“How could you, Tebogo? If you had told me, I would have understood. But you made me act like a fool. Throwing myself on you,” she said, tears rolling down her cheeks.

“I was going to tell you now, babe. Please believe me.”

“That’s true, Morongwa. He wa–”

“Hei! Hei! Wena shut up! Who do you think you are? You lied to me!” Morongwa snapped at Dimakatjo. “Do you think I’m that cheap? Me – Morongwa – dating a thing like you?” Disgust was written all over her face.

Stone burst out with laughter, like a mad person.

“What are you staring at? Get lost! You disgust me!” she shouted at Dimakatjo.

Tebogo watched Dimakatjo as he turned and left them. He knew his friend was fighting back tears. He could not believe the girl he first thought was an angel had just treated his friend like that.

“You have really disappointed me, Tebogo. Really,” she snapped and she turned and left the classroom, fuming.

Tebogo headed straight to Dimakatjo’s classroom and found him sitting at his desk, crying.

“Don’t worry about what she said, Dimza. She is just angry. She didn’t mean that, bro.” The siren interrupted him. Tebogo ran back to his classroom.

Even though he tried very hard to concentrate, Tebogo’s mind wasn’t in the class. He kept on thinking about Morongwa. When he remembered how they had kissed so tenderly he felt sick, not believing that it could be their last. His heart ached.

Finally, the siren wailed for school out. He packed his books and followed Morongwa. She couldn’t mean what she said about Dimakatjo, she was just mad, betrayed, he told himself. She was sweet and kind and …

“Please babe, understand my reasons. I was also shocked when Dimakatjo told me about the photo. Please forgive me,” he begged, holding her arm.

Morongwa stole a look at him from the corner of her eyes. She sighed deeply. “OK. I’ve thought about all this. I forgive you because I love you.” She paused, her face glowing with anger. “But promise me you’ll never lie to me again. Never!”

“Yes! I promise you, babe. I won’t … it was just a mistake,” he said.

“As for that … thing … you call a friend,” she continued, shaking her head. “I’ll deal with him. I forgive you, not him. And, I forgive you on one condition,” she said, her arms folded.

Tebogo suddenly felt a twist in his stomach.

“Promise me that you will never hang around that pink boy. I don’t want to see him anywhere near me. I can’t believe he thought I would be his girlfriend. Me – Morongwa – with an albino. Jeer,” she sneered, and shivered at the thought.

Tebogo thought he was dreaming. He could not believe that Morongwa meant every word she had said to Dimakatjo earlier. She wanted him to stay away from Dimakatjo. How could he do that? Dimakatjo was the only boy that he could trust. What should he do?

“Just look at him. Disgusting!” Morongwa said, as Dimakatjo passed them. “It’s your choice, Tebogo. It’s either him or me. You can’t be with the both of us. I hate him,” Morongwa said, making it clear that Dimakatjo heard her. “I still can’t believe that I told such a person all my problems, you know! Nxa!”

“But–”

“No, Tebogo. There is no ‘but’ here. If you love me you’ll stay away from him.”

“He was just desperate. You don’t know how girls treat him,” Tebogo begged, knowing that he shouldn’t be pleading like this.

“I don’t care, Tebogo. Case closed. It’s your choice.”

Once again, Tebogo was trapped between friendship and love. He needed to make a decision. He needed to listen to his heart.

“Just call me when you have made your choice, Tebogo. I really meant what I said. You have to choose between me and him. I don’t want him near me,” Morongwa pressured Tebogo, as they parted. She didn’t even give him a goodbye kiss or hug.

***

Tell us: How does it make you feel, reading the vicious words of Morongwa towards Dimakatjo?