°Deanne POV°
5:30 P.M.

"Babe, a wah time now? Yuh nawh badda maths up wah yuh say yawh maths up?"

"Wah yuh feel fa?" I ask, adding the last item to my Shein cart then looking over at him.

Tyrone's sitting across from me, around his PlayStation, with his back turned to me, so he doesn't see me ogling his form.

He's shirtless, so the muscles in his back move sexily everytime he flexes his arms, making me bite the inside of my cheek.

Aye, yuh know tan good?

This likkle bwoy tan damn good.

Despite being together for months, I still find myself drooling over him ever so often.

My man, my man, my man.

Damn.

Woulda give yuh piece right n——

He shrugs. "Anything yuh do, mi good wid."

So him say now, then when mi cook sum'n weh him nuh like, a him that a screw.

But I know he's only saying that so I do agree to cook.

And I would, but I feel too drowsy fi go stand up inna kitchen heat right now. Plus, I've just stopped coughing as badly as I was this morning, so I don't wanna risk contaminating the food.

And, most importantly...mi tired. Cho!

Today a Friday eno...and this long belly bwoy waa mi go kill up miself inna fire side...

Sighing, I click out of Shein and open IG, feeling bored. Since Tyrone a play him game and nawh pay mi nuh mind, might as well mi occupy mi time. "Honestly, to how mi feel right now, Ty, mi not even inna the mood fi stand up inna no fire side. Trust mi."

He pauses the game so he can turn to look at me, tossing the controller onto the centre console. "Then wah we ago eat then, B?"

Yuh can always eat me.

A joke!

Resisting the urge to laugh at the thought, I clear my throat. "Yuh woulda eat some Sakura? Or KFC?"

Please say yes...

Mi nuh know, but from evening mi feel fi a Spicy Zinger.

He stares at me, as if trying to read my mind, then sighs. "That can gwaan, yes."

Yes!

My smile stretches. "Yawh order in, or we a go weself?"

"We can touch road, if yuh want. 'Cause mi know a that yuh want all yawh gwaan."

He knows me so well.

Any chance I get at a drive out, I'm in.

"Yuh love road too much," he adds, a smirk playing on his lips.

Yuh chat too much.

Sticking my tongue out, I make a monkey face and he chuckles. "Now or later?"

"You decide," he tells me, reaching for his phone. "Wah yuh have a do now?"

I sit up, folding my legs under me. "Just affi rinse up back the two plate dem weh we eat out of this morning, then we should be good."

"Ah," he answers, but his focus is trained on his phone.

A wah pon that deh phone deh so?

Shaking my head, and the negative imagery which comes with that thought, I stand and walk towards the kitchen just as I hear his phone go off...but he quickly ends the call.

This catches my attention, and I look back at him.

His head his down, but I can tell there's a frown on his lips. The constant ticking of his temple tells me that's he's annoyed.

O...K then.

Not wanting to spoil the mood, however, I quickly make my way to the kitchen.

.        .          .

A who and Tyrone?

The muffled sound of Tyrone's voice filtering in from the living room pulls my attention away from the cup I'm washing.

A who him a talk to?

Since I can hardly hear what he's saying, I'm assuming he's deliberately speaking hush-hush.

No, man.

That's strange.

Curiosity quickly gets the best of me and I stealthily dry my hands and tip toe over to the door which separates the living room from the kitchen.

Peeking through the crack between the door and its frame, I watch Tyrone as he speaks to whomever on the phone.

He seems to be in a heated conversation, speaking lowly.

It doesn't seem too detrimental, until what he says next catches me off-guard.

"Why yuh keep on a call mi and yuh see say mi nawh answer?"

Eeeh...

Keeping my body hidden behind the door, I continue to eavesdrop.

"Yeah, but yuh cyaa call mi now. Mi deh yah wid mi woman eno."

Say more...

"So how yuh think she ago feel if she hear mi a chat to yuh?"

He moves over to the window, pulling the curtain apart. "So wah mi fi do 'bout that?"

A who Tyrone a chat to though, God?

Because a cyaa wah mi think!

"No."

Since the phone isn't on speaker, I can only hear one side of the conversation. His side.

"Yo, a dem fuckry yawh mi cyaa bother wid eno," he hisses lowly. "Yuh cyaa just call mi anytime yuh feel 'bout any fucking thing. Ano so it work."

