The Alphas

S’bu took a deep breath and made a call.

“S’bu”Thandi said answering the call.

“MaDlamini, how are you?” S’bu asked calmly.

“I’m fine but you don’t sound like your usual self, what’s the matter?” Thandi asked. She had spoken to S’bu over the phone more than anyone else and could tell the slightest change in his voice.

“I heard that you planning on giving Tsepo your virginity” S’bu said trying his best to sound calm.

“Mandy! she had no right to tell you that” Thandi exclaimed.

“She’s your best friend and concerned about you. Is this really what you want?” S’bu asked.

Thandi did not respond.

“Virginity is not something to be ashamed of, it should be celebrated and you should be proud of yourself for it. I know it can’t be easy being targeted and I’m sorry you have to go through that. It will be a big mistake if you are doing this because you being pressurised but if you tell me that you doing it because you are in love Tsepo and taking your relationship to the next level, I swear I will have no objections at all” S’bu said and waited for Thandi to respond.

“S’bu don’t worry about me, I love Tsepo and I have made up my mind” Thandi told him.

S’bu felt like walls were closing on him and could not breathe. “I understand and I respect your decision. I just have one request” S’bu responded doing his best to sound calm.

“What is it?” Thandi asked.

“Please don’t do anything until I see you tomorrow. I want to give you back the bracelet. That way you won’t be breaking any promise and you will have my blessing” S’bu pleaded.

Thandi agreed. A day was not going to make much of a difference. She could tell S’bu to destroy the bracelet without meeting him but thought it was better for them to have proper closure. S’bu did not sleep that night, he went to write his exams with dark circles on his eyes. He wrote so fast he was the first to finish and drove to the tattoo salon before heading Thandi’s university.

In Thandi’s room S’bu was giving her a hug when Tsepo walked in and thought the two looked intimate. He demanded S’bu to leave but S’bu refused stating that only Thandi can tell him to leave. The two exchanged unpleasant words and the argument was about to get physical. Tsepo was taller than S’bu, very fit and had confidence in his fighting skills. S’bu even though slightly shorter than Tsepo was also very fit and having a black belt in karate gave him a lot of confidence in his fighting skills. Thandi was in a daze looking at the two man about to fight for her. They were both Alphas in their own right, they would hurt each other badly or worse if they fought. Coming back to reality she moved in between them and pushed them apart. She turned to look at S’bu, when their eyes met she gave him the key to Mandy’s room asking him to wait for her there while she talking to Tsepo. S’bu complied took the key from her and and left the room.

In the room, Tsepo looked at her for a long time without saying a word. He had witnessed the eye contact between S’bu and Thandi, remembered S’bu’s posts and realised that she was never his.

“You love him, he hurt you, maybe you don’t want to love him anymore but you can’t help it” Tsepo said shaking his head at the realisation.

“I’m sorry”Thandi said dropping her head in shame. “You are so perfect in every sense of the word and I was lucky to have you. I didn’t mean to hurt you, I thought I could get over him” Thandi choked fighting her tears back.

“Hey, don’t cry, it’s ok”Tsepo said pulling her to his arms. “The past two months with you have been amazing. I have learned so much from you and I hope to continue doing so. Women, do you have any idea how much money you saved me?” Tsepo asked still holding her.

Before meeting Thandi, Tsepo had a lot of friends he would hang out with. They would insist on going out, drink expensive alcohol and food to impress women and expect him to pay for all of it. The women he attracted were also very materialistic and costed him a lot of money. When they first dated, Tsepo took her out with his friends. They were all shocked when Thandi insisted on paying for her own bill because they were all students and it was the right thing to do. She told Tsepo she would rather he spends that money on his family or saves it as she didn’t need him spending it on her. In that period he had saved so much money and his family relationship had improved dramatically when he started sending some money home to his mother.

“The reasons S’bu will never give up on you are the same reasons that attracted me to you. Honestly he would be a fool to let you go. I just wish that I met you first, then your heart would be mine” Tsepo told her.

Thandi was so touched by Tsepo’s words that she wept for a long time on his shoulder before calming down.

“I’m terrible at choosing friends, promise me you will always be my true friend and keep me in line” Tsepo pleaded.

Thandi nodded her head. Tsepo had taken this whole situation better than she had imagined and she would be forever grateful to him for that. Tsepo gave her a kiss on the forehead before leaving.

Thandi sat alone for 30 minutes collecting her thoughts before going to Mandy’s room to talk to S’bu who was pacing up and down wondering what Thandi and Tsepo were talking about so long. He started talking the moment Thandi opened the door.

“I’m sorry, I should not have fought with Tsepo. I know that I’ve been acting like I’m fine with it but I can’t stand seeing you with someone else. I know I’m being a hypocrite but I can’t let you sleep with him, I just can’t.” Before Thandi could respond, S’bu went on his knees in front of her. “I’m sorry, I can’t do this anymore. Please forgive me and please come back to me” he pleaded.

“Today I broke a good man’s heart” she said walking away from S’bu and standing in front of the window. “Someone who was willing to love me unconditionally, someone who was faithful and committed to me wholeheartedly” Thandi said all this looking straight at the window as if talking to herself.

“I am sorry” S’bu said helplessly. He was now standing behind Thandi and all he could do was apologise wishing he never met Pretty.