Shawty Fell In Love With A Hustla 3

by Lucinda John

  I was sitting with Smoke’s mom in the waiting room as we waited to hear the status of his operation. He got shot eight times and this was his third time going on the operating table. I looked over at his mother and she was a nervous wreck. Her beautiful hair was all over the place and not styled, as she would usually have it. Her legs shook violently as her hands trembled in fear. She kept whispering for God to spare the life of her son over and over again.

  “The family of Ezra A’Royal,” the doctor said walking out of the double doors of the operating room.

  “Yes?” Zana, his mother, said walking over to him.

  I wanted to walk over there with her, but Mrs. Michael held my hand telling me to sit and wait. I watched as the doctor spoke with Zana, I tried my best to read his lips, but it was as if he was speaking in a hush tone. My heart dropped in the pit of my stomach when I heard a loud scream escape Zana’s lips, before she fell to the floor with a loud thud.

  A swarm of nurses ran over to her attempting to revive her. One nurse finally came over with a gurney, and they lifted her body on it. The doctor pulled out a small flashlight out of his coat pocket and looked in each of her eyes. He said something and they rushed her to the back.

  “What the fuck just happened?” I said aloud.

  “I don’t know, but I’m about to find out,” Mrs. Michael said getting out of her seat.

  Hot on her heels, I followed her to the nurses’ station.

  “Excuse me, the doctor was talking to my sister and she passed out. They rolled her into the back and I wanted to know the status of her as well as my nephew,” she said to the nurse.

  “The lady that they just rolled back there, is your sister?” She asked.

  “Yes and I want to know the status of her and my nephew immediately!” Mrs. Michael firmly replied.

  “Wait here one moment and I’ll go grab the doctor for you,” she said getting out of her seat.

  Before Mrs. Michael could utter another word, the nurse disappeared behind the doors. We waited, both in our own thoughts, for the doctor to come out and speak to us. The longer I waited, the more anxious I became and I wasn’t able to focus. When I thought I was going to lose my mind, the doctor finally came out to speak with us.

  “Hello, I’m Dr. Sege. I was Ezra’s doctor, and I understand you have some questions for me?”

  “Was?” Mrs. Michael asked.

  “What is your relationship to the patient, ma’am?”

  “I’m his aunt. You just wheeled my sister back there after she passed out. With all due respect, I would appreciate it if you gave me some answers!” Mrs. Michael said.

  “I’m sorry to inform you, but Ezra didn’t make it through the surgery. We did everything we in our power, but he flat lined on the table,” the doctor sadly replied.

  “NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!” Mrs. Michael cried.

  I couldn’t believe he was gone. What was I going to tell Karrueche when she woke up out of her coma? What about the baby? How was she going to raise her baby alone? When Karrueche was brought into the hospital, we learned that she was pregnant. Since Karrueche was breathing, the baby was still alive and fighting right along with her. Now how was I going to explain to my best friend that the man she loved, the father of her child was dead?

  “This is too much,” I cried, while holding Mrs. Michael.

  The doctor gave us his condolences then disappeared into the back. Life wasn’t fucking fair at all. Karrueche has been through so much and she did not deserve this. She didn’t deserve to be laying in the hospital bed fighting for her life and become a single parent. I knew this was going to break her, so I was mentally preparing myself to be strong for her.

  “I have to see Zana,” Mrs. Michael said.

  “Okay.”

  “I want to speak with her alone, if you don’t mind.”

  “I don’t, I’ll just go sit in with Journi,” I replied.

  Once Mrs. Michael made her way to the back to check on Zana, I got on the elevator and headed to Journi’s room. When I walked in his room, I was unable to control myself. Everything began taking a toll on me all at once. I walked over to his bedside and took a seat in the chair that was next to it. With my head placed on his stomach, I let it all out. I cried out in pain from the loss of Smoke, I cried for Karrueche and her messed up situation. I even cried because I allowed myself to hurt the only man that really loved me. I didn’t know where we would stand when he woke up, but I was praying that things would work out in my favor.

