Sinovuyo was waiting for the librarian when she saw Bulelani sitting at a desk behind her. He was reading a thick textbook attentively. It was so unlike him. She hadn’t ever seen him in the library before. He got other people to get books for him. But here he was. Maybe Nosiphiwo was reforming him – or maybe he was acting like a nerd to score girls who were ‘bookworms’. He had already left a trail of broken hearts behind. People like him didn’t just change. He was still as sexy as ever though. But he had hurt her friend.

She walked to where he was sitting and stood in front of him. He did not lift up his head to look at her. Instead, he underlined a phrase in the textbook.

“Bulelani, how dare you treat my friend like trash,” she asked as she hit the desk next to his book, making him look up. He signalled her to lower her voice but she continued, “Who do you think you are?”

Bulelani stood up. “Let’s be adults and talk outside, please.” He left the textbook open on the desk and walked out. She followed him.

“And now?” She folded her arms across her chest and looked at Bulelani with eyes that demanded an immediate answer. She was confident, however, that nothing that came out of his mouth would give her adequate reasons as to why he treated Nosiphiwo so unfairly.

She had seen by the look on her face when they spoke that Nosiphiwo had fallen for him – and she did not blame her friend. He was charming and sexy. In spite of his behaviour he was such a catch. He did well in class, despite his womanising, and he would make a lot of money one day soon.

“Why are you being like this, Sino?” Bulelani asked.

“This is not about me. This is about you and Nono, bhuti.”

Bulelani pulled her to the other side of the corridor where there were fewer students passing by. “You know what I am talking about. Have you forgotten what happened at that party before all this trouble started? Have you forgotten how you got me a drink, and what I said to you? What I told you?”

“And you say those words to all the girls. I was not the first, or last Bulelani. Not even that night.”

“You were my first choice, Sino. I only went to Nosiphiwo to make you jealous. But then you were gone and … I didn’t mean to sleep with your friend,” he said to Sinovuyo who now had her eyes wide open.

“What do you take me for, bhuti? I am not a fool. I know who you are and what you do.”

“I am not taking you for a fool, Sino. Trust me, I have not felt this way about someone in a long time,” Bulelani said.

Sino looked at him and realised that he was telling the truth, and it made her heart thud in her chest.

“No, Bulelani. It is too late now. My friend loves you and I don’t know why you don’t see that. Just treat her right, that’s all I ask from you.”

“Don’t tell me you don’t feel anything for me. Come on Sino, you know ndaziwa ndiyi player but when was the last time you heard about me being involved with someone else other than Nosiphiwo? Since that party I have only thought of you, but I have done the right thing by Nosiphiwo’s family.”

“There is nothing between me and you. I am just concerned about my friend. That’s all,” Sino said, looking away.

“Nosiphiwo was a mistake. A mistake I will regret for the rest of my life. I love you, Sino. Don’t you feel anything for me?”

“I did feel something for you, and maybe I still do, but I can’t see my friend get hurt. I even spread rumours that you guys were dating, believing that my feelings for you would disappear once I put it into my head that you and Nono were a couple. So please Buja, let this go. I can’t betray my friend.”

“But she doesn’t have to know …”

“What do you mean? I am dating uVuyo mna. Beside, you are getting married soon so you better focus on making Nono happy,” she said.

“Who’s Vuyo? The receptionist dude?” Bulelani asked with disbelief. “No maan Sino, you deserve better. In fact, we deserve better. This is not fair on us, we can’t sacrifice our happiness to make other people happy,” he said, leaning close to her.

She stood still and looked at him, dumbstruck. She felt his lip touching hers. And involuntarily, she responded.

“So what now, Buja?” she asked, feeling defeated. “What is it that we are doing? Am I your side dish?”

“No, baby. Don’t put it that way. What my heart feels about you is genuine. You are my love, Sino, and Nosiphiwo is the mistake I made.”

Just then one of Bulelani’s friends came past and greeted him.

“I’ll call you,” said Bulelani. “I still have your number on speed dial, you know,” he called back to Sino as he went with his friend.

***

Tell us what you think: Will Sino be able to resist Bulelani?