THE CHRONICLES
Episode 3: Guilt(Hlomla's POV)The classroom felt emptier than it should have been after they both left. It wasn't just quiet—it was the kind of silence that makes you hear your own thoughts louder than anything else. I sat there for a long time, staring at nothing, replaying everything that had just happened. The kiss. Sky's face. Thato's voice when she said, "It didn't mean anything?" I exhaled slowly, rubbing my face. "What am I doing…" I whispered, but even I didn't have an answer for that anymore.Eventually, I forced myself up and walked out of the classroom. The corridor was full again—people laughing, talking, living like nothing had just fallen apart. I walked past them, feeling like I didn't belong in that normalness anymore. My chest felt heavy, like I was carrying something I couldn't put down. I spotted Sky from a distance, standing with her friends, laughing like everything was fine… but I could see it in her eyes when she glanced at me. That wasn't laughter. That was pain.Friend 1: (whispering to Sky) "Isn't that him?"Sky: (forcing a smile) "I don't care."Friend 2: "But earlier—"Sky: (cutting her off) "I said I don't care."(She looks at Hlomla for a second, then looks away quickly.)I stopped walking for a second, watching her from a distance. My first instinct was to go to her… to fix it… to say something that would undo everything. But what do you say when you're the one who caused the damage?"Sorry?""It didn't mean anything?""I didn't mean to hurt you?"None of it felt enough.So I walked away.Break ended, and I sat through class without hearing anything the teacher said. My mind kept drifting. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Thato. Every time I opened them, I thought about Sky. I was stuck between two realities… and both of them felt wrong.When school ended, I didn't go home immediately. I didn't want to face my mom after how I spoke to her. Instead, I walked… not really knowing where I was going until I realized where my feet had taken me.Church.I stood outside for a moment, staring at the doors like I didn't belong there anymore. "After everything… you still came here?" I muttered to myself, shaking my head slightly. But something inside me pushed me forward.DialogueHlomla: (quietly, to himself) "I don't even know what to say…"(He walks inside slowly, sitting at the back.)Hlomla: "God… if You're even listening…"(He pauses, struggling to find words.)Hlomla: "I messed up."(Silence.)Hlomla: "I don't know what I'm doing anymore."I leaned forward, resting my elbows on my knees, staring at the floor. For once, I wasn't trying to act strong. I wasn't pretending. I was just… tired.DialogueHlomla: "I hurt her."(His voice breaks slightly.)Hlomla: "I hurt both of them…"(He closes his eyes.)Hlomla: "And I don't even know why I did it."(Long pause.)Hlomla: "Am I even the person I think I am?"The church was quiet, but not empty. Somewhere in the distance, I could hear faint footsteps… but I didn't turn around. Right now, this moment felt too personal to break.At the same time…Somewhere else…Thato sat alone, her phone in her hand, staring at our messages—empty, because we never even got the chance to build anything real. She replayed my words in her head, the way I looked at her… and then the way I said, "It didn't mean anything."Dialogue (Thato – alone)Thato: (whispering to herself) "Then why did it feel like it did…?"(She wipes a tear quickly.)Thato: "Why did you say that…"And Sky?She wasn't okay either.She lay on her bed, staring at the ceiling, her phone next to her. My name still there. My calls from the morning.Dialogue (Sky – alone)Sky: (softly) "So it was that easy for you…"(She bites her lip, holding back tears.)Sky: "Or… was I just not enough?"Back at church, I finally leaned back, staring up at the ceiling.For the first time in a long time…I didn't feel like running.I felt like facing it.DialogueHlomla: (soft but firm) "God…"(Pause.)Hlomla: "If I'm really lost…"(He exhales slowly.)Hlomla: "Find me."And in that moment…Everything didn't magically fix.The pain was still there.The confusion was still there.But for the first time…I admitted it.To be continued…
part 2 : Who We Really are (Hlomla's POV)
Morning came, but it didn't feel like anything new had begun. It felt like I carried yesterday into today without any break. I opened my eyes slowly, staring at the ceiling like it had answers I didn't have. My chest felt heavy again, like something was sitting there that I couldn't remove. For a moment, I just lay there, thinking about everything—Sky's face, Thato's silence, the way everything fell apart so quickly.I reached for my phone this time.Nothing.No messages from Sky.No messages from Thato. Just silence.
