Sphiwe and Khethiwe fall deeply in love. Sphiwe spends most nights and days at a time at Khethiwe’s flat. Theirs is a whirlwind romance.

“I’ve been waiting all my life for someone like you. Where have you been all this time?” says Khethiwe, looking at Sphiwe with love-struck eyes.

“I’m sorry for arriving this late into your life, my love. Love happens in its own time. Now is your time to be happy. I’ll care for you the way you deserve to be taken care of,” Sphiwe kisses her on the forehead.

“I’ll love you and respect you. I’ll take care of you because you take care of me,” says Khethiwe. “I’ve never been in love like this before. I never knew how wonderful it is to be truly loved. Thank you, my love.”

“I see a future with you, Khethiwe. A bright future full of love.”

“I want to grow old with you.”

“A beauty as natural as you will never grow old,” says Sphiwe.

Khethiwe looks at Sphiwe. There are stars in her eyes and joy in her heart.

***

Nonhle is waiting for Sphiwe at Gateway Shopping Mall. She is pacing about the parking lot, anxiety strangling her face. Sphiwe is late. When he eventually arrives he is walking leisurely and smiling, which angers Nonhle even more.

“Why do I get the feeling that you have fallen in love with Khethiwe? Just look at you! You are smiling and really in love with her now, aren’t you?”

“That’s not true, cousin,” says Sphiwe evading Nonhle’s direct stare.

“Have you forgotten that you have a job to do, cousin?” Nonhle searches for his eyes.

“How can I forget that? I’m not a child, Nonhle. I know exactly what I need to do. I’m acting this way because I don’t want Khethiwe to suspect anything. If she gets suspicious I won’t be able to execute the plan.”

“Good then.”

“Trust me, cousin. I won’t let you down.”

“How far is she with the project?”

“She told me she is almost done.”

“That’s good. Now listen, we are presenting our findings on Friday. I know she will be working late on Thursday putting finishing touches on the project. You need to wake up after she has gone to sleep and erase all the work on her laptop. Are we clear?”

Sphiwe hesitates to answer.

“Are we clear, Sphiwe? You owe me! I have bailed you out of jail four times! I paid detectives to make your cases go away!”

“I know, Nonhle. I won’t let you down.”

Khethiwe slaves away on the work project and goes to sleep late most nights that week. She can just imagine herself on the white sandy beaches of the Seychelles after getting the promotion. She arrives from work on Thursday afternoon to find Sphiwe cooking supper.

“I thought I should cook supper today because I know you won’t have time to cook. I know you will be working until late today putting the final touches to your project,” says Sphiwe.

“Thank you, my love. You are the most considerate man I have ever met.”

“I’ll run you a bath. After you finish bathing I’ll dish up for you and you can carry on with your work,” says Sphiwe.

Khethiwe hugs him and says, “You are God sent.”

Khethiwe works late into the night. Sphiwe pretends he is asleep as she finally comes to bed at 1:37 am. As soon as he hears that she is asleep he tiptoes out of bed. He gets to her desk and opens her laptop.

Tell us: The stage is set for Sphiwe to betray Khethiwe. Do you think he is going to go ahead with it? Why or why not?