Aneyah Brown (Nia), a 23-year-old Jamaican influencer, has it all: beauty, brains, and a thriving online presence that showcases her vibrant island life. But beneath her confident exterior lies a heart scarred by past relationships that left her war...
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Aneyah's POV
January 12, 2024 (2:40pm)
Norbrook, St. Andrew, Jamaica.
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Aneyah sat in her living room leaned back in her couch, scrolling through her latest Instagram posts. With over 300k followers, her page was a blend of stunning beach shots, vibrant Jamaican culture, and glimpses into her glamorous life as an influencer. She smiled at the comments, feeling a sense of pride and accomplishment. But today, her mind was elsewhere.
"Mi need fi get outta dis house," she muttered, standing up and stretching. She had spent the entire morning editing videos and responding to emails, and now she craved some fresh air and a change of scenery.
As she was about to leave, her phone rang. It was her best friend, Sasha."Hey, Sash. What's up?""Girl, mi jus a check pon yuh. Yuh alright?" Sasha's concerned voice came through the speaker.Aneyah sighed. "Yea, mi good. Jus feel a bit cooped up, yuh know?""Why yuh nuh come over fi a bit? We can chill an catch up."Aneyah smiled. "That sounds nice. Gimme like half an hour."
She changed out of her sweats and put on a pink mini dress with silver slides, then headed out the door.
Sasha's place was only a short drive away, and Aneyah always felt relaxed there. Sasha had a way of making everything seem less complicated.
When Aneyah arrived, Sasha greeted her with a big hug. "Long time mi nuh see yuh in person, girl!""Fi real. Mi miss yuh," Aneyah replied, stepping inside the cozy apartment. They settled in the living room, sipping on cold drinks.
"So, tell me, what's been going on with you?" Sasha asked, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.Aneyah hesitated for a moment. "I've been busy with work...you know. But... mi kinda feel like supm missing."Sasha raised an eyebrow. "Missing? Like what?""Like... I dunno. Mi just feel like mi need a change. Supm new."Sasha leaned back, thinking. "Maybe yuh need fi meet new people. Go out more."Aneyah laughed. "Yuh know mi naave time fi dat. Plus, after all the bad relationships I've been through, mi nah rush fi meet nobody."
"Not everybody is the same, Nia. Yuh haffi give people a chance.""I know, but it's hard. Every time mi meet a guy, it always end di same way."
You just need to find a man that appreciates you and treats you right unlike the jellyback dem weh yuh used to entertain."
Aneyah sighed. "Maybe. But mi nah hold mi breath."
"Tell yuh what," Sasha said, her eyes lighting up with a new idea. "Mi have a likkle get-together planned fi next weekend. Why don't you come? Just for fun."Aneyah considered it. "Alright, I'll come. But mi nah promise nothing.""Yes girlll that's the spirit!" Sasha cheered. "You never know, you might meet somebody interesting."
"Mhm" Aniyah said.
The rest of the afternoon passed in easy conversation and laughter. Aneyah felt lighter, more optimistic. Maybe Sasha was right. Maybe it was time to open herself up to new experiences.
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The following weekend, Aneyah found herself at Sasha's party, mingling with a mix of familiar faces and new ones. She was having a good time, enjoying the music and the lively atmosphere, when she noticed a tall, handsome man eyeing her from across the room. He had a confident stance, and his smile was captivating.
"Who's that?" she whispered to Sasha.
"Oh, that's Andre. Him jus come back from New York. I think he's friends with your cousin by the way."
"Red flaggg" Aneyah said and Sasha laughed. Aneyah watched as he laughed and chatted with others, noticing the easy way he carried himself.As the night went on, their paths crossed a few times, exchanging polite smiles and casual greetings. But it wasn't until much later, when Aneyah was outside catching her breath, that Andre approached her.
"Hey," he said, his voice smooth and warm. "You enjoying the party?""Yea, it's nice," Aneyah replied, trying to sound nonchalant."Good to hear. My name's Andre, by the way."
"Aneyah, but people call me Nia.""Nice to meet you, Nia. You been to these parties often?""Not really," she admitted.
"Well, I'm glad you came," he said, his eyes holding hers. "Maybe we can talk more inside?"Aneyah hesitated, her heart battling with her mind. Every instinct told her to keep her distance. But something about Andre made her want to take a chance."Sure," she said with a coy smile.
"Fawud den nuh" he said and they both headed inside.
