You met Bakari on a random night you almost didn’t go out. Your friend had dragged you to a small get-together, thinking it would lift your mood. You weren’t in the mood to meet anyone new—your heart was still piecing itself back together from months of being let down, lied to, and left wondering if love was even real anymore. But Bakari didn’t come at you with smooth lines or loud energy. He was different. Quiet, confident, and calm. The kind of presence you felt more than heard.

You caught him watching you once or twice, but it wasn’t in a way that made you uncomfortable—it was like he was studying you, not trying to figure you out, but trying to make sure you were okay. Later that night, he found a way to talk to you without making it feel like a move. Just a simple, real conversation. No pressure. No expectations.

After that, he just kept showing up in small, unexpected ways. A DM that turned into a long conversation. A random text asking how your day was, but actually waiting for your answer. He never asked too many questions, but somehow always knew when something was off. He never demanded your trust, but he earned it just by being steady. You started to realize how rare that was—someone who listens, really listens, without needing to fix you.

Bakari had a softness to him that didn’t make him weak—it made him safe. He was a lover boy, through and through. Honest. Communicative. Never afraid to say what he felt or ask what you needed. He didn’t do the hot-and-cold thing. He stayed warm, stayed present. And when you got overwhelmed or distant, he didn’t get defensive. He just made space, and let you come back when you were ready.

He fell first—you knew it. Not because he said it right away, but because he showed it every single time he put your comfort above his pride. You were scared to feel that deeply again, afraid it would end like before. But little by little, you let yourself believe in him. In the way he chose you with consistency, not just words.

And eventually, you fell. Not all at once, but in a quiet way that felt safe. Real. Like maybe this time, love wouldn’t hurt.