Friday: 8:30 P. M.
----------------------
*Is it "next time" yet?*
I stare at the message on my screen. It had come in while I was scrolling through TikTok earlier, and now, even after I've taken a shower, eaten, and come to snuggle up in bed about to watch TV, it's still there.
What did you expect? That it would've miraculously disappeared?
*Who is this?* I type out a reply after about an hour of leaving the message unread.
Whomever it is must be patient as hell.
*Your secret admirer...* a text comes back saying almost immediately.
What is this? High-school?
Secret admirer my ass!
I hiss my teeth and punch forcefully on the screen as I type out, *Listen to mi, try stop text mi phone... Or else!*
I watch as the person on the other end types, stops, types then stop repeatedly.
I roll my eyes as the message finally comes in. To how long you a type, mi think a did a paragraph you did a type.
*Why are you so hostile, Ms. Smikle?😏*
Ms. Smikle? No man, a who this?
This person presumptuous bad!
*Mi say who the fuck is this?*
I can feel my temples ticking. I hate when strange numbers text my phone.
Nothing more than some little idlers nuh have nothing fi do on a Friday night. Too bad I'm not in the ramping mood.
I'm this close to blocking this number.
My phone vibrates after a while, signaling that another message has come in.
I open it and my eyes nearly pop out of the security of their sockets.
*Is this how you speak to the man of your dreams?*
It couldn't be...
I click on the profile picture faster than lightning. Why didn't I think of that from the jump?
Only, and unfortunately, to be met with a picture of a small table filled with liquors of all sorts... and nothing else.
Exactly.
Why would you even think it's him?
He doesn't even have your number, dumb-dumb!
I sigh and toss the phone onto the pillow beside me.
Pressing play on the remote, I watch as the opening credits roll.
My phone lights up again and I reach for it. Another text from the same unknown number is on the screen.
*Blue tick? Really? Now, who has no manners?*
Wait, so it is him? I can sense the tone through the screen.
*Lucas? *
*One and only. * The text comes back in seconds. It's like he's sitting with his fingers hovering over the keyboard anticipating my responses.
I roll my eyes but my lips still spread to form a smile.
*Why are you playing with me, sir? Didn't you see me asking who this is?*
*Maybe I feel happy. Who knows.*
Happy? To text me?
*Okay. A hear u.*
YOU ARE READING
Ruin
Short StoryAs a little girl growing up in the small rural community of Shadow Grove, I used to always hear my mother say, "Wat sweet nanny goat, ago run him belly!" I never truly understood the meaning of that phrase...until now. Little did I know that a man w...
