“It's because he’s a vampire, right? He’s ‘different’,” he says, gesturing quotations with his fingers, “and that's what's so attractive to you, isn’t it? The danger, the possibility of being this guy's feeder, gets you all hot and bothered doesn't it? You get to be a rebel for a bit and tell your friends you're so progressive because you dated a Vamp back in your wild college days” Rurik says as if finally cracking the code.
“No, that's not it. I don’t wanna talk about it anymore,” she commands, and Rurik lets out an offended scoff. “I'm begging you, let’s just drop this and focus,” Naira pleads once more.
“No, I want you to tell me one thing you actually like about this guy besides the fact that he’s an Other and-” Rurik is interrupted when Naira shouts.
“He’s not you! He’s not stuck up! He’s not boring! He actually likes to hear my stories, even when I tell another one in the middle. He doesn't talk shit about my goals in life, he’s interested in spending time with me because he doesn't have his fucking nose buried in a book twenty-four-seven!” she yells, without a single pause. “You wanted a fucking answer, you've got it!” she tries to hide her shouts.
“Okay. I get it. Calm down,” Rurik says softly, as they both notice the candlelight flickers violently.
“No, fuck you, dude. You do not get to act like I'm out to get you. Do not tell me to calm down, because when I was calm you didn't respect it. You want answers so badly? You’ll get one,” she snaps back, catching her breath. “No actually, you'll get all of them. He fucks better than you, he actually goes down on me, he holds my hand in public, and he texts me good night and good morning, even though it's a chore and I tell him he doesn't have to. He understands that his partner isn't just some person you occasionally make small talk with before you fuck them… Rurik what we had, what we had was ‘cool’. But what we had when we were just friends was even better, and I wish so desperately that I didn't have to look at you and think of you as some mistake I committed to when I was young and too blind to see your hundreds of red flags but I do, and you constantly trying to push boundaries I've set for a reason doesn't help me get past that. I love you, I probably love you more than anyone in this fucking apartment does-”
“Then date me!” He shouts.
“No! You don't fucking listen. I'm gonna jump out of that goddamn window if you don't start listening to me. That's another thing! Credence actually listens, he doesn't just wait for his turn to talk, he doesn't just guide you toward an answer only he finds acceptable.” She says and Rurik scoffs. “He listens to me,” she pauses after every word. “I'm sorry, and I know that I shouldn't be, but I am. I want you to heal, I want you to know love like I currently do, and I know it may seem selfish for me to be so happy when you feel this way but man… I've gotta start thinking about myself for once. So, for the love of God and all of Addy’s deities, please I'm begging you, drop it and study.” Naira demands, while standing, red-faced, watery-eyed, and breathing heavily. Her fists shake and tremble at her side as her heart rate runs a mile a minute.
“Fine.” He grunts and grabs hold of his book again.
Footsteps and muffled voices approach the room, Naira and Rurik turn don't dare look away from their books silently agreeing that what occurred just minutes ago stays between them.
“We brought water! Who wants some hydration” Fleur says as she walks into the room.
“That food smells good. Imma need like two plates…woah,” Addebowale stops at the threshold of her door as if there were an invisible barrier.
“Hey, I got you water. Take your eyes away from the book for once and hydrate,” Fleur says in a sweet tone as she offers him the cup.
“I'm fine,” Rurik says coldly, keeping his eyes planted on his notebook.
“You will stop studying for once and drink this water. You can't be a surgeon if you die of dehydration. Here, drink.” Fleur demands. Rurik lazily grabs the cup and takes a sip before placing it on Adebowale's window sill.
“Nana, I been meaning to show you these new crystals my mama got, come on,” Addy says as she gestures for Naira to follow her.
“She did? Where'd she get em?” Naira perks up as she follows her.
“Girl, I don't know. Some Yoruban store,” she replies as her voice fades down the hall.
The two enter her mother's room, adorned with African decor all over. The smell of sage and incense set a relaxing atmosphere. Afro-beat music plays softly and the lights are a dim hue of orange. Her parent's bed takes up a large portion of the room, an orange cat lying in the center of their bed curled up and purring as it sleeps helps Naira feel welcome and cozy. “Where are the crystals?” Naira asks, looking around the room.
