Chapter 19: 18

...

°Deanne's POV°

3:30 P.M.

The AC inside KFC is working overtime, making me regret wearing the thin crop top I have on.

It's a Sunday afternoon, and we're in KFC-- Ali, Yan, and I. Mommy had to work an all-day shift today, and Ali claims she isn't in the cooking mood, and quite frankly, neither am I.

So, yeah...the great KFC it is.

Although I definitely don't mind one bit.

Shuffling in my seat, I click on TikTok at the same time that movement across from me catches my attention.

Yanique leans back in her seat, shaking the ice in her cup around before taking a sip of the Pepsi that's left in it.

"Mi nah lie," Yanique says, tossing a handful of fries into her mouth, afterwards, "bwoi...KFC fries nuh have di same buzz again. Dem too rahtid easy fi soggy nowadays."

"And when dem nuh soggy, dem either raw or dem can buss head," she adds, slowly folding the Zinger wrapper between her fingers.

"Yuh alway find sum'n fi complain 'bout eno, likkle girl," Alicia says, side-eyeing her. "Yet yuh still a eat it same way."

"Cause mi hungry, lady!" Yanique fires back. "Wah mi fi do? Starve?"

I laugh, poking at the fries in my own Zinger box. "Aye, the two a uno a sample eno. But Yan's right though, KFC fries kinda ugh nowadays. To me, Popeyes have the best fries."

Or Island Grill.

"Thank you!" Yanique says, pointing at me. "A so mi know Apple a mi cousin fi a reason eno! Because Ali a gwaan like a lie mi a tell or sum'n."

"Yeah, well mi nuh business, di chicken still slaps tho," Alicia says, lathering the fries on her fork with ketchup.

"Mi never say it nuh slap, miss!"

"Then stop complain den..."

Hear the people dem weh nuh like cook a argue over food...!

I giggle at the thought. "Ladies, employ some decorum please," I tease.

This gets Alicia's attention. Her face twists into a frown. "Apple, don't piss mi off."

Murda! I scream out laughing.

"No, fi real, uno see how all di popcorn chicken start come inna some little teeny-tiny box now?" Yanique interjects, shaking the empty box like somehow some more chicken ago drop out if she shakes it hard enough. "Mi swear, di Colonel and him people dem get meaner and meaner every year."

This gyal nawh stop eno...

Aye, KFC, Yanique Bailey is the weapon weh formed against you, memba mi say so!

"Yuh still buy it though," Alicia says, chuckling. Lucky she a entertain her. "Same way you ago buy it again next week."

"True," Yanique laughs, popping a piece of chicken crumbs, that fell from the box onto the table, into her mouth. "Ano my fault. Mi love it too much. Feel like them tie mi."

She big and idle yussi.

I stare at her then at the empty food containers set before her.

No sah, mi cyaa believe this likkle gyal slap off one Zinger, one box of popcorn chicken, fries and a biscuit already! And by later she ago bawl say she hungry again eno people!

I smirk, sipping some of my drink to wash the fries down. "Aye, unu greedy bad eno! Especially dutty Yanique."

Yanique rolls her eyes, showing me her middle finger.

"And yuh nuh greedy? Think because yuh ova desso a pet up the likkle Zinger, like yuh stush, yawh fool nobody?" Alicia shoots back, eyeing my sandwich.

Watchya.

"Yuh nawh get none, so gwaan," I reply, tearing off a piece of the lone piece of chicken they give people in every Zinger box and shoving it into my mouth.

This makes Ali cackle. "Girl, don't gwaan like yuh can flop my show."

I hum, smiling.

While Yanique's already on her second biscuit, wiping crumbs off her Hello Kitty shirt. Di fucka awful.

Which part she even get tha next biscuit deh?

"Mi nuh care wah nobody seh--KFC biscuits always dry," she then says, breaking it in half and stuffing a piece into her mouth anyway.

"Lord have mercy pon da gyal yah!" I say, dramatically. She nawh stop?

"That's why yuh supposed to drink sum'n wid it, dummy," Alicia tells her, ignoring my dramatics, rolling her eyes. She pops a fry into her mouth, then waves one at me. "Miss, yuh nawh hurry up and eat? Mi soon ready."

Girl, stop pree mi and mi food nuh!

