The Crossfire | Revised | Sample

i | 25 | the b a l a n c e

❝ THE BALANCE ❞
───── ⋆⋅🌹⋅⋆ ─────

───── ⋆⋅Chayanne⋅⋆ ─────

I'm walking about the hotel while Favio is in his meeting. I remember how good him look outside his usual casual attire. Mi never did find formal attire of slacks, long shirt and a jacket with loafers so breathtaking until me see Favio looking photoshoot ready. What a nice piece a bwoy. . .

Curiously walking around, mi end up ina waa ballroom weh a get prepared by workers fi later dis evening. Mi even end up ina waa large, open-concept, rustic-styled dining hall and bar. The light from the hot sun a stream through the glass weh substitute fi waa wall. The floor have rows and rows a occupied chairs and tables. Ina the crowd a dining people, mi swear mi see smaddy weh look like Favio siddung round waa table wid two adda man.

Afta taking a closer look, me realize seh a him same one. . . me wuda know tha headback deh anywhere. Him siddung upright, one hand under the table and the next pon top a it a idle next to waa Martini glass.

Compared to a young looking Favio, dem man ya look up ina age: one a dem black, short and round; the next is white and tall wid greying hair. All three a dem ina fancy, tailored two-piece suits: Favio, a dark grey; Round Man, waa black one; and the Grey Head, waa light grey. Favio and the fat one deep ina conversation while the other one a silently watch dem.

Mi get e feeling seh mi a pry, so me quickly divert mi vision. Leaving the entrance of the dining hall, mi choose fi go elsewhere fi see wa dis five star hotel have fi offer. . .

This is how mi end up outside by the pool.

People a all different age and race a chill out here. As e cool breeze blow pon dem skin, dem tek sips from them tropical cocktails or laugh wid e person next to dem while dem warm sun.

Mi too lazy fi go back fi mi bath-suit ino. Deciding seh mi tank top and shorts nah go mek mi look too outta place, mi go lay down ina one a the empty chair dem fi enjoy the cool breeze and warm sun too. Besides, wa sense mi come a waa fancy hotel if me nehna go at least tek some picture fi post?

Mi go tek a seat on one of the poolside chairs weh nuh ina too much sun. I don't have sun screen with me right now but I'm going to sunbathe regardless. My eyes are closed with my airpods in my ears for maybe twenty minutes when I sense someone standing above me, blocking the Sun's light.

Opening my eyes, me see this average height dark skin dude.

Mi put mi hand above my eyebrows fi get a better look at him. "Yu lost?"

"No," him flash me a lopsided smile. "GPS lead me right to you."

Fadda God wa dis?

Mi remove mi hand fi rest back pon mi belly. Closing my eyes, mi tell the bwoy, "Not interested."

"Yu neevn get fi know me, Mumma, how yu fi seh yu nuh interested?"

Bwoy. Mi just hate man weh nuh know fi tek 'No.' fi an answer. Sighing, me start get up. Look how me did a enjoy the likkle cool breeze before dis big crosses come yaso.

When me start walk weh, him call out to me again, "At least give me your number so we can get to know each other."

Mi turn round fi give him a piece of mi mind when me spot Favio a approach the bwoy. Favio stroll pass him and come stop beside me. Hands hidden in the pockets of that exceptional suit, mans look like smaddy straight outta waa cologne commercial.

"Hey," him seh, looking down at me. "Thought you were back in the room."

"No. . ." Mi check mi phone and realize seh a four p.m. already. Deevn realize how time fly, I wanted to be back in the room before him.