🧭 A Few Minutes Later...

°Tyrone's P.O.V.°
11:48 A.M.

Yo, mi ano bait eno. Fi get gyal ano noth'n new to me. So mi cyaa understand why mi deh yasso feeling so fucking stunned because the 'B' gimme a chups.

Chups eno, Dawg!

A fucking chups.

Jah jah.

But, yuh know what's worse? Mi nuh feel nuh way 'bout it. Which is concerning. Especially the fact say one 'likkle pickney' kiss mek mi fucking hood a twitch inna mi jeans, bruv.

Yo! Awah this?

This nuh feel safe, daddy...

Cyaa safe, mi fada.

And the fact say she play innocent wid it too eno. Yuh wouldn't even expect that fi gwaan, inna the first place, yuzeet.

See how she gwaan like she cyaa mash ants.

...den again, why mi surprise when she did done tell mi a thing dung a country?

Mhmm.

One thing mi know though, yuh see woman like dem deh? Know wah them spell? Trouble.

Yuh fuck.

Nah hide and talk still, when mi start put chat pon har, earlier, based pon how she did a react to it, mi never predict the morning would go like this a rass. And what a turn of events it was.

The plan was to woo her likkle bit, get her number, maybe link her a few times, after, 'til mi get wah mi want and cut. Yuzeet.

But she blindside mi wid dah kiss deh, bredda. That never supposed to happen. Yet. She fuck up mi plan...

Stumped the fuck outta mi too.

And the worse part is that mi not even get the number fi gwaan wul on pon, fi all a the effort weh mi put een.

Fuckry.

Her words, when I'd asked, come back to me: 'Yuh affi work for it first.'

A challenge that eno, yute!

A bare-faced one at that.

I hiss my teeth. Jah Know?

Muma flipped the script.

Wah mi cyaa understand though is why mi affi put in the work fi she gimme her digits, but she willingly buss kiss pon man jaw. Fi free...

I scoff.

Women.

Despite myself, a small smile stretches my lips at the thought of her lips touching my skin.

All waa gwaan mi wouldn't mind a did someweh else. Soon.

But-- I banish the thought.

Sekkle yuhself, yute. Don't get carried away.

A still a youngin' yuzeet...

Matter-of-fact, likkle pickney.

Yet yawh mek plans fi fuck it?

My jaws clench.

I don't know why, but I hate how that thought makes it sound like I'm only looking to use her. Despite it being somewhat true.

It annoys me.

Because yuh actually rate her.

How mi fi rate smaddy who mi not even know?

I scoff at the idea and how absurd it is.

So how yawh plan fi fuck smaddy weh yuh nuh know? Same difference.

Admit it man, yuh rate her vibes, regardless.

I tsk...mi nuh know 'bout that.

Without demur, I shake my head, while chuckling deeply under my breath, then sigh, and pull up my pants, that's sagging below my waist, before finally turning on my heels and walking away from her gate.

Next thing her father see man stand up a him place and start pree man.

Cyaa tek a chop--know how Parkland ole bwoy dem love draw lass.

And mi nuh waa affi diss a man certain way...

Yuzimi.

My phone pings, interrupting my train of thought.

Patting my left pocket, I dip inside and pull it out.

The WhatsApp icon at the top of the notification bar deepens my scowl.

Immediately assuming who it is, without even pulling down the screen, I hiss my teeth. Loudly.

Yo, Candi annoying yuh fuck!

Except, it's not Candi.

My jaws relax when I see that the message is not from her--there are a couple from her, yes, but I overlook them--but from someone else.

Chantel.

Eeeh?

My finger taps the screen expeditiously, my frown immediately spreading into a devious smirk once the media at the top of the chat loads.

Moving my eyes away from the pumpum pic I'm looking at, down to the message below, I read what it says.

Chantel: Hey.

Biting the corner of my bottom lip, I hit 'reply'.

ME: What's up?

Her response is immediate.

Chantel: Nothing much. Just here thinking about you. 🫣

ME: What about me? 😏

Chantel: Just how I miss you. And would want a chance to see that big dick again.

Eeeh? Dem way deh?

I scroll back up to the pussy pic, noting how fat it looks clumped between her parted legs; the pussy ring on her clit dazzling under the camera's flash.

My dick stirs, imagining it encasing my shaft.

And remembering how Chantel gets down. The way she bruck off mi hood the last time.

Gyal bad yuh fuck. Nawh gi' nuh fight.

ME: That can be arranged.

ME: What time do you get off work?

Chantel: I didn't clock in today.

