Taste of Ms. Alexander

TWELVE

POV: AMANDA "ASIA" ALEXANDER

I had just finished my session with the second-year students, and I couldn't help but feel a sense of pride and astonishment. They far exceeded my expectations and impressed me with how much they had absorbed. Though as much as I wanted to content, I still knew I needed to be sure of my judgement. A mini test was necessary later in the week. If my judgment was off, I'd be setting them up for failure, and that wasn't something I could've allowed to happen.

As I gathered my things, I made a mental note to speak to the Dean about Brianna. She was starting to get under my skin. The behavior she exhibited was something I simply wouldn't tolerate. A small simple situation spiraled out of control because of her, and the way she carried herself. She was acting as if she was invincible, but she was barking up the right tree. I was going to let it be known that I wasn't someone to be messed around with. The petty threats she'd tossed my way didn't faze me, but I knew I had to send a clear message that I wasn't going to back down.

Who did she think she was, trying to intimidate me with such nonsense? I laughed to myself and the frustration slowly melted away.

I continued onward to my office, then, just as I turned the corner, a sharp pain shot through my stomach. It followed a loud and unmistakable growl. I froze for a moment, scanning the hallway to see if anyone had noticed. Luckily, no one was paying me any mind.

I silently cursed myself. I hadn't eaten anything that morning, and my body was finally starting to remind me of that. If I didn't get some food soon, I was going to be in serious trouble. Probably pass out by the end of the day. My next class wasn't for another hour and a half, so I decided to take a break and grab something from the food truck outside. A quick bite would do the trick, and I'd have time to settle before diving into the rest of my day.

After stashing my things in my office, I made my way outside. The campus was unusually quiet, most students tucked away in their classrooms. It was the perfect time for a quick break. I headed toward the chicken truck as it was the only one apart from the little snack stalls. As I approached the window, I could've heard the attendant speaking loudly on the phone. She was clearly caught up in an intense conversation.

"Gyel, look sharp and bring yuh ass yah nuh! Tink is now mi sen yuh out fi buy mi di ting!"

I cleared my throat, waiting for a break in the conversation to make my request. When the woman didn't seem to notice, I gently spoke up, "Excuse me, can I get fried chicken and bakes?"

She finally turned her attention to me and her voice still carried some of the irritation from her phone call.

"Sorry, bur dat. You want a five-dollar portion or a ten dollar portion?"

I gave a polite smile, as I felt a bit more patient now that I was gonna fulfill my staving. "The five-dollar portion is fine. Um, if you have any local juice, I'll take whatever you have."

As I stood there waiting for my food, I pulled out my phone to distract myself. I scrolled through my notifications wondering if Anthony had reached out. Despite everything that had happened, I still couldn't shake the hope that he might have messaged me. Even just to check in, but there was nothing. No messages, not even a missed call. The emptiness of my inbox seemed to reflect the emptiness I felt deep inside.

I quickly switched to WhatsApp and replied to my aunt, who sent me daily check-ins to see how I was adjusting. She had a way of making me feel so cared for, always asking if I was settling in okay. Truth be told, I was adjusting better than I'd expected. I wasn't doing perfectly, but I was managing. After sending my reply, I found myself scrolling through the stories of my contacts. Most were mundane, but then I saw. There he was.