So, it was 5 years ago. I was getting ready for my last year at Yancey University. Yancey was a quaint but prestigious little university. Though it was centered around religion it dared you to think beyond childhood upbringing and Sunday sermons. And it was actually very liberal when it came to over-night visits between males and females in their respective dorms. But as you have probably guessed, I didn’t have to worry about this at all because they did not prohibit the male students from having social time together. The joys and freedoms of same gender loving. Who woulda thought?
Anyways, I had been leaving my advisers office after discussing concerns I was having about careers that I could pursue after graduation. I wasn’t really wanting to go to Grad-school. Frankly, I was over and done with school once I graduated with my Bachelors in English. My mind was made up about that so I had to find some way to make money.
While I was trying to shove my crinkled transcript into my book sack somebody bumped into me. That would not have been noteworthy if was a very stable person. Unfortunately, I had the balance of an amputee. No offense meant. I teetered and I tottered on the edge of total embarrassment until hands grabbed me by my shoulders to steady me. When I averted my gaze from my presumed final destination on the floor, I saw the most disgustingly beautiful man I could ever imagine. Well…that’s sort of an exaggeration but you get the point. He was damn near painfully attractive.
Now I’ve never been one to hide my inner thoughts because my facial expressions were like a standing nude behind a white curtin with a bright light shining behind you. There was mystery, yes, but you saw enough to know that someone was naked. Same principle remains. Not only did my face show some unfathomably dreamy light, but I gasped from the shock of this guy touching me.
He was shorter than me, 5’7” or 5’8”. His hair was pulled back into a pony tail. It was textured, you know, one of those negroes that has the nerve to REALLY have Indian in their family. So many boast it and you can’t see a trace of it but with this guy, I didn’t have to wonder. It was still poofy, but it was so dark and it glimmered like the Atlantic in the dead of night. Next thing I saw were his eyes, they were brown. Nothing spectacular about brown eyes, especially when I’ve been used to seeing gray eyes when I look in the mirror. It wasn’t the color of his eyes, it was the lace of lashes that made them seem so feminine. They were like a gossamer frame to soften the brown of his eyes and made me want to stare into them until the sun fell from the sky. Ewww, I hate when I sound all mushy like that. It’s really quite disturbing.
As I stood there staring at the man, who was undoubtedly a student, I realized he was no longer touching me. There was a bit of a smirk on his caramelized face for some reason. The perfect smirk, surrounded by a well-trimmed goatee. I’m not really a big fan of facial hair, but on him, it seemed so appropriate. As if he had been carved from a painting with the perfect face. When he smirked I also noticed that he had one dimple on the left cheek, and the diamond studs that blinded me from his earlobes only reiterated the effect he had on me.
I was standing there, holding my bag in suspension with my transcript even more wrinkled than it was before. After getting myself together and regaining my wits I wondered why he was standing there smirking in his basketball shorts and white T as if he hadn’t almost knocked me down. If there was nothing else about me that was true, its that no matter how pretty a face, Murf can find some way to forget about it if he needed too.
“What you standing there smiling for? You gonna say ‘scuse me?” I asked with aggravation, finally getting my poor transcript in my bag.
“Maybe you should be the one to say ‘excuse me’,” was his response. I frowned at him.
“What?”
“You should really be careful about your thoughts. Sometimes they find a way to come out.” And with that cryptic statement the guy turned around and swaggered away. And I happened to notice a very nice ass in those baller shorts.
Standing there puzzled, I couldn’t understand what his last statement could have meant. Be careful about my thoughts because they can find a way out? I know my facial expression told a lot but damn. A tap on my shoulder twirled me around to my friend Jayla. A pretty young lady with one of those Halle Berry haircuts, which I think suited her. She was wearing some nice black heels, a simple knee-length skirt which told all her secrets, and a white blouse that let you know she was undoubtedly a woman no matter how short her hair. Jayla always gave body…always.
“Hunni, you have no idea what that guy was talking about do you?” There was humor in her voice.
“No! What did I miss?” I hate being in the dark.
“Murf, hun, when the guy grabbed your shoulders and you first saw him you said: ‘Damn. Take me’ in a not too silent whisper.
I gave her googly eyes. “I did WHAT!”
If I were anything closer to being Caucasian I would have been cherry red. I mean damn, I knew my face told a lot but I had the nerve to speak too? I collapsed in one of the officer chairs.
Laughing Jayla said: “Well, at least you’ve already expressed your interest in him so he won’t have to guess.”
The look I gave her would have frightened a bear but Jayla was tougher than Yogi on any given day and she just laughed harder.
“Jay, that dude was not checkin’ for me at all. He said that cryptic ass statement and walked away shaking his head probably wondering what the world was coming to.” Distress was not even a big enough word to express my inner turmoil.
“Murphy, love, if it’s one thing I do know—its men. Just wait. You’ll see him again. Trust me.”
Jayla and I walked out of the J. Tokes Building, which is where all advising occurs, in laughter. I laughed because I royally made a fool of myself and knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that Dimples was not checking for me in the least. If anything, I figured he would be checking for Jayla. I hoped I was wrong and that she was right but I would never admit that to her. Not even now. That was the beginning of something that I never thought I’d gain in my life. And to be honest, I wish I hadn’t have gained it for then I could not have had it taken away from me either.
