FACADE

37| Shed the Weight

PAECYN

"So are you coming?" Mrs.Sheer is adamant that I make it to her scholarship dinner, just to talk to the girls about what university is like.

Me nuh wah go alone though, and Kyan say she ago tell dem don't go no college... while Bailey just nah answer her phone all morning.

*Her mother say she lock up in her room from morning*

"I have to get something signed today," I mumble my weak excuse.

"Okay girl? How long it take you fi get something signed so?" she giggles, "Is it for a JP? My father can sign it."

She's so pushy...

No sah, how she nah pick up say mi just no wah go?

"Okay so yuh just nuh wah come?" she reads my mind.

The line falls quiet.

"No I want to," my people pleasing lie slips out while my eyes find Terrence walking to me with a dish of whatever he made this morning. "I'll come..."

"Good!" she chirps before hanging up not even a millisecond after.

I hold the phone to my ear still, not wanting to talk to Terrence. My eyes drop to the bowl. It's plantain porridge from what I can see... or banana?

He's been trying to get me to eat things that look runny all summer... actually, ever since I've known him. Instead of just accepting how I like my food, he tries to 'help me' get over my 'stupid' ick.

Luckily me actually like plantain porridge because this woulda cause another argument.

"Here," he pulls the confirmation form from behind him while handing me the bowl, "I had her sign it when you didn't show up yesterday."

*Weh him go ina me bag fa?*

Ignoring how he got the form, I smile and pull it from him, "Thanks babe."

All of a sudden me happy and a reach out fi plaster him face wid kisses.

"Where did you agree to go?" he pulls away slightly to find my stare.

*What a man fi kill di mood*

"A scholarship dinner thing..."

"No invite for me?" he smiles before trying to move in for another kiss.

I pull back, with my hands now firmly on the bowl and on the confirmation form.

"Me only get one invite," I slide and force myself up from the bed.

"A couple cyaa get one invite," he laughs... and mi nuh know if he's being sarcastic or not.

A couple? Like we married. The way him in deep mi nuh know how me supposed to lef him between tonight and Monday morning...

"I'm sure that's the rule for MARRIED couples yes," I giggle softly, trying to ease the tension.

My feet have taken me to the room door, my eyes set on him now standing from the bed.

"Marry me then," but before I can realize he's serious, I start cackling– genuine and heavy cackles.