The Poet

4

As he said the last line, he walked closer to me and grabbed my hands. His eyes were such an intense shade of blue that I couldn't focus. He was so close to me that I could smell his sandalwood cologne lightly tainted with the smell of sweet Sativa. I opened my mouth to say something but the words wouldn't come out. I was definitely having a stroke of some sort, and I couldn't form a coherent thought. "Raf stop fucking with her before you give her brain damage," Jason says, opening the fridge. Rafael laughs and walks into the living room. I let out the breath I didn't know I was holding and turned to walk out of the kitchen too. Jason grabs my hand before I leave the kitchen. "You okay? He can be a bit overwhelming sometimes." He says. I nod, walk into the living room, and sit on the floor. I listen to the guys talk about whatever and text my friends back home. As the guys are talking, I snap a picture of them and send it in the group chat.

Ladiezz

Ana🤪: Who's the cutie😍
Jo😎: Which one? Bcuz gurl🤤
G🥸: Man bun taper is Mario, Bomber is Rafael🙄, and dimples is Jason
Ana🤪: Which one have you fallen in love with?😒
G🥸: None😳
Jo😎: So Rafael is up for grabs😏
G🥸: Why him?
Jo😎: Do you not see him? That man is a work of art, G!
Ana🤪: Facts!
G🥸: Okay, so I'm going to bed because...no

Ana🤪: So you are in love with Rafael
G🥸: Who said anything about love?

As soon as I sent that text, I got a Group FaceTime call. "Shit!" I say out loud. "Hey, baby!!!" Ana says, yelling on the phone. As soon as they heard her, the hounds crowded me. "Damn, can I breathe?!" I say, pushing them back some. "No, of course not," Rafael says, grabbing my phone. "Wassup ladies? How are y'all tonight?" He says. I get up, go into my room, and grab more blankets as my friends talk to the boys. Hearing Rafael laugh at Jo lowkey upsets me for some reason. Like what could be so damn funny? "Whatever!" I say, opening my door and going to the bathroom. I come out after washing my hands and bump right into Mario, knocking his phone on the floor. "Oh damn, I'm so sorry!" He says. "It's fine, no worries. Sorry about your phone," I say, walking back to the sofa. "There goes the woman of the hour! Where'd you go? We missed you!" Rafael says. "I went to find some blankets," I say plainly. "You okay?" Jason asks, sipping his drink. "Yeah, just tired, I guess," I say, stretching. Rafael hands me my phone, and I see Ana still on the call. "What happened to Jo?" I ask. "In bed." She said plainly. "Okay, so what's up?" I ask her biting my nail. "You like Rafael, don't you?" She asks. Rafael looked at me as he drank from his glass, awaiting my answer. "Yeah, he's cool people. I mean, I consider him a friend now." I say. "Okay, cool. Rafael and I are going on a "get to know each other" outing when I come and see you." She says. "Why not just chill here?" I ask. "Because not everyone is a homebody like you! Duh!" She said cheerfully. "Yeah, okay. I'm going to wrap up this phone call, so I'll call you later," I say, hanging up. It was silent for a bit, and then Mario broke the silence when he walked back in from the bathroom. "Who died?" He asked, walking into the living room. "The hope of any type of real relationship between Raf and Gi," Jason says, laughing. I wasn't laughing. Nothing about that was funny. "I don't have to go if you don't want me to, G," Rafael whispers, leaning on my shoulder. His cool breath coated the crook of my neck like smooth ice cubes. I could feel him scooting closer to me as he wrapped his arms around me. He then says in my ear:

And with a kiss, she grants the wishes of a million men
For she knew not what for but where within
Her mind spins with fear and ecstasy
Her heart races from his touch
Her breath hitches as he devours her like she's his Sunday brunch.

He tilts my chin so that I'm looking him directly in the eyes, and he whispers sweetly, "I can tell a lot from your eyes." and I damn near lose my mind.  "Did you just compare me to Sunday brunch?" I whisper to him. His body radiates comfortable heat. He lightly glides his fingertip along my jawline and says, "Yes, because everyone loves Sunday brunch." I laugh as we pull away from each other. "Alright! So Rafael is on some creep shit, and I'm tired." I say, standing up and fixing my shirt. They all grunt and groan in protest as they clean up their messes. "No, but in all seriousness, if you'd rather your friend not steal me, I won't go," Rafael says, folding my blanket. "I just know how she is, and I don't want you to be her next victim," I say as he laughs. "Laugh now, but when your ass is sitting outside her apartment wondering how the hell you got to Houston in some basketball shorts, cowboy boots, a flannel, and a boom box strapped to your back, don't say I didn't warn you!" I say as Mario laughs. I hug everyone goodnight as they walk out the door. Rafael took the longest and was the last one to say goodbye. He drags himself out the door. "So you've been here for almost a year, and we haven't gone on any friend dates. Why?" He points out randomly.

"Because you and I don't like to be out at the same times, and when I do think about entertaining this friend date idea, you're always fucking someone," I say. "Am not!" He says, appalled but amused. "Raf? You just had someone over, and I haven't gotten sleep in two weeks because you're nonstop!" I say, slightly annoyed now. He looks at me and rubs his chin, choosing his words carefully. "I apologize for what you hear through these walls, but I promise you it's not me. Jason and Mario usually slide to my place when they aren't close to theirs and do what they want especially when I'm at work. I'll let them know to keep it PG for you." He says with a serious look on his face yet amusement still dancing in his eyes. I walk closer to him and hug him. I lift my lips to his ear ever so smoothly and whisper, "I don't like liars, so the next time you feel like protecting my heart or your ego, please do us both a favor and don't." I pull away and push him out the door, his arms still open from the hug, mouth slightly parted to speak but stunned by the words that just invaded his ears. I whisper a soft goodnight to him and close the door. It was as if I wouldn't see him again. As if I were saying goodbye forever. After locking up, I clean my kitchen and then head to bed. What has my life become at this moment? Why does it seem so difficult?