"I am eating," I say, sipping some more juice. Cola Champagne yah taste like dutty water to pussyclaat.

Alicia gives me a nasty side-eye. "Yuh t'ink yuh cute?"

Mi nuh "think", mi know.

All waa gwaan a mi thingz a strike her eye so eno. Merciful Lord if yuh nuh busy come control yuh wanga gut creation...!

"Maybe," I say, smirking. I take another bite out of the piece of chicken, deliberately chewing slowly just to taunt her.

Yanique leans back in the seat, brushing off her hands when she's done. "People, uno nuh have nuh plans fi the Sunday evening yah? How di day feel boring so?"

Ali sits up, tossing the empty fries packet to the side, amidst the rest of junk, and picks up her juice cup. "Uno woulda go match later?"

I quirk a brow at her comment. "Which match that?"

"Parkland. Football match," she says, licking the extra ketchup residue off her finger. "Uppa field. Look like it ago big too. To how dem a talk, it come like di whole community plan fi go."

"Really?" Yanique perks up. "That nuh sound bad. Long-time mi nuh watch one ball game eno. Dem match dem always vybzy?"

"Ask Ali. Football isn't my thing," I say, grabbing one of Alicia's fries, from the extra one she bought, when she isn't looking.

"Mind yuh lose yuh hand, oh!" Alicia teases, catching me in the act.

I chups after her.

"Who a play, by the way?" Yan asks, bringing our attention back to her.

"Think dem say Parkland man dem versus Hill Foot. Mi nuh sure. But mi did see Kimani and him say a fi him people dem a play, so a mussi Hill Foot him come from."

With furrowed brows, I sit up straight. "Wait, who name Kimani?"

Why the name sound so familiar? Yet mi cyaa put a face to it.

"The brown guy weh did drive the bus go Uncle funeral."

My heart skips a beat, but I keep my composure. "Oh."

Ali hums, giving me a look.

"Awah, miss?" Mi can just tell wah she a think. And mi nuh inna it wid her, today. Oh.

"So?"

"So what?"

"Yawh mek we go?"

Not a baxide. "You and Yanique can gwaan."

Especially considering the fact seh such person might deh deh. Unt unt. Get smaddy else fi dweet. Nawh set up my life so...

"How mi did know yuh ago seh dat!?" Alicia says, pointing her straw at me, flicking some of the droplets in my face. I wipe it off. This gyal better mind how she a flash har buddy-mouth water inna mi face eno. "Apple, how yuh boring so? Come outta di house likkle bit nuh, girl!"

"No thank you."

"Mi have school tomorrow," I add as a reasonable cop out.

"So watchya, wah this affi do wid school? Mi have work, and Yanique have school too. Yuh just friggin' boring, my girl."

I shrug. "Lowe mi mek mi stay boring. Thank you very much."

She goes to say something else but pauses then gives me a smug smile. "Hear say yuh friend might be playing too..."

Mi did know eno!

Spitting the chewed up remains of the chicken bone into the empty box, I play ignorant. "Watchya, which friend that?"

"Such man..."

"Who?" I ask feigning confusion although I know exactly who she's referring to.

"Driva," she whispers, making my stomach flip.

See why yuh nuffi mek black people know yuh business!?

My heart skips another beat, but I keep my face straight. "So? Wah dat affi do wid mi?"

I release a nervous breath but cover it up with a hiss of my teeth.

"Wait, who name 'Driva'?" Yanique butts in, looking between us with a frown. "Wah mi miss?"

"Nothing important." I fix Ali with a nasty glare. Yuh see yuh, bitch, that's why mi shoulda keep mi blasted mouth shut. Now mi business gone a road.

Ali laughs.

Yanique sits up. "Uno tell mi nuh! Who name Driva?"

Nobody important!

Like she deaf or sum'n.

Before I can voice my thoughts, Ali smirks. "Ask yuh cousin. A fi har big fren."

I scoff. "My 'big fren'?"

But uno a hear this?

Libaty really come thru carelessness to rahtid!

...a that fi happen to mi, 'cause mi did careless bad fi fix mi mouth and tell this yah ole fridge yah mi business.

Hate di likkle dry head gyal yussi...

The thought summons another scoff from me. "Mi nuh have nuh friend, girl..."