Interesting.

ME: So, where are you now?

Chantel: Home.

ME: Ah, word?

Chantel: Yeah. Lonely as ever.

She's selling it. But I play along. Nawh hurt nobody.

ME: Medz? So why yuh never link mi from earlier?

She's typing. Pulling up my pants once more, I wait for her text to come in.

Chantel: Honestly? I didn't think you'd respond. Especially since you've been avoiding me.

I laugh. Jah Jah.

ME: Mi? No sah. None a that, B.

Mi honestly figot 'bout her. But she naffi know that, yuzeet.

Chantel: If you say so. 🙄

ME: Why would I lie?

Chantel: 🤷

Chantel: So why haven't you texted me since we last spoke the other day?

ME: Honestly, I got caught up in some things.

Yeah.

Like the Schoolaz weh a plague yuh mind...

Chantel: Oh. OK.

Chantel: So am I safe to assume you're "free" now? 👀

ME: Yuh can call it so, yes.

Chantel: Good.

Chantel: Well I'm home.

ME: So wah yuh waa mi do?

Chantel: That's a given.

ME: Yaffi tell mi wah yuh want. Don't like guess and spell.

Chantel: I want you to come over, Dada. Dah. 😒

ME: Then just say that 😏

Chantel: Ugh. You're lucky your dick matches your ego and attituden

Chantel: *attitude

ME: From ever since.

Chantel: Lol. Anyways, where are you now?

ME: On the road a deal wid some things.

Chantel: Yeah?

ME: That mi say.

Chantel: So what time am I to expect you?

I check the time on my phone. Just after twelve?

Jah know?

I clear my throat. Then sigh.

ME: Bout inna the 7 o'clock bells.

By that time Tash supposed to forward back.

Chantel: Well OK. I'll be waiting. 😊

Zeen.

ME: Ah.

ME: Me'll link yuh when mi a forward.

Chantel: OK sexy.

ME: 👍

Mi know the one Perry woulda vex yah now. But a life. More while some things gwaan weh we just affi vex bout, yuzeet.

Ano noth'n new.

A di truth.

After all, wah nuh cost life, nuh cost noth'n.

Exiting the chat, I opt out of the app completely, before logging into my gallery and deleting the pic which was automatically downloaded and stored there.

Especially since Candi start move like she a detective.

My mind recalls how she'd reacted this morning.

I scoff at the thought. Audacious yuh fuck.

But mi nawh wild her.

The fact say she have a next man a fuck and a gwaan like she jealous than anybody else, upsetting to say the least.

But mi just a mek she gwaan have her fun. Just know say she have a next thing coming her way.

Gi' who bun?

Me?

When pussy outta road a dash weh?

Mussi sick inna one part.

Watch wah go gwaan...

Ago mek her fucking heart crush in a her chest.

And she shoulda know say me ——Dada——a the last smaddy fi she run certain bloodclaat joke wid.

Oh.

Speaking of the Devil, my phone immediately rings.

I pull the device back out of the pocket I'd just tucked it in and look at the screen.

Incoming call: Candi.

Releasing an exasperated sigh, I lower the volume and let it ring out.

But it continues to vibrate against my skin, ticking me off even more.

I stop walking and tuck my hand into my pocket, retrieving the device, before swiping the screen and placing it at my ear.

"Yo!" I breathe.

She pauses for a second, as if taken aback by my tone. Before she hisses her teeth and, equally as sassy, says, "A who yawh answer so, Tyrone?"

I grind my teeth. "Ano Candi this?"

Pulling the phone away, I look at the screen just to make sure. 'Cause mi mussi a see doubles.

She clicks her tongue. "Mi not even ago badda say wah mi mind a tell mi fi say."

Say it, man. Wah fi stop yuh?

Mek mi fist yuh inna yuh pussyclaat mouth.

"Yo, wah yuh say?" I urge her on, getting more irritated by the second.

"Why mi a text yuh from morning and all now yuh nuh answer?"

Mi pussyclaat...

Then a when Mumzi learn fi use phone?

'Cause mi coulda swear a she dis deh pon the line.

Biting back the insult which settles on the tip of my tongue, I exhale. "Candi...relax."

"Don't tell mi fi relax, Tyrone! Mi see yuh online and all now one a mi text dem nuh read."

Oh word?

Before I can say anything, she continues, "A who yawh text? Yuh gyal dem? So me come last?"

Yo..."Who yuh see mi a text, woman?" I hiss. "Mek yuh so fucking insecure?"

