Again

9

Afta wakin up and takin care of my hygiene, I went down ta the kitchen ta make breakfast. Rel slept in the room wit me last night, but she still ain't sayin too much ta me. Ion know how I'm gon fix this, and on top of that, Mani been actin distant lately. I gotta get my shit ta'getha and fast. I can't live in a gender divided house that's gon drive me crazy.

I had just slipped the bacon in the oven when I heard movement, thought erybody'a be sleep fa lil bit longa. Especially Mani since she went ta a party last night, and ain't get back in hea until a lil afta 1. I ain't gon trip though, she a good kid, wit a good head on ha shouldas. She'on too much break no rules, at least not now, she did go through a rebellious faze when she was like 13/14, but she straightened out real quick.

Ta my surprise, it was Mani who was up and walkin around. "Mornin Mani."

"Good morning." she walked over to a cabinet and pulled out her NutriBullet, it's fa erybody ta use, but she use it the most.

"Any special request fa breakfast?"

"Nope, just the protein shake for now." she started pullin out the stuff ta make one.

"Aight, let me know if you change ya mind."

"Uh... actually, can we workout together, today?" I wun really surprised, we workout ta'getha a lot, I'm just surprised she was nervous.

"Yeah, as soon as I'm done wit erything."

"No, rush. I'll be in my room whenever you're ready." she started blendin ha ingredients, and I started makin french toast.

"Cheat day?" I asked wit a smirk, rememberin ha love fa french toast sticks.

"I'm not really hungry right now, but thanks." Mani ain't never decided not ta cheat when offered.

"You ok?"

"Uh... I'll talk to you about it later."

"Aight." she softly smiled befo walkin out wit ha shake. I shook the worry fa now, since she said she'a talk ta me lata. I went back ta makin breakfast fa the rest of the family, and even made Mani's favorite and put it away fa lata.

__

I ate, took Rel a plate, and made Ant a plate, since they was sleep.

I got dressed in some gray sweats and a white tank top, then went ta Mani room ta see if she was ready ta workout.

"Mani." I walked in knockin on ha open doe. She looked up from puttin on ha shoes.

"Yeah."

"You ready?"

"Yeah, where are your shoes?"

"Down stairs." She nodded and we walked down. What's up wit my baby girl?

__

"Mani, you gon kill me." I groaned collapsin on the flo. She had me doin sit ups wit weights and shit, I'm gettin too old fa this shit.

She laughed, and stood grabbin ha weights. "Exercise bikes, come on." I groaned again, standin up, and walked ova to it.

"Can I ask you something?" She bit ha lip, a sign she was nervous.

"Why you nervous?"

"I don't really know how to talk to you about this..." She trailed.

"Bout what? A lil nigga?"

"No, no... Uh... It's kinda depressing for me."

"What's on ya mind, baby girl?"

"Uh... Do you... um... Regret me?" We stopped pedaling on the machines.

I looked at ha. "No, neva. Why you ask?" That hurt ta know she think I felt that way bout ha.

"Because, you wanted mom to abort me, and now you're questioning whether or not I'm your daughter."

"Don't eva think I regret you. That abortion thing was extremely bad on my part, I know that. The timin just wun right, I ain't want yo life in danger just because I'm ya pops. As far as that tryin ta disown you thing, somebody got in my head, who knew ya mama befo I met ha, and the way they was talkin bout ha, made it seem like something it wasn't." She nodded wit glossy eyes.

"I love you, baby girl. I'm sorry fa puttin you and ya mama though so much hell since I came back in y'all lives. I don't mean none of it, ya mama can prolly tell ya betta than I can, I act befo thinkin shit out." I got down and pulled ha into a hug, kissin ha fo'head.

"Can you start thinking before you act, please? This type of stuff hurts, and makes me feel unwanted by you. I love you, but I sometimes feel as if you don't feel the same way about me." She cried.

"No matta what, don't eva feel that way. I'll go ta war ova you, all y'all. I love you, so much. You my favorite daughter." She laughed a lil bit.

"I'm your only daughter."

"And my favorite. But I promise, our relationship gon get betta. I'm sorry fa makin you feel this way."

"It's been on my mind for a few years, I just didn't know how to bring it up. I asked Bray, and he said just tell you guys whatever it was. And yesterday, I told mom and she kind of told me to just talk to."

"No matta what, you can always talk ta me. Don't hold this type'a stuff in."

"I'll try." I finally released ha from my embrace.

"I mean it, I love you. I don't regret nothin except my cold words, which I apologize fa by the way." I looked in ha eyes. My baby girl is strong, and ha pretty smile hides so much.

"You're forgiven." She smiled. "But you have to talk to mom."

"That's a different story, ya mama is stubborn as hell."

"She just needed time to calm down before Ant ended up growing up without a father. She should be good today."

I shook my head. "Sound like Rel, but I'll talk to ha. Are you done tryin ta kill me now?" I joked.

She giggled. "Yeah, I'm getting hungry."

"Omelet and bacon in the kitchen."

She smiled wide. "Thank you daddy, love you." She kissed my cheek befo runnin upstairs.

One down, one ta go.... Let's just hope Rel keeps a cool head as well