“Girl, ain't no damn crystals. What happened in there? That energy was thick, nasty, real… sad” Addebowale says as she shivers slightly.
“He just… wanted answers” Naira responds, somewhat unwilling to talk about her discussion with Rurik, as she can feel the lump in her throat begin to form.
“So… did he get 'em?” she asks, sitting on the foot of her parent’s bed.
“Yeah, just not the ones he wanted,” Naira replies. Addy’s mom walks into the room with her father following closely behind her.
“What's this? Y'all having girl time?” she asks, stopping in the doorway. Addy nods her head with a raised eyebrow.
“Bye, go watch TV. We talking,” Addy’s mom says as she shuts the door on her husband and goes to sit on her bed next to them.
“Man of the house my ass,” they all heard him grumbling as he walks down the hall, and let out chuckles.
“What's goin’ on, baby?” her mother asks with her hands folded in front of her.
“It's just Rurik, Ms. Kim. Ever since we broke up, it's just been this weird energy between us. It's not like super toxic or anything, just awkward. I had a great time with him, but I just wish that we could be normal friends again,” Naira says now toying with the wooden figurines on Ms. Kim’s dresser.
“Why y’all break up again? if you don't mind my asking?” Ms. Kim asks while rubbing her hand on her daughter’s back.
“We just weren’t getting along very well. He said I was too impulsive and too immature or something like that. And it's not like I don't know that about myself, but it’s just who I am. So, I told him to find a girl that he actually wanted to be with, not a girl who just keeps him company,” she explains, pursing her lips.
“That’s right, girl! Tell his ass!” Ms. Kim shouts as she claps her hands, to which Naira can’t hold her laugh.
“Mom! They in the next room,” Addebowale says in a hushed tone while laughing softly with her mom, who covers her mouth.
“My bad, you keep going,” she grins and looks at a laughing Naira.
Naira catches her breath to speak again. “Yeah… We just broke it off, and it’s been like this ever since. Sometimes he’d want me and seem sorry, but other times he’d just be so cold and standoffish. Confused me so much.”
“Listen to me, baby,” Ms. Kim says, holding the hand of each girl while standing in front of the bed. “Addy, I want you to listen too, cause you probably gonna have a lil’ boo soon. These boys don't want you till they can't have you. You give a boy a chance, and he gonna start feeling his-self, treating you like he the one who took a chance on dating you,” she adds wide-eyed, pointing at Addy’s room with her head. “Addy, I said the same thing about your last lil boyfriend that cheated. His ass was too comfortable and I ain't like that. Like why the hell was yo ass calling to check up on him? Why wasn't that reciprocated with you? Why was you putting more energy into that relationship than he was? You was emotionally bankrupt, and I’m glad you got yourself out of that debt,” she tells her daughter. “I see you hanging with your friends and even talking to your friend with the deep voice on the phone,” she smirks with a knowing expression.
“Mom!” Addy shouts, embarrassed. “Why you snooping?”
“Girl, I'm ya momma. Whenever you being sneaky, remember who taught you,” she says, pinching her daughter’s cheek, to which Addy rolls her eyes. “Anyway, Rurik is a nice boy. He got him a good job, he real respectful from what I seen, and he ain't too bad looking. But all that don't matter. You wanna know why?” Ms. Kim asks with a raised eyebrow.
“Why?” Naira asks with intrigue.
“’Cause you know your worth. You can be the most broke, dirty, musty, raggedy lookin’ bitch walkin’ the face of the earth, but if a man pullin’ up to you in a nice sports car, diamonds on his chain, and a pretty smile. But he a liar, he belittles you, and he treat you like one of many options, you still giving him a chance? I'm asking both of yall.”
“Yeah, I guess,” Naira replies before looking at Addebowale who mouths a clear “No,” while shaking her head.
“Hell no! You betta take your raggedy ass on and keep it pushing,” Ms. Kim says, causing Addy to laugh, falling back on the bed.
“But what if I can change him? It happened before, nobody's perfect,” Naira says, still chuckling at the sight of Addebowale trying to catch her breath after laughing so hard.