Yanique doesn't buy it though. She narrows her eyes at me. Then they widen. "Oh! 'Big fren' as in...likkle girl, yuh have man and nawh tell wi!?"

"A yuh gimme man!?" I hiss. She a di next one.

"Watchya! So wah yawh nyam off mi head so fa, lady?"

"Yuh lucky..."

I don't know why but their taunting annoys me.

Or is it the mention of him...?

...nope.

It's their taunting.

Mhm.

"Nuh follow her yawh, Yan. A so she act hostile when people talk 'bout her crush." Ali's voice brings me out of my head.

Yuh know say she a work fi mi chip some claat inna the people dem good-good establishment!

"Mi nuh have no crush!" I snap, my voice going up a little.

Alicia and Yanique exchange a knowing look, and Alicia grins. "Watch blush."

Yanique bursts out laughing. "Apple, yuh cyaan even hide it good! Look how yuh face did light up when she mention say him ago deh deh."

"Mi face nuh light up! Move up nuh, bitch!" I whisper yell, but I can't help the smile creeping on my lips. Cho!

"Uh-huh, of course it didn't," Alicia teases, leaning back with a satisfied grin.

Rolling my eyes, I swipe up on my FYP, ensuring I keep my head down.

"All now she still a blush eno, Ali."

Lifting my eyes to meet theirs, I scoff. "Yuh know wah..." Not even ago pay uno nuh mind eno.

Tuning out their giggles, I go back to my phone until Yanique breaks the silence again.

"So that mean yawh go later, right?"

Don't ask mi noth'n, man!

"Mi might pass through," I say, with a nonchalant shrug, pretending not to care.

For some strange reason, hearing that Driva will be there sends a shiver up my spine at the possibility of seeing him again, after I've been avoiding him all this time.

...di bwoy goodly not even waa see yuh 'bout...

I push the thought away.

"It's a simple 'yes' or 'no' question eno."

I roll my eyes. "And mi think mi answer simple enough, don't? As mi say, mi might come. Mi nuh know yet."

"Mi might come," Yanique mocks, rolling her eyes. "Apple, just seh yes yawh come and done. Stop di ramping."

Gyal ya, man!

Narrowing my eyes, I hiss my teeth. "Good thing mi nuh look like smaddy weh a ramp."

"Yuh can gwaan di most way sometimes yussi, girl. Nuh know a wah'pn to yuh."

"Alright, uno can done now."

My eyes flick to Ali and my scowl deepens. "Tell yuh cousin that, miss. Mi deh yasso a eat mi food and a mind mi business and a uno come start mi up."

"Apple, nuh bother show up yuh colours yasso, man."

I hum. Whatever.

And Yanique turns back to Ali. "Anyways...Ali, yuh think dem ago keep after-party after the match done?"

"Hear har 'bout after-party! Nuh you have school tomorrow, miss?"

"So? It wouldn't be the first mi bleach whole night and den go school. Sleep out the whole day, yes, but at least mi go."

And you're so proud. Wow.

Alicia laughs. "Eeh? Stay deh. Think Aunty Cynthia play the same game like Aunty Sophia?"

"Tell her nuh, Apple. She fart."

Nuh mix mi, man!

Pretending to ignore them, I roll my eyes.

For some reason, I'm in my feelings. So everything they do or say annoys the hell out of me. And I don't know why.

Think yuh know exactly why...

I hum.

Causing my older cousin to fix me with a glare. Until her phone chimes in her hand, breaking her gaze away from me.

She looks down at the device on the table, swiping at the screen, scrunching her face at whatever message just came in. "Jeezam, a when babe did a call mi and mi miss di call?"

'A when babe call mi and mi miss the call?' I mentally mock, resisting the urge to roll my eyes yet again.

Who n'ave babe a bat.

Like miself ya.

Losing my appetite, I close the box in front of me and tuck in into the brown paper bag. After wiping my hand with the napkin I got, I stash it amongst the heap of garbage that Yanique is cleaning up.

She pauses and narrows her eyes, and I smile sweetly at her.

Yuh lucky. Doh tek it up.

My phone buzzes on the table and I press my finger against the screen to unlock it.

It opens to a message from Mommy.

My Queen💕: Uno leff food fi mi.