Yuh know say a one gyal tha big back man yah deh yasso a chat to?

Him senile?

"Alright, later when mi free mi come give yuh a link——"

Stepping out of the shadows, I rush towards him—— feeling anger swelling inside me—— reaching out and grabbing the phone from his ear.

But he clicks the power button just in time so the screen locks before I can see the caller ID.

I stare at the phone that's now in my hand, at the lock screen which is a pic of us together at the beach, then back at his face.

He looks guilty as fuck, holding his head down, unable to meet my gaze.

My brows quirk. "A who yuh did a talk to, Ty?"

He doesn't answer.

I look at the phone again.

Since I don't know his password, I can't get past making the phone's screen light up.

"Tyrone, a who that mi hear yawh talk to awhile ago?" I repeat, since he's clearly playing deaf and dumb.

'Alright, later when mi done mi come give yuh a link,' his words ring out in my ear like a broken record.

Link who?

...Who yawh plan fi link up wid, Tyrone?

Where?

When?

How?

Why?

"Dee, gimme mi phone."

Oh, so yuh can talk...?

Folding my arms across my chest, I look at his outstretched hand and scoff. "Not until yuh say a who and yuh a make plans fi link up later."

I'm trying not to jump to conclusions and get upset.

When he doesn't answer, but, instead, regards me with narrowed eyes, I laugh.

Because a must joke this!

Tha script ya waa write over tho 'cause it nuh funny.

"Oh, so we're keeping secrets now?" I nod. Cool. "Ah, that's cute!"

"Mi can get mi phone, please?"

Then a who turn on tha broken record yah?

Mi can get mi phone, please?

I hiss my teeth. "Of course. Check mi back when yuh ready fi be a man and own up to yuh mess though."

Not caring what he has to say about my obvious attitude, I tuck the phone into my back pocket and walk back to the kitchen.

Mi just a pray tha gyal deh call back.

Watch mi and har in ya tonight.

Bright!

▪️▫️▫️

"Deanne, mi can get mi phone now?"

I'm almost done with the dishes, when the sound of Tyrone's voice comes from the doorway, about five minutes later.

Ignoring him, I walk over to the fridge and back over to the sink, placing the other dirty plates, I just took out, into the soapy water.

One thing wid me, once mi start wash  plate it's like mi cyaa stop.

"Yo, mi can get mi bomboclaat phone now, badman?" he says again, his voice firm.

Fi smaddy weh inna hot water, yuh very demanding tho.

My heart skips a beat when he comes up behind me, suddenly. I thought he was standing by the doorway.

"Move from side a mi, Ty."

"Deanne."

"Alright, stand up deh like yawh statue then, Tyrone."

Moving away from him, before he can grab the phone from my back pocket, I brush past him since he stands between the sink and the counter, blocking the way.

"CHO, mumabomboclaat...!" He releases an exasperated sigh, pinching the bridge of his nose.

I know he's annoyed, but I don't care. Serves him right. Him too likkle bit and stay bad.

Dutty, community buddy, drancro!

Aye! Yuh see that sum'n yah weh name: man!

Mi hate man!

The whole species a dem...

Turning to face me, he narrows his eyes which are red from smoking. "A them fuckry ya mi cyaa bother wid eno."

That yuh tell yuh gyal too...

"Yuh lucky." I roll my eyes, folding my arms across my chest.

"Gimme mi phone, woman. And a the last time mi a talk."

Hear mi daddy!

A wah this?

Then he acts like he wasn't doing anything.

So why yuh so defensive then if yuh never guilty?

"No, tek it from mi if yuh bad. Mi tired a yuh! Yuh tek mi fi idiot and mi see it clear."

A the worse thing when yuh deh wid a man who no respect yuh eno...

If yuh even ago cheat, yuh nuh do it backa mi? Yuh bright enough fi carry it come inna the house weh mi and yuh a stay...!

Then if a did me, him wring mi neck and kill the bwoy!

Mi tired a it!

"Matter-of-fact, mi done. Gwaan to yuh whoring gyal dem!"

Tyrone chuckles lowly, shaking his head. "Yeah, man. Gwaan assume."

'Yeah, man. Gwaan assume!'

If yuh know how mi hate yuh right now, yuh stop talk.

Yuh know the funny thing: mi always suspect say him a cheat eno, but mi couldn't prove it.

Now mi find out fimme self.

