Hood
Anigga got time today… As a matter of fact, I got all the time in the world for Fumi. These folks probably think I’m crazy. Shit, maybe I am. Last night, Fumi sent for me, and I’m here for that action alone, whether she meant to or not. A nigga here.
I ain’t leaving. I don’t give a fuck if I gotta sit out here all night. I’m cool with holding court. One thing I know about Fumi is that if she was really done with a nigga... She’d look me dead in my face and say it. She ain’t done that yet, so I still got a chance.
I know I hurt her, and I ain’t proud of that shit. I heard the pain in her voice. Shit, I felt it. And I don’t ever wanna be the reason she sounds like that again. My phone started ringing. It was my momma. I answered and put her on speaker.
“Yeah, Ma?”
“Hood, where are you? I thought you were on the way home.”
“I was...”
“But what happened?”
“Ma, I have some business to handle.”
“I thought you had already handled that.”
“I did... I have some other business to handle.”
“What kind of damn business?”
“Ma... I’m at Fumi’s apartment.”
“Tell Fumi I said hello.”
“I will.”
“What y’all doing?”
I chuckled. “I’m standing outside her door, begging for a conversation.”
My momma burst out laughing. “Is she home?”
“Yeah... she home.”
“I know that’s right, Fumi. Make my son earn it.”
“Ma, whose side you on?”
“Hers.”
I shook my head.
“Bring yo’ ass home and stop harassing that damn girl. You’re embarrassing her... and yourself.” My momma paused just long enough to let me know what was coming. “You’re starting to act just like your damn father.”
“Ma, I ain’t nothing like my pops.”
“Yes, you are. He used to pull the same shit whenever he couldn’t get his way. Bring yo’ ass home and chill out.”
“I’m coming home soon.”
“Let Fumi breathe. I know you love that girl, but if she decides to give you another chance, do right by her. Give her some time.”
“Ma, I gave her enough time.”
“Boy, you ain’t gave her shit, but a hard time.”
“I gave her last night, Ma. She had another nigga with her.”
“And what did you expect her to be sitting around, waiting for you?”
“No, Ma. I didn’t. Ma... Fumi played in my face.”
“How?”
“She knew that if I saw her with another nigga... I was coming.”
My momma sighed, and I already knew I was losing this one.
“Boy... Bring yo’ ass home now.”
“Ma...”
“You heard what I said. What am I missing, Hood? You can’t have it both ways. You wanted her to wait while you sorted out your life... But you weren’t with her. Fumi had every right to move on, didn’t she?”
Silence hung there.
“Ma... Whose side are you on?” I leaned back against my Porsche and laughed. “My own momma has switched teams.”
“Nah. I ain’t switching teams. I just know a good woman when I see one. And if God blesses you with another chance... you’d better stop acting as if you’re entitled to it.”
Click.
I grabbed my phone one last time before pulling off. Fumi answered on the third ring and said nothing. “I’m only leaving ‘cause my momma told me to.” A smile crept across my face. “I don’t really wanna leave, though. But I’mma let you breathe... until tomorrow.”
Silence.
“Can we have a conversation, Fumi?”
She finally spoke. “One day, but not today. Definitely not tomorrow.”
“I hear you, but I ain’t gonna stop showing up until we have one.” I laughed to myself. “Yeah... I’m thirsty as fuck.”
Click.
Fumi hung up. I stared at my phone for a second, then tossed it onto the passenger seat.
“Progress.”
She talked to me. It wasn’t much, but it was more than she had given me earlier. I’d take it.
Ifinally made it home. I wasn’t in a rush.
I would’ve sat on that porch all night; eventually, she would’ve let me in.
I swear, Fumi better be glad I’m not the nigga I used to be, or I would’ve kicked her fucking door open and said what I had to say.
I killed the engine and walked into the house.
My momma was sitting on the couch in the living room.
“About time you made it home?”
“Ma, I told you I was coming?”
“Yeah, and that was hours ago. Why are you bothering Fumi?”
“Ma, why ask a question you already know the answer to?”
“I don’t blame her for not letting yo ass in… You need to get your shit together and stop juggling women.”
“I’m trying, Ma…”
“I hope so, because I’m tired of that crazy heifer Adrienne calling my phone.”
“Ma, I thought you said she was a nice girl?” I chuckled. Adrienne was lowkey crazy as fuck.
“She was a good girl until you pissed her off. Here, take this damn phone. She’s calling again… I’m trying to be nice.”
