Thembi notices that Siya is missing at their next practise session. Her heart sinks. After they finish she decides to go and find him. She is surprised when she sees Siya standing with a group of boys. “Hi Siya, can I please have a word with you,” she calls to him.

“Ola, boy, so you finally have a girlfriend,” someone shouts after him. Siya ignores him and slowly walks towards Thembi.

“I thought you left school already, since you didn’t show up for practice.”

“Eish, I didn’t feel like joining you guys today.”

“Why not Siya?” says Thembi, looking at him with compassion. Then she continues gently, “Is it because of what happened on Saturday? It was your first time to be in a competitive debate; what happened to you could happen to anyone who is debating for the first time. I feel you – but the trick is to never give up, and keep working on it until you are as good as Sipho. Do you want to debate?”

Siya hesitates before answering: “I don’t need debating. I am fine the way I am!”

Thembi senses the anger in Siya. “I mean, you can be as good as you want to be. You just need to find your voice,” she encourages. “Mrs Mthembu wants to help you. She sees you have some of the best points written down. They are good arguments. I am also here for you whenever you need my support. We all want you to come back.”

Siya looks away, “Will your boyfriend be okay with that?”

“Don’t be silly. If you are referring to Sipho, he is not my boyfriend…”

Siya looks at Thembi. Her eyes flicker away from his as if she is trying to hide her feelings.

He walks back to the boys, leaving Thembi wondering. She knows why she likes Sipho: he is handsome and confident. But there is just something about Siya – he may not speak much but his eyes sparkle with intelligence and laughter.

* * * * *

Siya is not sure whether Thembi is being supportive or is just feeling sorry for him.

“Trouble in paradise?” Sizwe asks when Siya gets back to the boys. He receives no response. He decides to talk to Siya on their way home.

“I have to be honest boy, Thembi is hot. I almost joined that debate thing just for her. If I wanted a chance with her I would also be stressed like you. By the way, how did you do it? She obviously wants to spend time with you, or she wouldn’t speak to you at break.”

“I am not dating her, bra. She was just asking me to return to the debating club.”

“Why not? I could see by the way she was looking at you, she likes you.”

“Because she’s interested in someone else.”

“So what? Boy! What are the chances of finding someone who is single?  Most of us have to steal one. Umntu uthathwa emntwini baba!”

“That attitude. Eish, it’s not good!” Another boy has joined them and shakes his head at Sizwe.

“But seriously?” Sizwe ignores him.

“You don’t understand, bra. The guy, his name is Sipho. I don’t stand a chance against him. You should see how he debates. He’s so confident and–”

“So practice,” says Sizwe “It’s the only way you’ll get good.”

“Yeah, practice and then take him down with your secret weapon.”

“And what’s that?”

“Your words. Let them be like a spear!”

“But–”

“Isn’t Mrs Mthembu always saying you are the best at her essays? You just need to speak up.”

“The guy was flawless, speaking with confidence and Thembi was smiling all the time. They met and talked after the debate and exchanged numbers.”

“Then man up! Fight for her. You are the smartest among us, you know that. Practice twice as hard as your enemy. Stand in front of the mirror practising if you have to. Record yourself. Watch YouTube videos of the best speakers in the world…”

Siya gets home, with Sizwe’s words playing on repeat in his head. He does well in English but his oral marks pull him down. He remembers how he once entered a poetry competition – but withdrew when he learnt that he had made it to the top five and he needed to perform his poem live on stage.

But Sizwe was right, he had to try. For once he would not give up – there was something new at stake: his heart.

***

Tell us: Can love make us break out of habitual ways of thinking about ourselves? Have you ever done something new and brave for love?