Black is the Color of Beauty

Chapter 17

Bo's POV 

April 12, 2019 

Hotel Room 

Oxon Hill, Maryland 

         The warm soft breath against my shirt awoken me from my trance. Damn, how long have I been out of it. I glance over the clock and it read 10:30 a.m. Its been six hours since NiNi has told me about her depression, gaps in memories and endless amounts of daydreams she suffers from. It makes me sad, knowing that she is this sad. It makes me angry, that something or someone pushed NiNi into the darkness. But, most of all its makes me anxious knowing that half of the times her body is on autopilot. That's not any way to live life, especially a life that spreads so much happiness in the world. I wish I could solve her problems....

     But, I can't. NiNi never told me the fucked up shit she's experienced that led her to living a life of depression. And, the most fucked up part of it all is that her body and mind has begin function so much to the point it almost normalizes her depression. As if depression is something normal, or rather NiNi believes she's living life so much its like the depression doesn't exist. Does that even make sense? Ugh, I need to smoke like fuck. But, before I can make a decision to move NiNi snuggles her face a bit further into my chest. I can't help but to look down her laying on my chest. My eyes greedily feast on her face. NiNi's soft milk chocolate skin looks almost satiny because of her dewy skin. Her thick eyebrows perfectly arched. From her eyebrows, I immediately notice her thick, long dark eyelashes. Her features are so alluring, yet so unlike the beauties of the East. Chinese women eyebrows tend to be plucked to almost nonexistence and eyelashes are much shorter. I always found these features extremely  attractive of the women of my culture. Yet, how come..... but, my phone pings signaling me that I received an incoming text message. I chuckle at seeing the group chat text message name pop up. Maybe, Kevin do have a sense of humor.

                              These women are going to be the death of us

            Kevin : I am talking to Day now. But, I think it's best if we leave DC today. The girls can finish celebrating Day's birthday somewhere else.

           Lei: I agree, I don't care to stay here for another day.

           Bo: Stop bitching, you two are just mad that Day and Ty were flirting with some guys 😂.

          Lei: You must forgotten that NiNi was flirting with some guy too😈. 

         Bo: Fuck you😤.

         Kevin: We don't have time to go back in forth. I am looking up flights now, Day has already agreed to it. We are leaving in a couple hours. So, where to go?

        Lei: How about NY? We can just get a rental car and drive up there.

       Bo: ( thinking: Shit, I can't risk taking NiNi there.) Not NY, its not a good place to go to right now. I'll explain later. I think its best if we go back to Cleveland or go to a nearby city like Detroit. Our best bet is to stay as close to Cleveland as possible in case shit should happen, we have connects there that can protect the girls. 

     Lei: Agreed.

     Kevin: Agreed, I'm booking all of our flights now. It's 11:00 a.m. and the flight leave at 3:15 p.m. Traffic is a bitch here, so let's meet in the lobby at 12:30.

      Lei: Ok.

      Bo. Okay.

    

     Well, so much for relaxing. I guess its time to wake up Grum Grum. Grum Grum is the nickname I given to NiNi a while back after Leo told me that she is not the most pleasant person in the morning after waking up. Hmmm, maybe I should buy her a Grumpy Care Bear. I wonder if she would get the joke. But, instantly I feel a warm heat spread across my cheek. Or maybe not, as I catch myself remembering how my cheek was on fire after she slapped me. Pick up the phone. Pick up the phone. Pick up the phone now. My customized ringtone for my mother begin to go off. I hurry up and pick it up, before the ringtone can disturb NiNi. The last thing I need is for NiNi to wake before I talk to my mother. Because Buddha knows that my mother can be a handful.

    " Hello," I say quietly into the phone. " Oh, so I do have a loving, caring son that adores me and makes sure that I am alive and breathing," my mother's rich voice dripping with sarcasm. Damn, I don't miss her sarcasm  at all. " I miss you too mother. How are you? " Shit, now you've done it Bo. You asked her an open ended question like that, you know that you just given her the perfect opportunity to talk your head off. " I'm doing great," she responds flatly. Just great? Normally, its not like my mother to give me such a short response. See, she loves to talk about her life like the true socialite that she is. " Just great? I'm surprised you aren't telling me about the Gong's annual cherry blossom party. How was that?," there you go again Bo opening yourself up with conversation. I check the clock again, its already 11:20 a.m. Shit. " I am doing great, I could be better. I had a conversation with a woman at the Gong's party over the weekend that has me thinking. I want more out of life. Bo, a mother can only wait for so long before wanting grand kids." My phone slides out of my hand on drops onto the bed. Grand kids? As in kids of her kids? What the hell is going on here? She was just telling me that she is too young to become a grandmother just yet. "Hello, Bo. Don't make me call you by your given and surname," my mother's threat has me putting the phone back up to my ear. " Yes, mother. I was just wondering what ...," but I am cut off by her voice. " I had a nice little conversation with Leo about your little friend. You have 90 days after you return to Shanghai to present her to our family. She must gain my approval. And Bo, she better exceed my expectations," my mother's sickly sweet tone fills the receiver before hanging up. Shit, this is not good. I glance down to see NiNi's brown eyes staring into my eyes. My fingers begin to play in her kinky curly locks. And Bo, she better exceed my expectations. My mother's voice ringing loud and clear into my head. A small makeover wouldn't hurt NiNi. After all, everything of the East is the epitome of beauty.