~This City Called Brotherly Love~

1. The Introduction

I'm A'ioki, most people know me as "AP"... no not like the watch, they call me AP because my last name is Pareish. The hood gave me that name when I was younger simply because they think saying A'ioki is too hard and "kiki" is too basic. I'm originally from Baltimore Maryland but, I decided to move to Philadelphia three months ago and I'll tell y'all why in a little bit.

I'm 21 years old but I'll be 22 in exactly two weeks. Yes I know I'm young but let's just say I've been planning my life since I was seven years old and right now it's going exactly as planned. I finished high school at 16 and graduated with my bachelors of science degree from THEE ILLUSTRIOUS Clark Atlanta University at 20 years old and now I'm 21 with a bomb ass Physical Therapy job and my own successful clothing business. I've been selling clothes for about 6 years now but It really started to take off once I got to Atlanta for college. I can say being a young entrepreneur at an HBCU in Atlanta was the best, It definitely helped my business in more ways than one.

One question I've been getting alot is "why did you decide to move to Philly since it kind of resembles Baltimore?" The answer to this question is simple...I'm not staying here for long trust me. Philly is just the first step to my journey, my goal by 22 was to move out of Baltimore and open my first store in Philly and that's exactly what I'm doing then I plan to move again.

Since my birthday is in 2 weeks, I'm having a birthday bash as a grand opening for my store. I got people coming from the A, Baltimore, Dc, New York, and even a couple people from Cali is coming all the way here to support. I definitely will say my support system is outta this world. I'm pretty known on social media and that's exactly why I'm trying to expand my business. I have supporters all over the world from Instagram, tik tok, YouTube, Bigo and they consistently order merchandise from me so I'm definitely doing my best to make this happen for them and myself.

I pretty much have everything done a whole 2 weeks early with little to no help at all so I'm feeling pretty accomplished. I am grateful for the help I did have although sometimes I wish I had a little bit more but Let me tell y'all one thing about AP, everything I own I worked my ass off for and did most of this shit on my own although I'm beyond grateful for everything I have accomplished, It definitely gets hard and draining at times.

That was just a little back ground of myself now it's time to get on with my life. It's now 11 o'clock AM and by this time I'm usually up and out but since I have everything done for my birthday/grand opening I finally have some me time to kick my feet up and relax. These days only come once in a blue moon when you're a young entrepreneur so, I make sure I use these days wisely since they don't come often.

I haven't really met many people out here that I can truly call a friend except for one. Her name is Charity but they call her Shoota. Her name came from her being at the dice games taking alllll the hood niggas money. She's one of the pretty girls that be around all the hood dudes... a project princess. We're so much alike but so different at the same time. She's a young entrepreneur as well let's just say she's the most BOMB hairstylist/ lash tech here in Philly and that's actually how we met.

     I used to visit Philly often before I moved here and she was always the first person I called to give me a bomb silk press and some lashes. She's the only stylist in Philly to touch my hair so because of that we became closer and once I moved out here officially we became the best of friends. She's one of few that understands what it's like being young trying the hustle and make a way. Her and I have actually talked about moving to Atlanta together. She has a boyfriend named Ace and a Son named Cairo aka RoRo. They were planning on moving anyway to be a family and that's another reason why we connected because overall our minds are in the same place.

Shoota is one of the reasons why I was able to open my store so soon. Her boyfriend Ace has many connects in Philly, which allowed me find a safe and perfect area for my store, some where that would attract a lot of customers and is also convenient. Both of them have also been a big support system. When I first got here I gave them some apparel to wear around the city and they brought me alot of clientele. I was even able to make some apparel for her son RoRo so my new kids line is dropping at the grand opening as well which I'm really excited for and he's going to be my baby model. I have so many big things coming up soon and I can say I'm excited about It. I feel like nothing is more exciting than seeing something you dreamed of, prayed and wished for come to reality.

*ring ring ring*

Speaking of Shoota she's actually calling me right now. I answered the phone and RoRo was in the camera. "Look who called, hi auntie babbbyyyy" I said to him in my baby voice and all he did was smile at me, He's only one so he can't even really talk but he tries to. "Come get me auntieeee I miss you" says Shoota, trying to act like It was RoRo saying It. I laughed because she always want me to get his bad self especially when she has a client.

"Girllll, you know I'll get my nephew anytime, what you bout to get into?" I said to her. "Sis I literally have 3 more heads to do today and he's up now so you already know he be acting out and Ace is with his damn friends they want us to go out with them tonight for his mans Psycho bday you down?" She responded. "Shit yea I'm down, where Ro gonna be at?" I asked. "See that's what I was bout to ask, can you drop him off at my sister house for me please?" She asked. "Of course I got you, I'll be by to pick him up right now, I probably take him out first, spend some time wit my baby nephew" I said laughing. "Ok bet, call me when you outside I'm about to get him ready" she said. "Ok coo" i said proceeding to hang up the FaceTime call.

       I need to get dressed really quick because I'm looking like a bum. I went to my closet to get dressed. I think today I'm going to dress comfortably because i think I'm going to take him to the trampoline park so he can jump around and get all his energy out. I threw on this nude spaghetti strap romper, my yeezy slides and I put my hair in a slick back bun. I love me a good slick back you better know It. I grabbed my nude cross body Prada bag, my keys and I headed to my car to start my day.
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