03

If I had known that this was going to be such a disaster, I'd have gone to another country. Jeff and I were so different and the only date idea we'd agreed on was to take a walk on along The Riverside Trail on the west bank of St. Joseph River. It felt so strange, hanging out with a stranger that hadn't impressed me at all. The good thing was that I loved the beauty of the place we were at. 

“I love black women,” he said, his eyes scanning my body in a way that looked almost perverted. He didn't have to say sweet things to me because I knew he was doing this mainly for the money. There was no need to try and sweeten me up because I’d never let him touch me. Looking at his clothes, I realized he really needed that money. In any case, I was doing him a favor.

“I think I should go home now,” I said. I did not want to go home to my aunt and cousin but that seemed more preferable compared to chatting with Jeff.

“But we just got here,” Jeff said. “You haven't seen anything yet.”

At this point, I needed to be alone to decide whether I could really do this. All my life, I'd thought I'd have a normal marriage with a wedding in which I wore a spotless white gown. My groom would be someone I loved very much and he'd feel the same about me. But things don't always go our way. In few months, I'd have to tie the knot with a man I couldn't stand. A man who kept checking out all the women that passed by. What a weirdo! Sure, I wasn't in love so I shouldn't have been bothered but it was about respect for me and those women. We were not objects for him to feast his eyes on. 

“You probably don't want to be seen with me but I'm doing you a favor,” he put his in his pockets. “I can report you and you'll be deported in a flash so better start treating me with respect.”

“I'm sorry, Jeff. I'm going through a lot and just want to be alone. I need to think things over.”

“Don't even think of disappointing me, woman. Remember that I’m doing you a favor so I deserve some respect.” He concluded and walked away, hands in his empty pockets. He left me alone, despite knowing that my knowledge of the town was scant.

I realized that backing out of this deal would cause me more problems. Jeff didn't seem like the kind of man you'd want to annoy so I had to find a way of tolerating him. It was going to be so hard to deal with him but if that was the price I had to pay for me and my parents’ sake, it was okay. Maybe if I got to know him better, I would like him a little. Sometimes in this life, you have to give people chances. Some people may seem sweet but turn out to be jerks while others may seem arrogant but turn out to be the sweetest people one can ever meet. It was hard to think Jeff could be better than he seemed but that time, I had no choice. I had to get to know him better.

Turning away from him, I went to the railings and looked at the river. It looked calm, beautiful. About a minute later, I felt a presence on my right side. In my head, I wondered why this person had chosen to stand right next to me when there was a lot of space around. The perfume he was wearing made it hard for me to ignore him but I didn't dare look. I stood stiffly, trying to find something to focus on, other than the fact that someone was watching me. (I could feel it).

“Hi,” I heard a masculine voice, deep with a hint of softness to it. I turned my head more swiftly than was necessary, coming face to face with a man I hadn't thought about since I settled in. He looked even more handsome up close. His eyes were baby blue, mesmerizing. 

“Hi,” I said, awkwardly. I remembered the time I had stared at him for too long. “What a surprise.”

“What do you mean?” The perfect stranger asked, brows furrowed.

“Saw you and your family at the airport restaurant,” I said, remembering how badly he'd acted towards his sister. Why was I even talking to him?

“When?” He asked. As if this couldn’t get any more awkward.

“Three weeks ago,” I told him, getting a brief flashback of my first day in the United States in my mind.

“I haven't gone to any airport in the last one year,” he said. “We, white people, don't all look the same, you know.”

“I know you don’t,” I said with the iciest tone I could master. This would be awkward but you seem like a jerk so I don't care. What makes you so sure that there isn't anyone that looks almost like you?”

He started laughing. “Kidding. I remember you. The beautiful girl from Africa who kept glancing at me.”

Now, this made me feel embarrassed. If I had skin like his, I'd be blushing. I was grateful that my melanin prevented some of my emotions from showing on the outside. I could feel the heat pooling all over my face.

“I don't know why that happened.” At this point, I just wanted to smack myself on the head for speaking so much nonsense.

“Maybe because I kept glancing at you, too.” He said, looking into my eyes. I couldn't hold his sharp gaze so I turned to look at the river.

“Probably that.”

“I'm glad I found you,” he said, making me wonder what he was up to. Was he one of those insanely hot men that made themselves even more attractive by talking to less good looking people?