  As I was crying, I felt a hand caress my back. Looking up I could see Journi eyes staring back at mine. He brought his hand to my hair and started stroking it. I was a little embarrassed because I was sitting here looking a hot mess. I was dressed in an oversized t-shirt, pair of sweats, and gym shoes. My bob hasn’t been bumped, so I knew it was looking a horrid mess.

  “Stop crying, I’m not going anywhere,” Journi whispered.

  “I’m so sorry for everything,” I cried harder.

  “It’s okay ma, I forgive you. It’s going to take time, but we are going to work on it together. Life is too short for the bullshit,” he said causing my heart to smile.

  “How is Smoke and Karrueche holing up?” He asked a question, I wasn’t prepared to answer.

  “Well…” Before I could say anything, the doctor came waltzing in the room.

  “Nice to see you’re up Journi. I knew everything would wear off and you would be alert.” The doctor smiled. “How are you feeling?”

  “Like I’ve been shot,” he said, stating the obvious.

  “Yeah, you were shot alright, right in the chest. It’s going to be painful for a few weeks so I want you to take it easy. You’re going to feel like shit, so I’ll have the nurse bring you some pain meds.”

  “I don’t do drugs doc,” he stubbornly replied.

  “It will help with that aching in your chest. You will be in excruciating pain unless you take something to relieve it,” the doctor explain.

  “I understand, but I’m good.”

  “Well, I’m going to check your incisions to make sure everything is healing, and then I’ll be out of your hair,” the doctor said while putting gloves on his hands.

  He walked over to Journi and gently moved his gown back. He made sure he was extra careful as he removed the tape from the bandages. Once he had view of the freshly stitched area, he inspected it to make sure everything was fine before adding some ointment and redressing it. I noticed Journi flinching in pain a few times, but his ass wanted to be stubborn and not take any pain medicine.

  “Everything is looking good, and a nurse will be by in about twenty minutes, to check your vitals,” the doctor said removing his gloves, then washing his hands.

  “Press the call button if you need any assistance,” he went on to say before walking out of the door.

  There was a pregnant pause in the room. I knew he was going to ask me about Smoke again, but I was praying that he wouldn’t. I wasn’t prepared to tell him that his best friend was dead.

  “How are they doing?” He asked.

  “Karrueche is still hanging in there. She had to get a few blood transfusions to help with the blood she lost so they that have her in a medically induced coma. We are just waiting for her to wake up. Overall she and the baby are doing well,” I said leaving out the details about Smoke.

  “Baby?” He asked.

  “She’s about sixteen weeks along. All of this time we thought she was getting fat from eating too much, but it was because she was pregnant.” I chuckled.

  “How is Smoke taking the news?” He asked.

  “Well umm… Smoke, doesn’t know,” I replied, flicking my nails.

  “Talk to me Shantika, let me know what’s up,” he tried to sit up, but the pain caused him to reconsider.

  “You need to be careful,” I said helping him back into a laying position.

  “Stop trying to change the fucking subject Shantika. What’s g
ood with my boy?”

  “He’s gone,” I finally answered.

  “Gone where? As in Tupac gone or Michael Jackson gone?” Journi asked.

  “Baby, I’m sorry, he’s gone,” I said wrapping my hands around him.

  “Fuck that shit, help me get the fuck out of this bed, my boy needs me!” He cried. “He needs me!!!”

  “I’m so sorry,” I tried to console him.

  “Fuck man! I’m killing every motherfucker, I swear to God this shit means war. I’m bringing out the whole mob on these pussy ass niggas. They are going to feel this heat!” Journi yelled and causing me to jump.

  “It’s okay baby, we’re going to get through this together.”

  “Man, why did they have to take my boy from me? That was my boy man. I can’t believe my dawg is gone,” he cried.

  I knew Journi was going to be fucked up behind the news that’s why I didn’t want to tell him. I climbed in the hospital bed with him, being careful not to bump into his wound and threw my arms around him. My baby was hurting and I had every intention on being there to help him through this rough patch.