Picking up the phone, I hit reply.

ME: Nothing nuh cook 😔

My Queen💕: Mi coulda tell eno. I never see a set a young gyal lazy so yet! Mighty God.

I can detect her tone through the phone and know she's scowling.

ME: Mommy, mi did tired. And Ali never in a the cooking mood either.

My Queen💕: Ali never yet inna cooking mood.

Waiiii. A true still.

...lucky she neva ask you wah yawh do so fi tired so.

I know right.

My Queen💕: So wah yuh eat?

Aww. All she a cuss and gwaan she ago worried eno.

ME: We're at KFC rn.

Hear ya now. Mi just a anticipate her reply. Soon after, the phone vibrates.

My Queen💕: Same blasted thing! KFC better mek uno be ambassadors. Cause a must that uno a work towards.

I giggle.

ME: Lol. Lawd lady. 😒

My Queen💕: So wah mi supposed to eat when mi come home later?

Hear di lady! A me a di mother or she?

...ask her nuh.

Yuh mussi mad. After mi nuh suicidal.

Regardless, I smile and start typing out a reply.

She lucky mi spoil her eno.

ME: Mi buy KFC fi yuh too.

My Queen💕: Oh. Alrite den.

That she like hear eno. See how she calm all of a sudden?

ME: Okie. 😋

My Queen💕: Uno hurry up and come offa the road though.

ME: We will. A yuh annoying niece dem mi a wait pon.

My Queen💕: So a wah make dem annoying now?

...Because them a tell mi 'bout Such Man and mi nuh waa hear.

ME: When have they not been annoying? 🙄

My Queen💕: Lol. Alright mi one seed. Ago lowe uno make uno work it out. Later.

ME: Later Mommy. Love you. 💖

The message goes through with one tick and I know she's already gone offline. I smile, clicking out of the app.

"A who miss lady over deh a text and a smile so?" Ali's voice brings my attention away from my phone.

Frigga fass.

"A Mommy, Awah?" I say pointedly.

But she ignores the attitude, as she knows it's harmless, sliding her phone into her purse. "Wah she a say?"

"A ask 'bout food."

"Tell her uno nuh cook and she a cuss how uno big and lazy," I add, smirking now.

And Alicia laughs. "Aunty lucky. Mi need a break from the same old same old tough food everyday. Sorry."

I hum. Then stand. "Uno nuh ready?"

Ali follows suit, picking up her bag and slinging it across her body. "Know how long mi ready and a wait pon yuh fi done play wid yuh food? Like yuh cute."

"Bite me."

"Tough like. Nuh waa mi teeth dem bruk up inna mi head."

Her comment catches me off guard, making me snort. "Nyam shit."

"Bet it tastes better than yuh tough body."

"Stink like!"

We all burst out laughing.

Dry head drancro...!

. . .

After disposing of the garbage, we make our way to the exit. Pushing the last door open, I step outside and immediately recoil at the heat which pelts my skin.

Damn.

Come like Satan open out him battyhole ova right yasso!

No, man!

I scrunch my face, bringing my empty hand up to shield my eyes.

Di sun neva affi hot so eno.

"Weh yawh go, miss? Nuh ova desso yuh park?" I say to Ali, pointing over my shoulder, when I see her continue walking towards the main road.

Mi cousin step up inna life now and start drive. Her likkle Fit fit har bad too. Purrrr.

"Mi brain look shallow to yuh, gyal? Mi nuh must know weh mi park?"

Watchya. "So weh yawh go? Nuh you say yuh ready?"

"Mi want uno follow mi go over Clock Tower go buy one blouse first."

"Yuh feel di sun, woman?" my frown deepens, but I continue to trail behind them, still using my hand as a shield. Mi cyaa bother eno. Cho!

"Yuh never bring yuh umbrella? Use it, miss stushy."

"Mi look like dry-land tourist to yuh, ma'am?" 'Bout umbrella inna hot sun. Neva see sum'n mi hate so yet.

"A coulda swear. 'Cause yawh act like yuh nice right now."

I stop walking, my lips drawing a thin line. "Bet mi nuh follow yuh go nuh weh, suck hood gyal?"

Completely unfazed, she guffaws. Because she know a true. Gargle Shane balls like sweetie. Likkle freaky gyal.

