The Girl Nextdoor- A True Jamaican Love Story

Window

Chapter 1: Window

TYRA'S POV:

Me tiyad fi be house rat Eno..

For years, I've always been a house rat because of my father who doesn't trust me enough to let me go out. Even at 17, I'm still cooped up in the house till this day, and I cannot wait to be free once I turn 18.

I was seated at my tiny dresser, staring at the different items laid in front of me. "Wonder a wah me fi do wid me head todeh". Love comb mhi big head and not even a go nowhere.

My train of thought was interrupted by a voice, calling me through my bathroom window. ' what can go so?'. I was hesitant to answer at first until I recognized the voice to be my neighbor.

My neighbor's house was immediately next to mine, and anything and everything that happens can and will be heard from either side. I'm not familiar with much people in my neighborhood, but I do know a few kids who I see only on school days whenever I do leave home.

Walking into the bathroom which was just next to my room, I stood on the edge of the shower, peeking through to see who the voice belonged to.

A boy?

He was probably around my height or shorter. Keep in mind I'm 5'6 in height but maybe because I was standing on a high place, my eyes were fooling me. He was dark skinned, call him black, with short hair, and the belly of an 8 months pregnant woman.

Wonder why this likkle boy calling me.

"Yes?". Was the only response I gave, catching his immediate attention. "A suh yuh name fi real?". He asked, sounding shy. "Yes that's my name.. why?". He had me intrigued on how he even knew my name, because I've never really spoken to him before.

"A mhi sista tell me yuh name eno". He said, playing with his fingers in the shiest manner. "Oh? Tameka?". I was familiar with her, she helped me once, putting me on a Highgate bus to get to school since I was already late due to a issue at home, and after receiving her help, we became immediate friends.

"Yeh". He says, before looking behind him. Following the direction his head was pointing, a tall figure could be seen almost in the shadows, but visible enough for me to see him.

A batman second this?

"Come nuh breda!". The boy shouted at the lone figure as he stared at us. "What's your name?". I asked the boy, still trying to wrap my head around the situation. "Jaylon". He responded quickly, before walking over to the guy in the shadows.

Stepping down from the showers edge, I went back into my room and sat in front of my dresser once again. "Aguh put me head Inna granny plat cause me cyaah badda.. have so much hair and nuh know wah fi do with it". Saying this, I started parting my hair into four sections and plating it neatly.

"Breda yaah batty man? Gwaan go talk to eh girl". Jaylons voice echoed in the yard. Foot steps could be heard near my wall, but no voice called out. "A wah Dem out desso a do?". Finally finished with my hair, I decided to sit and listen to their conversation.

"Bigs come off a eh fuckery nuh yute me cyaah tek shame ino". A deep voice echoed back, who I'm guessing belongs to the guy I saw watching from the distance. "She naah shame yuh just gaah eh window and call har". Jaylon, whom I'm assuming is also known as 'bigs', said this with confidence in his voice.

" Him mussi think me nyam man fi breakfast". I chuckled at my own joke, still listening to them. " Bigs go suck yuh gyal!". The boy said, sounding much farther this time. "At least I have one". Smug and cunning was how jaylon sounded as he said this.

Not much was heard after that so I guessed they were done until footsteps were heard again, this time they stopped where I believe was near my fence at the back of my house. "Bro just gwan go talk to eh girl it nuh that hard eno". Bigs said, pushing his friend.

I afto laugh

The hissing of teeth could be heard before the sound of footsteps leaving followed behind it. "He seems shy unlike jaylon". I muttered to myself, not feeling very confident to go back to the window, but something was telling me to go.

Going back to standing at the edge of the shower, I opened the window wide enough to see over next door. Spotting bigs, I called him over silently and watched him as he hurriedly came over.

"Yeh?". He stood a little closer this time, looking me in the eyes. ' I guess he could see the mischief in them'. I thought, a big smile plastered on my face.

"I couldn't help but overhear your conversation with you and your friend.. what was that about though?". I asked, watching him look at the boy again before turning to me. "Him like yuh from long time and me a tell him fi come talk to yuh and him fraid". He said, looking at the guy again, who was already looking in our direction.

"Oh, really?". I said, genuinely surprised. "Yeh man, him like yuh fi true". Bigs said reassuringly. "Call him". A sudden boost of confidence was found in me as I said this. Although I myself is a shy person, that won't stop me from claiming an opportunity.

"Come!". Bigs called out to his friend, who was surprisingly still watching. "Fi wah?". Aggression was laced in his voice, but I didn't care, I'm aggressive too. "She waah talk to yuh". Bigs said, walking to meet him halfway across the yard.

The boy was finally visible in the sun light, and as he edged closer, I could tell he was cute.

I've always seen him from afar, and I've only liked him from a distance, but seeing him up close felt like a dream. "Hi". He said, looking up at me, locking eyes almost immediately.

' love me likkle eye contact eno.. but bomboclaut all him eyebrow Dem slit? Love dat love dat'.

"Hey". I smiled at him, trying to look less bitchy, since I was recently known to have a bitch face. "I heard what you and your friend were talking about you know". I said, watching his face turn from one of all smiles, to complete horror.

"Yuh hear all a dat?". He sounded genuinely surprised. "Yes I did.. and I never knew u liked me". I said, now eyeing him from head to toe. ' him look eatable '. My intrusive thoughts began to sing to me.

"How long have you liked me for?". I asked, staring at him, as he diverted his gaze to look into some far away bushes. "Well.. since yuh move". He muttered, his voice almost inaudible due to how shy he was.

' ketch him a act shy. Cute yuh fret '.

" You've liked me for that long?". Keep in mind, I moved to this neighborhood in 2023 so do your own math to know how long that is. "Yeh man, but me Neva deh home when yuh did move in eh night, a eh next day me see yuh". He said, scratching his head and stealing a glance at bigs who outstretched his tounge at him. "Yuh see deh bwoy yah, him a battyman". He said, making me laugh.

"So what's your name?". I asked, locking eyes with him again. "Josiah". He muttered, looking away once more. ' that's a fine name.. definitely not common either '. I thought. " Well my name.. you know my name already right? Tameka told you?". I asked, watching him intently. "Yes she tell me" he says.

"So why didn't you ask Tameka for my number?". It was questioning that you like a person and never asked someone who knows them for their contact. "Me ask har and she give me, but by time me fi tell yuh say a next door me come from, yuh block me". He says, a small smile dancing on his lips.

'lip Dem plump up.. I wanna kiss them '. My intrusive thoughts started singing to me again. " Well that sounds like something I would do". I laughed as I said this.

"Well right now my phone is dead and I cannot charge it since the light is out, but whenever I charge my phone again, I'll ask Tameka to send me your number". I said, feeling a little bad that I blocked him so suddenly without giving him a chance to talk. "Alright cool". He says, and we both departed.

"Dat is a muss!". Bigs voice shouted, erupting laughter from both me and Josiah.