𝟎𝟏𝟖, 𝗍𝗋𝗈𝗃𝖺𝗇 𝗅𝗈𝗏𝖾
𝐍𝐎𝐖 𝐏𝐋𝐀𝐘𝐈𝐍: 𝗌𝗎𝖻𝗌𝗂𝖽𝖾 𝖻𝗒 eloise

𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐢'𝐬 𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰

For the past three weeks, it's been nothing but trail and error. There was so many ideas running through my head on how to ask Judea to be my girlfriend officially but none of them seemed to stick out to me. I knew no matter how I asked her she'll love it and it'll be memorable to her but she deserved more than the bare minimum.

Ever since our talk she's been patient, caring and more aware about us. It was silly of me to even think I could wait months for us. It didn't feel like a rush with Ju, it felt as everything was happening as it was suppose to.

Yes, this was new to the both of us and we still had a lot to learn about this new version of ourselves as we grow romantically but the foundation of us was just the same.

"How was your date?", I ask Elijah as me, him and aaliyah chilled on the rooftop as they shared a blunt. After one of my therapy sessions I realize I didn't need to smoke away my feelings so I've stopped ever since. It wasn't the easiest thing to do but I managed.

"Terrible", he replied with a groan, "He expected me to get dirty on the first night like I'm a hooker, I was so offended because there's no way I give off that energy on the first date", he complains.

Aaliyah inhales the last little of the blunt before smushing the ashes into the cement, "but you've literally hooked up on a first date multiple times....", Aaliyah trailed.

I let out a chuckle, "that's not the point tho", Elijah snapped at his sister. Aaliyah only shrugged at him too faded to argue with him at the moment. We sat in silence as we looked at the view of campus below us.

"I'm going to ask judea out but I don't know how", I confess. Aaliyah looks at me with a faint smile, "aw that's so sweet mani, i love this for you", she speaks her voice soft and sweet as always.

I return the smile at her letting out a thank you, "sorry I can't help tho, I've never asked somebody out before... and don't plan to", she says making me let out a chuckle.

"You got any suggestions or you too high to think?", I nudge Elijah. He clears his throat and shrugs, "all I can think about is a spicy seafood boil with some lemon juice and mean ass Dr Pepper", he smiles at the thought.

Aaliyah and I throw back a laugh as he swipes his tongue over his lips. "But don't sweat it mani, you'll figure it out and no matter how big or small it is I'm sure she'll love it", he assures me. We tune back into a comfortable silence.

I had studied romance movies to a tea, and I've read so many romance books that it was hard to escape from them. But the one thing I've learned that it was always this big grand gesture where the boy finally gets the girl and they live happily ever after.

And it left me to wonder what would be my big grand gesture where I get the girl and have my happily ever after with Judea. I turned my closed lips to the right side of my cheek looking down at the crumpled paper where I've written down my ideas so far.

A candle light dinner, no.
Flash Mob, no.
Text, hell nah.
A public announcement, no she hates attention.

Maybe, I wasn't ready for this because it shouldn't be this hard but I just wanted it to be perfect is that too much to ask. A familiar ring pulls me out my thoughts turning my attention to my phone. Flipping it over to see the screen, it was an FaceTime call from Judea. I raise my eyebrows slightly but still answer the phone not letting it ring for a third time.

"Hello?", I answer as my phone connects the call. She doesn't reply for a bit her phone shuffling as she gets herself together. "Ju?", I called out once more. After about thirty more seconds her faces come into the camera.

"Sorry, im driving but im on the way to you, so can you throw some clothes on I'll be there in like ten minutes or less", she tells me as she takes a look at me but then focuses her eyes on the road as she drives. "You heard me?", she asks. I toot my lips to my nose as I slowly nod a little, "okay", I reply and she smiles at me before letting out an okay and hanging up.

I wasn't sure where Ju was taking me but ian feel like getting ready for real so i did as she said and just threw some clothes on wearing gray wide baggy sweatpants, white crop top and platforms uggs as I waited for her. Shortly after she texted me, im outside. Throwing a jacket onto my arms i meet her outside.

