Busi went to her room and lay down on her bed.

She was so tired of the teasing and hurtful remarks that the mean girls at school were always making about her. It had felt good to finally know the love of a man. But what if Lunga was really using her. What if she was using him?

She was more like her mother than even her mother knew. All the years spent warning Busi about the dangers of men had paid off. There was a good portion of Busi’s heart that was firmly locked away, and even Lunga had not yet been able to touch it. Perhaps no man ever would.

Busi took out her phone and sent Lunga a message.

It’s been fun, but my mom found out and I don’t need the drama. Schoolwork comes first. Thanks for everything. Busi.

When Lunga received the text he could hardly believe his eyes.

Don’t do this, Busi. I really do love you. You are my songbird. My dream girl. Please give me a chance.

Lunga sent the text and waited for a reply. None came. He sent another text, and another.

He sent a written note with Clint to give to Busi at school. Clint reported back that Busi had simply crumpled it up and thrown it away.

Lunga kept away from Busi’s house because he knew that going there would only make things worse. He waited at the school gate, but Busi ignored him, choosing to get into the taxi with her friends instead. She didn’t even glance his way.

And then one day he stopped. He deleted her name and number from his phone.

He switched off the radio whenever an Adele song played.

Lunga went to work every day and after a couple of weeks he began to notice Josie, one of the waitresses. He noticed her only because she came up behind him, where he stood at the coffee machine, and ran her hand up his back.

“You look so sad these days,” she said softly, leaning her body against him, whispering in his ear.

Lunga turned a little towards her and shrugged. He was only vaguely aware that Josie had been working at the restaurant. It was a large and busy place, with a number of waitrons.

Now he ran his eyes over her. She was smiling at him. A broad, open smile. He noted her straight, perfect teeth and her twinkling, mischievous eyes. He noticed her caramel skin and her short hair. A gold stud shone in her nose, and her work T-shirt fitted snugly over her slender body. Her work apron hung on her curvaceous hips, revealing a strip of smooth skin between her jeans and her top. He glimpsed a silver ring shining in her belly button.

Lunga smiled.

“That’s better,” said Josie, still smiling, “it would be a pity to hide all those good looks under a frown.”

Lunga worked on until the end of his shift that day. Josie brushed passed him closely a few times. She caught his eye as she moved between the tables, grinning at him whenever she saw him looking her way.

Lunga locked up after his shift, as he often did. As he lowered the silver shutters and secured the locks, he became aware of someone emerging out of a nearby doorway. For a moment he was startled. And then he saw that it was Josie.

“You hungry?” she asked, as if it was the most natural question in the world. She was smiling broadly and standing very close.

Lunga nodded, a smile playing around his mouth.

“I guess I am,” he said.

“Well then,” said Josie with a laugh, “You had better come home with me.”

***

us what you think: Do you think Lunga should go home with Josie?