FACADE

27| Here

JACEN JR.
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"Ahaha! Everything yuh take fi joke enuh!" Kemp laughs while we climb the stairs.

"Nah me tell the man boil a ramen since him no like all the extra things," I chuckle, "him say Kyan pick it out still."

"Man domesticate the people dem daughter bro," Kemp starts laughing even more.

*Talk it like joke*

Kemp and I were on our way to meet up with di boy Neem just now. Then him call and a tell we 'bout Chinese and now me feel fi dat. You never really appreciate the way food is made in Jamaica until you leave.

It's not like when I left years ago and had Mumz or grandma there to cook and remind me say food fi taste good. This time I'm on my own, fully...

... And sure, I can chop it up in the kitchen, Sue made sure of that but me no have the time. So when Neem mentioned Chinese earlier, I remembered how much I wanted Chinese while at school but anuh the same Chinese food weh out yah.

"Weh yah get?" Kemp questions while walking towards the counter.

Me deven know. If me coulda get everything me do dat.

"Probably just some shrimp fried rice. Know me no fussy," I mumble.

"Bro life too short, buy everything and enjoy the food before we go back a school bad man."

*Him right 'bout dat*

We both go to NYU now while Neem goes to Howard.

Kemp ah study Chemistry or Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering as he likes to correct me, Neem ah do Computer Science and me? Me ah do Applied Physics because I just didn't want to be there, so me might as well do what I love.

Kemp starts making the order on behalf of us both and mah tell you right now, the man really stand up yah so ah order everything him eyes can see.

I smile and shake my head before looking at my phone.

A million and one messages from Breeana, two from Melli, some from Mum and a missed call from uncle Ruse and Jniia.

Of everybody, I decide to ring my little sister just to find out if she good. I slide her contact up and out, getting ready to hear her ask for something... but she nuh answer.

*The little girl easier fi vex than Mumz, I swear*

"Junior yah go pon lunch?" somebody from across the counter calls and of course me look, even when me sure ah cyaa me.

My eyes find the Junior in question. He's busy brushing up a few things that have been idling on the ground.

"Yeah me just a mek sure out yasso good. Me ago right now," he moves off to brush supm weh look way too familiar.

Lily petals, two of them to be specific.

*Weird*

Asiatic Doubles aren't easy to get, especially not in that color. Why dem look like the sa–

"Thanks, you can keep this and buy yourself lunch," Kemp's voice pulls my attention away.