On his way home, Tebogo decided to pass by Dimakatjo’s place. He had to make sure that he too unsubscribed from the MzansiChat website.

But as he walked he agonised over what was happening. Why didn’t I tell her the truth? I was going to – until we started kissing.

He felt guilty as he knocked on Dimakatjo’s door. He wanted to see how his friend was doing. They had always shared everything. But now he couldn’t share this. He wished he could tell Dimakatjo how good he felt when kissing Morongwa, and how happy she made him, but he knew that would be like throwing a spear right through Dimakatjo’s heart.

“Kokokoko!” Tebogo called out as he knocked at the kitchen door.

“Ao! Tebogo ngwanaka (my child). Come in,” Dimakatjo’s mother answered. She was busy baking.

“Thobela, Mma,” he greeted, pulling back a chair.

“Dumela Tebogo, ngwanaka. How is your father?”

“He is fine, Mma.”

“That’s good, my boy. I guess you’re here to see your friend.”

“Yes. Where is he, Mma?”

“He is in his room. He complained about a headache.”

“Ao! Let me go and see him.”

In Dimakatjo’s bedroom, Tebogo found his friend lying on the bed, playing with his PlayStation. Tebogo greeted, but Dimakatjo ignored him.

Eventually he spoke. “What do you want here, Tebza? I think you should leave now.” Tebogo could see that he had been crying. “You got the girl, right? What do you want from me now?”

“Come on, boy. Don’t be like this. Don’t forget that this is all your fault, man. You shouldn’t have used my photo.”

“I’m sorry for using your photo. But I already paid for that. You took my girl, right?”

Tebogo paused for a second. “Tell me, bro…” he began, and it felt like there was a lump in his throat when he swallowed. “Do you still think it’s wise to chat on that website with Morongwa? I mean–”

“You mean she is yours now?” Tears welled in Dimakatjo’s eyes. “Don’t worry. I won’t chat to her. She is all yours. Take her. Anyway, I was just dreaming about the impossible. No girl will love a thing like me. I mean … I’m nothing but a useless boy living with albinism. No girl will want to be with me, anyway. Just take her. I don’t care,” he continued, trying hard to hide the tears in his eyes.

“Come on, boy. Don’t talk like that. You know I don’t care about you being an albino or not. You’re my best friend. We grew up together, man. We can’t let a girl get between us.”

“Ya, ne … it means all those romantic chats that I had with her are over.” Tears rolled down Dimakatjo’s cheeks. “You know, I used to feel like I’m somebody when I was chatting to that girl. I felt like I was loved,” he said, then paused, wiping off the tears with the back of his hand. “That’s why I sent her your photo when she asked me to send mine. I was afraid that she would stop chatting to me if she knew I was an albino. I just enjoyed chatting to her.”

“I understand, man. I wish this wasn’t happening. Really.”

Dimakatjo’s words lodged like a thorn in Tebogo’s heart. All his life he had been trying hard to make people treat Dimakatjo as normal. He had never taken advantage of Dimakatjo’s albinism before – until Morongwa entered his life. Part of him wished he had never met Morongwa.

In his heart Tebogo knew more trouble was on the way. His mind told him to stop dating Morongwa, but his heart told him otherwise.

***

Tell us what you think: What should Tebogo do?