Desire

A different world-Ron Johnson

Howard University
April 1998
Ron pov

"Man, how could she do this to me? I did nothing but love her, and then she dumped me? And with no good explanation?" Ron cried to his friend Denise

"Sometimes people we love don't know how to love us back, Ronny," she replied and rubbed his head.

"I don't know how I'm gonna bounce back."

"We are at a hbcu; there is plenty of fine, educated and melanated sistas to pick from. How about we go to my sorority's party tonight? Ya know, get out of the house and have fun."

"I don't think I want to be around many people."

"So, let's go grab a bite to eat and go to the park"

"I like that better. Let me shower and meet you at your dorm In an hour" I kissed her cheek, and she left

Ron got into the shower, and after that, he threw on a simple tee, denim jeans, and a pair of air Jordans with a leather jacket.

...
Denise

"Girl, tell that man you love him!!"  My roommate Kimmy laughed

I told her about Ron's breakup and that we would be hanging out tonight, and she went ape shit on all this "you love him and have a crush on him" shit.

"I think he is fine, but what if he doesn't look at me that way? Then it'll be awkward."

"You never know until you try" my other roommate's boyfriend, Dorian, said

"Whatever, I'm leaving, don't wait up."

I grabbed my Alpha Kappa Alpha jacket and left the dormitory. I went down to the lobby and saw Ron sitting on the sofa.

"Hey, Ron"

"Wow, you look beautiful" he stood up and spun me around

"Thanks, Ron. You don't look too bad ya self."

Ron and Denise left campus and headed to Ben's Next Door on U St. When we got there; we were seated almost immediately. "Can I have a lemon drop?" Denise asked the waiter

"And for the gentleman?"

"A whiskey sour. Double shot"

The waiter went and put in our drink orders. The table was quiet, which was weird because we had become talkers over the time we had known each other.

"Hey, uh, Denise?"

"Ron?"

"You remember that time we took my car down to the shack on—

"Rodney Road, where you punched that guy in the face and stole his Hennessy? I do" she laughed

"I had every reason to"

"So the heats losing to the Knicks is a good reason?"

"I mean, yeah, but that wasn't the reason."

"Please explain to me," she said as the waiter sat our drinks down

"He kept flirting with you," Ron said and bit his lip softly

I choked on my drink a little bit but played it off. "You good baby girl?" Ron smirked. She nodded. The two ordered their food, and the table got quiet once it arrived.

"You alright over there?." Ron asked

"Yeah, why?"

"Denise," Ron said with the sternest voice.

He knew I was lying about being ok, so he reached his hand out and laid it on top of mine. I started getting nervous; Ron had this look in his eyes that I had never seen before. "Tell me what's wrong, mama."

"I just didn't think a guy flirting with me would bother you" "Why wouldn't it bother me? Your, my girl."

"I'll always be ya, girl, Ron" Denise smiled. The two ate the rest of their food and then went back to Ron's dorm. Since Ron was an athlete, he stayed in one of the best male dorms on campus. I always stayed at his dorm, so I had plenty of clothes and hygiene products. Denise took a shower, and when she got out, she put on Ron's practice jersey, pulled her hair into a bun, and put on a green tea face mask. 

I sat on Ron's bed doing some journaling while he showered. I can't help but think about the way Ron had me feeling at dinner today. The way he touched my hand made me melt on the inside. But him telling me, "Your my girl," and me saying, "I'll always be your girl," without any hesitation was a lot. Denise sat her journal down and washed off her face mask. After wiping water from my eyes, I seen the bathroom door open and the steam oozing out, and there stood Ron in nothing but a towel. 

I've seen my best friend in nothing but a towel before, but I felt different about it this time. I was in a different world.

"Denise, let's stop playing games and just put it on the table."

"Huh?"

To be continued...