Kwaito Love by Lauri Kubbuitsile

liar.
    2. He was a thief.
    3. He was manipulative.
    4. He couldn’t be trusted.
    5. He wanted to ruin her career and turn her into a helpless housewife.
    6. He . . . He . . .
    Mpho struggled with her list. He was still holding her hand. He was still smelling so lovely. She was still shaking. No, no, no.
    â€œWhat’d you say?” Thabang asked, breaking into her inner turmoil.
    â€œSay? Did I say something?” Had she spoken her list out loud? Mpho was seriously wondering if she was beginning to lose her mind. Was he pushing her to the edge of sanity? Was she going to turn into one of those women who pushed their belongings around in a shopping trolley and spent the day talking to an invisible friend?
    Mpho shook herself, downed the rest of her drink and ordered herself to get a grip.
    â€œCan I get you some more punch?” Thabang asked.
    â€œYes!” Mpho said a bit too desperately.
    When he was gone, Marika came rushing up. “So, how’s it going?” She was all smiles and excitement until she saw Mpho’s face.
    â€œWhat do you think you’re doing? Whose side are you on?” Mpho asked.
    â€œYours. The problem is I don’t think you are on your side.”
    â€œWhat does that mean?”
    Marika looked to see if Thabang was coming back yet but he was queuing at the punch bowl. “It means that I think Thabang is great. I think you need to chill out. So he made a few mistakes. We aren’t all perfect like you. Humans make mistakes. Please give him a chance.”
    Mpho listened but refused to let any of it sink in. She didn’t want this. She certainly didn’t need this. And besides, she should know which side was her side and Marika should follow her lead – not the other way around. Mpho knew what was best for herself.
    Marika looked over her shoulder. Thabang was heading back in their direction. “Listen, I’m going home.”
    â€œWait! I thought we came together?”
    â€œI’m getting a lift with Bibi.” Bibi worked with them at Monate Takeaways.
    â€œThen I’m coming too.” Mpho made to get up, but Marika pushed her back down on the bench.
    â€œNo, Bibi only has room for me.” Just then Thabang came up to them and handed Mpho her punch. “Maybe Thabang can give you a lift home,” Marika said, smiling hopefully in his direction.
    â€œSure, no problem,” he said.
    Mpho gave Marika a furious look. Marika ignored the glare and kissed her friend on the cheek. “Bye-bye,” she said and off she went.
    Thabang and Mpho sat on the bench watching the dancers and not saying anything for a while. The night was warm with a slight breeze. Mpho looked up at the sky. Despite the Joburg lights, stars could be seen flickering down on the party.
    â€œLovely evening,” Thabang said, breaking the silence.
    â€œYes.”
    â€œI don’t know how things became such a mess between us. I wish we could go back to those days when we hung out in the back room of the community hall, drinking Coke and playing music. We were kids and everything seemed so straightforward then. It wasn’t complicated.”
    But for Mpho nothing that involved him was ever straightforward. Even as a teenager being in his presence was problematic. Easy never played a role in her interactions with Thabang Modise. The band played a cover of the Norah Jones song Come Away With Me . Couples cleared the dance floor. This crowd only danced the fast ones. Slow songs signalled time to fill empty glasses and wipe the sweat from glistening foreheads.
    Thabang took her hand in both of his. “Will you dance with me, Mpho?”
    His eyes begged her to say yes. They looked so genuine and honest. Still she hesitated; she knew it would make everything worse. Getting physically closer to Thabang was not a good idea. “I don’t know. Maybe we should go . . . I have to get up early tomorrow . . .”
    While she protested, he led