all aboard on this love train

chapter 11

MONDAY, 29 APRIL

Didi, myself and the boys are currently having our usual study session at the study lounge. I am honestly not feeling so good today. I think what happened on Saturday just put me off. Didi called me last night and asked me to pray about it but I was ashamed to tell her that besides my morning and night prayer, I do not know how to pray but she prayed for me.

I am finishing off my maths homework and I feel a hand being placed on mine.

Didi: hey, do you want to talk about it?

I place my hand on the opposite shoulder in an attempt to get it away from her.

Enzo: hey, that is not fair. she is just trying to help.
Me: talking about it will not help. let us finish studying.
Kanyo: Nkomo.
Me: please stop.
Mpho: Dids, are you okay?
Didi: yeah.

She says as her voice cracks and she packs her books.

Me: hey, hey, hey. I did not mean it like that, Didi.

She takes her bag and walks away. Before she even reaches the door, the boys get up.

Enzo: thanks a lot, Nkomo.

They run towards her and even help her with her bag. They accompany her to her dorm building and they return after sometime. We then head to our dorm.

20:00
The boys and I are getting ready for 'lights out' where we all have to go to bed but my mind is far from here.

What I did was wrong, Didi was just trying to be there for me. I text her and ask her to meet me at the basketball court which is close to our dorm buildings.

I head there and wait and after a few, she shows up wearing pyjama pants, novelty slippers, her knotless braids are tied up and she is wearing my hoodie again, with her hands in the pocket.

Me: you really like my hoodie, don't you?

She nods.

Me: look, I am sorry about what happened. I could have handled that situation better knowing how fragile you are. I promise to try with my all to never cause you any hurt again.
Didi: okay.
Me: are you okay?
Didi: I am okay.
Me: let me give you this hoodie as well.

I say as I take off my white Nike hoodie.

Didi: I like it.

She says with a smile and I return the smile.

Me: since we are already on the basketball court, why don't we shoot some hoops?
Didi: you know I can't play.
Me: okay, you can teach me netball next time and we can play that when we are here. for now, we will just throw it in.

We begin to shoot some throws while talking and laughing here and there.

Didi: I have a headache, I think we should get back to our dorms.
Me: okay but is my apology accepted?
Didi: partially.
Me: name your price.
Didi: wine gums.
Me: consider it done.

I walk her to her dorm building first before heading over to mine, sneakingly. I walk into my dorm room and the boys are still up and on their phones.

Kanyo: where are you coming from, Nkomo?
Me: the basketball court, mommy.

I say, sarcastically.

Enzo: I do not like your attitude, young man.
Mpho: what were you doing at the basketball court at this time and where is your hoodie?
Me: I was shooting some hoops with Didi and I gave the hoodie to her.

I say as I change into my pyjamas.

Enzo: how is she?
Me: she is fine.
Mpho: did she accept your apology?
Me: she did.
Mpho: what was her price for her forgiveness?
Me: wine gums.

We all burst out laughing. With Didi, there is really nothing for free. I finish getting dressed and get in bed.

Kanyo: on a more serious note though, do not treat Didi like that again.
Me: you know I would never intentionally hurt Didi.
Enzo: because you want her, Nkomo!
Me: I am just keeping the promise I made to her father and our principal to take care of her.
Mpho: sure, buddy.
Kanyo: you are taking care of her by falling for her?
Me: can you just go to sleep?
Mpho: Didi likes you too, boy. Nkomo, you cannot fumble this one. I will beat you up if you fumble here.
Me: Didi does not like me.
Enzo: she does and that is why she is going to call you in 3...2...1

My phone rings and it is indeed Didi.

Kanyo: are you a prophet or a witch?
Enzo: I do not know much about girls like Didi because she is different but what I do know is that when women like you, they want to show you everything. Didi is calling to show you something.

I answer the call and she places her phone by the window. She then backs up from the camera to show me that she is wearing my hoodie and it looks like a dress. I cannot help but laugh.

Me: you are so tiny.
Didi: I know.
Me: you do know that it is not a crime to tell me that the hoodie is too big, return I and I will give you another one, right?
Didi: this one is just fine and I can also go to sleep in it.
Me: you want to go to sleep in a 3k hoodie?
Didi: yes.
Me: you are rich rich, girl.
Didi: I will hang up now, one of my roommates offered to help me with Mrs Mons' homework.
Me: which roommate?
Didi: Nhlanhla.
Me: the same Nhlanhla who looked as clueless and Boikanyo looked during the lesson?
Didi: Nkomo!

Kanyo: do not put me in your conversation and for your information,  I understood the topic very well and completed my work.
Enzo: wow!

He says, sarcastically.

Kanyo: I can even help you, Didi.

Me: Didi, do you want his help?
Didi: no but thank you so much, Kanyo.

Kanyo: then you guys wonder why people drop out, it is because of people like you?
Me: what did we do?
Mpho: but you did not understand the topic, Kanyo.
Kanyo: Boikanyo to you, sir. also, I watched online lessons.
Me: that is true. I saw Boikanyo's homework earlier and if it was a formal task, he would have had full marks.

Didi: Kanyo, I will buy you chocolate.

Kanyo: and donuts.

Didi: and donuts. bye, boys. bye, Thabi.

She ends the call and Enzo looks at me.

Enzo: the smile on your face that reaches your ears is selling you out. Dids is your girl, boy.
Me: can we talk about something else?
Kanyo: we can talk about Kayla, she is also obsessed with you.
Enzo: I have been saying! Nkomo has game but refuses to use it.
Me: you use it and you have one thousand girlfriends.
Mpho: he probably does not even know their names.
Enzo: which girlfriends?
Kanyo: oh my days.

We continue the conversation until we eventually fall asleep. We have P.E tomorrow and I am really not in the mood for it.