I bite my lips to contain the smile which threatens to escape. Not even a laugh wid her nasty rass.

They stop as we reach the light at the exit leading to the main road, as it changes to red, so I catch up to them. Peering up at the light, I tap my foot impatiently, counting down the minutes until the light goes green again so we can cross. Mi never bargain fi this eno. A walk up and dung inna broiling sun hot and mi know mi allergic to sun burn.

"Apple, see yuh man bus deh!" the sound of Ali's voice draws me out of my head.

My brows furrow when I notice where her attention is focused, seeing the grey bus speeding down the main, heading towards us.

Lawd God. Acting unbothered, emphasis on the acting, I hiss my teeth. "Gwaan an' lowe mi nuh dutty gyal!"

A not even it that.

Why do I care?

Yanique and Alicia laugh at my comment, making me scoff and turn away, looking behind me. I'm seriously contemplating not going anywhere wid them if a so them ago continue.

A horn blares, and my heart leaps. Tha blasted bus man yah a frighten mi so fa?

I decretely turn my head to look when it passes. My heart skips a beat when I see the name printed in a large, bold font on the back glass: Top Shottaz. Watchya, a it fi real!

As if proving my point, the driver sticks his head out, waving down a car in the lane closest to us, begging a bly to come over. I stare at him. But, I'm admittedly a bit disappointed when I notice it's not him.

"Watch her a hide and look nuh, Yan. Waiii!"

I'm pulled back to the present. Rolling my eyes, to stop myself from blushing, I say, "Yuh know say mi cyaa stan' yuh, Alicia?"

"Nuh stan mi. Lay dung mi den..." She pulls Yanique by the arm as the light finally changes.

Crawses gyal.

"Just watch how mi ago lodge a complaint to Oshane 'bout yuh," I tell her, falling into step with them as we walk along the pedestrian crossing.

"And wah Oshane ago do? Beat mi?"

"Yuh soon know."

"Waiii! Think a mi mek yawh mad ova the Driva and don't know how to act?"

"Come string mi up pon a light post and suck mi dry, shit house!"

"Nuh sorry fimi, Germs! The Driva soon grant yuh yuh wish. Him tongue might have more experience than mine."

Jeezam Crime! This gyal! The heat flushes my cheeks, at the sudden imagery which pops up in my mind, and my clit throbs.

Feeling embarrassed, I walk faster so I'm ahead of them.

Behind me, their laughter echoes in the open space, drawing the attention of a few people nearby, and I hasten my step, shielding my face.

Cyaa go noweh wid certain people eno!

Set a drancro them be.

°

°

°

Meanwhile...

°Tyrone's POV°

3:37 P.M.

The sound of my phone vibrating on the bed beside me, wakes me with an annoyed groan. Hesitantly opening my eyes, I squint at the brightness each time it flashes.

I barely open my eyes properly before I hear the second vibration. Then the third. With stiff limbs, I reach for it, hearing it vibrate again before I even touch it. My scowl deepens. Who di fuck a blow up mi shit so, yute?

I exhale, roll over, and check the time.

3:37 PM.

I rub my face, blinking to clear the fog over my eyes.

Then look at the time again.

Well, guess the plans fi go a garage inna di day ya get fucked.

Jah jah.

My phone buzzes in my hand, and I unlock it, squinting down at the screen. Several pop-up messages are on the screen, but my eyes zero in on the one at the top.

Likkle most mi all figot 'bout that to pussyclaat.

Kimani: Dawg, mi swear if yuh late today mi and yuh ago war. Ball game starts at 5. Liff up outta di bomboclaat bed, man.

Di fucka miserable.

Swiping it off the screen, I read the others which also came in earlier.

Kimani: Yo, weh yuh deh pon?

Kimani: Wah time yawh fawud pon di endz?

Kimani: Hombre. Shout mi back.

Chuckling under my breath, I send back a quick message.

ME: Pussy yuh see the time? Relax. Mi soon forward.

Just as I clear the last pop-up from Mani, my eyes land on the next set of notifications below it.

Candi (6 Missed Calls, 10 Messages).

My jaws tighten.

A wah di fuck this?

Day juss light eno, bredda.

Scoffing loudly, I sigh. Mi nuh inna the mood fi she right now eno. A swear.

