Page 225 of Not My Type
“Her boyfriend died?” I ask and he shakes his head no.
“He was in hospital for a long time but him never dead,” his jaw clenches. “The air bag and the steering save him.”
“Nickoi yuh fi wear your seatbelt too, a nuh me alone, your life matters too,” I say, and he nods in agreement.
The story echoes within me as we continue our journey. Upon arriving at the school, I hardly realize it until Nickoi gently shakes me. “Zara wah yah worry bout?” his brows in a sharp arch.
“Nutt’n,” I pick up my stuff and lean in to press my lips against his sweet ones.
“I love you,” I smile.
“I love you too,” he responds, and I linger a moment longer, then step away. It feels so foreign walking back into St. Joseph’s Teacher’s College instead of St. Jago High. Mi did a get comfortable enuh, chro.
I greet the other teachers and enter the classroom where the professor is already speaking. “Morning,” I whisper as I sit beside Suzanne, who greets me with a warm smile.
“Did Nickoi bring you?” she asks, and I nod.
“You know, a mi likkle chauffeur,” I joke and she smiles. When we are done catching up we pay attention to the professor as she talks about the exam that’s starting Friday and the importance of it.
“Dem upsetting yuh see man,” Suzanne says under her breath to me.
“I’m saying,” I hiss.
“Wi cyaa’ afford fi fail this enuh,” Suzanne breathes.
“Nuh truee,” I agree and spot a guy across the room staring at me.
He’s in my class but wi never talk before. He’s tall, with fair complexion, dark brown eyes and a straight nose with his wavy hair. He doesn’t look bad but he’s not my man. At one point, I liked guys like him, but now? Gunman me please! Like fi real.
Mi know but him is not a Gunman, him doh have the buzz, my subconscious says and I laugh out.
Mi couldn’t hold it. Good thing nobody nah pay me nuh mind. I glance at Zanne, who is intently focused on the professor, and I follow suit. When it’s dismissal, Zanne and I stride out to the gate together. Just then, my phone rings, and the name ‘Mrs. Adams’ lights up the screen.
“Hey Mrs. Adams,” I smile.
“Hey Good Afternoon Zara... your professor spoke to me about the practicum that it’s completed and I gave her my report. I’m also aware of the sudden exam so if you don’t mind coming over today and tomorrow I could prep you because I really believe in you as a teacher,” I smile. That’s so sweet.
“Definitely, thanks a lot Mrs. Adams,” I reply, and we chat for a bit before she hangs up.
I share this news with Suzanne, but she informs me that she has to visit her dad in the hospital and can’t join me. I then call Nickoi, and he picks up on the first ring.
“Baby?” I say and I hear a female voice, distracting me. Who that?
Zara you a do good from wah day enuh. Leave it.
“I’m at the gate waiting for you and I’m gonna go over to Mrs. Adams to study, she’s gonna help me,” I say.
“Arite mi soon reach, weh Mrs. Adams live?” he asks.
“Mama’s last house... two houses down,” I pause, hearing the same female voice again.
“Ah,” I roll my eyes once he says that shit.
“Weh yuh deh?” I ask, he tells me he’s on his way. “You alone?” is my next question and I get a ‘no.’
“One o’ mi friend inna the car.”
“Okay. I’m waiting.”
