Lesedi stood at the door, waiting for the students to go into class. It made her feel like a snitch sometimes, making sure that no-one bunked class, but she always comforted herself with the wise words her father had shared with her (when he was not busy overworking himself): ‘Sedi, often being a leader will not be comfortable, but it can be enjoyable.’

“Good afternoon class,” Mr Mooki said, once everyone was seated. He taught maths, Lesedi’s favorite subject. “As you know, the prelims are coming and I need you all to be very prepared. So we will be writing a test in a week’s time. Please, 12 D, I can’t stress this enough: study!”

Tshepo raised his hand.

“Yes Mr Koloane?” Mr Mooki always addressed everyone by their honorific and surname.

“But, Sir, why do we have to study so hard and take so many tests if the prelims only make up twenty-five percent of our final mark?”

Before Mr Mooki could say anything, Tebogo, who sat next to Lesedi answered.

“Because that twenty-five percent might be all you get.”

Everyone laughed.

“If you weren’t sitting next to my woman, I would whack you in the face,” Tshepo said quickly. “But I won’t, because she hates violence.”

“Ohhhhhh!” the class chorused, as they always did after a great punch line.

“Enough. Take out your text books,” Mr Mooki ordered.

“Are you dating him?” Tebogo asked in a whisper. His voice sounded disappointed and Lesedi was surprised.

Tebogo was the brightest boy in their grade. He spent most of his time in the library; he knew something about everything. A typical nerd, Lesedi thought when she had noticed this about him. Such a pity he doesn’t wear glasses to finish off the nerd look.

He never spoke much to Lesedi, so she didn’t know why he was now asking her questions.

She didn’t answer him. She didn’t want to. Besides, he probably knew the answer anyway and her mind was too busy, going through everything that was happening so fast.

“Someone must have seen Tshepo giving me the chocolates at break time, Lesedi thought. I shouldn’t have taken them. What now?”

Soon the after school bell rang. Themba called her name as they were walking out of class. “Lesedi, can we talk?” he asked.

“I’d love to, but my transport is already here. See you tomorrow,” Lesedi said as she ran off. She just wanted to get home and avoid everyone. If she didn’t, they’d all be asking her questions, especially Kitso.

When she got home she found messages on her cellphone. Good thing she hadn’t seen them while she was still at school. There was no fear of that though: her father didn’t allow her to take her phone to school. He said it was a distraction. After her mother passed away, her father started working harder and never had time for her like her mother used to have. And he expected her to work hard too.

“People deal differently with grief, Sedi,” Aunt Mary said when she noticed Lesedi’s concern. Ever so wise, Lesedi thought. I love Aunt Mary, and I’m so grateful to her for her kindness. But she isn’t Mom. Once again Lesedi felt a pang of sorrow, so deep she had to blink back her tears. She just couldn’t stop thinking about her mother today.

She glanced at her phone. One message was from Tshepo and the other was from Themba.

Movies ths w-knd? Love Tshepo

Is it true? R u his woman? Themba

She replied with a ‘Maybe’ to Tshepo and a ‘NO!’ to Themba. Then she put her phone on silent and studied for her maths test. She didn’t want to lose her A status, especially not to Tebogo.

Thinking of him made her wonder again. Why had he sounded disappointed that she might be dating Tshepo? Tebogo hadn’t been in their class long, but he was rapidly making a name for himself as being clever – very clever. He was her biggest competition, definitely the brightest boy in the class. So what?! Lesedi had to show him that she was still boss – the brightest girl. Brighter than Karabo. Brighter than him. Boy or girl, it didn’t matter. She was the brightest maths student!

After a few hours of studying Lesedi decided to check her Facebook. She was met by Kitso’s status.

+ Kitso Diva K Manamela – feeling excited –

Ferrero Rocher vibes #Love things #friendship+

Lesedi blushed as she relived the whole Tshepo moment. It was nice to be spoilt by someone other than her father and her friends. Maybe Tshepo is the one? He declares his love for me everywhere, Lesedi thought.

A knock on her door drew her away from her fantasy. “Come in,” she said.