It's been almost a month now, why the fuck she still a blow up mi phone? Every fucking day since week, as a matter-of-fact. And fuck if mi reply to one a her messages or answer one a her calls all now. Yet, every day, mi phone full up again.

Mean fi tell mi say she nuh get the memo all now?

Or she deliberately a try get pon mi rass nerves?

Because yuh nuh set nuh boundaries wid har, so she think she can do as she please. Everytime she fuck up and uno argue and yuh avoid her, she come back and yuh gi' her too much pussyclaat bly a that!

...not this time though.

I hiss my teeth loudly. Then sigh. Again.

Swiping across, I clear the notification.

Another text comes in.

Not even ago medz all you eno...

Besides my better judgement, I click on the chat box and it opens up.

Candi: Tyrone please. Answer di phone. Please.

Candi: Mi a beg yuh. Just talk to mi.

Candi: Mi just waa say sum'n to yuh. Then mi done bother yuh.

Candi: Babe.

I quirk a brow. Babe?

Candi: Hello?

Candi: Yuh really done wid mi? Just so?

Candi: Mi swear pon mi mada grave mi sorry.

Mi hate when people mix the bloodclaat dead inna them fuckry!

Candi: Tyrone yuh nuh love mi no more?

Candi: Mi cyaa eat mi cyaa sleep.

Ah. So wah that affi do wid me?

Cyaa relate. Mi just wake. And ago look some food fuck up soon.

Candi: Alright. Yuh naffi answer. Think mi a beg yuh noth'n? 😒

I exhale slowly. At what point Candi plan fi stop fi fuckry?

Leaving the messages on 'read', I lock the phone and drop it on the bed, beside me, my mood going sour.

I spend a few minutes staring up at the ceiling, at nothing in particular, before closing my eyes.

My mind going back to the last time Candi and I spoke in person.

How she stand up inna mi face and blatantly deny the fact say she diss mi. Big fucking time.

'So yuh don't trust mi then?'

'Why yawh do this to mi, Tyrone?'

'Mi literally nuh do noth'n, yet yawh accuse mi like this.'

'Mi nawh cheat pon yuh, Tyrone! Don't flip this pon mi fi cover yuhself!'

I scoff. Woman wicked yuh fuck!

It makes me wonder what kinda heart some gyal have, dawg. Because how somebody mi did trust so much coulda betray mi so easy. And then deny the fuck outta it wid such a straight face.

Shaking my head, at the thought, I pick up the phone again. And stare at the messages. My phone vibrates again as another message comes in.

Candi: The fact that you can read the messages but not respond. Wow.

I hiss so loudly the sound echoes around me. Mi tell miself say mi nah go respond, but my thumbs start moving before I can stop myself.

ME: Yo. Wah the fuck yuh really up to, Candi?

A blow up mi phone like yawh mi fucking gyal.

It doesn't even take ten seconds before she replies.

Candi: Mi wah talk to yuh. Mi wah fi explain miself.

I rub my left temple, feeling my anger simmering.

Tha likkle girl ya, man!

ME: Explain what? Mi done know wah mi know already, yute. Nuh need fi hear nuh explanation. A next man fuck yuh! What else mi need fi know?

She types. Stops. Types again. Before the next message comes in.

Candi: I'm sorry.

ME: Oh. So yuh admit it now?

Think yuh did stand up, ten toes down, say a lie Mani did a tell. Ano lie again? Oh.

Candi: Mi never plan fi do it. Mi did just lonely, Tyrone. Mi did feel like yuh never did have no time fi mi sometime. Every time mi try talk to yuh, yuh busy. And yuh always a vex up wid mi fi every likkle thing. Mi did feel like yuh nuh love mi no more. Or yuh did a cheat pon mi. And mi mek a mistake. But mi swear pon mi life mi sorry. Mi wah fix things. 🥺

Fix yuh bomboclaat!

Yuh tek this thing fah?

My jaws clench. And I rub my thumb over my bottom lip. Oh, so a my fault now mek yuh fuck pon mi? Ah.

ME: Yo yawh hear yuhself, Candi? So because mi did busy a hustle, fi have the money weh yuh enjoy spending so much by the way, and nuh hitch up under yuh every tick a the clock, yuh feel seh dat give yuh di right fi go fuck a next man? That spell sense to yuh?