"Yuh think mi a idiot?" she shouts so loudly the speaker crackles.

"Yo, yuh know wah, mi deh near mi granny and mi nuh waa she hear mi if mi decide fi tell yuh 'bout to bomboclaat, so a best yuh come offa this, yer that."

She scoffs.

But calms down, somewhat. Sum'n mi can never understand wid her. It's like she love when mi diss her. Otherwise, she chew iron, but once mi threaten fi disrespect her, she's as humble as a lamb.

Smaddy she a look fi beat her eno, but before mi put miself inna tha position deh, a better she gwaan her ways. Yuh hear mi a tell uno?

"Babe," she changes her tune, "yuh nuh leave your grandma's yet?"

If she nuh bipolar, mi deh pon crack.

And a straight herbs mi burn.

"Candi, yawh baby?" I pinch my nose bridge. "Wah yuh do? 'Fraid?"

"If I'm here all alone and don't feel comfortable, that makes me a baby?"

"When mi did a cut this morning, zeen, wah mi did ask yuh?"

She goes silent.

"Say if yuh want mi drop yuh a Square don't it?"

"Don't it?" I press when I don't get an immediate response.

"Yeah," comes her meek response.

"Ah. And yuh say 'No' don't it? Say yuh will stay by yuhself, right?" I continue to drill her. "So why the fuck yawh call call and a text text mi now a tell mi fuckry?"

Worse ano like mi nuh tell yuh weh mi ago deh.

"If yuh cyaa stay deh by yuhself, yuh nuh call a taxi, man? Yuh nuh have money?"

I know she can more than afford to, as she never travels without money. Plus, I gave her thirty grand extra, just this morning.

So why the fuck she a try stress mi brain?

"Yawh big woman eno, yuh nuh need nuh baby sitter." I hiss my teeth. "And mi nuh need nuh tail pon mi."

The words are harsh, but I don't care. I'm tired of the unnecessary nagging.

The toxic shit is not for me.

I hear her sniffle and can tell she's crying. I sigh. Jah know? "Yo, wah yawh bawl fa, my girl?"

"I'm not," she lies, but her voice breaks, giving her away.

Jah Jah. "Yo, babe, listen, mi soon come."

"OK." Candi sniffles.

Without another word, I remove the device from my ear and disconnect the call. Then hiss my teeth so loudly it echoes in the open air.

Cho, bomboclaat star.

Mi tired a this fuckry game weh she a play. Trust mi.

And yussi thru she know me rate her pon a levels...she feel she can manipulate man certain way.

Jah Jah.

A few seconds pass, with me standing like a statue in the lane, before I decide to continue on my journey back to my grandmother's place.

Mi leff the woman how long a sleep, she must wake and hungry by this.

At the thought of her being hungry, my heart drops.

Especially remembering how excited she was to see me this morning, and how she'd welcomed the groceries I'd brought with a grateful heart. And fi someone like Mumzi openly showing desperation...it honestly broke my heart.

Mumzi has always been full of pride. So to have her call me this morning saying how much she's hungry, shifted something inside of me. Jah know.

I told her I'd get a little helper to help her around the house and look after her needs, especially now since Tash will be working. And of course, she objected. As expected. But I won't have it. She cyaa manage, nuh matter wah she waa say.

Making a mental note to put out a post pon Facebook, I bend the corner, avoiding the overhanging hibiscus flower which pushes over the wall and projects too much into the road.

Just as I do though, something, or rather, someone, moves in my peripheral, making my head snap to the left.

My eyes settle on the same brown yute from earlier, who's staring me down. He's standing behind the same wall, at the other end, so only his upper body is visible to me.

I narrow my eyes. But pretend I don't feel his eyes on me.

Wah the fuck this?

I continue to walk.

But the fact that he's blatantly staring me down, halts me in my tracks.

"A wah, badman?" I address him when I'm close enough.

"A wah this, man?" He scoffs. "A wah do tha bredda ya?"

Like today is the day fi people annoy the fuck outta mi?

"Wah do mi?" I say pointedly. "Wah do you? How yawh look look pon man so, pussy?"

Yo, from mi a walk a come dung the road the man a pree mi eno, Dawg! Like him hear say mi fuck man or sum'n!

Matter-of-fact, from mi a walk a come up wid the 'B', earlier. Like a him woman or sum'n. If she never say ray mi woulda believe. But, the way how him a pree things yuh wouldn't believe say she say a just her neighbour. To how the man a move like him work fi Quest to pussyclaat.

Pussy watchman.

