“Dumelang,” Morongwa greeted them, standing with her arms folded across her chest. But it was Tebogo she was staring at. He felt his body freeze when he heard her voice.

“Hello!” Dimakatjo said, loudly. Tebogo had forgotten how to speak.

Tebogo turned his face slowly and met Morongwa’s eyes. He felt every drop of blood in his veins pumping through him. “You …,” he said, and then paused, not knowing what else to say.

“Yes, me. May I speak to you after school?” Morongwa said with a smile. She looked at him like she already knew all his secrets.

“Of course,” Tebogo answered quickly.

“Thank you. It was nice meeting you – in person,” she emphasized, as she turned and sauntered away. The two boys stared at her until she disappeared around the corner of the classroom block.

“In person? Have the girls been spreading rumours about me already?” Tebogo turned to his friend. “What have they been saying? It can’t be good.”

“Perhaps they were pointing out that you are one of the handsomest boys in the school. That you are also too shy to speak to girls.”

“She wants to see me after school. Me, Tebogo. Yes!” Tebogo punched the air with his fist.

Dimakatjo looked worried.

“Ao, bro. What’s wrong now? Aren’t you happy for me, bro?”

Dimakatjo didn’t say a word. He scuffed the dirt with one foot.

“Dimakatjo, what’s wrong monna? Don’t tell me you’re jealous, boy,” Tebogo said with a smile, nudging Dimakatjo on the shoulder with a fist. “You also have the love of your life. Remember? The girl you always irritate me with – from the dating site. Don’t tell me you forgot about her already, man.”

“Eish! That’s the problem, man. I think we must talk, bro.”

“Is there a problem?”

“I know this girl, man,” Dimakatjo started, looking up and then away again.

“Which girl? Morongwa?” Tebogo couldn’t keep the shock out of his voice.

“I also know why she wants to talk to you after school.”

“What! But how?”

“Because she is the same girl I was telling you about. The girl I always chat with on the internet.”

Tebogo froze. “But … how?”

“She has never met me in person. This was the first time and …”

“But why didn’t she recognise you? Why did she ignore you and speak to me?”

“She told me she was changing schools. She said she had a big surprise for me but I never thought …”

“I don’t understand. I don’t believe you. Why…”

“I’m telling you, man. It’s just that I left my phone at home. Otherwise I would have shown you the pic of her.”

“No … no … no,” Tebogo shook his head, confused. “OK! If she is your girl … why doesn’t she want to see you after school, rather than me? This doesn’t make sense. Why did she not even greet you?”

“That’s what I want us to speak about, bro. Please … forgive me. I had no choice. I was forced to.”

“Forced to do what, man? Why do you look so worried?”

“Just promise me that you won’t end our friendship over this, man. You’re more like a brother to me than a friend, Tebza. You know that, right?”

“What’s that got to do with anything? Just tell me what you did!”

“I … I … I sent her your picture.” He paused, staring at Tebogo’s frowning, then horrified, face. “I’m sorry, man. I know I should have asked you first. But you know. I mean look at me. I’m not as good looking as you. Not by a long way. She asked for my picture and I just couldn’t send her mine. I didn’t want to lose her, bro. I enjoy chatting to that girl on the internet.”

Tebogo staggered back and sat on a rock, his face buried in his hands. “Now I understand why she came straight up to me, like she knew me.”

“I’m sorry, man. She thinks you’re me.”

“You gave my photo to a stranger, without my permission? But why Dimakatjo? How could you do that?”

The bell rang as he said those words. He glared at Dimakatjo and shook his head, fuming. Tebogo could hardly believe what Dimakatjo had told him. How could he now date his friend’s girl? Morongwa was only interested in him, Tebogo, because she thought he was Dimakatjo.

He remembered Dimakatjo telling him how Morongwa enjoyed his jokes and his wit on the internet. Tebogo felt his heart harden with both jealousy and anger. Would he have to choose between the two – his friendship with Dimakatjo, or being with the girl of his dreams?

***

Tell us what you think: Do you blame Dimakatjo for hiding his true identity? Have you ever ‘put on’ a false identity when on the internet?