𝟎𝟐𝟐, 𝖿𝖺𝗆𝗂𝗅𝗒 𝗆𝖺𝗍𝗍𝖾𝗋𝗌
𝐍𝐎𝐖 𝐏𝐋𝐀𝐘𝐈𝐍': 𝖼𝗒𝖺𝗇𝗂𝖽𝖾 𝖻𝗒 daniel caesar

𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐢'𝐬 𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰

It was freshman year of high school when I came out to my parents, it was right after we moved back to Georgia and I was so sad and so anger about everything.

My ma was in the kitchen making shrimp and grits for dinner, pa sat on the couch watching tv and I sat at the kitchen table forced to do my homework before I could go outside and play.

But I had refused, slouched in the wood chair with my arms folded and a blank expression on my face as I stared at the wall, and then I just blurted it out.

"I like Ju", it had had been the first thing I've said since I came back home from school so everything had went dead silent. "Whatchu yew say mani Lu?", my mama asked rinsing her hands before wiping them on her apron. Shifting into my seat, I repeated myself, "I like ju, and I don't mean as a friend... like... you like da and how da like you".

I didn't need to look to know they exchanged looks with each other because I could feel it, and then I could feel their eyes staring on me. As a little teenage girl, I had nothing but anger balled up in me to even care about their looks, it had only made me more riled up.

"AND I HATE YALL FOR TAKING ME AWAY FROM HER, THE ONE THING THAT IVE LIKED AND YALL TOOK ME AWAY", I yell at them standing up from my chair slamming my hands on the table.

My ma clutched her apron gasping a bit and da aint waste no time gripping me by my dress and yanking me into his chest staring down at me. "You betta not even say yew hate nobody in my house ever again, YA HEAR", he yanked me harder.

He stared down at me, and I could hold it in no more. I busted out into tears and balled myself into my daddy hold. For so long everything had felt so heavy and I didn't know what to do but cry.

There was a silence expect from the weep of my cries as he held me tight, "what's wrong witchu ya child? huh? sit down and talk with ya folks", he said in a more gentle but firm tone as he pulled out a seat for me and sat me down.

My mama came over and took a seat with us at the table, I sat on side and they sat on the other. "I-I'm sorry", I apologize. "I don't hate you ma or pa... it's just I just feel so angry", the salty tears dripped down from my cheek and fill into my mouth.

"Well whatchu angry about Mani Lu?", my ma asked. "Fix yo face", daddy said handing me a piece of tissue, quickly I wipe my face before I started to talk again.

"I guess I'm so angry that I lost ju, and then we left before I could say goodbye but I think I'm more angry because I have these feelings and I don't understand what they mean...", I trail.

My ma hums as she looks me understanding, "what do you think they mean sugar?", she asked with care before she pulled her chair over to my side of the table wrapping her arm around me snuggling me into her.

"I don't know ma, I guess I was thinking you and da can help me figure it all out". She places her cocoa butter lips onto my forehead, "of course baby".

Then from there, ma and pa helped me figure it out. None of it happened over night and none of it was cupcakes and rainbows but we figured it out.

"How's the weather down there in California? I might bring my lil two piece and go for a swim", My mama talked as we shared a FaceTime call as she packed for her trip over here to Cali.

This weekend was the weekend that me and Ju were gonna tell our parents about us, and it worked out perfectly with my parents flying out to visit me before they went on they lil bae-cation.

"The weather's good down, always, hot like Georgia", I told. She smiled before stuffing it into her suitcase. "Ian wanna be miss nosy pants and say it but you been glowing hunny... and I know that glow", Ma said smirking as she looked at me through the camera.

what's up with these nosy ass mothers?

"then don't be nosy, and ion know what you talking about. i been had this glow", I wave her off. She hums but it was im already knowing hum, that I choose to ignore. "You getting freaky with them Cali gals up there", she commented in a blunt nonchalant tone.

To be fair, me and my mama conversations were always unfiltered and never thought once before we spoke. "MA", I gasp at her and she laughs throwing her head back like she done told the most funniest joke in the world. "okayyy guhhh, mama ain't judging now but you know you suppose to be down there focusing on yo school work", she pointed at me.

I rolled my eyes, "mama please, I gotta go you doing a little too much, I'll see you tomorrow when I pick you and daddy up", I say letting her say her goodbyes and then we end the call.

When the weekend came, I became more and more excited to break the news to our parents but I had been so busy making sure I was caught up on work and making sure everything was good for my parents for when they land in Cali that I rarely had time for my baby.

"I miss you", I tell Ju as I sit in the airport waiting line, my parents had just arrived in California and now were waiting to pick up their bags.

Ju smiles on the phone, "I miss you too baby, we've been so busy about this whole telling our parents thing that we haven't had time for each other. I can't wait for this to be over", she whined.

I laughed a bit at her, "I know baby, me too", I agree with her. "How do you think they'll react? I bet you a kiss and a piggyback ride that they'll be so nonchalant about it", I bet.

"You don't have to all that to ride me girl", she smirked at her comment making me playful roll my eyes at her. "You too freaked out", I say and she laughs but knowing it's true.

She shuffles in her bed before she adds on the bet, "but you're so wrong, they gone be so dramatic", she says and I hum at her shaking my head.

"How much you wanna bet?", I tease her and she taps her fingers onto her chin. "If I'm right then Sunday game you have to pop out with wearing my jersey, but if I'm wrong then you get all the kisses and whatever you want", she bets.