"A who yuh, man?" He hisses his teeth, and gives a low, derisive laugh.

This ticks me the fuck off. My nose flare. "Who me? Go 'who yuh' yuh madda, batty bwoy! Weh yuh hear 'bout?"

He comes closer to the wall. "Say that again nuh, and see if mi nuh gi' yuh a fuck box inna yuh face. A my place yuh inna eno, idiot bwoy. Wah yuh think?"

Mi pussyclaat....

A joke this?

Cut the cameras.

"Try it nuh, pussy!" I hiss, nonetheless, my fist clenched. I don't even know why mi a get worked up over tha sodomite ya. "Suck Yuh mada!" Again.

Brawlin'. Wid bare badness backa dat, wasteman.

He shakes his head. "Bet say yuh get waah yawh look fa, punk? Yuh know man?"

Mi nuh fuck man, so why mi woulda waa know yuh, gyal clown?

"Shiver me timbers." I mock shudder. "Suck yuh daddy tu, pussy!"

Weh yuh feel like?

Think mi fraid a chattings?

"Matter-of-fact, a better yuh easy yuhself, likkle yute," I tell him, my face void of emotion.

Then add, "My badness and your badness a two different badness, yer likkle yute. So a better yuh tek a chill pill and relax, yuzeet."

Before man affi get grimy and fuck yuh up inna this. Awoah.

Mi nuh care a weh yuh come from.

Coulda Parkland. Drewsland. Riverton...mi nuh give a fuck.

"Yuh mussi think yuh whoring gyal can save yuh!" He hisses.

"Which "whoring" gyal that?" I scoff. "The one weh yuh waa fuck and cyaa fuck?"

"Yuh know nuttn 'bout mi, yute?" he shouts.

And I laugh at how pink he's turning. Man a transform to pussyclaat. Murda murda. I smile. "Wow, wah mi fi do? Run? Scream and bawl? Shit and vomit?"

"A mi alone born, yer?" My tone is condescending. "Nuh need nobody fi defend mi, idiot bwoy. Move from yasso wid yuh baby badness, Power Puff Girl."

He's huffing and puffing behind the wall at this point, and all I can do is laugh.

My eyes drift past him and to the pink and blue house behind him as the door opens.

As he's about to say some other shit, since that's all he's been spitting since him start chat, an older woman appears at the doorway and calls him, saying, "Chance, awah?"

Mussi him mother. I chuckle.

Mama's bwoy...

"Noth'n, Mommy!" He shrugs her off.

"Come here!" she calls again, her tone more serious now. She moves forward and holds onto the grill with her left hand while using her right to adjust the robe she's wearing.

I laugh. Then shake my head. A this yah sissy yah Such Girl mek hit? Could never. I scoff. "Gwaan een, Princess, mind Mommy beat yuh."

At my statement his head snaps back to me. Man a screw yuh fuck. Pity him wouldn't even know say a joke thing mi a tek this fa. 'Cause a coulda never noth'n else.

"This nuh done yer," he threatens.

Laughing even louder, I shake my head and walk past his gate.

Yuh n'ave a chance, Chance. Pun intended.

Fucking retard.

°

°

°

⏱️ Meanwhile...

°Deanne's P.O.V.°
11:49 A.M.

"Misses Miserable, see the sum'n here," I say, finally moving from the window and walking further into the living room.

Mommy is sitting on the couch facing the TV. Her head is down—— eyes focused on whatever she's watching on the device resting on her lap—— but she doesn't even spare mi a glance when she says, "Oh, yuh finally reach back? Think yuh did lost. Or, Dawn never 'memba how fi cook, so a you did a help boil the baxide soup."

I instinctively roll my eyes. Discreetly of course.

Hear dramatic!

Regardless, I laugh. And yuh know mi not even a laugh though. Cho.

"Mi say if mi did wait one minute longer, mi baby mark!" she continues. Her tone is playful though, which means she isn't upset. Waa go done.

So, I relax.

Then laugh again. More loudly this time. Then make a face. "Which baby, lady? Move man."

She purpose yussi!

"Yuh soon know when mi push it out." She chuckles more to herself now. "One big head, ugly sum'n like you and yuh pa."

Ah boi.

When overly dramatic did a gi' weh, Cynthia, yuh did head the line. Mi believe.

Her words make me gasp. "Not too much on my nice, clean father now," I tease.

But Mommy hisses her teeth, pushing the subject to the side with an annoyed, "Apple, mi hungry!"

Hear ya! "So nuh the sum'n this mi a go warm up, lady! Jeez!"