ME: Yo, a better yuh tap chat eno. Big woman thing. Cause yuh juss a piss mi off more inna the day ya. Kmft.

She reads the messages immediately, but doesn't reply.

I smirk. Fucka yuh. Like yuh waa come tek man fi idiot.

Nuh try spin this shit pon mi now.

Because were the roles reversed, yuh woulda plug out the sun and nyam that rass!

But no! Me a di baboon weh mi always forgive, don't?

Fuck that!

My phone chimes after a while and I look at it, since I'm still in her chat.

Candi: It was an accident.

Eeh?

ME: Accident? How that work? A you slide and drop pon him hood, or a him slip and slide between yuh legs?

ME: Look ya nuh, don't even answer that.

Candi: Can I call you?

ME: No mi good. Gwaan talk yasso.

Candi: Dada, please nuh. I love you. And feel like mi ago mad.

I scoff.

Why mi even deh yasso a prolong tha conversation yah, dawg?

ME: Love me? A so yuh heart big mek yawh walk round a love every bloodclaat man yuh come cross?

Candi: Mi never love him!

Mi affi laugh.

'Cause a must joke thing this.

ME: Good for you. Dat nuh change noth'n yasso still.

ME: In fact it just mek it worse. Mek yuh look like a waste gyal, bredda.

My phone rings and I look at the caller ID. Just to ignore it.

ME: Yo, mi say chat yasso. Nuh waa hear noth'n from yuh. Else mi ago stop reply to this yuh fuck.

Candi: Wah yuh waa mi fi do fi prove say mi sorry? Mi want back mi relationship. Mi learn from mi mistake and woulda take it back if mi could. Please nuh.

I press my tongue against my teeth and shake my head. Shoulda, coulda, woulda. Mhm. Mi hate when people use 'if mi did know' fi justify the fuckry wah dem do yuh fuck.

Candi: Mi know yuh goodly a say if a did me, mi woulda gwaan bad. And a true. But mi woulda forgive yuh if yuh say a mistake. Why yuh cyaa forgive me after so long? Wah yuh waa mi say? Mi fuck up? Alright, mi fuck up.

ME: The first or the second time? Because mi and yuh know ano one time yuh fuck up.

Yuh know wah funny? Hearing her say that. The last time she search mi phone and see a text from a gyal-- mind you, mi and di gyal stop text long before mi meet her--wid some nude pics, she fuck up mi phone. Fling it inna the wall and shell out it pussyclaat.

Then when mi vex, and lowe her out, she same one say mi a overreact and say she ago stop fuck up. All book trip gaa Mexico fi mek it up to mi, when she see say she really bloodclaat wrong.

So imagine if a mi did fuck a next gyal pon her?

But no, mi nuh have nuh right fi inna mi feelings right? 'Cause man cyaa get hurt?

Ah.

Silence surrounds me, and I contemplate putting an end to this back and forth. Nuh mek nuh sense. It's over. And noth'n wah she say nawh go change that.

Just as I'm about to exit the chat, Candi sends another message.

Candi: I'm sorry. 🥺

Candi: If mi say yuh can fuck back pon mi, that woulda change noth'n?

My chest tightens.

Seeing her so desperate makes me feel some typa way.

This whole thing just fuck up. Jah know.

Mi nah go lie--a part a mi did rate har eno. Did really feel like she a di one. Think say maybe she real, yuzeet, that's why mi drop mi dawgish ways fi sekkle dung wid her and shit. Despite her spoiled, bratty ways, she did have some good traits. But...Jah Jah.

Mi cyaa get past this, bredda.

Guess she just wasn't di girl mi did think she was.

I exhale a harsh breath.

ME: Coulda fuck a million gyal, that naggo change shit.

Cyaa willingly fuck noth'n weh mi know say another man a touch.

Hissing my teeth, at the thought, I type out another message before she can respond.

ME: Yo, hear wah mi a say nuh. Stop text-text and call-call mi fucking phone. Done is done. And we fucking done.

Not waiting on her reply, I exit the chat.

Then block her number.

Tossing my phone to the side, I get out of bed and make my way to the bathroom.

A soon time fi mi go play ball.

Cyaa mek yuh fuck up my day nuh further.