A Love Like This

part 1

*13 years later...*

"Man, I really can't believe we're about to graduate. 4 years passed by so fast! &I'm turning 21 before graduation...we gotta turn up!" Minyoung squeaked with excitement as he walked between two of his friends throughout the campus center. Being the spontaneous guy he was, he instinctively decided to jump up & put his arms around his friends necks so they could carry him. "Chill out dude!" Corey said, and Minyoung released his arm after a quick second. "School just started, we have like 8 months to go." Corey stated as he rubbed his neck to ease the mild pain. Josh, Minyoung's other friend to his right, just laughed. "Bro, next time you do that, I'm gonna drop kick you. I've let you get away with that jumping up & carrying thing to long. I'm not tryna have a broken neck before grad." Minyoung just snorted at Josh. "Oh yeah, & being 21 is awesome but its overrated. You just get use to it after a while." Josh stated. These were Minyoung's best friends. They were both Korean which made life much easier for Minyoung...they just understood where he was coming from. He met Josh in the 2nd grade and they were inseparable ever since. He was one of the few people who could put up with Minyoung's fiery, hyper personality. Corey met both of them in college. They created an instant bond & didn't look back ever since. Corey was the more down to earth one out of the group, and helped to keep the crew grounded. "Well, we're going to turn up either way, no matter what." Minyoung said as the three of them walked outside the campus center into the sunny breezy California day.

A couple feet away from them, Ryanne was with her squad, getting hype as well about their last year in college. "Girls...I truly can't believe I've made it this far. I can't believe we made it this far! This extra year of school will be great...I can just feel it." She said excitedly to her girls, Layla and Jade. As she was speaking with much enthusiasm, she flew her arms up in the air, raising her hands to the heavens. "Whoah..watch out girl!" Layla said. "You almost hit me." And with that, all the girls looked at each other & started busting out laughing. This was their friendship. They were all black girls, of different beautiful shades. Ryanne was the crazy cool one. Well, all of them were crazy, but Ryanne surpassed all of them. Layla was the eccentric one who always came up with "out of the box" ideas. Jade was the outspoken one who wasnt afraid to stand up for her beliefs. They all shared similar qualities, so they fit together like peas in a pod. While chatting and walking through the campus center, they approached Minyoung and his friends. Before Ryanne could fully pass them... Minyoung flashed her a big grin. "Hey." he said, cooly. "Hi." Ryanne said as she tried not to blush, while walking past him. After Ryanne was a couple feet off into the distance...Josh turned to Minyoung. "What was that? Who is she? I never seen her before."
"Just some girl on campus that I've seen around a couple times. I can't say hi to her?"
Minyoung asked.
"Bro, she is hot. If you dont talk to her, I will." Corey said as he broke his neck to check if Ryanne was still in sight.
"I mean, she cute, but you know I gotta stick to my Korean girls, right?" Josh said to Minyoung as he raised his hand to dap him up.
Looking at Josh, with an uneasy feeling in his stomach, Minyoung dapped him back. "Yea...sure."
Corey on the other hand, waved his hand between them. "Oh please, who cares what color that girl is. She is fine...but the girl next to her with the chocolate skin? I want me a piece of datttt! You guys need to broaden your horizons like me. Being the true bachelor that I am." At that gesture, Josh started to laugh. Minyoung let out a little stiffled fake laugh, as he was troubled inside. He knew what Josh said was true. He always felt attracted to girls of other races, but would stifle it, due to family and friend pressures. Ironically in the 3rd grade, he had liked a dark skin Dominican girl. When his Grandma found out, she went to the school & scared the Domican girl away from him. He was hurt and never forgot that experience. "Keep it in the family...keep the Korean blood going." Would ring in his head from time to time as he would become interested in a girl. &That made it difficult sometime to talk to girls that didnt look like him. He knew he had seen Ryanne around since freshman year, but something was different about her this year. "I think its her hair...her curls are popping. I don't think I've ever seen them before." He thought to himself. While contemplating his thoughts, he felt a nudge on his shoulder. "You ok man? Wow, she already got you in a trance!" Corey said jokingly as he pushed Minyoung's shoulder. "Shut up!" Minyoung chuckled as they started to fake fight. "Boys...I'm telling you, once you go black, you never go back." Corey stated with certainty while eating a pack of Pringles. Josh and Minyoung just teased him. "How would you know, you never went out with a black girl before." They both stated.
"Ooohh trust me...I know, believe me, I know." And with that they all just burst out laughing.