Part 2

 

The story of how I met Tshepiso is somehow funny. I used to play with my little sister or stay in the house with my Grandma all the  time. One day my Grandma got tired of being in the house and told me to go outside. I did go but just sat on the shiny stoep and watched kids playing infront of the yard. It was a very hot sunny day to say the least. Kids will be kids. They kept playing. I just watched them but there was something really weird going on. This boy was playing with the rest of the group but kept waving at me. It was just a confusing  thing. I waved back and he decided to continue playing. I didn’t think much of it and went back inside.

 

For the next couple of days the routine was the same, I would sit outside and watch the kids playing. My uncle sent me to the shop to buy some bread and coke. As I was walking to the shop I felt a hand hugging me from the side and I immediately froze. As I turned and pulled the hand away I saw this boy. The boy that had been waving at me while playing infront of my Granny’s house all the time. I did not even know his name but he just did that. I just stared at him and waited until he eventually said “Hi, I’m Tshepiso and you? I thought you would play with us by now but you don’t”

 

I just left him there and continued to walk to the shop. He kept following me of which I found disturbing. Why would he touch me like that. Couldn’t he see that I was not pleased. Eventually I opened my mouth and said “Please stop following me” with tears slowly starting roll down my eyes. I was just getting scared. I never talk to boys unless it’s one of my classmates. I just started walking fast until I got at home. I quickly wiped my tears at the gate so that I don’t rise any suspicions and walked into the house. Everyone seemed to be minding their business so I went to the bedroom to sleep.

 

During the night I started to wonder why did the boy do that. Did I give him wrong ideas or what? Ive never experienced anything like this. I was still shaken. I even struggled to fall asleep again. The next morning my grandma was going to the clinic so it was just my little sister and I as our uncle accompanied our grandma. I decided that I was going to stay in the house. I could hear the noise of the kids playing outside but I was determined to stay in the house. A few moments later I heard a knock on the door. I was lazy to go check so my little sister went. To my surprise she said it was for me. As confused as I was I  went to see who was it and ‘surprise’ it was Tshepiso. I just wanted the world to open and swallow me. Why could he possibly want from me. I don’t even know him.

 

“Hi. Can we please talk? I haven’t seen you in days. Is everything ok”. I just stood there still. I just froze, couldn’t even utter a word. I could see his mouth moving but I couldn't hear what he was saying. “Hello, are you ok?” he said again. Finally, I had the strength to answer. “What are you doing here. My grandma doesn’t want boys at her house. You need to leave”. While he was still confused I pushed him to the gate. I did not want to get into trouble. My mother told me to stay away from boys and my uncle kept the same sentiments.

 

“I wanted to give you something and leave. You can relax”, he said. “What do you want to give me? I don’t know you”. He handed me a PS(chocolate) written ‘I like you’ and a paper with his mxit number. I quickly went inside the house as he walked away. I don’t know him but he clearly wanted to speak to me. I decided to add his number send him a message. For the next few weeks I would be excited to actually go outside and play at the streets just so I can see him. He would buy me chocolates and take walks with me. I started to be comfortable around him and he apologized for his approach the time I went to the shop. We had been inseparable ever since.

 

On our way back to Bloemfontein Diteboho seemed really excited but as for me  I was not looking forward to it. I had my best friend Dikgang to tell her what had happened and that was it. Even though we would talk on mxit it was not the same face to face  Atleast my uncle is not taking us back. He was still not pleased to find out that I had a boyfriend. I was just the quiet niece who didn’t go anywhere out of the blue. To my parents, I was the definition of the perfect child but life had other plans  for me. As soon as the schools reopened I met up with Dikgang and told her everything. At first she did not believe me. I never really do much expect for school and studying when I’m back home. I told her that I have a boyfriend on mxit but she still did not believe me. She thought that I am lying.