Present and Past Desires

Chapter 5 - Hard Punches

Jabari’s POV

He came to take out the trash.

The words echoed in my head to the point I believed it must have been a hallucination. No way Spencer would say that about me, all because of this popular W.W guy with his sister. I know Spencer could be a hard joker and a fastidious being, but calling me a trash guy would be just extreme.

Though, the previous night when I met with Mel, I thought something seemed off with her, but I dismissed it as my imagination. I was even more confused when she acted the way she did when Ella showed up. I wondered if the pregnancy was suddenly giving her mental illness.

I did private math lessons for Ella, for extra cash. But I hid it from Mel so she wouldn't have weird ideas. There had been no class yesterday and Ella was super worried about her upcoming scholarship exams. Or was it because she jokingly referred to me as her boyfriend? I have warned her severally about making such jokes, but it was so pointless because she was the most carefree being in the world.

But standing here now, watching Mel looking defiant, I wondered if that uneasy feeling had been a warning.

“Did you just call me a trash guy?” I flared at her brother. The fact that I am still struggling shouldn't give anyone the right to talk me down. I know I may not be so gorgeously dressed like this W.W guy, but do clothes only matter if they were designer brands? It wasn’t like Spencer’s outfit was any different.

“You can come over with me to the kitchen, buddy.” Spencer spoke as though I hadn’t said a thing. "You're gonna find the trash in the backyard." I suddenly recalled Mel’s whining on how good he was at ignoring her at times.

For a moment, I thought Spencer had to be kidding, but the wink he gave me said otherwise. And as for Mel, she looked so stunning in her outfit that I had the urge to give her a hug or a peck on her cheek. But she completely ignored me as if we were total strangers.

“What the hell is going on?" I growled, my anger rising.

Something was wrong. I just couldn’t place a finger on it.

The guy barely looked my way again. He must have thought I wasn't even worth looking at. I watched him lead her to his BMW M3, which had a waiting driver and a P.A, who opened the doors for them. The sight dragged me back to the previous night, how she had laughed and said I still had to borrow money to take care of my family, let alone her and the baby.

Our baby.

The thought of that alone made my anger surge. I made a mad dash for the car, but Spencer was faster. He grabbed my hand and pulled me into the house, but I struggled against his grip.

“What the hell is wrong with you, man?!" I raked, mad that he was ruining my plan. The car was leaving already and I really intended to pull Mel out of the vehicle and give that jerk a piece of my mind.

"Shouldn't that be my line?” He retorted. "Why are you acting crazy?"

Crazy? “Did you just call me crazy? You and I know Mel is my girl. Am I expected to just stand by and watch another guy claim her, right in my face?"

“Mel is not your girl, bro! She's my sister!" He yelled. “And she has the right to be with any guy she wants!"

“What the hell are you spewing? All because I look broke now, right?”

Spencer only gave me a mischievous smile, then beckoned me to follow him as he reentered into the house. I did, because I needed a chance to land him a good punch on the head before leaving.

He disappeared into the kitchen and reappeared with a glass jug of fresh juice and two glasses. “Care for some early morning fruit juice? It’s healthy, you know.”

Was he trying to make a fool of me? “Spencer, you and I both know even a five-year-old wouldn’t be treated the way you’re treating me right now.”

He chuckled softly and dropped onto the sofa, setting the glasses on the table with ease.

“Jabari Johnson. You have a very nice name, you know.”

I gritted my teeth with clenched fists. Spencer was so good at trying one's patience.

“Listen, man. I know how it feels,” he finally said. “But we both know one of you was bound to dump the other sooner or later. And technically, it could have been you, because you’ve been away at college. A lot of pretty legs all over the place, right?”

I felt flustered and confused. “What the hell are you yapping about?”

“Didn’t you guys meet last night? She told you nothing?”

I tried to think. Was this about the pregnancy? That was the only serious thing we had talked about, and as far as I knew, she hadn’t told anyone yet. I wasn’t sure if Spencer was an exception.

“Anything about what?” I asked.

“About what you saw outside.” He simply said, pouring himself a glass of juice.

On a good day, I would have downed the contents of the jug, but not today. I watched him half-fill the glass, drink it down, then drop it on the table with a dull thud. Rather, I pictured myself flinging the glass at his forehead.

“Alright, I will be frank with you, Jabari. I guess Mel was only s**t scared to mention it to you. But the truth is, she actually got herself into trouble.” He began.

My ears perked instantly.

“You recognize that guy you saw her with? Walt Wells? My mum works for them you know...”

Of course, I knew him. Anyone living in Texas who didn't know who Walter Wellington was, might as well be living under a rock or a cave. The guy was always all over the place. If he wasn’t modeling for some luxury brand, he was all over the media flaunting a new tech innovation, company acquisition, or property deal. An obnoxious jerk, through and through. I gave Spence a light nod to urge him on.

“So, Mel filled in for my mum a couple of times when she was sick. That’s how she met him. And next thing you know, she’s pregnant for him.”

My breath ceased at this point and I thought my vision blurred for a moment. I settled slowly onto the sofa as my legs could barely carry me. This couldn’t be true. Mel wasn’t like other girls who hopped on random guys. Rich or not. The baby she’s carrying is mine, not anybody’s.

“Excuse you? What did you just say?” Spence shot to his feet with blazing eyes. I had never seen him so livid.

Had I said that out loud? Damn it.

Since the deed had been done, I might as well face it. “Yes. The baby has to be mine because Mel doesn’t sleep around and I know that. I guess this is just a cover-up story for her to have a secured future because you guys believe I have nothing to offer her, right?” I paused for a moment, glad my words were having an effect on him. “But don’t you think this would be really unfair to Walt if he finds out later that he was fooled? What would you do then if you were in his shoes?”

“Jabari.”

The tone and manner he called my name made me flinch.

“Did you really get Mel pregnant? Is she carrying your baby?”

I creased my brows, feeling more confused than ever. “Didn’t you just say she was carrying Walt’s baby? I was only trying to correct you. The baby belongs to me, not Walt.”

I watched him rub his head in exasperation as his features reddened. “Is that so, asshole? Is that really the truth?!” he raged. “Little wonder she has been acting strange and funny these days.”

My stomach dropped? Did he just trick me? Have I just exposed our secret?

Spencer charged towards me with fury and yanked me up by the collar, delivering a blow to my cheek before I could blink. “How dare you get my sister pregnant, you poor i***t?! What gave you the effrontery?”

He must have dealt three quick successive punches before he finally let go of me. I collapsed back to the sofa helplessly, my head spinning. Spencer was bigger and older, though by less than three years.

“Listen carefully, man." he said, breathing hard. "Make sure this nonsense doesn’t leave this house. No one must hear about it, else, consider yourself dead for messing with Walt’s girl.”

It sounded bizarre in my ears. “Walt’s girl? Why is she suddenly his girl?”

“Because they are getting married. Now, if you will please, get out. I have work to do.” He ordered coldly. “Walk your pathetic self out. And if you ever breathe a word about this stupid pregnancy theory, I repeat, consider yourself dead.”

I stood up, my head feeling heavy and hazy from the punches. But it didn't stop me from grabbing the empty glass cup on the table, determined to carry out my imagination. I aimed it at his head, but he dodged artfully. The glass crashed against the wall instead.

Lucky brat. “You won't be lucky next time." I spouted.

As I walked out of the house, my brain was in a spin. This whole thing had to be a joke.

A very big one.

No way I was going to stand by and watch them treat me like a fool or a nobody. No one would hand my baby over to a total jerk under my watch.