I can’t stop thinking about Reneilwe, and how amazing she looked today. She came all the way to the Johannesburg Central police station to see me. I don’t care what she says. Nobody travels that far just to tell a guy who’d only met her once to stay away from her. She has to feel the same way I feel. She just has to. At least she agreed to meet with me. I can’t wait to see her tonight.

When I get to the house I’m greeted by loud music and loud conversation. Zweli and Lebo have some people over. They never pass up the opportunity to drink and have a party.

Zweli is the first to notice me; he and his friends are sitting in a circle on wooden beer crates, with what looks like twenty bottles of beer and a couple of whiskey bottles in the middle. Zweli stumbles to his feet, practically knocking their alcohol over as he makes his way over to me.

“Bafo, you are back! We only expected them to let you out on Monday. How was your night in jail?” he says, slurring his words and steadying himself on my arm so as not to fall over.

“I see my going to jail didn’t ruin your plans, Zweli. Jail was horrible. Why didn’t you help me last night, or come check on me today?” I ask, annoyed.

“We tried to find you, bafo, I swear. By the time we located you they had you loaded in the back of a van. I’m sorry. There wasn’t much we could do. They always let first-time offenders spend the weekend in jail and let them out Monday morning. You got really lucky. They never let people out early,” he says.

“Yeah, well, I still had the worst night ever. I need a drink,” I say.

“Yes, a drink! Someone give this man a beer. Let’s drink, boys!” he says enthusiastically and his friends spring into action. Within seconds I have a drink in my hand and I’m seated on a crate. It’s been a long night and morning and this cold beer is just what I need.

“What exactly happened last night?” Lebo asks. “One minute I’m watching you walking towards us, then you had a girl in your arms and then you disappeared,” he says, eyeing me suspiciously. Does he think I have something to hide, or I let myself get caught on purpose?

“I didn’t want to get arrested, if that’s what you’re suggesting,” I say, hoping this is the end of the discussion. I don’t want to admit to being love-struck in the middle of a police raid.

“Then what happened? How did you get caught?” Zweli chimes in.

“I was distracted and I didn’t notice that the police were there until it was too late,” I say, avoiding eye contact with everyone, because now they are all looking at me expectantly.

“What?! Do you want us to beat it out of you or something?” one of Zweli’s buddies says, after a long silence.

What’s his problem? I don’t even know him and he is all in my business.

“Spit it out, Muzi. What happened? Was it that girl?” Lebo asks, and they all start laughing.

I might as well get it over with. If I don’t tell them they’ll keep asking. I take a large gulp of my beer and tell them all about last night. I even tell them about her showing up at the police station today.

As I’m relating all this, I notice their expressions change. I didn’t expect a standing ovation, but the look of shock on their faces is a bit much.

“What? Why are you all looking at me like that? What did I say?”

“Just to clarify: you kissed Candy? The last performer who sang last night?” Lebo asks.

“Yes, that’s what I said.”

“Then she came to see you today … at the police station?” Zweli asks this time.

“Yes! Why are you all acting so weird? What’s wrong?” I ask anxiously.

“Muzi, that babe is trouble! She comes from a family of ruthless gangsters. Her father was gunned down during some sort of gang war shoot-out ten years ago. Then her brother took over the family business. Bra Cobra, her brother, does it all: from drug dealing to diamond smuggling. He practically runs Sophiatown. All the criminals respect him and everyone else is afraid of him. He owns half the shebeens in this town, Ruby’s being the newest one. Some people say he is worse than his father ever was. He has policemen in his back pocket, so he gets away with anything. He will kill you. Nobody touches his sister. You need to stay away from her.”

Lebo’s words send an ice-cold shiver down my spine. What the hell?

 ***

Tell us: What do you think Muzi should do about Reneilwe?