Hurt Like This

14

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°Deanne's POV°
9:10 P. M.

My eyes burn.

Sniffling, I swat at my face, drying the tears, or rather, the traces left behind.

My mind reels, replaying the night's chain of events.

Yuh know mi n'ave nuh head though? What mi really did a think?

My heart feels like it's being crushed in my chest, my throat parched.

I don't know how long I've been sitting here like this, but I know that at some point, I heard Driva's car pull off.

I absentmindedly stare into the dimly-lit room, at the walls.

Eventually, my phone buzzes, snapping me out of my daze. Pulling it from my bag's pocket, I open it and slide the notification bar down, noting the WhatsApp pop-up on the screen.

It's a text from Rickel.

Ricky💕: Apple! Yuh good? Mi nuh hear from yuh from evening. U nuh reach home yet?

I sigh, grateful for the distraction. However momentarily. I quickly text back.

Me: Hey. Just reach home. Did a deal with some stuff.

Her response is immediate.

Ricky💕: Oh. Sum'n happen? 👀 Wanna talk about it?

Sigh.

Me: No, nuh really. Soon text yuh back.

Ricky💕: Um...OK. Later then.

I can sense the confusion mixed with uncertainty in the tone of her text. I'm not usually the one to give her the cold shoulder, but I honestly just think I need some time to get my thoughts together. Rickel will understand.

Me: 🫶

I put my phone down and sit there for a moment longer, trying to calm my racing heart. My phone buzzes again. Cho! It's another text. This time, it's from Peya.

Opening it, my brows furrow at the forwarded messages.

Forwarded: Why yuh fren never put Shara name pon the project?

Forwarded: Seriously? She feel like she a smaddy!? From wah day mi nuh know a wah fly up inna her head eno! A come a act like she a saint and nuh love man too! She must stop gwaan like she hype. Har stinking attitude turn mi off!

I roll my eyes. Moesha is always looking for drama. But a thru she nuh know say she a bark up the wrong fucking tree.

Grinding my teeth, I shake my head, at the thought.