Kwaito Love by Lauri Kubbuitsile Page A

her carefully to the dance floor. He took her in his strong arms and her words disappeared into the night.
    He moved gently against her. The aftershave worked its stealthy magic and suddenly she was nowhere. Mpho was not dancing in Mr Habib’s backyard. She floated in a glorious space with cushioned floors and the music formed a safe blanket around them, keeping the problematic world at bay.
    Thabang whispered in her ear, “Do you feel this? Do you feel how perfect this is? This was meant to be. Can’t you see?”
    Mpho said nothing. She knew a word, just one single word, would break the spell. She didn’t want to be pulled back to reality. She wanted to live forever with Thabang’s hard, strong body pressed against hers. She wanted to feel the way he longed for her, the way she ached for him too. The music circled and swirled around them. Notes slipped between their lips, moved among the curves and edges of their bodies. The notes held them together. As long as the music played, they were safe in their unreality. Inside the music, they were what both longed to be, just two people in love – easily and simply in love.
    Thabang’s able hands moved up and down her back, leaving trails of tingling behind them. His strong thighs guided her around the dance floor. His lips lightly brushed against her neck and cheeks. She leaned into him, her breasts pressing against his chest with only thin fabric keeping their skins apart.
    With a shock the music stopped and the notes fled, abruptly denying the magic they held only seconds before. The glue that held them together and the blanket of music that had kept them safe from the world around them fell away. They were vulnerable again. They were two people again, not one, as the music had deceived them into believing. Their problems barged back in and they stood apart looking at each other, confused about where they were to go now.
    â€œI need to get home,” Mpho said, struggling to speak.
    â€œOkay, I’ll take you,” Thabang answered, robotlike.
    * * *
    They drove in silence through the lit streets of Joburg. Mpho watched the passing scenery without seeing a thing. She wanted to speak but what could she say? That she loved Thabang but could never be with him? That she could feel the attraction between them but that they would never be able to act on it? That maybe he was right thinking they were destined to be together but it could never work? What was the use of speaking the truth when the words were so tortuous?
    Thabang pulled his car up in front of No 78. He shut off the engine and turned to Mpho. She made no move to get out. She didn’t want to leave, though she knew she couldn’t stay.
    â€œI don’t know what I’ve done wrong. I wish I did. I can’t help it, Mpho, no matter how much you push me away, I know I love you. It’s a fact. I can’t pretend it’s not true.” He sat staring at his hands on the steering wheel.
    â€œI need to go,” Mpho said but didn’t leave. She stayed fixed in the moment. They were frozen.
    Then Thabang turned to her and pulled her to him. He kissed her with a wildness that caught her off guard. He was desperate and reckless.
    She pushed away from him. “No! I need to go.” Mpho opened the door but before she got out she turned to him, her eyes brimming with tears that would later pour throughout the night and soak her pillow with sadness. “We can’t do this to each other anymore. It’s too much. It’s just too much. We need to accept that we can never be together. It can’t work. We can’t do this anymore.”
    Thabang looked at her with resignation. She had finally succeeded in what she’d been trying to do for so many days. She finally got him to understand that they would not be together, ever. “Okay, if that’s what you want. I don’t understand any of this . . . But the fighting is killing me. I agree we