Two months later
Marsha's show of strength at Professor Shitup's funeral gained media attention and was far-reaching. Among the mourners was an off-duty newspaper reporter, who felt compelled to write the front-page story that was published two days later.
The article, headlined '#MeToo at slain teacher's burial' didn't name Marsha, but it detailed her actions and quoted her as well as the other women who spoke up. Since then, she launched a support group for victims of sexual assault, and that has been going better than any of us expected.
Tonight, we are celebrating that success as well as her 31st birthday with dinner at one of her favorite restaurants. There are 12 of us in attendance, including Ethan (her fiancé), Gillian, Ricardo, and a few of Marsha's other friends and relatives.
I'm here in body but my mind is elsewhere. Specifically, I'm badly missing Chaunard. He returned to the island as planned this morning but we have barely spoken because I've been busy all day.
With Gillian being such a homebody, she had nothing to wear and I also needed shoes and accessories so we spent the entire day shopping and getting ready for this celebration. There's no telling how the night will end due to the birthday girl's unpredictability, so unfortunately I won't be seeing him until tomorrow at the earliest.
"Kelz! Yuh nuh hear me a talk to yuh?!" Marsha yells at me from across the table. "A weh yuh mind deh?"
"Mi jus a try remember if mi plug out di iron before mi lef di house," is the quickest lie I can come up with.
There's no way I can let her know that my mind is preoccupied with thoughts of Chaunard and wondering if things will be awkward when we next meet. She doesn't even know we're involved and tonight isn't the right time to spill the beans about him.
She continues entertaining her guests, who break out into cheers when the waiter walks up with her black and white cake, topped with the number 31 and sparklers. And in true Marsha fashion, it comes as no surprise when she insists that we go to a party after dinner.
We arrive around 11:00 pm at the venue, which from an aerial view must be the exact replica of animals converging on a watering hole in the jungle. Just switch out the animals for people and the water for alcohol and music.
Groups of skimpily clad women stream into the open space in droves, swinging their hips and enticing the men huddled together in different packs. A number of couples are scattered among the throng of people, all here for the exact same thing – a good time.
Marsha leads her clique to a spot in the VIP section that is sparsely populated, where the air doesn't reek of sweat and lust, and most importantly, where we can have some semblance of privacy. Everyone in our circle loosens up after a few rounds of alcohol and by the time a selection of the latest dancehall music starts playing, we're all ready and raring to go.
It's common practice for Marsha and me to 'tek di miggle an wine' but surprisingly, Gillian joins in, much to the delight of Ricardo. We dance together until the couples segment comes on and Marsha and Gillian reach for their respective partners, leaving me alone.
The entire group gets a good laugh watching Ethan wiggle his body while Marsha gives him her best wine. He's undeterred by our reaction though and continues enjoying himself with a gleeful look on his face.
On my other side, Gillian and Ricardo engage in a dry humping session. They are about a minute away from giving in to their urges and having sex right here in the purview of everyone present.
Although I'm without someone to dance with, that doesn't stop my shine. I keep up my solo act until Derron, one of Marsha's cousins, works his way over to me and I let him have this one dance. Thankfully he doesn't get handsy, which limits our movement to plain enjoyment of the music and atmosphere.
At that precise moment, my eyes land on someone resembling Chaunard but he quickly vanishes from my line of sight. The passing view convinces me that I'm either drunk or losing my mind because evidently, I'm seeing things. Still, I look in the direction, trying to find the person again.
I'm forced to give up when Gillian drags me by the arm, asking me to accompany her to the restroom. She doesn't give me a chance to reply.
"Kelsie, mi nuh know if yuh notice but there was this guy looking yuh. Mi see him more than one time," she says as soon as we get to a spot that is quiet enough for me to hear her.
"Not really," I tell her as we enter the enclave of several portable potties.
"Is because yuh a enjoy yuhself man," she smiles before ducking into an available potty. "Yuh look happy though. I assume everything is alright?"
"Yeah man. I am just living and loving life."
"You deserve to be happy... Enjoy yuh single life. Marriage and relationship is a whole different ball game. One minute you're up, the next you're down and then yuh start wondering what the hell you got into. It's a roller coaster ride."
She's venting in her intoxicated state so I allow her to talk while I remove phone from my purse to send Chaunard a quick message. I want to be with him.
"Is who yuh texting?" Gillian peers over my shoulder and eyes me suspiciously when she gets out of the potty.
"Nooobody," I lie, which is obvious and she replies with a disarming "mhmmm".
"Okay... I'll tell you when I'm ready," I promise her, checking the mirror and fixing my hair, which she styled with a curling wand. Otherwise, I'd be wearing a wash-and-go hairstyle or my usual bun tonight.
On the outside, Marsha and Ethan are posing for photos. "See who happy deh," I point out to Gillian as we approach the couple. We both chuckle at the sight.
"She really deserve it Kelz. Mi never know we would live to hear her ever talk about marriage."
"Life works in mysterious ways. Mi soon come," I tell her before veering off towards the bar nearest to us. As I wait for the server to return with my water, Chaunard's face comes into my peripheral view.
He's actually here!
Looking as fine as ever leaning against the bar, staring at me. My heartbeat speeds up a few notches, crashing against my chest and my breathing becomes irregular. My eyes find his, but neither of us moves.
The bartender provides a brief distraction when he returns with the water and I get an opportunity to compose myself before approaching Chaunard, who seems a bit... troubled?
I'm not certain which vibe I'm getting from him right now but it's definitely not 'happy to see you'. He is looking at me in the way that a mother would eye her errant child whose hand has again been caught in the cookie jar.
It makes me feel guilty and turns the few short steps between us into what I'd compare to a long trek along the highway on a hot sunny day. But I get to him nonetheless, standing there and holding his intense stare yet he doesn't utter a word. He doesn't even kiss back when my lips find his.
The only movement at first is one of his hands finding the small of my back and holding me closer to him when I try to pull away. He moves his other hand to the back of my neck and then brushes his lips along the side of my face until he gets to my ear.
"Why were you grinding on another man?" His voice is deep and low, making my insides quiver. Are his feelings hurt?
"It was just one dance."
"This is what one dance can do," he says, pressing against me so that I can feel his bulging erection. Butterflies go rabid in my stomach and I bite my lip and moan softly in anticipation of what's to come.
"Yuh cyaa blame mi fi dat. I wasn't the one dancing with you."
"Unlike you, mi neva did a dance wid nuh body. This is all for you."
"Mi sure a nuh jus one dance do dat."
He ignores my statement and loosens his hold. "Yuh drive?" he asks, taking a sip from the cup in his hand.
"No. Mi travel wid Gillian and her husband."
"Good. Go tell yuh fren dem seh yuh leaving."
I practically skip off to do as told. Before I even open my mouth Marsha blurts out, "Mi see yuh!"
Her outburst reduces my insides to hot mush as a bout of shyness settles over me. Gillian confirms that Chaunard was the man she saw earlier while Marsha's parting "advice" is a tongue-in-cheek and hand movement that imitates a blowjob.
I'm a flustered mess with a wide grin plastered on my face when I return to Chaunard. I'm drunk. Not so much off the alcohol as I am intoxicated with him.