📍JOHNS RD, SPANISH TOWN
J A N E L
ᴊᴀɴᴇʟ
Nickoi is still asleep and it's time for school.
Who a go carry we?
I kiss my teeth.
When he's here, he always takes us to school. When he isn't, daddy takes me to school. Or his driver Douglas.
It a get late eno and Nickoi still in deh a sleep!
Mi hate him eesi.
Mi nuh know weh the gyal dem see pan him!
I glare at his room, fighting the urge to burst inside because I know he will probably give me the shame of my life.
No one can go in his room especially when he's asleep, so it's best if I go to daddy. I spray my Ms. Dior and walk out.
Cya believe him lie to the girl.
Cya believe me snitch pan him..
Whose side are you on?
I mean, a the first girlfriend him have weh me actually like.
So the girl then?
"Nickoi," I try.
Silence.
I walk to the living room and mutter to myself. "Mi say mi hate when him deh ya," I drop my forces on the ground and slip my feet in.
Yet you want him carry yuh go school..
Him just too stubborn and serious.
I quickly tie my laces and now I'm at the door. Noticing that my father is speaking. I wait at the door with my fingers laced together.
He notices me but still goes on to say.
"You a the only person make dumplings taste this good eno mommy," daddy's deep voice says to Ms. Cherry, our grandma.
She's the only person he really opens up to.
"A Louise way me do it eno," she chuckles, now talking about our great-great grandmother Louise.
I smile, now ready to interrupt.
"Good morning grandma, good morning daddy.." I step out already dressed in my uniform. I go to St. Jago High.
Ms. Cherry answers warmly.
Daddy's eyes scans me. He's still chewing his food. Brown stew chicken with dumplings and ground provisions.
The smell is amazing....
Jesus, Ms. Cherry can cook!
"Morning Janel," he retorts. "Wah do you now?"
I screw up my face as I complain. "You can wake him up please? Cause him have school and still laydung in deh," I pout.
"Jordane?"
"No, Jordane a put on him clothes," I retort. "The next one," I say since he ran me from his house last night.
He knows it's Nickoi because Junior, my eldest brother lives on his own. For some reason, he stays away. The definition of antisocial. I don't really have a relationship with him.
Actually, no one does besides his girlfriend Suzanne.
Nickoi now, love gwaan like him a the father.
Kiss mi teeth!
Nuh know why him nuh go breed smaddy and get him owna Pitney!
Zara preferably.
She a probably 19.
"You sure him inna the room?" is my father's question.
I shrug. "Mi never open the door."
Daddy puts the plate down in the living room and moves towards Nickoi's door. I stand behind.
"Nickoi?" Daddy gives the door two firm knocks.
"Yah?" comes his voice.
"Nah go school youth?" My father's voice echoes.
"Yah," he retorts.
"You ready?"
"Yah."
Daddy shakes his head and twist the knob. "Mi a fawud."
Nickoi doesn't say anything.
I watch as daddy steps in the room and close the door behind him. Trying to eavesdrop is pointless. I can't hear anything.
I stare at myself in the full length mirror to see if I'm ready.
Cyaa deh tek the people dem man and nuh look good.
Weh yaw say?
A joke.
I smile at that thought.
I pick up my phone to call Nickoi's new girlfriend.
It doesn't ring. It just says it's unavailable. I got her number from his phone last night. He was in the bathroom.
Him save the lady as wifey..
Smiling, I try a few more times. I get the same results.
Chro.
"Mommy?" I call but hear the bathroom running. She hears and gives me an answer. The shower drowns her voice.
"Mi never hear that!" I shout back.
"Mi a bathe Janel!"
"Alright. Mi a go school now. Love you mommy!" I shout with a smile.
She shouts back. "Mi love you too me baby!"
Daddy is still in the room talking to Mr. Serious while I'm here reading through the messages the people dem man a say to me
I call my best friend Tya immediately and walk outside.
She answers on the first ring.
"Janel?" she answers, she sounds like she's walking.
"Hear how the gyal sound like pig," I joke.
"Girl me affi a walk fi go get the taxi," she laughs. "But a wah happ'm?"
"Girl guess who a look me?" I laugh, looking around to make sure I'm alone.
"Who!?" she's excited.
"One a me bredda fren dem. Me nuh know him name, but him kinda cute.."
"Rayyyyy!" she sings before saying. "Kc man dem nuh single though."
"Him have a woman and still a try off a me," I laugh.
A message comes in from him immediately that makes me laugh.
"Hear him nuh bout we a see bout that, tru mi tell him mi nuh wah no kc man," I blush.
"Play hard," she tells me.
"That me a do me tell him mi—" I see Nickoi approaching me. "Me bredda a come. Later we chat."
