all aboard on this love train

chapter 5

WEDNESDAY, 10 APRIL

School resumed yesterday and we already have a rugby match on Saturday. I need this one though. We are currently in class and it is only the fourth period.

Mrs Mons: Nkomo, would you like to rejoin us on planet Earth?
Me: yes, ma'am.
Enzo: are you good, boy?
Me: we will talk at the end of the day.

I manage to get trough the class and a few more too. At the end of the day, we go to practice and after practice, we go to our dorm and relax after freshening up.

Kanyo: your new deodorant smells good, boy.
Me: thank you, boy.
Enzo: what was going on during fourth period? I mean you were obviously not with us.
Mpho: is it that Kat girl?
Me: that and my parents.
Enzo: what about them?
Me: the situation is getting worse at home, boy. my parents used to fight but they were able to pretend every once in a while. now, there is none of that. they argue all the time over the most stupid things and I can tell there are much deeper things going on but I am just a child so I would not know anything. boys, you saw when you were at my house.
Kanyo: yeah, the way they fight is really unhealthy and not only for them but for you and your sister as well.
Me: exactly. at this point, I would rather they be divorced because I do not want myself and my sister to grow up scarred because of this.
Mpho: come on, you do not mean that.
Me: I do. I am also thinking about stepping down from the RCL board.
Mpho: what?
Enzo: no, we are not going to let you do that. try stepping down from something else.
Kanyo: you ought to have lost your mind, boy. what is wrong with you?
Enzo: besides, we are about to get our full colours. so please, drop this act of yours. I know you want your blazer to be heavy.
Me: it already is.
Enzo: but we want more. Nkomo, we are done talking and this is not up for debate.

The intercom goes off and an announcement is made that I should make my way to the office.

I go to the office and I find Kayla, one of the girls from school.

Me: what are you doing here?
Kay: I was called out of boarding house to the office.
Me: oh, hey.
Kay: hey.

I sit next to her in the waiting room, in complete silence. She keeps stealing glances at me though. The vice principal, Mr Singh calls us to the principals office, Mrs Theron.

Mrs T: Nkazi. Kayla.
Us: Mrs Theron.
Mrs T: I hope you are well. there will be a new grade 11 learner coming in soon. a learner by the name of Didintle Nhlapho. Nkomo and you, Kayla will be expected to find time between your duties to show her around. Kayla, you and the matron are responsible for showing her around the boarding house. Nkomo, you and Kayla can decide who shows her what on the school grounds. make her first week a great experience here, am I clear?
Me: yes, ma'am.
Kay: yes, ma'am.
Mrs T: okay, this is her timetable.

She says while handing us both a piece of paper with a timetable printed on it.

Mrs T: I am sure you can make it work.
Me: we can.
Mrs T: okay, you are dismissed.

We both exit the office and we sit on the benches outside of the office, discussing how we are going to go about this task.

Me: she is coming in tomorrow and tomorrow afternoon, I have rugby.
Kay: and I have photography.
Me: rugby starts at three.
Kay: photography starts right after the bell rings for the end of the day.
Me: I will take tomorrow afternoon to show her around the fields.
Kay: I will be out of photography club by three so matron and I will take it from there?
Me: is there anything else?
Kay: I am not sure.
Me: okay, let us do this. take my number and you can text me anything that we are forgetting right now.
Kay: okay, no problem.

She pulls her phone out of her school trackpants and takes my number. She texts me on the spot so I know who it is. We then go our separate ways.

I get to my dorm and find my boys hovering over my phone.

Me: what is wrong with you?
Mpho: we saw you exchanging numbers with Kay. I did not know you had that much game.
Me: you ought to have lost your mind. Kay and I have been assigned a task by Mrs Theron and that is it.
Kanyo: but she texted you her name with a heart next to it.
Me: so what? it is not a love confession, smarty pants.
Enzo: hey, that is enough. he just said that they were assigned a task together.
Me: exactly.
Enzo: what task is it?
Me: there is a new girl coming to the school and the principal needs me and Kayla to show her the ropes.
Enzo: is she cute?
Me: you better stay away from her.

I put her timetable in my bag before we all go to dinner. After dinner, we go back to our dorms. We get there and I get a text from Kayla...

"Hey, please do not forget your duty tomorrow and make sure that friend of yours stays away from the new girl. Have a blessed night."

This text also has a heart next to it.

Enzo: I told you she likes you and which friend must stay away?
Me: it is obviously you.

I say before changing and going to bed. We continue to chat for a little while longer and soon enough, there is complete silence in our dorm. This is how we fall asleep everyday. I love my boys.

THURSDAY, 11 APRIL

07:11
What a random day to start off at a new school. I wonder why she is starting today but anyway, I am currently on my way to the office to pick her up with Kayla.

Kayla: are you ready?
Me: I guess so.

We get to the office and find a petite, honey skinned girl with a nice body and two afro puffs standing there with her father, Mr Nhlapho.

Me: good morning, sir.
Mr N: good morning, my boy.
Me: I am Nkazimulo Nkomo and I will be a part of your daughters welcoming team.
Mr N: but you are a boy.
Me: a well trusted boy that was entrusted with this task.
Mr N: oh. take care of my daughter.
Me: I will not let you down, sir.

She smiles and oh! Oh! Oh!

Me: this is Kayla Smith.
Kay: nice to meet you, Didintle.
Didi: nice to meet you too.

She has a very soothing voice too. I am pulled out of that thought by Mr Singh and Mrs Theron walking towards us. They greet and welcome Didintle and then finally, her father leaves. He is quite intimidating.

Kay: matron and I will take it from here for now. she is in your Life Science class so meet her at the quad before second break ends.
Me: okay, no problem.

We then go our separate ways and I attend my first few classes. I then go to the quad to meet my boys. We sit and eat our lunch. A few minutes before break ends, I look for Didi and I find her sitting with Kayla and Kayla's friend.

Kay: remember that her dad said that you must take care of her.
Me: I remember. Didi, let us head to class. Mrs Mons does not appreciate late coming.

She grabs her bag and we head to class together. My boys are walking behind us and I just know they are going to say something when we get to our dorm.

We get to class, walk in, greet and take our seats. There has always been an empty, fifth chair next to me and my boys so she takes her seat there.

Mrs Mons: let us welcome our newest member.

Everyone claps.

Mrs Mons: stay away from Enzo. if he tries to talk to you, run away.

Didintle giggles and oh! Let me stop, actually.

Mrs Mons: Didintle, Nkazimulo will be helping you with the school work. I will make you some copies of the notes and if you have any queries, ask him or me.
Didi: okay.

At the end of the lesson, it is the end of the day so Didi takes her bag and silently walks next to me as I show her around the school.

Me: so why did Didi come to this school now?
Didi: my dad needed an urgent change of scenery and here we are.
Me: oh, so where are you coming from?
Didi: Durban.
Me: so you are a Zulu girl?
Didi: yes.
Me: so why is your name Sotho?
Didi: my mom was part Sotho and part Zulu.
Me: was?
Didi: she passed away a few months ago.
Me: oh, my deepest condolences.
Didi: oh, do not sweat it. thank you.
Me: I think this will be the end of our tour for now. I have rugby practice in a few so I have to go.
Didi: okay.
Me: let me take your number just in case you will need anything.

I take her number and ring her up on the spot so she knows it is me.

Me: okay.
Didi: bye.
Me: bye.