Tek mi fi idiot!

"Yes! 'Cause mi a fool! Mi never just hear yuh conversation weh yuh so conveniently cut short as mi step een, Tyrone! Mi n'ave nuh sense: Cynthia mussi did drop mi pon mi head side when mi likkle!"

"That explains it," he mocks.

The fact that he's being so nonchalant and fucking condescending, about the fact that he just got caught cheating, pisses me off, and I step to him, poking his chest. "You is a liad pusssyhole! Yu!"

Easing me off, he hisses his teeth. "So why yave so much energy? Keep yuh fucking self calm and nuh piss mi off."

Watchya! A wah this man? "Yuh think mi 'fraid a yuh?"

Yes! Like puss, but that's besides the point.

"Gimme mi phone." He outstretches his hand, furrowing his brows when I roll my eyes. "Mi say fi put mi phone yasso, and don't mek mi affi take it forcefully."

No, come beat mi and tek it.

Mek mi get fi step inna yuh tough face!

Why am I even allowing this man to get me all worked up?

Is it really worth it?

Yuh know wah..."I'm done."

"Done wid wah?" he sneers.

"You...I'm done with this so called relationship. It's whatever, mi cyaa bother no more, honestly. As of tonight, we leff."

"Yawh idiot, man. Like yuh lose couple screws. Leff who?"

"Alright stay and see wah go happen den nuh. Think a you alone can have gyal? After no tree nawh grow inna mi face. Mi can fuck pon yuh too!"

"Aye, Deanne...don't make mi disrespect yuh!"

"Disrespect mi nuh!"

He sighs then groans, running his palm down his face. "How yuh annoying so, man? Bomboclaat, star! Yuh come like chink."

But see yah, God!

Him just call me...

"Suck yuh mada--"

Before I can even complete the sentence, I feel a sharp sting seer through my skin at the same time that my head jerks, twisting to face the wall.

Ouch!

My heart rate picks up and I stumble a bit, leaning against the fridge to keep my balance.

Staring at the man, standing before me, in utter disbelief, I bring my trembling hand to my face to touch the spot on my left cheek where he'd just landed the blow.

My mouth falls agape. "A slap yuh just slap mi inna mi face, babe?"

My voice breaks, and my lips tremble.

Yuh serious?

"Seriously?" I voice my thought with shakey breath.

Keeping my eyes fixed on him, I see when his eyes, blazing with fury a second ago, soften.

A cyaa box Tyrone just fling inna mi face...

"Babes," he says, stepping forward and reaching out to touch me.

I flinch, and instinctively scream, "Don't touch mi!"

"Babe--"

"Mi say nuh touch mi, drancro!" I shout again, taking a step backwards, blinking back tears.

Mi cyaaa believe this!

Tyrone box mi inna mi face to pussyclaat!

"Dee, mi never mean--"

Aye!

"Dada, mi swear if yuh put yuh hand pon mi again yaffi go kill mi!" I cut him off, addressing him by his street name.

I side step him and he sighs, pulling his sagging pants to his waist.

Wah him did ago say? Say him never mean it?

And box mi inna mi face so?

So, supposed him did mean it?

I feel the first stream of tears roll down my cheek and I swat at it frantically.

My ear is ringing.

Not even mi father never lick mi so hot inna mi life, and this likkle pissing tail bwoy come put him hand pon mi?

The thought summons the tears.

Yuh know wah..."We leff!"

And mi mean it this time. Or so help me God!

"We bloodclaat leff fi good this time!" I scream, my voice hoarse and my eyes burning with tears.

"Dee, easy nuh. Mi sorry..."

Sorry?

Oh really?

"Sorry? Sorry can buy Soldier Larry, Tyrone? Sorry can take back the fact say yuh just put yuh hand pon mi —— inna mi face?"

My eyes drift from his face to the sink, noting the rest of dishes I was about to wash for us to go buy the food as planned.

Mi not even a bother touch dem!

Him can dead fi hungry for all I care.

When he doesn't answer, I scoff. "Exactly! Yuh diss mi, B. Big time..."

And the fact that I don't expect this from him hurts even more.

"And a yasso it done," I add, feeling my temper growing. "Mi done wid yuh!"

Shoving his phone against his chest, not caring whether or not he catches it, I turn swiftly on my heels and march up the stairs, tears blurring my vision.

