Chapter 25

Joon: 12.23.15

I shook my head but tensed when someone grabbed my shoulder tightly, without thinking I grabbed the hand then arm and threw them over my shoulder. When I looked at the person, my eyes widen when I noticed it was Yandy’s cousin Ryland. Shit, I started to help him up.

“Yo! You gotta teach me that!” Ryland exclaimed. I watched in amusement as he started reenact our fight.

Diamond stood behind him “I told yo dumb ass not to do that.” She tsked as she smacked him on the back of the head.

He rubbed the spot that she hit then glared at her “Wait til I get my skills up.” He tried to imitate a stance “Then I’m coming for you.” He tried to hit her and she quickly deflect it then slapped him with her other hand causing Hae-In to snort out a laugh.

After everyone disbursed, Yandy stood in front of us “Mama said come in and wash up so she can put some meat on y’all bones.” She said before walking off.

We both watched her walk away from us before picking up our clothes and going inside. We took turns washing up and put our clothes back on.

I was walking past the kitchen when I heard “What she needs is a good decent black man.” From one of her aunts said.

I tensed at that statement, every time someone brought up our relationship it never was good. They would always talk about race and how our stereotypes would cancel each other out.

I shook all those thoughts away and walked closer to the kitchen then took a deep breath, “I think you should let Yandy decide on what kind of man she should have.” I stated calmly as I leaned on the archway.

I felt satisfied when I watched them tense at my voice. They turned around and looked at each other with a knowing smile. Huh?

“We know that.” The other said looking at me.

The one who was stirring the pot looked at me “We were talking about my daughter, Mykayla.” She explained with a smirk.

I blushed from embarrassment and cleared my throat “Oh.” I breathed.

“It’s good to know you stand up for Yandy.” She smiled, I bit the inside of my cheek “I bet it’s hard being together, especially where y’all at.” She frowned before patting me on the back.

“You should go before all the food get’s gone.” The other shooed me out of the kitchen. I reluctantly went while rubbing my forehead, God, I need a nap.

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It was around 4 in the afternoon and everything seem to settle down by now. Some people left with a promise of coming back later tonight and a few more popped in. Being around these many people would usually have me on edge so I had to remind myself that no one here is a threat.

We were all sitting on the front porch, hanging out. Yandy and her cousins were having a discussion about if someone owed you money would you sue them or let it go? Some said if it was in the thousands they would sue but if it was under a hundred they would let it go. Others said they would sue regardless.

“Bih, I couldn’t let ten dollas go.” Danica said then laugh “I want my ten, gimme my ten.”

I stifled a snicker before staring at the back of Yandy’s head, I was sitting on a step and she was on the one below me. Danica was sitting on the railing along with Hae-In and Ryland was sitting on a basketball in front of us, eating grapes..

“I want my money back regardless and I don’t care how I get it.” Yandy said as she lean back into my chest.

“Like I said before, I’m not that petty.” Ryland said before popping a grape in “Ten dollas is chump change to me.”

Yandy mimicked his voice and laughed when he glared at her. He narrowed his eyes then threw a grape our way, before it could reach her I caught it and ate it. I looked off into the road while mostly everyone stared at me.

“Show off.” Hae-In muttered. I gave him a smug look before laying my head on top of Yandy’s.

Danica turned to him “Y’all english is very good.” She stated.

Hae-In turned to her “Thanks.”

I stared at them as I wrapped my arms around Yandy, I felt her tense but I didn’t care. I started thinking about the ultimatum that Yandy gave me, I wasn’t ready to let her go but I wasn’t ready to tell her yet. By the way she sneered at me, I knew she was serious and by the way she was acting today I knew I would have to tell her soon or do something that would hold her over until I was actually ready.

“Who all goin bowling?” Danica asked snapping me out of my thoughts. I looked around and noticed that it was just us and Danica, I slowly started to unwrap my arms around her and lean away from her.