“Baby, you are so right, nobody perfect, but this right here ain't got nothing to do with him. This about you. He can change on his own time when and if he chooses to, but you gots to focus on you. You not giving this rich man a chance, because you know your worth. Even with that job he got and his politeness, that boy just didn't know your worth. What they be saying though, one-man trash another one's treasure. Addy, your daddy tried that with me once, he was feelin’ his self a little too much. Girl, I turned my phone off, put on my lil’ leggings, and went to the club dancing, having a good time, and met a couple of new friends. I came back home, and your daddy was outside my damn house, ready to fight whoever I brought back with me. I check my phone, this man done called me like thirty times,” she says while laughing. “Oh, he was ready to talk after that. He was a changed man after that day. But I ain't wait for his ass to change shit, I ain't even ask him to change. He can be his-self all he wants, ignore my calls, don't bring no diapers, and don't communicate, but you not gonna be in my house doing that shit. Your bags will be packed in a heartbeat. Yeah, he put a ring on me some weeks after that. But Naira, I’m not saying you gotta go that far to get your point across baby, I'm just saying you don't want to let these boys gaslight you into thinking you not worth whatchu. Don't stress about it, you gonna find you a man that see you for the treasure you are.” Ms. Kim finishes as she stands to hug Naira.
“Yeah, Credence treats me really nicely. I'm kind of not used to it, but it's a big upgrade,” Naira looks up to see her friend’s mom wide-eyed and jaw dropped.
“You got a new boyfriend?”
“Yeah, here. I can show you a pic. He’s really nice, works down at the church and he’s an Other. Here it is,” Naira lifts her phone to show her, who grabs the phone and looks at the screen in shock before smiling.
“Reggie! Naira got a new boyfriend!” she exclaims as she rips open her bedroom door and runs down the hall to the living room with Naira’s phone, her long silk robe flowing in the wind.
“She got a what!” Reggie shouts. Addy and Naira look at one another with smiles before they step into the hall to see Addy’s parents looking down at Naira’s phone.
“What's his name, where he work, he got a baby already?” Reggie yells down the hall while still looking at the photo.
“Credence, yes, at a church, and… I don't think so?” Naira says with a confused smile while looking at Addy.
“She’s been with that dude for a while now. I think you guys are the only ones that didn't know. I see them all the time when I’m on the train,” Shaka says, peeking out of his room with his gaming headset on, and his remote in hand.
“What the hell? Naira, when was you gonna tell us? I thought we was fam,” her friend’s dad says with a look of betrayal while grabbing his chest as if he was hurt.
“I was going to, I just didn’t know if this was the real thing yet,” Naira responds with a sheepish smile.
“I don't know man, you said he work at a church? How nice is he?” Reggie replies.
“He seems nice enough, only lost his temper once with some rude guy over at the movies, but other than that, he’s really nice. Melissa, the pastor's wife, says so too” Naira explains.
“I don’t know, that sound a little too good. Imma need to lay eyes on this dude. Do some research to see if he got a record. Imma make a call to Blackgate” he continues.
“Boy, you think everybody suspicious,” Addy’s mom says, taking Naira’s phone from Reggie while walking down the hall to return Naira’s phone.
“Yeah, whatever, and I be right too. Just give it a month or two. Naira bout to have six different girls ‘coming to her as a woman’, police officers with warrants for his arrest, and collections agencies coming to snatch stuff up. I'm tellin’ you,” Reggie warns as he steps back into the living room.
“Boy shut up,” his wife says laughing loudly. “We just kidding, Naira. I'm happy you found a new man. Bring him by the house sometime so we can meet him,” she continues, giving Naira’s phone back to her before stepping into her room. “They is so annoying,” Addy says while laughing with Naira as they enter the room. “What y’all in here talking ‘bout?” she asks as she opens her door and steps into her room to see Fleur scooting away from Rurik, and avoiding their gaze.
“Nothing just… your shrine. I see you added some new stuff in there,” Fleur says.
“Looks nice,” Rurik adds, fixing his hair and wiping his mouth with the back of his hand.
“Mhm,” Addy replies, suspicious, staring daggers at the two.
“Hey, you did put some new stuff on here,” Naira says excitedly as she walks over to her shrine.
“Yeah… Just some new crystals and flowers. I been working on some new prayers and spells, pretty fun” Addebowale says slowly, turning her attention away from the two.
“What kind of spells?” Fleur asks, looking at her.
“Aight, go sit on the bed, I been planning on showing yall for a while,” Addy says while rubbing her hands together.
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