I hear shuffling behind me, but I don't even turn to check if it's him following me, because, quite frankly, I don't care.

A leff mi ago leff him place. Right now!

.         .          .

Although it has been over ten minutes since, my ear is still ringing from the impact.

Aye, issa bloodclaat earzas the dutty bombohole gimme eno!

Scoffing at the thought, I shake my head and chuckle, although it's no laughing matter.

Mi frighten when him do it, yuh fret!

Even now, I'm still in disbelief.

Though, the longer I think about it, the more my shock turns into anger.

"If a never one thing yussi!" I mutter, tossing my clothes haphazardly into the bag I'm packing. "A just thru mi cyaa fight him, hear..."

He's bigger and way stronger than me.

But mek mi tell him this: Him better count himself lucky say mi never still deh a the sink, else mi draw a knife and blood up him nasty rass.

Aye...!

Put him hand pon me?

ME?

Me, Deanne Bradshaw?

Inna mi face at that?

Yow!

A thru stinking mouth, broad back, Tyrone no know wah him just do!

Cheat pon mi pon phone wid gyal, then come box mi inna mi face thru mi talk 'bout it...and mi fi take it just so?

Yuh mussi mad!

A sudden knock on the bedroom door startles me.

"Deanne, why the door lock?" says the deep, masculine voice which follows.

Hissing my teeth, I move across the room, grabbing my perfume, lotion, and hair products from the dresser.

"Babes, open the door..."

Stay deh wait nuh...

.     .    .

Retrieving my charger from the night stand, I toss it into my bag, zip it shut, and pull the straps over my shoulder, before grasping the handles of the smaller one.

If anything mi come fi the rest a mi things dem another day.

When I open the door, I'm not surprised to see Tyrone, pacing back and forth along the corridor.

He looks like he's getting off.

On any other day, under different circumstances, I would've found it cute.

But, not today. I hate him too much, right now.

At the sound of the door opening, he stops and turns to look at me, his eyes narrowing into slits when he notices the bags.

"Apple——"

"Mi will collect the rest when mi get the chance." I adjust the straps on my shoulder, before walking past him.

"Babes," he goes again, gripping me by the arm to stop me.

Aye!

Listen mi nuh, man!

Shrugging out of his grip, I tell him, "Don't touch me."

I attempt once more to go around him, but he blocks the way.

"Dee, put dung the bag them and make we talk no please?" His voice is low and cracks.

A bawl yuh waa cry?

Aw!

Fava shit!

"I have nothing to say to you, Tyrone. You get wah yuh want now: yuh freedom. Enjoy it. Now, excuse me please."

"Deanne stop the fuckry!"

Dee, B, Babes, Apple...now Deanne?

Continue ring out the whole a mi name dem yes.

"Can you excuse outta mi way?"

Alright, don't move! Just hope yuh nuh say not'ing when mi push dung yuh rass!

Pushing past him, I'm about to step onto the staircase when he grabs ahold of my arm again, forcing me to face him. I shrug out of his grip and side step him as he's about to hold me again.

Gwaan go grab grab up yuh gyal and lowe mi no, germs!

"Mr Ferguson, if yuh touch mi, mi fling miself dung the stairs and say a you push mi."

A swear to God!

Assuming he realises the seriousness in my voice, he sighs and steps to the side, allowing me to pass.

"Where are you going?"

"But kuya!" I hiss my teeth.

"How yaggo get there?" he presses.

Issa good thing mi a gyal always have mi get-vex money.

Nyam shit.

"Don't worry 'bout that, Tyrone. I'll manage."

Before he can say something else to upset my spirit further, I hoist the bag further up my shoulder and sprint down the stairs.

Taking one last look at the house I've called home for the past five months, I sigh, opening the door and marching through, slamming it shut behind me.

My heart hurts, but right now my cheek hurts more.

I sigh, feeling mixed emotions.

But, I bury them underneath the anger I feel surging through me as I make my way up the avenue——my racing heartbeat and the sound of gravel, crunching beneath the soles of my sneakers, the only sounds I hear in the otherwise quiet neighbourhood.

I might regret this decision later. But, as of right now, I'm sticking to it.

Yes, I love Tyrone with all of my heart, but sometimes we just affi accept say only love can hurt like this.

A life.

And...

Nuh bwoy nawh style mi so and mi suck up to him.

Crazy?

——————————
Posted: July 3, 2023 💕