You were almost mine

S’bu was left in the his car shocked, he still could not figure out what made Thandi so mad. When he got home he met his mother who wanted to talk to him about what she saw in the kitchen yesterday.

“S’bu, you know your reputation” she said. “Unlike most of the many girls you hook up with Thandi is a good girl, she’s Mandy’s best friend and I’m very fond of her. She’s a Ferrari and you are a taxi driver. I want you to stay away her, do you understand?”Mrs J commanded her son.

S’bu had never gone against his mother with anything. They were very close, he could tell her anything. Growing up his father was very busy starting the business he only came back at night when they were all sleeping. When JJL became a success S’bu was already a teenager and moved into a boarding school.

“I love her Ma, I really do. I know I have a reputation and it’s so hard for me to convince her and you that I mean well, but I do. With her I feel something I’ve never felt before, I had good intentions, I promise you. Anyway it does not matter now, you don’t have to worry about it because she hates me and I don’t know why” he said heartbroken.

Mrs J had never seen her dear son so defeated before, she couldn’t help but fell sore for him but there was nothing she could do.

S’bu was in a bad mood most of December, all he thought about was Thandi who hated him. He hardly ate or went out. He spent most of his time at JJL and the gym at home practicing his karate. Menzi missed him a lot and wanted to make him feel better. Today when he had those long chats with Mandy he discovered why Thandi was mad at S’bu.

“I know why things went sour between you and Thandi, Menzi said to his brother. She found out about the girls you hooked up with but what made everything worse was finding out about your love stories with Pretty.”

“What love stories?” S’bu asked sitting up from bed.

“According to her you two are so in love she gave you her virginity and might even be future Mrs J” Menzi responded.

“What? Are you crazy?” S’bu reprimanded him.

“I’m just telling you what she tells her friends and anyone who cares to listen. It’s also what she told Thandi the day the schools closed” Menzi added.

“Dam it, no wonder she hates me!” S’bu was grateful to his brother for finding out what had been bothering him for most of December. He hooked up with Pretty at the club when they were both drunk. He could not believe that she was claiming that she lost her virginity to him when he could name at least three males that had been with her long before him. The love stories were just insane. Only if he knew she would cause do much trouble he would have avoided her with all his might. He made a note in his mind to never hook up with clingy and manipulative girls like that again.

“Are you going to clarify all this to Thandi?” Menzi asked his brother who was suddenly quiet in deep thoughts.

“Not yet, S’bu sighed. I have to show Ma that I’m worthy of Thandi first. I can’t talk to Thandi until I accomplish that.”

“How’s that going?”asked Menzi.

“I can see progress but it’s not ready yet” S’bu said with a serious face.

“Since you have lost interest in other women, I have some photos to entertain you” Menzi said mischievously.

“I don’t need that!” S’bu reprimanded.

“I’m sending them, you can thank me later”Menzi insisted and sent the photos to S’bu’s phone.

When S’bu looked at his phone he couldn’t believe his eyes. “How did you get this?” he asked excited.

“I was there remember” Menzi responded rolling his eyes leaving S’bu.

“Thank you Bro, you are the best!” S’bu shouted behind him. He was looking at photos of him and Thandi at the river. There were five photos of them, looking at each other, laughing, Thandi smiling at him and them hugging. The photos looked intimate like they were a couple. You were almost mine, S’bu thought to himself looking at Thandi. Thandi was warming up to him until she heard stories about other women and Pretty made things worse. You will be mine no matter what it takes, S’bu vowed.

It was now January, S’bu and Menzi we’re going back to university. They hugged said their goodbyes to the family and to each other as they were in different universities located in different provinces. Before leaving S’bu handed a big brown envelope to his mom. In it was what he hoped will prove to his mom that he was suitable for Thandi. He had worked hard on this and was confident it would make his intentions clear.

Mrs J read the huge document and was amazed at the detail and precision she found on it. It was clear that her son put in a lot of effort in compiling it. It was also clear that he could stall him but could not prevent what was inevitable.