Encounter

ɪ ʜᴀᴛᴇ ʏᴏᴜ.

——— Mahalia's POV ———
Tomorrow was the day that I had to have dinner with my Dad, that woman, my sister and her girlfriend. I didn't have a date so I figured I would ask Keyon since my family knows him better. Then again, they might kick him out. Today I had work in the evening so this morning I was doing assignments on my laptop. Professor Lowery wanted me to FaceTime her so she could give me details on the upcoming exam.

I wondered if I was her favorite pupil because she always gave me pointers and little hints here and there even though she wasn't supposed to. She was a medium sized woman who was about 5'6" and in her early 40's. Except for the constant bickering of my classmates, I enjoyed going to her class. This was who I am, this is what I wanted to do.

I showered an hour ago and put on some sweat pants and one of my college hoodies. It was getting kind of chilly lately so I wanted to dress for the weather. I left my hair alone because the "bed head" curls looked okay today. I FaceTimed my professor and we talked for hours about the lesson. I wrote down some important notes that I missed and she asked me how I was holding up lately.

She seemed like she didn't have friends, because why would a forty something year old be interested in a friendship with a twenty-two year old? Something seemed odd about that, but maybe she just missed being young and the thrill of life. We talked until it was actually time for me to get ready for work. I slapped on the uniform and was gonna call an Uber to pick me up. I made myself some bacon, eggs, and grits for breakfast because like I said, I was getting tired of eating Dominos's pizza.

I turned my TV off, plugged my laptop up and grabbed my charger and bag before I heard a knock on my front door.

Who would show up at this time? I have work, I can't stay to chat.

I thought to myself as I rolled my eyes and mentally prepared to see who the hell was knocking on my door when I wasn't expecting anybody. I didn't have my taser anymore and a gun? Hell no. I was too afraid to use one because I was gone kill everybody.

I opened my door and saw Keyon's tall ass standing there. He had on some khaki's and a white collar shirt. He smelled of strong Axe cologne and I hated when he wore it around me. It was so loud.

"Hey..um what are you doing here? I'm about to go to work. I wasn't expecting you."
I folded my arms and then closed and locked my door. He did look nice in his formal wear so I needed to ask him could he accompany me to my Dads dinner tonight.

"I juh wanted ta stop by, and tell ya I gotda job, baby!" He smiled big while his accent poured out of his mouth. Those were two reasons why I couldn't stay away from him. It was addicting.

"Congratulations!!!!! I am very proud. You told me you went to an interview a while back and they finally decided to give yo' goofy ass the job." I laughed and began walking down my steps and he followed.

"Before I forget, can you come with me to dinner tomorrow? It's just gone be my Dad, his new lil whatever she is, and Mya and her girlfriend."

"I can't, um sorry. Since I got dis new job, tomorrow is the day of orientation n' ion wanna miss it." He opened his car door and got inside and cranked it up. He never had a job with me. I actually was dumb enough to pay my rent alone while he lived with me. I never asked so, it's not like it was his fault anyways. Still, he never got a job with me so that really make me angry at the same time that whoever he was fucking with was making him act like this.

This wasn't the Keyon I knew. So I realized what I had to do.

"Uh-huh, good luck." I tapped my phone and called myself and Uber and he just shook his head and drove away. He was acting odd lately. New job, wearing axe, dressing up better. He was actually doing better. I mean, YES I was glad he was doing something with himself. But the n*gga never did it with me. I know how the saying goes "What a n*gga don't do with you, he'll do with another bitch." but I did everything right, was it me? Wasn't I enough? I finally understood that he never actually wanted me. He wanted what I could do for him.