"Yah come a half way tree later?"
"Yeah member me always stay a mommy shop."
"Alright."
Now I'm in the back of the car. My brothers get in the front. Nickoi pulls off fast, Lucid comes on.
Jordane and I start singing.
Nickoi's anger grows. "Change that."
Him rude eeh?
"Bro mi rate the song..." Jordane smiles.
"Mi say change the f—— song!"
Jordane just turns it off. "Seet deh play weh yuh wah play bredda."
He turns to me. "Twin.."
"Weh yuh wah beg?" I tease him. He chuckles, even though he's still annoyed by Nickoi. He's being mean for no clear reason.
"Lend me your earphone.." his hazel eyes softens. Sorry fi him girlfriend dem.
Cause him know how fi act like poor thing.
I take it from the small part of my Jansport bag and hand it to him. I have a green one to go with my uniform.
"You nah get it fi go school."
"We soon reach a yuh school and this ya man ya drive hard. So a just one chune me a go hear?"
"You could a start listen sup'm.." I fold my arms.
He smiles and turns.
Nickoi's phone rings. He picks it up, his phone connected to the car. I hear a tiny, voice say. "Mickoi...Goodt morning.."
A Pitney him get and nuh tell me? Or him turn step father?
***
Zara's POV
"Titter I got two homework I need your helpth with them later?"
"Yes baby," I smile, twisting her pigtail. I put a clip at the ends.
She's so pretty.
Now she's all ready for school.
Mommy had to leave extra early. For that reason, I'm a bit late cause I'm not only being big sister I'm being a mom too. I wash my hand and quickly turn off the kettle.
"Which tea? Mint? Chocolate?" I lift each box as I give her the options.
"Chocolate!"
I smile and make her tea. When I notice it's too hot, I pour water in. It's diluted, I add a little milk and sugar before stirring.
I hand it to her shortly after.
"Tantu."
"Eat up," I say now rushing to my room for my school bag.
I gulp the rest of tea. I made mint tea for myself.
Now I'm in the living room, making sure everything is ready. Her lunch kit has a fruit, water, snacks, juice and candy.
Her bag has her text books, pencils etc.
"Titter, I'm done!" she shows me her empty cup.
"Alright come on," I say and she comes out.
I turn to close the door.
When I'm done, I walk down the driveway to see Qara on her phone talking to someone. "...get us peasee?"
"Who is on the phone?" my heart racing.
She snaps her head around with a guilty smile. "No one."
I figure who it is and quickly borrow her phone to call Indrive.
It's ringing.
I'm so annoyed. He bought her the latest iPhone, just to keep tabs on me.
"Good morning.." a woman from Indrive says in a professional tone.
"Good morning. I'm at Phoenix Village. Can you send a taxi for me quickly? Me and my sister," I tell her where we're going before confirming the price.
That's gonna take a good amount out of my lunch money.
Chro.
I'll let Gina help me out today.
I wait nervously.
Anyhow the security call them nah go get no confirmation from me.
Yah talk, yuh have a phone?
Oh, yeah.
Him get knock then.
Qara have a phone doh..
Ten minutes pass and I see the Indrive Taxi. I get in right after Qara, who's now crying silently.
"Is the baby okay?" The driver ask.
"She's well alright," I say with my eyes through the window.
Soon as he should pull out at the exit of Phoenix a familiar white Gle turns in. My heart leaps. Not in a good way.
Jesus piece.
Qara jumps excitedly. "Mickoi!"
"Stop," I force her to sit.
Now I'm praying that he didn't see us. The driver begins to pull out and hear the horn blowing from the Gle.
He stops.
"No a no you," I tell him. "Keep driving."
The driver is still looking back. Qara is kneeling in the seat, calling. "Mickoi!" she looks at the driver. "It's my brother."
"Drive, ano we him a blow," I lie. "He's not your brother."
"Yes he issss."
The driver looks out. "Excuse me? Me you signaling?"
The Gle reverses. Now it's side by side. I stare at my fingers in anger. He comes out in his school uniform. The shirt out as usual, pants foot folded. Desert Clarks jet black. His hair growing a little high, the fade still sharp.
Qara smiling even though her face is soaked with tears.
He leans at the driver's door. "How much was the fare?"
"$800 for the two of em'," he retorts.
Nickoi hands him $1000 before he pulls the door. Qara flies in his arm. I roll my eyes. He reaches for her bag and lunch kit and walk her to the Benz.
"You not going?"
"No," I say.
"But..."
"That's his business. I'll pay for myself," I fold my arms.
You go take the likkle money you have spend it pan taxi?
"You sure?" the driver ask.
"Yes. Just drive."
I lean over and close the door. He pulls off right after.
The drive is a bit silent for a while. The tension high.