Yawh act like the likkle soup a run weh.

Mommy clicks her tongue. "If yuh never go spread bed dung the lane, it wouldn't need fi warm up. Don't it?"

See it deh.

Mi know she did ago come wid it eno!

Sigh.

"Ah boi." I shake my head and head to the kitchen.

After walking over to the counter, I wash my hands, put the soup in the microwave to reheat it, then walk back to the couch where Mommy is sitting.

Pulling out my phone, I look at the time. 11: 55 A.M. already?

Time a fly...!

"Listen fi when the microwave stop, Mommy," I tell her, sliding my phone between my breasts, since my shorts has no pockets.

"Weh yawh go?"

"Ago bathe now and then go do the sum'n before it gets too late. Hear?"

If mi nuh leave now, by time mi fi ready and get vehicle, so much vehicle at that, mi might nuh reach Wharf before them lock.

"Oh. Ai," she hums without looking up from the tablet resting on her lap, playing an episode of Paternity Court.

Wonder a which episode she a watch?

Paternity Court is my, Mommy, and Ali's favourite YouTube series to watch together. We watch it almost every night before bed.

It gives...

Aye! Some sum'n can gwaan pon that thing yussi. Then they have the audacity fi say Jamaican couples toxic, when them Americans yah can sleep 'round so; das half a di time dem don't even know who a them baby daddy. All when ten men show up. No sah!

And them ever inna some TOXIC situation too eno.

I don't know how people siddung inna toxicity and feel good.

I could never.

I shake my head at the thought as my feet carry me up the stairs.

▪️▫️▫️

12:15 P.M.

Mi breast dem ano slippaz eno, but Jah know this mek them feel like issa pair mi have pon mi chest. And not even the nice slippaz dem either eno, like Bridget's or Tori's.

But, more like the cheap one dem weh sell dung a Town; weh as yuh wear dem two times, dem stretch out. No sah!

My frown deepens as I stare at my reflection in the mirror, at the fitted coral-coloured dress which sits unflatteringly on my body. Particularly over the chest area.

No girl! Tek this off. This nuh mek it. Tek it bloodclaat off!

"Ms Shein, mi waa back mi money!" I turn around to inspect the back side. "'Cause...awah this?"

No man, Apple.

"Shein, you...!" Issa lyad bombohole! I place my hands akimbo. "Cyaa see back my face." Look how the gyal pon the website nyam the dress!

And our physique isn't much different. That's why mi buy it, apart from the fact say it did dirt cheap, obviously. So a wah this?

"I have been chopted!" I laugh in an effort to not cry. And look how mi did have big plans fi tha dress yah. Especially if the chances were I'd see Tyrone on my way to the bus stop. The man cyaa see mi inna this! Yuh mad? I blink back the tears. Then laugh again. "Mi really affi tek bad things turn joke to rahtid..."

Prime example of that Tiktok trend: 'What I wanted' versus 'What I got'.

A fed up!

A heavy sigh leaves my lips as my ass connects with my mattress. I don't know what else to try.

This dress just naa give wah it supposed to give, nuh matter wah mi try.

Mi try put a jacket over it.

My try use tape fi hold up mi breasts dem.

Mi even contemplate——I hiss my teeth, as my eyes scan my bedroom.

Alright, maybe if mi wear it wid one bra it won't look so bad.

Yeah...do that.

I walk over to my dresser and pull out my favourite strapless black bra from the drawer.

Since the dress is off-the-shoulder, if I'm to wear any other bra, it won't work.

"Alright, Goodie, let's see..." I put it on and fix the strap of the dress back onto my shoulder.

No sah!

Apple, tek this off mi say!!

I laugh then flop back onto the bed, kicking my feet out of sheer frustration. Ugh!

"Yuh know wah," I say, after a few minutes, rolling over and off the bed. "me nawh stress miself. Fuck this fucking ugly dress. Mi ago just wear one regular jeans and blouse."

Because this must be a sign say mi nuffi try impress man and be miself.

With my mind made up, I look for the easiest one I can find, and get dressed.

.                .               .

It's roughly ten minutes later when I walk down the stairs to see my mother sitting in the exact position I left her in, laughing like an hyena on steroids.

My frown turns upside down. "A wah sweet yuh so?"

Her eyes snaps to me and her brows furrow. Ignoring my question, she asks one of her own: "Weh yuh dress up ago?"

My expression mimics hers. "Wah?"

I stop walking when I stand in front of her seated frame. "Mi nuh tell yuh say mi did ago bathe and come fi go weh yuh ask mi fi go?"