  Chapter 23

  Journi

  Shantika was sleeping in my arms and that shit felt good. I was still hurt behind that stunt she pulled, but not nearly as much. My mind was telling me not to forgive her s ass, but my heart melted seeing her face when I opened my eyes.

  The day I was shot in the chest, I realized that life was short. I understood that people make mistakes and if you love them enough, you should forgive them. That was something my aunt taught me. She hated that I resorted to selling drugs after she did all she could to make sure I lived a good life. It is sad that it took her having a heart attack to realize that she still loved me and was willing to accept me as I was. Thinking back to when we reconciled had me feeling like I could be the bigger person and do the same with Shantika.

  Life just seemed so bittersweet for me right now. I was happy to have my girl back, but fucked up in the head because I lost my right hand. I felt like shit because he died saving me. I could still vividly remember him pushing me down when I was shot in the chest. That shit saved my life because if the bullet had moved an inch more to the left, I would have been a goner. The fact that my dawg died trying to save my life made him a soldier in my book, so as long as I had air in my lungs, Karrueche and their baby was going to be straight.

  There was a knock at the door, causing me to look up. My aunt walked in the room and I could tell she was pissed. Her biggest fear of me being in this line of work was ending up in jail or dying. The fact that I was laying in the hospital with a bullet wound to the chest made the situation no better.

  “Auntie, I know what you are going to say,” I spoke before she could begin her lecturing.

  “I want to curse you out from the moon and back but I’m going to respect that young lady that’s lying in bed with you. I’m guessing this is your fiancé,” she said.

  “Something like that,” I replied.

  I gently shook Shantika, waking her out of her sleep. I did not want to wake her up because she was tired, but I needed her to meet the other lady in my life. I didn’t have the chance to formally introduce them due to my aunt being mad at me, so this was the perfect opportunity.

  “Give me five more minutes, please,” Shantika said in her sleep.

  “Baby wake up, I want you to meet someone special,” I said shaking her again.

  When she was fully awake and she sat up in the bed, her eyes grew wide seeing my aunt standing in front of her. She looked back at me then to my aunt again.

  “Hello, I’m Delores. I am Journi’s hard headed ass auntie,” she said extending her hand out for Shantika to shake.

  “Nice to meet you, I’m Shantika.”

  “The fiancé, yes, I heard a lot about you.” She smiled. “I see you’re wearing that pretty ring,” my aunt said.

  I hadn’t even noticed that Shantika was wearing the engagement ring. When we broke up I left it at the house, but expected her to get rid of it. The fact that she kept it and was wearing it proudly on her ring finger, spoke volumes of her love for me.

  “Yes, I love it.” Shantika smiled.

  “I’m glad somebody in their right mind wants to marry this boy. I was starting to think, he was going to die alone,” my aunt said.

  “Oh, he’s not that bad.” Shantika giggled.

  “You’re right, he’s not bad because he’s horrible,” my aunt said as she rolled her eyes at me. “He don’t listen well either.”

  “Not today auntie,” I stressed.

  “Then when? When you are on the other side of a thick glass wearing an orange jump suit, or maybe when you’re casket sharp?,” she snapped.

  One thing about my auntie, she was a Christian woman with a sharp tongue. She would read you the scriptures then turn around and tell you about yourself. Auntie was an original G. She didn’t fear no man, but God and she let that be known.

  “Auntie not today!” I yelled.

  “Mm! Whatever, I just came by to check on you. Now that I see you’re fine, I’ll be on my way.”

  “Auntie don’t be like that.”

  “Shut up child, I’ll be by another day,” she said waving me off before walking out the door.

  “Your auntie is a trip,” Shantika said once she was gone.

  “Yeah, that old lady there is something else.” I chuckled.

  “I didn’t know you were wearing the ring,” I said twirling it between my thumb and index finger.

  “It is my ring, right?” She asked looking me in the eyes.