"I don't want to be inquisitive but was that your boyfriend?" I look at the driver when he ask his question.
How is that his business?
"You say you don't want to be inquisitive and proceeds to be inquisitive," I say dryly and shake my head.
"I ask because why is he still behind us?" he looks at the rear view.
I turn.
Nickoi being Nickoi.
"Tell him fi move round," I say noticing that he's pulling over.
I'm tired of him.
He stops beside us again. He rolls the window down. "You wah me puncha this? Weh yaw drive weh with her fa?"
"S-she insist," he struggles to get that out without his voice shaking.
I wipe my tears. "Stop embarrass me and gwaan no!"
"She no have no say inna this," he picks up his gun, ignoring me. "Let her out now."
The driver snaps his head around to me. "Miss just step out a the car please."
All dem embarrassment ya.
Good sop'm problems!
"Wah you mean? I don't want to go in any car with him. I just don't," my voice just as shaky as the driver.
"Him have a gun threatening to shot the car wheel. This is a company vehicle. I can't deal with these expenses so just step out a the car and you and you man deal with unuh business. Please. Mi sorry. Just step out."
Tears rolls down my cheeks.
I feel so small.
I pick up my bag and get out of the car. He drives off dangerously fast once I'm out.
Probably a say thank God mi get rid a the crosses!
Not funny.
I make my way to Nickoi's car.
I climb into the back, sniffling. What makes this worst is that another Kc boy is in the front of the car.
His brother it seems.
The car has a new car scent mixed with weed and expensive cologne.
The air conditioner is cold too. I look over at Qara. She's on his phone watching YouTube with no care in the world. I look back at the road. My eyesight blurred with tears.
For the drive to Qara's school I'm awfully quiet. He's the same.
I don't look at him.
Now he's in Qara's school. He decided to take her to her class. I can't believe I'm still crying.
"Jah know," his brother mutters. "Wah do the man?"
I don't say anything.
He's now walking towards the car.
I wipe my eyes and stare outside at the little tiny people going into their school with their parents next to them.
He gets in. Just staring at me.
"Mi sorry bou—"
"I. Don't. Want. To. Hear. Anything. From. You," I speak venomously.
"Fi how long though?"
"This is why me never wah come inna yuh car. Me nuh wah no relationship with yuh!" I shout at him.
He breathes out and drives off as if he wants to kill us.
I don't react.
This is so toxic.
I can't take it anymore.
When I'm at school, I take about five minutes to stop myself from crying and another five to at least seem like I wasn't crying. Throughout this, he's just staring.
When I'm out, I take a deep breath and notice that he has my purse. He's driving away.
Duppy deh pan deh bwoy yah?
Seriously.
I stand at the wall staring at his car. My hands crossed. He turns the car and stop in front me again. He rolls the window down.
"Wah you still a wait pan?" his window slightly down, the scent of the car and the ac hitting me.
I just stare at him.
"Bill nuh bro?" his brother speaks up, but one side look from him silences his brother.
"Wah you want?"
"My purse?" I snap at him. "Look at me, me look like me a joke with yuh? Do you think this possessive behavior is okay? You cute and all but you a run me away! Mi tired a yuh and at this point yuh need a serious evaluation."
"Jah," his brother mutters and sink in his seat with his hands covering his face. Not in a way to jeer, but rather show...frustration?
Did I hit a point?
Nickoi's eyebrows furrows. His eyes stone cold, my words seemingly hurt. It's hard to recognize him with this expression.
"Just come gwan a yuh class," he practically throws the purse in my hand before speeding off in rage.
I look in the purse to see that he gave me 100 USD.
Now, I feel...
Dat bwoy put him hand pan yuh, don't feel sorry!
And with that, I brush it off. Now ready for my day.
****
Nick's POV
She a try say man mad?
That she a try say?
Feel like she wanted to say psychiatric evaluation still..
She know half a wah man a go through pan a daily basis?
She know?!
She think man get fi have a normal life? Like her? Have a functioning family? My family is my teammates. My gang mates. The only time I feel like I'm truly in a family is when I'm around her family.
I throw my MacBook in the wall. It shatters into smithereens. Camilla jerks back. "Nickoi...stop...this is not helping."
I didn't choose to be this angry.
I punch the wall until my knuckles starts bleeding.
I can't control my emotions. I didn't choose that.
I didn't choose to have attachment problems.
"Nickoi stop.." she cautiously holds me. "Please."
"I didn't choose any of this," I pant.
"I know.."
I just woke up one day and it's proposed to me. You're going to take over. You're destined for this. You're a Jacobs. You're a Don.
I was eight.
Eight year old!
Mi nuh wah this bredda!
Mi want live a normal life!