My momma shoved the phone at me. I could’ve sworn I told her to block Adrienne, but clearly this crazy-ass girl had found another way to make herself everybody’s problem.
“Yeah.”
“Who this?”
“You don’t know my voice?”
“Nah, it ain’t shit to remember.”
“How many hoes got your momma’s phone?”
“You the only hoe calling this phone.”
I’m not playing with Adrienne. I don’t understand why she didn’t get the picture last night. If she got a nigga, why is she still running up behind me? Then she started running her fucking mouth.
“I knew it.”
“You ain’t wanna be with me because you knew your ass was running back to Fumi.”
“I watched you standing outside, begging that girl on Live.”
“And what’s your fucking point? You always knew how I felt about Fumi.” I don’t even want to hurt Adrienne’s feelings. I just want her to leave me the fuck alone and move around. I’m the last nigga Adrienne wanna have problems with. “I ain’t never hid that.”
“I was the one riding for you.”
“Adrienne, if you got a nigga, leave me the fuck alone… We ain’t finna keep having these conversations. You remember, you were the one who decided to leave. You gone now, so what’s the fucking problem? I don’t want you.”
“I should’ve handled her ass the other day.” Adrienne will fuck around and get her feelings hurt; it makes sense now why Fumi mentioned her name. “I’mma make it my business to touch her.”
“Adrienne... Find something safe to do. Don’t make Fumi your problem... ’cause she ain’t the one you got an issue with.”
“Are you threatening me?”
“I’m matching fucking energy…”
“She is my problem; you made her one.”
“Whatever we had is over; remember that.”
“We ain’t done.”
“We are. You gave me an ultimatum, and I wasn’t fucking folding…”
“How come you never said you was still in love with her?”
“I didn’t have to.”
“You fucking another nigga, so go fuck with him… Stop calling my momma’s phone looking for me…”
Click…
Adrienne hung up on me. This is only the beginning. I promise she doesn’t want to find out why they call me Hood. Being on papers is the only thing saving her ass.
I tossed my momma’s phone back. My momma looked at me and shook her head.
“What…”
“I told you these women are crazy.”
“I see, but she’s the one who left; her little plan didn’t work out the way she wanted it.”
“Did you lead her on?”
“No, Ma, I told her she could leave years ago; she stayed for the money and whatever else she wanted.”
My momma shook her head; shit, it’s the truth. So, everything I was doing behind that wall... I ain’t doing it no more. I ain’t mad she was fucking another nigga. Adrienne always knew I had options, but she was never real about hers.
“I love Fumi. I’ve always wanted her to be my daughter-in-law. However, I don’t want you to hurt her again.”
“I love Fumi too; I ain’t never stopped loving her. If she gives me another chance, I’m gonna do right by her.”
I kissed my momma on the forehead, then headed back to the room. Fumi was still on my mind. I grabbed my phone to call her, but she didn’t answer. I called back, and she answered.
“What…”
“You want me to come back through there?” I chuckled.
“No...” I heard that smile. Fumi knew she still wanted a nigga. I wasn’t sure why she was still fronting.
Fumi paused for a beat.
“I thought so. Tighten up before I come back over there?”
“What do you want?”
“You…”
“I don’t know why?”
Fumi was finna pop off. I could hear it in her voice.
“You know why. How long you gon’ keep running?”
I know Fumi still wants me, but she won’t even look at me.
“I ain’t running from you?”
“So, why wouldn’t you come outside?”
“Because I ain’t giving you what you want?”
“What I want, Fumi?”
“Something you can’t have, nigga?”
“And what’s that?”
“Access to me.”
“How long do you think this finna last?”
“As long as I want it to.”
“Oh, yeah? You heard what the fuck I said. You want me to chase you?”
“I want you to leave me the fuck alone.”
“Tell me that to my face.”
“I ain’t validating shit for you. You heard what the fuck I said. I don’t want you, Hood... There are plenty of bitches who want you, but I ain’t one of them.”
“Y’all mouth is saying one thing, but I ain’t buying what the fuck you’re selling… The clock is ticking… I’m finna start chasing yo ass and run you the fuck down to get what I want…”
“Thirsty ass nigga…”
“I’m thirsty for you. Aye, Fumi, do me a favor and keep those goofy-ass niggas out yo face… I promise you I’ll hurt some fucking body.”
“You goofy, leave me alone.”
“I’m home now, we ain’t doing that.”
Click
Fumi hung up on me. This is the second time tonight she’s hung up on me. She heard what the fuck I said.