"Watchya..." She spits the chewed out chicken foot bones onto the soup cup's lid.

"Awah?" I fold my arms.

"Look how long mi tell yuh say no bother. Yuh mean fi say yuh never hear?"

"Wah yuh mean 'no bother'?" A must joke she a mek.

After mi waste mi precious time a get ready?

"When you lock up inna your room, it's like yuh hearing lock off too. Mi call yuh from when and tell yuh say Ali say mi fi just take the picture of the papers and send come and she'll pay the money out-of-pocket, 'til she come, because she hear say the Wharf a lock early today. So yuh naffi bother kill up yuhself."

My heart sinks.

There goes my chance to see Driva again when mi a pass.

My frown deepens. And I scoff.

Totally forgetting that I'm still in my mother's presence.

Until her voice says, "Oi, fix yuh face! A who yawh frowns pon?"

I turn around, feeling embarrassed.

"Try nuh bother wid it. Oh."

'Try nuh bother wid it, oh,' I mouth, mocking her.

"So gwaan go tek them deh off and pass some water gimme fi drink." She shuffles in her seat. "Thanks."

Rolling my eyes, I turn and slowly mount the stairs.

"Walk fast too. Yuh think mi a ramp?" Her voice startles me, making me turn back and head to the kitchen instead.

"Thanks, mi daughter. Love yuh all when yuh vex," she says once I hand her the glass of water, making me roll my eyes.

I hum.

"Yuh nuh love me too? Wah, thru mi nuh send yuh pon road?"

Ignoring her, I walk back to the stairs.

"A so uno pickney nowadays ungrateful. But mi nawh say a word..."

"Mommy! Yuh just awful so. Look how yuh hype mi up and just come bruk mi frigging vibes," I mumble beneath my breath.

CHO!

"Wah yuh ova desso a say?"

Yussi thru mi nuh reach the age weh mi cyaa get box dung yet, mek mi shut mi mouth and go finish mi Geo project.

"I didn't say anything, lady."

"I thought so."

Kiss mi teeth.

▫️▪️▫️

1:38 P.M.

I'm in the middle of adding the final touches to my project, when my phone buzzes, from where it is set on the opened text book beside me.

Thinking it's my bestie, since we'd been texting on-and-off since evening, I smile and reach for it.

But my smile drops when I see the text that came in, not from Ricky, but from an unsaved number.

My heart beat goes into overdrive as I click on the chat and stare at the message, immediately knowing who it's from.

Chance.

Jesus Christ.

Bile rises to my throat as my trembling fingers hover over the text.

Unknown Number: A so yuh do things? A them wasteman deh yuh like?

Him start again?

I knew it would.

Especially after seeing me with Tyrone, today.

Lawd have mercy!

My eyes drift to the window, adjacent to his, seeing that his curtains are drawn and knowing that if I stand, I can possibly see him sitting on his bed. Watching me. As he always does.

Summing up the courage, I delete the message and toss the phone to the side like it burns.

The room is still, so when the notification alert goes off again, it's almost deafening.

I hesitate for a bit, but a part of me urges me to pick up the phone.

I do.

But when I look at it, my nerves immediately subside.

I open the message, a nervous smile spreading my cheeks.

#1DAD 🥰: Hey baby girl. I sent some money to your account. Don't tell Mom because she already a nag mi say mi bruck yuh bad.

#1DAD 🥰: Mi also send her the money fi buy the sum'n yuh ask for. Check her for it.

My smile brightens.

ME: Thanks Daddy! 🥰🥰 U tha best.

My mind immediately forgets about Chance. All focus being on my amazing father.

#1DAD 🥰: Easy nuh me one daughter. Love you. Deh pon the grind same way, so later. Cool?

ME: OK. Love you more 😘

He goes offline and I sigh, the smile still on my face.

My eyes catch his new DP, and I laugh. What a man fi change picture!

I click on the profile picture to inspect it further. It's a photo of him, dressed to the 'T', cutting his ten in a beautifully designed restaurant. Go thru mi father! Raayyy! I screenshot the pic from his DP. The man update this like him a celebrity pon the gram. Yuh see him face?

Face bwoy eno!

Clicking out of his chat, the smile still on my lips, I giggle.

But the joy I feel is shortlived, as, in that exact moment, another text comes in.

Unknown Number: Lef mi pon seen one more bloodclaat time and see wah mi do yuh, whoring gyal.

And just like that, I feel like crying.

Lawd God...