RAHEEM ~ ˚⊱🪷⊰˚

The sun was starting to set, casting a golden glow over the backyard. The music was loud, the grill was going, and everybody was there — friends, cousins, and of course, Jahlil and his boys. Raheem — RaRa — was in the middle of it all, fresh off a basketball game, sweat glistening under the sun. The girls were watching him, waiting for him to notice, but his eyes kept drifting toward you.

You were sitting on the porch steps, drink in hand, watching it all quietly. RaRa peeled away from the group and walked straight toward you, ignoring everyone else. He sat down next to you, knee brushing against yours.

“You good?” he asked, voice low.

You shrugged. “Yeah.”

“You don’t gotta sit with me,” you said. “I know you’ve got options.”

RaRa smiled. “Let ’em wait.”

You gave him a look. “Why?”

He leaned in slightly, eyes dark. “You really don’t know?”

Before you could answer, Jahlil’s voice cut through.

“Yo, RaRa — why you so close to my sister?”

RaRa didn’t even look over. “Just talking.” His eyes stayed on you.

“So…” he said quietly. “You gonna keep acting like you don’t know why I’m here?”

You felt your heart flip. “Maybe.”

RaRa smiled. “That’s cool. I can wait.” You knew why. You weren’t like those other girls — not as bold, not as flirty. You kept to yourself, always a little quieter than the rest. And maybe that’s why you never really considered that RaRa might’ve been looking at you like… that.

@champagneyanna.