“See you later, dude,” Josh said to Mandla, as they wrapped up a successful recording session. It’d gone very well.

It was mid-evening, drizzly. Mandla rushed out of the studio for a hot date he had.

They’d just recorded the romantic song, speedily, in only three takes. Love You Forever was the title of Josh’s hip-hop ballad. The beat comprised mainly piano and drums. Josh found his inspiration in memories of his relationship with Bianca – when they’d just started dating. They’d been love struck, unable to keep their hands off each other. Josh went back to that blissful time, rhyming about it.

As he sat in the studio, playing the track again, he pulled his cellphone out. Bianca hadn’t responded to any of his previous texts, and now she wasn’t answering his call either. He sent another text:

Babe, pls call me. I’m sorry. I was upset

yesterday. I saw u with another dude

and I lost it. It’s normal, it’s coz I luv u.

Anywayz I wished u would’ve come to the

studio today. I recorded a song 4 u. Call me bac pls.

He grabbed the studio keys and left, but not before locking up the front door and security gate. If there was one thing Josh valued, it was his music. He often wondered which he’d pick, if it came down to choosing between his first loves: music, or Bianca?

As he walked around the swimming pool and back into the mansion, an SMS alert sounded.

It was Bianca. He felt instant joy and relief as he read:

Sory I couldn’t cum to the recording.

I’m feeling kinda sick. I’ll see you in a

couple of dayz. I’ve come down with

a bad case of flu. Don’t wanna spread

it to u. I’d love to hear the song. Send it

2 me when you’re done. See u in a couple of dayz.

Josh read and then re-read her text, his mood changing. Why was she adamant that he stay away, he wondered, annoyed now. He wasn’t buying it.

He quickly grabbed his car keys from the kitchen key hanger, and got into his car. Something smelled fishy.

Another smell that lurked was that of custard and cinnamon. He’d forgotten Bianca’s cakes inside his car. He’d throw them away somewhere, he thought, needing answers. He sped out of the yard, deeply irritated.

Mandla’s words popped up in his head: ‘Leave the chick. Let her do the stupid abortion. Break ties with her. She’s a lying gold digger.’

The words offended Josh. Regardless of whether the advice was accurate or not, they stung. Mandla was out of order, he felt.

He drove speedily down the highway, not slowing down for the heavy rain. All he wanted to do was to make it up to his beautiful girlfriend, and sort everything out. He still had hopes that they might together … maybe … agree to keep the child.

As he made a turn into Bianca’s neighbourhood, he spotted the same car as yesterday’s – Adrian’s. A wave of rage hit Josh. He pulled his car to a screeching stop, before they could see him. He reversed a little, to watch. They were inside his car, this time around, chatting.

Josh couldn’t believe it as he breathed in and out deeply, trying to compose himself. I warned this guy. I warned him, repeatedly, he thought.

In his boot was a wheel spanner, he remembered. He opened the boot from inside. “This bastard is going down,” Josh said out loud, plotting war.

But as he was about to step out, he realised Bianca was getting out of Adrian’s convertible. She ran through the rain, back inside her house.

Josh watched. Adrian drove off. Josh sat back. Every cell in his body told him to confront Bianca about it, but then again, he’d specifically warned Adrian. This was blatant disrespect from him, and he wasn’t having it.

Josh quickly jumped out of his car and got the wheel spanner out of the boot. He slammed his door and took off, sped up, following Adrian.

He had to settle this once and for all.

***

Tell us what you think: Does ‘disrespectful’ Adrian deserve to be beaten up?