Yandy pouted up at me before turning to Danica “Me, San, Ryland, Joon, Hae-In, and Sandy.” She answered before glancing around “I think Lamar and Tonya might go, San asking Diamond right now.” She clapped, startling Danica “Oh, some of San friends are coming.”

Danica frowned at the last bit “Really?” She rolled her eyes “Why his drug dealer friends have to come?” She muttered.

I raised an eyebrow at this, San had drug dealer friends? Does this mean he has drug dealer ties?, I narrowed my eyes before someone waved there hand in front of my face. I blinked then looked at Yandy.

She grabbed my hand and tried to pull me up “Come on.” She grunted, I didn’t budge “We’re about to leave.” I glanced around and saw that we were the only two out here.

When she yanked me again, I decided to get up but I guess she wasn’t expecting me too and she lost her footing. I quickly caught her and stood her up straight.

“Hey! Be careful.” I scolded her. She gaped at me before glaring at me, she pushed me to the side and stomped her way inside the house. I was confused but shrugged it off and went inside, I replaced my sweatshirt with a burgundy hoodie and a black beanie.

We all met out front and pretty much all of her older cousins were going. Since it was 10 of us we took 2 cars and headed to Auburn. It wasn’t that many people when we got there so we took two lanes and alternate between those. Two hours in and four of San’s friends came and got the Lane next to ours. It was fun, especially watching the way everyone interact. We spent hours there until it was time to close.

Since Ryland and Lamar left early some of us had to ride with San’s friends. Obviously San would but I volunteered Hae-In and I to go because I didn’t like the way one of San’s friends kept eyeing Yandy or trying to talk to her. Hae-In looked at me in surprise before catching on and rolling his eyes. I gave Yandy my keys then gave her a kiss on the forehead before turning to San and his friends. We hopped in the back of the SUV and they took off.

It was 10 minutes into the ride when one of San’s friends said “I gotta make a stop, that’s cool with yall?”

San looked at me then Hae-In an gestured for us to speak. Hae-In and I shared a glance before looking ahead.

“I don't care.” Hae-In answered with a shrug.

I shrugged “Go ahead.” I answered as I leaned on the door.

The driver took a sharp left, hitting a u-turn then sped off, zipping through cars.

“He’s almost up there with Lee.” Hae-In joked. I snorted and continued to look out the window.

“Ay!” The guy who sat in front of San looked back at us “None of that ching chong shit.”

Hae-In scoffed “Hyung, we gotta deal with this shit because you not wanting noona to be here.” He grimaced at me then narrowed his eyes at the guy “I could kill him in point three seconds and he wouldn’t even know what hit him.” He sat back with his arms folded.

I stifled a smirk and turned to Hae-In “Point three seconds? You losing your touch there, Hae-In.” I teased.

He turned his narrowed eyes to me “Compared to your brother, I’m a lot faster.” He shot back.

I already knew which one he was talking about, He was right about that, before I could agree we suddenly came to a halt. I turned to the window to see that we were surrounded by fields and an abandon warehouse. There were three guys standing in front of a blue mustang. What kind of shady shit is this? I asked myself as they started to get out.

“We’ll be back.” San said before leaving out of the car.

The door closed “You think San has ties?” Hae-In asked.

I watched San and the others make their way toward the group of guys, “Maybe.” San started looking around nervously “Maybe not.”

We watched them converse until I notice movement coming from the fields, I sat up quickly when four guys came out of the fields. I noticed how everyone from, I guess, our side seemed to tense when they noticed the four other guys. They were slightly surrounded now and I had a feeling something bad was about to happen.

“You feel that, too?” I asked, not looking away from the scene.

Hae-In nodded “Should we?” He asked as he shifted in his seat.

I watched as one of the guys and ours started getting in each others faces while pushing each other, I rubbed my forehead and sighed, This is not how I planned my night, I focused back on the scene then nodded reluctantly. As soon as we stepped out, we watched San punch the leader and that’s when all hell broke loose.