Kisses.
Oh bet that up.

"Alright bet", I agree. "Kiss on it", she says and I look at her confused. "Kiss the phone", she smiles and I shake my head at but do it anyway sealing the bet.

I look around at my surroundings pausing as I see my parents walking out the airport with their bags. "Ou I see them, I'll see you later tonight. I love you, bye", I say to Ju. "I love you more baby".

Slipping out the car, I greet my parents happy and excited to see their faces. "OHHH MY BABY GIRL", my pa says lifting me off the ground and a tight hug smelling like cigarettes but a nice scent of wood perfume.

"Da what I told you about them cigarettes", I scold him and he wave me off. "I'm the papi, not you", he laughs and I roll my eyes at him before hugging mama.

"I missed you so much mama", I say into her hold and she giggles rubbing my back in circles. "I miss you too Mani Lu", she places a kiss onto my cheek. My daddy places their bags into the car before hoping into the driver seat not daring to let either of us girls drive in presence.

On the way to their hotel, we talk and catch up. "So this little dinner later on tonight, what is it for?", My mama asked as she flips through her suitcase trying to find an outfit for tonight.

I shrug at her with a smile, "I don't know, you'll have to wait and see", I tease her. I had never been so happy to share something like this with my parents. I wanted them to know all Ju... even if they already did.

"Girl you always playing these guessing games but I'll let it slide because I been waiting to get cute, ain't been in nothing but scrubs and moo moos", she whines.

Mama has always been hard working, she never played when it came to money but she loved it. She loved being a nurse, helping people and no matter how she complained she was always there because she absolutely adored what she do.

She was the one that made me realize I liked fashion, if I shared that same energy with fashion then it was sure that's what I was meant to do. "Is this cute? I think I'll look cute?", she asks me standing in front of the full length mirror hovering the silky burgundy dress over her body. I nodded at her as I sent a quick text to Ju, "yeah that's cute, you gone look good girl", I tell her and she smiles before fluffing her hair.

"Okay I gotta go but get some rest, and I'll be here around 7:30 to pick yall up for the restaurant", I tell them. They nodded their heads before telling me bye and I leave the hotel to get ready.

When Ju said she'll pick a nice restaurant, she sure as well did that and more. This was probably the most fanciest and luxurious restaurant I went to ever in my life.

Back home the most fanciest restaurant I went to was either red lobster or Texas Roadhouse and they was definitely topped. "Well down; this joint is nice", Da said adjusting his suit jacket as we step inside the restaurant.

Thanks to Ju, at least we had dressed the part of looking good for the vibe of the restaurant. My parents followed me as we walked up the front desk, "reservation with Watkins", I state but they were too busy looking at the fancy lights and set up to notice.

The waitress's smiles as she grabs three extra menus and led us the way, it's a bit of a walk as we make it to our table it wasn't in the middle but it was far off on the side by the windows giving us a nice view.

When we arrive at the table, Ju and her parents are already there. It only takes about five seconds before our parents mouths to drop.

"Holy shit", Ju dad responded first
"I knew ittttt", my mama dragged

"I BEEN KNEW", Ju ma yelled a bit too loud
"Well if it ain't ole little Watkins", my daddy greeted Ju.

My parents and I take a seat sitting across from the Watkins family, but when we finally sat down it was dead silent at our table. Judea and I look at each other before we look at our parents worried about the silence, awwww shit.

I cleared my throat shifting my seat a bit nervous, "sooo", I trial praying that somebody would say something but they continued to look at each other.

My worried eyes looked at Judea again starting to panic because I felt so happy about this dinner but now everything felt like it was all wrong. "Be calm baby", she mouths to me also worried to break the silence, but it was hard to be calm.

Then out of nowhere, our parents started to laugh as collective. "We just fucking with yall", my daddy laughed. I was so confused but I mean laughing always meant a good thing.

"We been knew, we was just waiting for yall to tell us. You really think we thought you came alllll the way back to California just for fashion", my mama laughs.

They been knew.

Ju mama nods, "Miss Brown told me as soon as Imani accepted to going to USC and then I just knew from them that you two would be bound to find each other again. It was only a matter of time".

What the fuck.

Ju and I look at each other like a deer in the headlights, "yoooo yall are so messy", she pointed at them laughing and a smile drew up on my face. "Did yall know we were dating?", she asked and they shook their heads.

"Well not right away but when I was doing my lil social media dive to see who hating on my baby I came up on this girl named Alex and then I found Imani and then I found you in Imani comments", Ju mama explained.

Wait? Alex be hating still.

"Oh that old sour bitch still hating, she got some coming her way", Ju mumbled underneath her breath. I shake my head at her but she shrugged it off.

For the rest of the night, the dinner went well and I was so happy that our parents had a good time. When it came it an end I was lowkey kinda sad because I was enjoying myself.

"Yall have a good night nie", My mama waved off Ju parents as we made it to our car. Da opened the door for her and then for me, as he got in and started to drive they both looked at me through the mirrors smiling.

"Looks like you got it all figured out without us ole Mani Lu", Ma said.

𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐞

bruh i wasn't tryna purposely tryna rob yall,
i wanted to write smut soooo bad but ian think it was that type of tea party but ik and i got yall frl in like 2 more chapters.

anddd I got a new book idea but ion know how imma write it on yet, lmk who yall think.

thank u so much for all the support too. ❤️