Brother's Keeper✔️

52. Boys Two Men

Jordan POV

This was going to be an interesting topic of discussion for sure.

Jordan looked forward to hearing what the ladies had to say about their thoughts on relationships. He had a sincere feeling that most of the guys would not listen. Many would get offended because the truth hurt, but he hoped he learned something from the discussion.

"On behalf of the brothers of Epsilon Upsilon and the ladies of Mu Alpha Chi, thank you all for being here tonight. You could be home Netflix and chilling, but you're here with us tonight."

Jordan looked around the larger and filled-to-the-brim room at the Student Union. The biggest meeting room in the building and every chair was filled with a few standing, long as they did not hit the maximum capacity of two hundred. They planned for about a hundred fifty, and they were close to one hundred and eighty and turned people away.

Their other meeting had about sixty to seventy-five people. MAX said they could get no more than fifty comfortably in their house, so they thought a hundred and fifty was good. The campus itself had maybe three thousand African American students, so they were not putting a dent in that, but they were doing good.

There was no sign-in or anything, so he could not be sure if there were more women or men in the meeting, it seemed pretty even.

"Thanks for having this, guys," Jill said. "We don't need any introductions, you all know who we are, let's just dig into the conversation."

Also interesting to note, there were several white people in the audience, male and female. He guessed everyone wanted to hear how men and women were so different.

"Let me start things off," Manny said at the head table with him, Taj, and Brian. The MAX ladies sat at a separate head table with all of the neos and Jill. "Basically we are here to discuss how men and women differ in thinking. That's on life and goals...and especially relationships."

Manny needed to tread lightly. Both Laila and Marketta were there. This would be the first time they saw them in action with their fraternity. He looked around and made sure Shamiya was not there or else she might try and set it off. No need for drama tonight.

"SO the question is, what do men want? What do women want? Anyone wants to start?"

Taj stood up. "I'll start, but I know my answer is a lot, different from most guys. I want to have a long-term, loving, happy relationship with one person. I think that is what everyone should want."

"Oooo!" "Aaah" all the ladies in the audience started shouting out.

"I need one of him!" someone shouted out.

"Taj, I volunteer myself as tribute!"

The girls were getting out of hand with their catcalling at his frat brother, He did not look at him like that. He knew he was a good, standup guy, but the girls in that room were acting like he was a hot superstar or something. He thought only guys did stuff like that.

"Damn ladies, stop thirsty over my frat, geez," Daysha said. "He a'ight!"

"I have a girlfriend," Taj stated, not even phased that the ladies were all over him. "When I am with someone, she is all I see."

"Dear God!" someone shouted out. "They do not make good brothers like you. Ever!"

"Cornball!" some guy shouted out to laughter.

"I disagree," Jordan said. "Guys we're not corny if we believe in monogamy. There are some good brothers out there. Sometimes it takes us a minute to get serious, but when we find the right one, we're all in."

He specifically searched for his girl's face so he could smile at her. He could see she blushed at his smile.

A guy raised his hand and then stood up. "That's all fine and dandy and shit, but these hoes be tricking too."

That caused an uproar among the ladies that were scattered around the room.

He stood back up to address it. "There will be no disrespect of anyone here tonight. If you cannot abide by that, you are welcome to leave or keep it quiet."

"They never respect us," a girl said.

"Respect has to be earned," a guy yelled out.

He had to reign this all in. "Listen, let's be productive tonight. Guys, if all you're interested in is seeing as many women as you want, fine, but be upfront with that with the girls you're with. Ladies, if you want a relationship, let the guy know, and do not lower your standards."

That received a round of applause from not only the ladies but some of the guys.

Jill stood up. "I understand how hard it can be out there. Last year I was on a mission to find the perfect guy, dating anyone that gave me attention. Ladies, we have to know who we are ourselves before we can expect a guy to want us. Let's not rush into a relationship until we're ready, and as Jordan said, don't lower your standards."

A guy stood up in the back. "Why are women so superficial? Like, a regular brother gets no love. They want all the Taj looking guys."

What did that mean? He looked at Taj, then back at the guy. Why was everyone acting like Taj was some hot boy? The other guy was a decent-looking dude. He was short and dark-skinned, but he seemed cool to him. He was not one to rank another man's looks, so maybe he was missing something.

"It's not about looks," a girl said. "Taj just said what type of guy he is annnnnd he looks like that. Sheesh! If you know you're not a ten, all other shit better be A-1...including the bedroom."

That started a couple of guys bragging about how they did their thing. This conversation was going all over the place.

"And on the topic of the looks," another girl said. "Why do we always have to be a ten but guys barely try to look good? Need a haircut, nails raggedy, and dressed like bums. You see a hot girl with a basic ass dude...that's lowering our standards, just to get some dick."

"Oooo!"

"Girl say that!"

"She dropping knowledge!"

"Y'all sounding desperate in these streets," Daysha said. "Dick ain't that good."

"Why does everything have to be about sex?" Malinda asked.

"Because it is!" someone said.

"Then that's the problem!" Malinda slammed her hands on the table. "What happened to date? Just hanging out with a person and getting to know them? Holding hands and just enjoying each other's company? You can fall in love with all of that."

"Girl, what world is she living in?"

"The real world. We're young. We actually have time for all of that. The reason a lot of us are not in happy relationships is that we rush and do grown-up things. What about building the relationship first? Just try it."

He agreed with what Malinda was saying. That was why he was still waiting with Marketta, even though he wanted to take it there. It just felt right waiting with her because he knew he would be with her for a long time.

"We need to come to some kind of understanding tonight, on how each other feels." He looked around at everyone. "Not saying it will get solved tonight because it won't. But there is no need for us to keep fucking over each other. Malinda said it best, get to know each other How about after the meeting, you see someone interesting, ask them out, and just date? Nothing else, not even making out, just go on a date and talk."

"Whaaat?" a guy said.

"Hear me out, I challenge all of you that are single, try it. And those in a relationship, dig a little deeper in your relationship. Understand each other on a different level. Thank me later."

And he would do the same for his relationship.

A/N: Points were made. Dating is, was, and will always be hard because of how opposite the sexes are. We think differently, which in my opinion is okay, but we need to understand that and communicate with each other to make a relationship work.