Insert 9

Zee:

After assembly I quickly ran to the toilet, after I was done with my lady business I decided to call my mom. Over the phone: Mom: “Zara…” Me:” Hi mom, just wanted to check if you’re okay?” Mom:” I’m fine honey, why would you think I’m not okay?” Me:” Uhm… it’s just that last night and this morning you were rather distant.” Mom:” Oh… honey I’m sorry, I didn’t even realize I was lost in my thoughts. I'm okay, don’t worry.” She smiled on the other side. Me:” Okay mom, I’m glad to hear that. Bye” Mom:” Bye baby, be good.” Me:” I will. I… bye.” I hung up, I wanted to say I love you but it was hard for me to say those words to her, I don’t know why. I checked myself out in the mirror, powdered my face and walked out. I walked slowly to class as I was lost in my thoughts. I was busy contemplating how I was going to confront Busi and also, how I was going to handle Liv and Lindo. They had really done it this time… Voice:” You’re so beautiful when you’re all up in your head…” Mother Mary please not now, like why vele ye? (Yes in case you’re shocked, I do know a bit of Zulu). Me:” Sandile unjani?” I said rather bored by his presence. Sands:” Did you just address me by my full name?” He looked shocked. Me:” Yes! Now please I need to get to class, catch you later?” I ran off before he could respond. I turned to see if he was behind me but he was just standing there shocked. Some guys think the world revolves around them serious. What? Did he really think that I was going to get to class late just so we can talk? He needs to get off his high horse!

When I go to class, to my surprise Busi was sitting on the chair right next to mine, I swear the universe is testing me today. Luckily the teacher was not in class yet so I had a moment to myself outside. I really don’t know how am I going to get through this day, like me and Busi have the same subjects so our timetables are the same so from one class to the next she’ll be there and seriously this not how I intend to spend my 6 hrs at school with so much hatred for a person. Voice:” Hi Zara.” Me:” Hi.” I didn’t even look up to see who it was, I could tell from the voice that it is someone I didn’t know so I wasn’t interested. Voice:” Ouch! So you’re not even going to look at me?” I must have angered the gods or something to have such annoyance in my life right now! Me:” Oh! I’m sorry…” I looked up and I just froze. Chocolate bone is all I can say… That’s the guy standing in front of me. I swear this school is on a quest to enrolling handsome hunks. Guy:” I’m Tebogo, you can call me Tebo.” He stretched out his hand to shake mine. Me:” Zee…” I couldn’t help but feel like I know this Tebogo character but I couldn’t put my finger on it. Me:” Uhm… Do I know?” I had a questioning look on my face. Tebo:” Matter of fact you do, we went to primary school together and you have been my crush ever since.” Me:” Primary school you say?” Tebo:” Yes, grade 7, head boy?” Me:” No…?” I said that with a smile on my face because I remembered him and he looks so different and all grown up. I wanted to experiment with him once. Tebo:” Yes, that’s me, that exact mental picture you have of me right now.” He was smiling throughout trying to charm me with his eyes. Me:” So what brings you to Erusmaskloof?” Tebo:” I Trans…” I interrupted him as he was about to answer me. Me:” Hold that thought, here comes my teacher. We’ll catch up during break?” Tebo:” Of course.” He walked away.

I finally had the courage to go into class, I sat next to Busi without greeting her. She tried to make small talk but I blatantly ignored her. Amo was not at school today, thank goodness I only had to deal with seeing Busi’s face the whole day. Imagine if Amo was also around, it was going to be torture. We were done with the first half of the day which was daunting because I had to deal with Busi in each class, she didn’t give up trying to make small talks but I put her in her place and told her that she’s disturbing my focus and my peace so after that she didn’t dare try to talk to me in class again. When the siren went for break, I rushed out of class just so that I didn’t have to walk with her to the cafeteria.

Lindo and Liv: Lindo:” I wonder if Zee is going to come through today?” Liv:” I doubt hey, by the look of things, I think she knows something.” Voice:” Who knows something? And what?” They turned to look at the person who was talking. Lindo:” Zee chomie, I didn’t think you were going to join us today?” They looked shocked to see me, like they weren’t expecting me to show up. Zee:” So you were saying?” I honestly wanted to see if they were going to tell me the truth and spare me the hurt. Liv:” Uhm… nothing really. It’s totally nothing to do with you.” Liv’s eyes were all over the place, she couldn’t even maintain eye contact with me. Zee:” Lindo?” I gave her a ‘please be honest with me look’ with one brow raised. Lindo:” Chomie don’t worry yourself, it’s something to do with Busi and Kay.” She looked down and started fiddling with her fingers. Zee:” Are you guys being serious right now?” Tears were building up in my eyes and I was trying so hard to hold them back but they failed me. Lindo:” Zee are you okay?” She looked at me concerned. I almost fell for that act. Liv:” Girl why are you crying? Are you okay?” She stood and walked towards me but I stepped back. Zee:” Don’t!!!” I ran off. I couldn’t hold in the hurt, these are the girls I called friend, same girls who knew how much I crushed on Amo, I mean I spoke about him almost every day for the past three years for them to do me like this. Tears were just falling from my eyes and I was running so fast that when I was about to turn to hide at the back of the chemistry class I ran into Sands arms. Sands:” Woah why in such a hurry?” He lifted my face with his finger so that I could face him. Me:” Uhm… Sorry, I didn’t mean to bump into you.” I sighed. Sands:” Doll face why are you crying? It’s only the second day at school and you’re already in tears?” I was still in his arms and frankly I wanted to stay there for a while. I’ve never been in a man’s embrace before and it felt so good and his cologne was heaven to my nostrils. Sands:” Zee I’m talking to you.” He pulled away and held my hand. Me:” Can we just not talk about this? I much rather be alone.” I pulled my hand from his and walked to the nearby staircase. I just wanted to sit alone and reflect on my sudden life problems but of course he followed me. Sands:” I’ll sit with you then.” He sat next to me. We sat in complete silence and tears were just streaming down my cheeks. He placed my head on his chest and rubbed my back. He kept saying “It’s going to be okay, don’t cry.” Who is this guy? And, why does he care so much?