  “Yes, that’s all you,” I replied. “But I swear to God, on everything I love if you do some shit like that again, I will murk your ass with no questions asked!” I snapped.

  “Yeah okay, you better be glad you are laying up in this hospital bed or I would beat your ass for pulling my hair, the way you did!” She snapped.

  “You’re lucky that’s all I did. I wanted to punch you square in the mouth, on God,” I seriously replied.

  “Well, thank the Lord you didn’t or I would have been forced to shoot you. I don’t play those domestic violence types of games!”

  “Yeah iight,” I replied, mushing her in the head. “But on the real, if you feel like I am not doing something right or if you feel neglected to the point that you want to step out, I would prefer you leave me first. I’m willing to accept about ten percent of the responsibility because I did neglect your needs as your man. However, as my woman it was up to you to hold a nigga down. What if I was doing a bid or some shit?”

  “I would have held your ass down because we would have been communicating. I am not tripping off you handling your business because I understood what you did for a living before I decided to get involve with you. My problem is you not taking the time out to call me. It doesn’t take anything but one minute to send a ‘baby I’m ok’ text. You just left me out in the cold to fend for myself,” she countered.

  I understood where she was coming from, and I made a mental note to always make time for her moving forward. All relationships had problems, and ours was no different. From the outside looking in, people would think we had the perfect relationship. Hell even on Facebook we had motherfuckers sharing our pictures with the caption “Relationship Goals” underneath it. Little did they know that this relationship shit wasn’t a walk in the park. It took a lot of understanding, communication, and dedication to be in a successful relationship.

  * * *

  Against my doctor’s orders, I checked myself out of the hospital. He recommended I stayed in there for two weeks, but after one week, I was ready to go. Today was the day we were laying my best friend to rest. With the help of Shantika, I got dressed in an all-white button up Fendi shirt with some white slacks. I was dreading going to Smoke’s funeral but I had to go pay my respects.

  “Baby, are you ready?” Shantika asked, dressed in a white off the shoulder dress with a pair of gol
d shimmery pumps on her feet. Her hair was g down her back and freshly pressed. I was starting to love the red head look on her.

  “As ready as I’ll ever be.” I replied.

  “Ok let’s do this.” She said helping me up.

  She helped me walk to the car and take my seat. Zana asked me if I wanted to ride with them in the limo but I opted not to. I was the type of nigga that like to grieve alone. I didn’t want to break down in front of anybody except my girl.

  When we arrived to the church, it was beautifully decorated in white and gold, which were Smoke’s favorite colors. In honor of him, everyone was wearing white and gold. I took a seat in the last row and scanned the room. The only people that were in attendance was Zana, the Michaels, and our workers. Everyone was hurt by the loss of Smoke. The fiends even started buzzing in fear of the streets going dry; something I would never allow to happen.

  Before the pastor could begin preaching Stacks, Lala, Cole, Honey, Ralph, Lisa, Chad and Cinnamon walked in the church. Everyone looked at them in awe as their security team followed closely behind him. Once everyone seated and had settled down the pastor began his going back home speech. After the pastor’s two-hour long speech, we were finally able to walk up to the casket to view the body. I took a deep breath and got up. This was the part I was dreading, seeing my dawg laid up dead with my own eyes.

  When it was my turn to view the body, my knees got weak. Smoke skin complexion was four shade darker that he actually looked too perfect. He was decked out in an all-white Gucci suit with gold trimmings. His gold chains, pinky ring, and Rolex had him styling. My dawg was known for being fresh and he was going out the same way. As I stared at his cold ashy lips, reality finally sank in, Smoke was dead.

  Once the service was over, everyone headed out to the grave yard to say their final goodbye. Me, Stacks, Cole, Chad, Ralph, and a few other niggas that worked for us were Smoke’s pallbearers. Smoke’s stainless steel, all white casket with the gold outlining was heavy as fuck, but I didn’t complain. I owed him this much plus more for him risking his life, to save mine.