It was her dad. He noticed Lesedi’s phone and suddenly his face was filled with hurt. Lesedi’s mother had passed away three years earlier in a car crash. She had been speaking on her phone while driving and she hadn’t seen a truck racing towards her. She was killed on the spot. It was another reason her father wouldn’t allow her to take her cellphone to school – he said that it was a distraction from everything. They were not even allowed to have cellphones at the dinner table.

Lesedi and her mother had been best friends. They could talk about anything and nothing all at the same time. They had agreed that Lesedi would start dating when she got to matric; that way her boyfriend could be her date to the farewell dance. But they’d never imagined that Lesedi would have this sort of problem!

Mom would have known which boy is best, Lesedi thought. But now her mom wasn’t there and Lesedi had two boys who liked her and wanted her to be their date for the dance. How was she supposed to choose all on her own?

Her friends were not very experienced. Karabo was just as clueless as her and Kitso believed everything she read in magazines. Everything anyone said seemed to be contradicted at some point, making it all confusing.

“Hi, Princess. Come down, dinner is ready. Then you can tell me all about your day,” her father said.

Aunty Mary had cooked her Monday special: fish, mash, carrots and peas. “Is everything OK, Sedi?” she said after a while, pointing to Lesedi’s untouched food.

“Huh? … Oh yeah. Sorry Auntie Mary. It’s very nice,” Lesedi answered but she was far away, still on thoughts of her mother.

“You know you can talk to me about everything,” her father added. He cleared his throat. “Even ahhh … er … boys.”

“Oh! OK, Dad.” Lesedi tried not to sound shocked. Wow! Maybe Dad has found a new way to deal with things, by talking, Lesedi thought.

“You know, Dad, I might just take you up on that offer,” Lesedi said, managing to let out a chuckle.

*****

The next day Lesedi’s alarm woke her up and she got ready for school – the Divas always arrived early so that they could catch up before class started. Because, once class started, Karabo just wanted to concentrate and Lesedi couldn’t chat with her friends because she was a prefect. Kitso, however, just wanted to blab away, no matter where she was.

Lesedi was always the first to arrive and today she found Themba at their spot.

“So you are a Diva now, Themba?” she said jokingly.

“I wish, but Kitso would probably say that I’m too boring,” Themba replied, also jokingly. “Can we take a walk?” he asked.

“Well, I’m waiting for the Divas. We can just talk here,” Lesedi replied, looking around to see if anyone had seen them together.

“Uhmm, OK. You said you’d get back to me about my proposal when we opened for the new term. That was yesterday. So, what do you say?” Themba spoke politely, almost apologetically.

“Can you please give me more time?” Lesedi said.

Now that it was just the two of them, Themba concentrated on the sound of her voice. And she sounded like an angel, gentle and warm. But before they could talk some more, Kitso and Karabo arrived.

“Hi Sedi, hi Diva T,” Kitso laughed.

“Hi, hi,” Themba mumbled, his shyness exposed. “I’ll see you in class. Bye.” He walked quickly away.

“So, chomi, Themba is the one?” Kitso asked.

“Sedi and Themba under the tree,” she sang.

“K-I-S-S-I-N-G,” Karabo joined in. The girls laughed together at their silliness.

“I haven’t decided yet guys,” Lesedi said, trying to keep a straight face. But she joined in the laughter.

The school yard was filling up and the girls had plenty to laugh about, from new hairstyles to new school pants that looked very funny. The school bell rang and Lesedi left the girls to go and do her prefect duties. When she got back to class she found a single red rose on her desk.

Maybe Themba wanted to give this to me in the morning but my friends disturbed him, she thought. When she turned to thank Themba, her eyes met Tshepo’s.

“I’m glad you love it, sunshine. A rose for my rose,” he said.

When she looked away from Tshepo she saw Themba. He had a disappointed look on his face. Lesedi could feel the blush on her face. She opened her mouth to try to explain to Themba, but her words were choked by the fear of letting everyone know her business. She turned to sit down, not knowing what to do with the rose.

***

Tell us what you think: Should Themba give up now and stop pursuing Lesedi?