She stood outside leaning on the roof of her car scrolling on her phone as she waited for me, she looked up from her phone and up at me, "Hey Mani Lu", she grinned at me. Mani Lu was a nickname my mama made up for me since i was a baby, she was the only one who called me that and Ju.

"Hi", i smile back her as i walked towards the car. "Where we going?", I asked as she opened my door for me. "Just hooping", she said in a flat tone before shutting my door and hopping into the driver seat.

Taking a good look at her, she wore her classic bun, a black compressed shirt, black shorts, white nike socks and some Kobe's on her feet. She leaned forward a bit with one hand on the wheel and the other resting on the gear shift paying her eyes focused on the road.

I try not to stare too much but a soft hum past my lips as i look at her biting the side of my lip pulling it with my teeth, she turned her head taking a look at me and snap my head towards the window trying to play it off.

She laughs slightly her affection laugh was nice to hear but i was little embarrassed i got caught staring. "girl you almost broke yo neck, i felt you staring the whole time", Judea continues to laugh.

My lips turn into a sly smirk as i turn my head facing her again, "ion even know you talking about, i was staring at the window behind you", i lied. "Well whatever behind me got you biting yo lips and shit gone have to run it with me", she made a comment making me laugh a bit.

The drive to the court was a little far but we made it in about forty-five minutes, she shifted the car into park and leaned into the back seat grabbing a basketball from the back.

We get out the car and start walking to the court, i scan the area as she leads the way. This scene looked too familiar making my face turn into confusion because i couldn't place my finger onto the spot.

"Ju", I call her name as she starts bouncing the ball on the court. She hums in response stopping her motions and looking at me, "what's wrong? what's with that face?", she asks me placing the ball in between her arms.

This place looked so felt and looked familiar but at the same time it didn't, "where we at?", i ask and a smile draws upon her face. Ju dribbles the ball behind her back, "come on mani you ain't been gone that long", she says her smile growing big as she continues to dribble.

My face drops and a loud gasp past my lips, "noooo wayyyy",  I drag as I remember the court. It was watts court, where we met as kids, spent most of time as friends and it was Ju great grandpa foundation court. "Awwww Ju", My emotions start to get high at the memories here, it was kind of a cull circle moment for us to hear right now.

Ju stopped dribbling the ball making her way towards me, "and we not here to hoop mani", she says as she stands behind me placing her hands onto my shoulders.

I tilt my head leaning it on her chest as I look up at her, "what we doing then?", I asked. She leans down placing a soft peck onto my lips grabbing me by the chin making me face ahead of us.

The scoreboard that rested under the bold Watts turned on displaying, "mani lu be with me?", the words flicker in and out. Tears fill my eyes slightly as I turn and look at Ju who stood behind me waiting for an answer.

"But Ju, I was suppose to ask you... I was suppose to make it special for you", I say as tears fall down my cheeks. She pulls me close into a hug her thumb wiping away the tears. "This is special for me, being here where it all started with you... waiting for you to say yes... you are gonna say yes right?", she says a bit worried still waiting for my response.

A cup her face into my hands as her hands travel down to my waist, "please say yes im begging you i need you-", she pleads and I smile at her placing a kiss onto her lips. "Yes, I'll be with you Ju", placing another kiss onto her lips as i answer happy to here with her.

For the first time, I saw Jude's vulnerable as tears fell down her cheeks but she still smiled big as she stared at me holding me tighter by the waist.

This was perfect.

"Thank you Mani for forgiving me and letting you show that I want you, and only you. I promise this I wont mess us up, to always be there for you, to show you love, to make you laugh, to be your person...", she tells me.

I only smile as I kiss her tears away one by one, then once again placing a kiss onto her soft lips again. I had became too know them all too well

In a quick second she scoops me up into her arms making me squeal as she spins us around. "FINALLLLLLYYYY", she screams in the empty air laughs escaping her. I laugh along with her as she spins us around before she places me back on the ground.

I was so caught up the moment of making a grand gesture for Ju that I didn't even think to realize about the little things that actually mattered. It was special but simple, it was simple but mean a lot. I can't help but smile.