. I can stay over tonight.”

Zinhle told Simphiwe it was her day off the following day. It was amazing that it was his day off too, so they could finally spend a whole day together. This is what they needed she thought. To spend more quality time together. It would bring them closer. Couples drifted apart if they didn’t make time for each other. That was why she had noticed Busiso, she told herself.

Yes, time together was what they needed. It would be wonderful.

I will forget about everything that Busiso said to me, and how I felt, she told herself. Now I am with the guy who loves me with all his heart. I am willing to give him mine too. My joy is that we will be together tomorrow. We will do something special.

***

Tell us: Do you think couples need to make an effort to keep the romance alive? Even couples who are in love?