I throw the nightstand away too. I hear it crash into the wall noisily. I grab the next nightstand and sail it across the room too.
Now I'm seated in my room. Her voice echoing in my brain. The disgust on her face embedded in my head.
....yuh need a serious evaluation.
.....yuh need a serious evaluation.
YOU need a serious evaluation...
"Mi girlfriend...someone mi love...ago look pan me and tell me say me need a serious evaluation," my words painful.
"And it hurts, I know but she doesn't understand what's happening to you," Camilla's voice soothing.
Besides Lennox, she's the only person who knows me more than I know myself.
I nod.
"Be easy on yourself Nickoi..."
I first started having episodes around 9. She has been there for me ever since. Now I'm almost 19. She's still my therapist. She's really good too.
"You have been an amazing boyfriend to her Nickoi...one mistake does not define who you are," she says calmly.
"Mi find it hard fi believe that," I admit. "Jah know."
"It's completely normal to have moments of doubt Nickoi, but it's important to recognize your strengths. You've shown resilience and commitment in navigating your challenges, and I believe in your ability to work through them and build a fulfilling relationship."
I nod, listening to her words.
"Remember, everyone makes mistakes in relationships. What's admirable is your willingness to learn and grow from them...so just take your medications and be kind to yourself."
"Respect..." I smile and look around at the mess in my room. "And sorry bout all a that."
"That's fine," she nods with a tight lipped smile.
"How much hours that now?"
"Just two. Make sure you at least catch one class," she advices.
I pay her $200 USD.
"All of this?"
"You deserve it," I smile. She gives me a hug before she leaves.
Now I'm alone.
Mi fi go back a school?
I hiss and order a new MacBook before calling Courts. I get a calm lady. I introduce myself because I'm in the mood before making the replacement order.
When I'm off that call I see Juaqína calling me.
"Yo?"
"Him nah tell me nuhn eno," she sounds frustrated.
"You beat him?"
"You asking?" she chuckles. "Right now him next to dead."
"And still nah talk? Mi a fawud."
I send a one view voice message to Eric right after. Then I start up the Mark x. Haven't drove this in forever.
***
I walk in to see Juaqína beating the man. He looks lifeless in the chair.
"Who yuh did a work fa!?"
"Nah....tell yuh," he challenges. I don't make my presence known. I push my hand through a coat, put my hands in gloves and make my way behind him.
"Still nah talk?" my deep voice echoes against the wall. He stiffens, trying to look around.
"That's the Don," Juaqína tells him. "The one you tried to kill.." her tone jeering.
I put the rope over his head, securing it around his neck before I start pulling it up. His body elevating. He starts panicking.
I circle him.
The crane lifting him higher.
"Please.." he sputters.
"Mi have three questions and me stop the crane. Just three," my voice calm.
"Alright," he quickly says. Desperation evident.
"Who pull the lug nut?"
"Me," he admits.
"Good," I smirk. He knows he couldn't lie because the camera picked him up.
"Question few. Who you a work fa?"
He doesn't answer.
I speed up the crane.
He goes higher. Now gripping the rope. His legs kicking.
"Pleaseee! Pleasee! I—I can't say who....pleaseeeeee!"
"Who?" I shout. "Send yuh?"
"He didn't say his name.."
"Truth."
"García."
I stop the crane. He's about 12 feet above ground.
García.
My father spoke about him before. He's from Colombia.
I bring him down a little more. Just to get his hopes up. Juaqína is having a Doritos. She's getting to me with her loud crunch.
Is she dying?
"Last question. Why were you at Zara's house?" I ask, trying to make connections.
He looks down, now crying.
"Eeeeh?" I try again.
"Because..." he's sobbing. "García sent me to watch them."
"Watch who exactly?"
"That's 4 now.." he breathes.
"I make the rules. You follow," I meet his eyes. He nods.
"García wants his woman back..."
"Her mother?" a'fto be...
"Yes."
"Where is García?" is my next question.
"The Supermax prison in Mexico. He's going on Parole in July."
Hmm.
I cock an eyebrow.
"So why my lug nut was loosened?" It doesn't make any sense.
When his dumb response comes out, that he was just jealous over Zara, I press the crane and watch as his oxygen leaves his body.
Juaqína crunching the Doritos with a careless expression.
He stops kicking.
Dead bwoy.
I turn to her. "Deal with dat. Mi a go a school. Need an Alibi."
"Okay, mi ago dump him a Riverton. My alibi is sealed. My brother already thinks that I'm in my room. I left the music on."
I smirk and walk out.
***
García parole in July + Nickoi's birthday = Trouble😩
Anywho which one a the friends y'all think texting Janel?
Hope you enjoyed. Don't forget to vote comment & share.
Creativegang🤍