The game was set up to be reminiscent of the retro Newlywed Game to see if one couple could succeed in beating the bride and groom-to-be. When Kas took the seat across from Yanna, he looked like he wanted to be anywhere but close to her. He was still pretty tipsy from all the brown liquor he’d guzzled, so he had to lean forward to keep himself from being sick. Leaning forward only put him closer to Yanna. Their proximity was making her nervous, and the fact that he was staring right through her only intensified the tension. Of all people, they could have host the game Quan had been their best choice. He swaggered to the middle of the floor where the couples were set up, his built stature and chocolate-covered good looks commandingthe attention of female attendants. When he reached his spot marked with an ‘x’, he tossed smiles and winks at a few of the ladies giving him eyes. Quan had the build of a linebacker and the face of a male model; he knew he was fine and did nothing to hide that fact.
“Good afternoon, everybody. I’m Quantez Garret, cousin of the groom, fan of the bride, and I’ll be your game host today. The couples were asked a series of questions before today and answered them separately. Today we’ll see which couple answered the closest and know each other the best and shit.”
Yanna chuckled, shaking her head because Quan just couldn’t have couth if he tried.
“Ight, first question… this one is easy, who does the most cooking?”
Troi and Onyx’s answers matched, both saying Troi cooked the most. Kamilla and Chauncey also matched, being a restaurant owner and chef, Chauncey did the most cooking. When it came to Kas and Yanna, the guests all chuckled at the fact they’d both said ‘no one’. Neither of them cooked, and most of the time they ordered out.
“Yanna Boo, you can’t cook at yo big age? That ain’t good.”
“Boy, ask the next question.” Yanna waved him off.
The game continued, and it was the highlight of the entire shower. Quan was a fool and kept everyone laughing, in addition to couples getting answers wrong, they shouldn’t have. To everyone’s but their own surprise, Kas and Yanna were leading the charge as neither of them had yet to answer wrong about the other. The game was coming to an end, and Yanna was grateful for that. Kas had yet to take his eyes off her, and his sadness was suffocating.
“Okay, this one kind of deep. What is your partner’s biggest fear? Onyx, you first.”
Onyx and Troi answered correctly. Kamilla and Chauncey weren’t so lucky, they hadn’t gotten to the stage of discussing fears yet. When it came down to Kas and Yanna, she was to go first.
“Kas’ biggest fear… being misunderstood.”
“You wanna elaborate?”
“No, I don’t.”
“Okay, Kas, what was your answer to this question?” Kas raised the answer he’d pre-written on his piece of card stock.People not understanding the person I really amwas written with a black Sharpie, making Yanna’s answer correct. “Damn, y’all good at this, ight let’s see if y’all can drive it home. Kas, what’s Yanna’s biggest fear?”
Solemn eyes slowly traveled the length of Yanna before returning to her face. Her breathing took a hiatus while awaiting what Kas’ answer would be. “Yanna’s biggest fear is herself.”
Yanna’s inhalation of air could be heard because she hadn’t expected him to say that.
“Her answer gone be different, but we still get the points because I know her answer is going to beother people. She thinks she’s afraid of other people’s ability to cause her emotional harm, but… that’s not entirely true. She’s scared to be the Jaiyanna she is at her core. Soft, vulnerable, scarred, damaged. Everybody sees this super fierce, no-nonsense, nonchalant person. Niggas want her, but they intimidated because she seems so unattainable. Niggas could never know her like I know her though.”
Kas seemed to lean in even closer to Yanna, slowing her heartbeat as he continued his evaluation.
“Niggas that make her so afraid they’ll damage her, she’s become most afraid of just being her. Afraid to admit that pinklight pinkis her favorite color because she thinks it makes her seem too soft. Scared to confess she’d rather watch a DisneyPrincess movie than a true crime documentary because she thinks it’ll make her look too naïve. So yea… don’t shit scare Jaiyanna more than Jaiyanna does.”
The stare down between Kas and Yanna was so intense it was hard to tell if they would kiss or fight. Silence lingered throughout the venue, the guests all feeling like they’d witnessed a dialogue meant to be held in private. Finally, Quan broke the silence.
“Gotdamn! Read yo’ ass like a book, Yanna Boo! Gone let me see what yo answer was because I got a feeling lil’ cuz know what he talking about.”
Tears pooled the brims of Yanna’s eyes as she held up her cardstock. As sure as Kas stated, her answer,people,was written in bold.
“Don’t play with my boy when it comes to his bit?—”
“Quan!” Ms. Layla scolded before Quan said something derogatory.
“When it comes to his girl, I got this, auntie, chill.” Quan walked over to the prize table and grabbed the envelope he’d been instructed to give the winners. “Aye, Troi and Onyx, y’all came in close, but Kas and Yanna blew y’all out the water. Enjoy your gift courtesy of Auntie Layla.”
Quan held out the envelope for Kas, but he pushed it away. “I’m good. She can have it.” Saying nothing more, Kas scooted from his chair and exited the room.
Bursting from the doors of the venue, Yanna’s heart thumped in her chest as she searched for Kas. Eventually, she spotted him walking toward the parking lot. Removing her heels, she jogged out to the lot.
“Kas, wait!” Jogging, she caught up to him. Kas turned, and the look he gave her caused Yanna to shrink back.
“The fuck you want, Jaiyanna?”
“I just… I could tell you were upset, and I… I just wanted to check on you.”
