“uWandile is into you,” says Khanyi, rolling up her shirt sleeves as they leave the school grounds and start to walk to the taxis. “Did you see how he was looking at you when Sanele was teasing Nhlahla?”

“I don’t care. He’s friends with Sanele. I don’t want to talk to anyone connected to Sanele.”

“Everyone knows Sanele is an idiot. I’m sure even Nhlahla knows that. Why did you get involved in that?” Khanyi gives Ntombi an inquisitive look.

“I just wanna get home, watch Steve Harvey and sleep. Sanele will get what’s coming to him. I don’t wanna think about him. What goes around comes around.”

“I know he’s annoying, chommie. What he was saying didn’t even make sense.”

Ntombi doesn’t say anything. Khanyi is not discouraged. She keeps talking. “He’s the real moffie. I know jealousy when I see it. He only called your brother a moffie because he’s jealous. Your brother is older and cuter. Sanele wants me and he knows I only want guys like your brother.” Ntombi is overcome with relief. Just like she was relieved when Wandile stopped Sanele from telling everyone the truth.

“Let’s talk about something else. Tell me about Vuyani. You said he’s cute. How old is he? Which club were you at?”

“He’s cute. He was with me the whole night. We were dancing like crazy people. He got me into two clubs. The security guys didn’t wanna let me in. They said I was too young.”

Khanyi’s stories are always exciting. But this time Ntombi can’t join in. So what if she went wild in Long Street? Why is it okay for her to go wild, but when Ntsika does the same thing Sanele makes fun of him? Why?

Ntombi sees a silver-grey VW Polo coming towards them. It’s Bathandwa. The car stops in front of them. Bathandwa doesn’t look at Ntombi as he gets out, not until he is standing right in front of her and Khanyi. Then he reaches out to her and pulls her close until he’s holding her tight against him. Ntombi can sense something, an uneasiness in the way he’s holding her, looking at her. Khanyi can sense it too. After greeting Bathandwa and hurriedly saying her goodbyes to Ntombi, Khanyi leaves. Now it’s just Bathandwa and Ntombi.

“Let’s get into the car. There’s something I have to tell you.” The sickening feeling she had earlier comes back, crashing against her like a powerful wave. She gets into the car. It’s not the first time this is happening. You know what this is.

Bathandwa hesitates, gripping the steering wheel. “You know I always try to be honest with you. Some people would say I shouldn’t tell you certain things, that you’re too young. But the way you handle them, it makes me proud.”

“What happened to Bhuti? Where is he?”

“Ntsika makes things difficult for us. I was with him in town. It was the night before I saw you, before I packed my things. He wanted to go fetch something at the bar. It wasn’t even his shift. He didn’t need to be there. But we ended up staying. It’s like those two idiots knew he was going to be there.”

“What happened? Which two idiots? Did he go somewhere with them?”

“He went out of the bar with them, left me behind. Later I got a message on Facebook from a guy named Luvo. He said Ntsika is his boyfriend, that I must leave him. That’s why I came to take my stuff, to leave him. I was angry.”

“Why did you come back now? Tell me, Bhuti, what happened?”

“Ntsika has disappeared. I don’t know where he is, nor does his work. His phone is off. Nawe, you know, his phone is never off.” Ntombi doesn’t react. But she can’t deny it. Ntsika’s phone is never off. She wants to get out of the car and walk away from this conversation. But she can’t.

“The two he left with are the ones taking him to those stupid parties he keeps going to. I think they are the ones who got him hooked on coke two years ago. Nothing ever goes right when he’s with them.”

“Why don’t I know about that? When was Bhuti using cocaine?” Ntombi is shocked.

“Your mom decided not to tell you. I couldn’t go against what she said, especially after she died.”

“I’m not a child. I would have been fine, knowing Bhuti wasn’t in a ‘special hospital’ like you and Mom said. You should’ve told me it was rehab.”

Bathandwa is looking at her like he can see right inside to the pain. Ntombi can’t hold the tears in. Everything erupts inside her: Mama. Ntsika. Bathandwa. Bathandwa takes her hand and squeezes it between his palms. “I won’t leave you. Ndim nawe ngok – it’s you and I now.”

***

Tell us: What do you think Khanyi would do if she knew the truth about Ntsika?