βIβll have a chicken sandwich please.β I scanned through my wallet looking for a 50Taka note.
βAnd a cup of lemonade?β the young boy asked almost already heading towards the refrigerator.Β He seemed to have memorized my food and drink orders; the same way the security at the school parking lot had memorized my School I.D and car registration numbers. I guess those where the perks or pitfalls of being one of the very few black students in an Asian school.
βYes pleaseβ I smiled, going for the 100Taka note instead. βDhonnobadβ I thanked him proudly as he handed me my tray and tissue. That was one of the very few Bangla words I had learned and I looked for every opportunity to use it.
Now I have so many friends on and off campus, but when my friends are not around, I do enjoy very much the serenity of a quiet after-class snack. Iβd sit alone with my earphones on; rock, rap or hip hop beating my ear drums, as I swallowed away in imagined ecstasyβ¦but not todayβ¦Today, I met Aisha; an appellation supposedly befitting because I always loved that name. βMay I join you?β She asked in an accented musical voice; typical of South East Asian girls. Usually Iβll just eat quietly and leave or if the other person indulges me in a conversation, Iβll nod a few yeses and say a few noβs long enough to get me through my snack break. I decided to actually have a decent chat with Aisha though; Iβd say I donβt know why, but that will be a lie; and no matter how shallow it may seem; I knew the reason; she was pretty.
βSo, what state are you from?β she asked when she was settled; batting her eyes probably flirting with me.
βState?β
βYes, what state from the USA are you from?β
βOh I am not from the US.β I answered; a grip of guilt garroting me for feeling flattered.
βYou are not? Are you sure?β
βNo, Iβm not; I am from Cameroon.β I said paradoxically in an almost American accent.
βCamer what? Where is that? In Africa?β
βUrm ya.β I responded, throwing in an almost obviously fake grin, trying hard to conceal my increasing exasperation. How could she not know Cameroon?!
βThatβs good then. Β You see I have been learning Afrikaans and Iβd like to improve, if youβd let me speak with you. Can you help me?β She said, hardly recognizing that her dumb questions were already getting to me.
Afrikaans? What the Hell! So because I am from Africa I should speak Afrikaans? Most Cameroonians donβt even know the first thing about Afrikaans numskull.
I was going to say that, but hey chivalry; so instead I laughed and said βI donβt speak Afrikaansβ and I could not help but notice the confused look on her pretty face.
Sandwich was finished but the conversation wasnβt; she relentlessly bringing up this topic, and then that one. Weβll laugh, me, probably more than her, in a bid to conceal my ever still increasing irritation with every new topic. I hate stereotypes; but the only thing I hate more than stereotypes, are people who proved the stereotypes right; like she was doing; trying to prove that pretty girls are dumb. She was sure I was flirting back; laughing at all her βjokesβ and even the ones she didnβt mean as jokes. I was probably trying too hard.
βAre you flirting with me?β she asked flirtatiously, smiling approvingly.
βAm I?β
βWhat kind of girls do you like?β she went on βbecause I donβt do guys I just met.β She tossed her incredibly long dark hair playfully.
βI see. Well, I am sapiosexualβ I said
βWhat? What does that even mean?β she asked, her face giving away her state of total oblivion, and thought that I might be the newest freak in town.
βDonβt worry honeyβ I smiled arrogantly βif you have to ask the meaning of sapiosexualβ¦you are probably safe.β
Β
Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Howard M-B Maximus
***In case you were wondering what a sapiosexual was…
What are your favourite sapiosexual quotes?
Thank you to all who responded to my call for writers last week. I love your reads. Submit your articles, stories, write-ups to artbecomesyou@yahoo.com to be featured.
xoΒ
Lydie
meh howardprosesapiosexualshort storystorywriting
Jeki Doualla
October 22, 2014Nice story, not too long, funny & really captivating. Thanks for the adventure…
MsAidyl
October 23, 2014Can’t wait to read more from him. He is great π
Howard
August 28, 2015Thanks Jeki π
E
October 23, 2014smart…
Waseka
December 11, 2014loved it! very witty/
Debora
August 27, 2015Lmao! Great write up. I am not safe then
Howard
August 28, 2015Thanks guys. π
shire
November 7, 2015If only Aisha knew what u meant by that word…That was interesting!