I let out a slow breath, sitting up, running my hand through my hair. "So this is what it feels like…" I muttered quietly. Not confusion anymore. Not excitement. Just consequences.I got up and got ready, moving slower than usual, like my body didn't even want to face the day. By the time I left the house, my mind was already tired. When I got to school, everything looked normal—students laughing, walking, talking—but I didn't feel part of it.I stood near the lockers, trying to act like I belonged there… until someone pulled me out of my thoughts. Dialogue (Hlomla & Njabulo)
Njabulo: "Yo, Hlomla."
Hlomla: (turns slightly) "What's up…"
Njabulo: "You look finished, bro."
Hlomla: (forces a smile) "I'm good."
Njabulo: (shakes head) "Nah… that's not 'good.' That's 'I messed up badly.'"
(Hlomla looks away, quiet.)
Njabulo: "Let me guess… girls?"hl
omla: (low voice) "It's complicated."Njabulo: "It's always complicated when you don't know what you want."(Pause.)
Njabulo: "Just don't take too long… or you'll lose both."His words didn't just pass.They stayed.Because deep down… I already felt it happening.
(Thato's POV)
Waking up didn't feel normal. It felt like I didn't rest at all. My chest felt tight, like something was sitting there that I couldn't explain. I picked up my phone, scrolling for no reason, stopping at his name. For a moment, I almost texted him.Almost.But I stopped myself."No… not this time," I whispered, putting my phone down. I sat there for a second, reminding myself who I am. Because yesterday? I almost forgot.When I got to school, I told myself I wouldn't look for him.But I still did.And there he was.Standing by the lockers.Talking.Like nothing happened.That's what hurt the most. Dialogue
(Thato – alone)
Thato: (softly) "So it's that easy for you…"I stood there longer than I should have, watching him, waiting… but I didn't even know what I was waiting for anymore.
Dialogue
(Thato – introducing herself)
Thato: (quiet, but firm) "My name is Thato…"(Pause.)Thato: "And I don't fight for attention."(She exhales slowly.)
Thato: "If you don't choose me… I choose myself."So I turned away.Before my feelings made me weak.
(Sky's POV)I didn't cry.
At least not where anyone could see.I woke up staring at the ceiling, my mind replaying everything over and over again. The moment I saw them. The way he looked at her. The way everything changed in seconds.I sat up slowly, reaching for the ring he gave me.For a second… I just stared at it.
Dialogue
(Sky – introducing herself)
Sky: (calm, controlled) "My name is Sky."(She looks at the ring.)
Sky: "And I don't beg for love."(Pause.)
Sky: "If I have to compete… I've already lost."I closed my hand around the ring.Decision made.
(Break Time – Hlomla's POV)
Break time came, but it didn't feel like a break. I stood alone near the benches, my thoughts louder than everything around me. I didn't even know where to go anymore.Then I saw her Sky walking toward me.
My heart dropped instantly.She stopped right in front of me, her eyes meeting mine like she already decided everything. Then she slowly opened her hand The ring
Dialogue (Hlomla & Sky)
Hlomla: (confused) "Sky… what are you doing?"
Sky: (steady) "Take it."Hlomla: "What…?"Sky: "I don't want it anymore."(Silence.)
Hlomla: "Sky, listen—"Sky: (cuts him off) "No. You listen."(Pause.)
Sky: "I don't keep things that remind me of someone who couldn't choose me.
"Hlomla: (hurt) "It's not like that—"Sky: "It is."(Long silence.)
Sky: "And I'm done pretending it's not."She placed the ring in my hand.And stepped back.
Dialogue
Hlomla: "Sky… please—"Sky: (shakes her head) "Goodbye, Hlomla."And she walked away.
As she walked, she bumped into someone.
(Sky & New Character)
New Girl: "Oh! I'm sorry
Sky: (cold) "Watch where you're going.
New Girl: (confused) "I said sorry…"
Sky: "Then say it properly next time.
"She kept walking.Didn't look back.I stood there. Holding the ring.Looking around.No Sky.
No Thato. Just people.
(Hlomla – alone)
Hlomla: (quietly) "How did I lose both of them…
"(After School – Hlomla's POV)
I didn't wait for anyone.There was no one waiting for me.I walked home slowly, every step heavier than the last. The world felt quieter, like everything was moving… except me.When I got home, I didn't say anything.I just went to my room.Closed the door.And lay on my bed.Staring at the ceiling.Again.The same ceiling.Different feeling.Dialogue (Final – Hlomla alone)
Hlomla: (softly) "Was it worth it…?"No answer came.Only silence.And for the first time…I wasn't choosing between them.I had no one left.
To be continued…