PAIN is LOVE

poking at the wrong holes

I made my way through the school's parking lot into the building, across the administration center and right before I made the corner to my classroom a tight grip landed on the back of my neck. I tried shaking it off but it clanged on, squeezing the life out of me. My knees became weak.

''feel that pain?'' Dabs voice echoed in my head.

I nodded quickly, showing how desperate I wanted the pain to stop

''it's a warning dear girl. Hands off TJ! he's mine'' and a few kicks went to my knees and in no time I was on the ground trying to bear the pain on my shins.

I won't let you get away with this DSL I thought to myself.

I stood up, dusted myself off and pretended as if nothing had happened but my 'friend' knew me rather too well.

''are you okay?'' she asked casually and gave me a foolish smile that was meant to be sensible and comforting

''yeah I'm cool'' I forced a smile

''Dabs, did she do something to you?'' she went round my table and placed one of her legs on top of the chair besides me.

''what makes you say that?'' amazed at how well she knew me, probably more than anyone else in this world

''I heard her telling Sheila and Lebo that she wants to screw you over'' a worried face drew upon her

''so she likes virgins. '' I laughed although the honest truth - I was shaken out of my boots!

Thabile laughed along with me and continued with her famous lectures '' truly speaking, you know. She said that, so what I'm saying is that be careful.''

''I will be. Anyway they don't scare me'' yeah right, like that's the truth

***

''off to the library? '' TJ ran after me

''yeah and I don't need company least of all you'' I snapped at him

''why not? Why are you being like this Rea?'' he pulled me by my hand and our eyes met God! You are so adorable, charmingly adorable. No! I was not going to let his good looks blind me of his true self

''just get off my case would you'' I turned away and hurried up the road

''why are you doing this to me? All I've done is be good to you. I put my reputation on the line and this is how you treat me! '' I heard a pain in his voice. I was tempted to look back and see if he was okay but I wasn't prepared to be one of his statistics

''just vanish please''

''Rea'' he called out behind me.

I faced him. reminding myself over and over again not to listen to any explanation he was going to give.

''I'm leaving'' he said. His face dropped and a paper that looked like an invitation card followed, the wind quickly blew it away and he like the wind was gone.

***

My life had suddenly moved from bad to worse and I quickly upgraded from coward to an award winning laughing-stock! Yeah, Thabile had warned me that I could not take on the DSL but what I thought was love had blinded me and my eyes gained sight rather too late. Sure he was the perfect being but TJ came with a lesson, to never judge a book by its cover especially one with an unbelievably gorgeous smile because beneath all that charm, only torn pages and coffee stains await you. There is just never certain on what you will find.