“Gosh! I Barely slept yesterday.” Cleo hugged Hazel during break time on their school corridors. Eyes were on them. Hazel gained confidence. She had terrible years in Sobahle high.
She coughed. “Look at the naysayers,” Hazel said while pointing her bullies. “Mbali and her friends would always force me to do their homework.”
He paused. “No Hazel!”
“Yes, they gave me a hard time, nonetheless, now you came as my strength.”
“Yeah-”
Then a loud voice distracted them.
“Hey nina! It looks like today we have a new couple! Namhla senz’ umlando!” Bafana held a Bluetooth speaker.
“Oh yes boy! Me and my Hazel are the new couple!” Cleo announced.
“Eh! This calls a celebration!”
“Dude! You can say that again.”
Bafana turned on his Bluetooth speaker and played uMlando by Toss. All pupils went crazy. Teachers got out of their staffroom – that’s what happens when the strict principal left to a meeting, plus, it was a Friday, they all had to refresh their minds.
TWO HOURS LATER
“Yeah neh! I enjoyed this day! A new happy girl is coming out of me!” Hazel giggled.
“Look at you, my beautiful coffee light tiny thing.
They had their conversation under uMganu tree – inside the school premises. The shadow of the tree became their every school day dating spot. The sound of the tree sang peacefully for them, and danced side to side, enjoying the melody that was created by the air.
“How about you coming to my house today? My parents will be happy to see my girl.”
“Ha! You should come to my house first, grandma want to see you.”
“Wow! She knows me? Already!”
“Babe, come on, I told her.”
“Cool then, you come to my house first, and then later we go to my future granny-in-law.”
“Sounds like a plan.”
Since it was Friday. Their lessons were curt short, hence they left school early.
***
“Babe?” Mr Makhathini called his wife, entering their house with Hazel. “I brought our daughter-in-law.”
Mrs Makhathini smiled. “Come dear, let me show you a place to sit. Where’s Cleo?”
“Uh…Uhm…he went to the loo,” Hazel replied.
Mrs Makhathini hugged her. She took her from the kitchen and they went to the sitting room. Hazel introduced herself. They had a loving conversation. Voices of their laughter echoed on the walls of the Makhathini house. Mr Makhathini prepared food for them; Pap, beef and coleslaw.
A while later, Cleo took his lover and they went to his blue room, his room had a cake like decorated ceiling, and they shared every action of love.
“We spent almost two hours together, I think it’s time we go home, hopefully, you’re longing to see my grandmother.”
Cleo kissed Hazel’s forehead, then unzipped his school bag and took his wallet, he took R200 notes. Hazel went to Cleo’s parents to say good-bye, and then they both headed to the taxi rank.
***
“Oh! Is this the boy you told me about?” maVilakazi asked with a big delighted smile on her face. Hazel took chairs inside the house for them to sit outside, their house didn’t have enough space. They talked and laughed until dusk.
THREE MONTHS LATER
In school, Hazel ate from Cleo’s pocket. Gosh! Her body started changing. She became a hover. Cleo’s heart slightly drifted away. Oh no! Once again, hell dragged Hazel with her firm grip, and that time, she was very hard on her.
***
