“Remember, it’s just a bad day, not a bad life.”
---
– Malisa –
Emotions clouded my vision as I made my way back to my apartment.
Dropping my handbag to the floor, I sank to my knees and let the tears flow.
Being an emotional person, I’ve learned the hard way that holding back only makes things worse. The more I suppress my feelings, the harder they crash down on me when I least expect them.
But why? Why do I have to be bullied just for being Black?
My thoughts drifted back to my earlier confrontation with John—the conversation that got me kicked out of class.
“What do you have against me?”
“First, because you are Black. And second, because you are a woman.”
Why? Why do my skin color and gender have to define how people treat me?
I stared at the sky through tear-filled eyes, watching as the colors shifted. Then, with a deep breath, I pushed myself off the floor and walked to the kitchen. Grabbing a cup of water, I downed it in one gulp, hoping to wash away the heaviness in my chest.
As I set the cup down, a thought struck me. I spun around, hurried back to the living room, and dug my phone out of my handbag.
Turning it on, I wasn’t surprised to see missed calls—not just from Aiden, but also from Mary and Audrey. They were probably worried sick.
Before I could decide who to call first, a message from Aiden popped up on my screen.
Aiden: Salut, femme. Comment s’est passée ta journée ? (Hello, wife. How was your day?)
I smiled at his words… but the smile faded as memories of the day resurfaced.
My stomach growled, pulling me back to the present. Food first. Everything else could wait.
Fifteen minutes later, I returned to the living room with a plate of egg toast and a glass of orange juice. Just as I settled in, my phone rang.
I answered without checking the caller ID, only to realize a second later that it was a video call.
“Were you crying, Mali?”
His eyes were warm, filled with concern, and the softness in his voice undid me. Tears welled up again, and before I knew it, I was crying all over again.
“Hey, it’s okay… cry it out, okay? I’ll wait.”
So I did. The only sound between us was my quiet sobs.
“So… what happened?”
I had just returned from washing my face, feeling much lighter.
“It was John MacLean,” I said, chewing my toast slowly.
“A coursemate?” His voice held curiosity, but it was still gentle, as if he didn’t want to push too hard.
“Yeah…” I shifted into a more comfortable position on the couch.
“What did he do?”
“He called me ‘Blackie.’ When I asked what he had against me, he said my offense was being a woman and being Black.” I sighed. “I got upset and demanded an explanation, but I guess I raised my voice too much because the professor sent me out of the class.”
Aiden went silent for a moment. Then, his voice dropped, low and controlled.
“You were what…?”
I lowered my gaze. “Sent out of the lecture room.”
I hesitated before adding, “And John just smirked and said, ‘Bye, Blackie.’”
I pouted, feeling like a child reporting a playground bully.
“Um… How do you feel now, femme?” His tone softened again, and something about it made my heart flutter.
“A bit better, yeah.” I gave him a small smile.
“Okay…”
A comfortable silence settled between us as I focused on my meal.
“You’ve made friends?”
His question made me smile.
“Yeah. Her name’s Audrey, but I call her Rey.”
His expression softened. “She’s British-American.”
The moment the words left my mouth, I noticed something in his eyes—longing. And somehow, it mirrored mine.
“I wish I was there with you now, Lisa.” His voice was barely a whisper, yet it carried everything I wanted to say.
“Same here.”
“I wish your school was closer.”
We chuckled at the same time.
“Yeah… same.”
“So, what about Rey?”
I smiled again.
“She’s really nice. She’s also dealing with unrequited love.”
“A boy?”
“Yeah. They met online. She fell for him, but apparently, he didn’t feel the same way.”
“And he cut her off?”
“Yup. Stopped calling, stopped texting. She tried reaching out, but he just ignored her.”
“Hmm…”
“She never got closure.”
“Maybe he gave her the closure he thought she needed.”
I frowned. “What do you mean?”
“He went silent. And silence is a response. A loud one.”
“But that’s cruel, Aiden.”
“It’s unrequited love, Malisa.”
I shook my head. “Even true friends wouldn’t do that.”
“Unless they never saw you as a friend in the first place.”
The realization stung. Had Rey already figured this out but kept denying it? Maybe she was holding on to the good memories.
“That sucks, Aiden… really.”
“It does. But that’s what people who don’t know your worth do.”
I leaned back, thinking over his words.
“Have you ever thought about how a diamond would be treated by someone who doesn’t know its value?”
“Like a pebble.”
“Exactly. But in the hands of someone who recognizes its worth?”
“Like a treasure.” The understanding settled in my chest.
“You’re a great teacher, Aiden.” I grinned.
“What about a great husband?” He raised an eyebrow.
“Still deciding.”
“You’re playing with fire, Malisa.”
“Let me burn.” I said without thinking.
It wasn’t until later that I realized the weight of my own words.
But for now, I just wanted to enjoy the moment.
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A/N: Yo! What do you think of the chapter, guys?