MY TEACHER

11

The lady held her red purse with a firm grip and her red painted lips turned up.

She stepped inside and same time Christian came from upstairs.

"What are you doing here" his voice comes out strong and I stood there with my heart racing.

What do I even do in a moment like this.

"Thats no way to greet your mother is it...Did you hire a new cleaner" she asked him placing her bag on the kitchen counter.

Christian is drinking the juice straight from the box and I nearly scolded him but I remembered he lived alone.

"No this is my girl" he answered and my eyes widened at his response.

"What!" Her mouth hung ajar. Christian had a nonchalant expression while his mother was over here full blown flabbergasted.

"Christian...don't you dare!" Her voice spoke with so much volume.

"Don't I dare...the deal is off..a long time ago" he said and I still don't know what to do.

"Are you stupid...you're father is dead!...dead...we have to depend on them now" said his mother.

"Me nuh depend on no fucking body!" He slammed the fridge door and I jumped a little.

"How old is even this girl...Vivian was a good woman..better woman" she said standing on her point. The way she was looking at me scared me.

"Get out of my house...I don't want to be apart of this sick fucking family Empire." He said and my brows scrunched together. Empire?

The doorbell rings again.

Without another word his mother walked to the door and I watched as her body brushed passed the pizza delivery man nearly fell.

Christian came to the door and paid him before closing the door.
I could finally move. Did I looked that young, I couldn't help but wonder.

Maybe I need to wear my hair a different way or wear makeup.

Well that was something.

"I told you, you don't need to do this" he said putting the box infront of me.

"Do you not see the state of this place place" I aksed looking around with disgusted face.

"Okay atleast eat first...I'll finish the laundry" he said and before I could disagree about eating I got a look that made me closed my mouth.

"What family Empire?" I couldn't help but aksed when he sat a glass down pouring out orange juice for me.

"Don't worry about it" he said sitting down.

"What do you mean don't worry about it?" I asked and he let out a long sigh.

"Do you have to go home" he asked and I nod. Is he trying to change the subject?

"I have to" I told him and he rolled his eyes with a nod understandably.

We ate in silence and I wanted to ask a million question but I know I wouldn't get much out of him.

I finished cleaning his entire apartment and I showered and but back on my freshly washed outfit from last night.

"You ready" he asked standing at the doorframe with his phone in hand.

"Yes...are you going somewhere" I asked noticing his outfit changed. He's now wearing black joggers and a black t-shirt with black airforces.

"Nowhere...just gonna take you home and come back here" he said walking away from the door.

When I walked into the livingroom I see him out on the balcony smoking.

He looked fidgety.

"Christian you sure you all right" I walked out there behind him and he turn around blowing out a thick cloud of smoke.

"No...you want to make it better" he asked with a smirk with knowing eyes. I rolled my eyes trying to hide my stupid blush.

"My grandmother must be worried sick...she called my dad already" I told him and he nod walking back inside. He picked up a black backpack and we soon left the apartment.

......

"Alright just stay inside alright...don't go anywhere with people you don't know" he said when he park at his usual.

"I knew-"

"I said...its irresponsible" he said and I rolled my eyes internally...he is right.

"Okay father" I said with a smile bit someone didn't find it amusing.

Why so serious.

"Guess I'll see you around" I said unsure of what to say.

The emptiness I usually feel when he's not around enter my body and I wanted to cry.

"You alright?" He aksed, he must've noticed my mood shifted.

"Yeah alright then" I opened the door to exit the car and walked back to my house hoping nobody saw.

"Ma!" I called out for her to open the damn grills.. did she moved the keys.

She came out on the porch with her nightgown on. It's way in the evening now.

She opened the grill and I could tell by her face she wasn't happy with me.

"You know people nuh keep dem mouth ina dis community doh?" She said as soon as I entered the house.

"What do you mean?" I acted

"You know I saw the car you got in last night and the one you came out of this now hailey "

"I hope you're not out here being fast" she said meaning being promiscuous.

"No of course not!" I yelled.

"Watch yuh tone young lady!...what kind of young bwoy yuh know drive those cars...huh?..dem dutty scammers and gunman..and I hope you're not so naive to think otherwise" she said and I remember what happened last night. It had nothing to do with him.

"I'm not associated with any gunman or scammer...I went to a friend birthday party and a ride took me back here" I said lying through my teeth.

"Sure...yuh just nuh mek yuh father hear about this...I tried to warm you from these people but no a dem yuh wah wrap up with" she said with disappointment clear on her face.

"I'm not...yuh know what.." I walked away and slammed my room door.  How can she judgmental.

Christian isn't a bad person...he's a maths teacher. He wouldn't hurt anyone.

.............