A Lesson Learned

Chapter 2 - Warning Signs

"So you like Thai food huh?" Ahmad asked Darius.

They were seated at Thai Café in Chinatown in a secluded area making it a somewhat intimate setting. Ahmad couldn't help but admire the fine man in front of him. He was about 6'2, brown skinned, very slim yet muscular, with a killer smile, and eyes that could read right through a person. Ahmad did take notice that Darius's hair was rather nappy and wild. He was about two weeks past due for a haircut. But his other features compensated for the nappy roots.

"What da fuck is that supposed to mean?" Darius asked dropping his fork and sounding offended. "A nigga like me can't like Thai food?"

Ahmad was taken back by Darius's reaction and attitude. He had not really meant to offend the man he was just trying to make conversation.

"No, I- I just meant. I mean I like Thai food too," Ahmad scrambled to find the right words he did not want to offend him again.

Darius laughed at Ahmad's awkwardness. Realizing that Ahmad was too innocent to be stereotyping him he decided to loosen up and apologize. "My bad shorty, I guess I'm feeling a little nervous around you too ya dig. I'm trying to impress you and I guess I'm doing a fucked up job huh?"

Ahmad felt mixed emotions, he knew now that Darius was trying to get with him and was even more turned on by his Harlem swagger. Ahmad felt weird that Darius was calling him shorty and if he was a few shades lighter he would be blushing. But he also felt that the man had a bit of an anger problem and a bad mouth. He thought it be wiser to just take things at face value and not rush into anything.

Ahmad wouldn't hurt Darius's feelings though, he was too nice for that. Besides, the man was trying to open up to him.

"No, I actually really like this restaurant and the food is really good. I think maybe we should both just relax and enjoy the meal." Ahmad answered.

"Yeah I dig that, so Ahmad tell me about you." Darius stipulated diving back into his plate.
"Well what do you want to know," Ahmad asked admiring the way Darius chewed his food, it was quite sensual.

"Well all that good shit, like where you from, what you in school for, who you fuckin', that sort of shit." Darius voiced looking at Ahmad with his serious eyes.

"WHAT?!?" Ahmad asked shocked. He looked at Darius quite insulted and amazed.

"I'm joking calm down." Darius clarified smiling. "Tell me whatever you think I need to know right now."

Ahmad wanted to say that Darius needed to see a hand to his face for being so bold but instead opted to tell him a little about himself. "Well I'm a sophomore at NYU and my major is marketing. I was born in Roxbury but raised in New Jersey. And I'm currently single."

"Roxbury huh? Well just to let you know the Red Sox suck! I'm a very big Yankee fan, I rep them pretty hard." Darius boasted.

Ahmad smirked, feigning anger. "What! The Red Sox are the shit! I can't believe you would even say that, you must be crazy."

"Na I'm not crazy, you're just rooting for the wrong team my dude. It's okay though I'll put that aside for now. So you want to know who I'm fuckin?" Darius valiantly inquired.

~~~~~~~

Later that afternoon, Ahmad sat his bedroom talking to his best friend Navarre.

"Yo Navarre," Ahmad said greeting his best friend over the phone.

"Sup play boy," Navarre replied on the other end. He was playing Madden and listening to the radio.

"Damn turn some of that shit down. I can barely hear you!" Ahmad demanded surprising even himself with his language.