Musical melodies filling the atmosphere
Chapter Two; Normal Huh?
"They not like us," I sang lip syncing the music booming through my ultra-bass headset, a steal from a mega shop sale. "This song is dope!." I sang along grooving to the beat.
My Spotify playlist was a diverse mix of - Hip hop, Afrobeat, Electronic and other genres. I was a fan of artists who pushed boundaries, artists like Kendrick Lamar and Rihanna.
A taxi sopped in front of me. I slid into the taxi, the soft cushion enveloping my legs as the driver pull away from the curb.
"Where are you heading to?." The cab driver asked, his hands firm on the steering wheel, we was putting on a toothy smile all taxi driver have on. Their smile is more creepy than that of the Batman rival-- The Joker.
"Central Park." I informed him. The taxi driver geared up the engine and in a zoom he drove out of the waiting area.
I nodded, my gaze drifting out the window as we merged onto the main road. The towering skyscrapers gave way to a sea of break light and I let out a frustrated sigh. We inched along, the taxi engine purring like a contended cat.
On the drive, I pulled out my phone and began scrolling through notifications. Amidst Snapchat Snaps, Facebook group updates and Comments/Likes from Instagram. I noticed hit a milestone-- one thousand like due to my recent post on the new Crunchyroll series "Solo Leveling" had gathered quite the attention.
I was so obsessed with the anime. I literally binged-watched the anime last night. Often imagining myself as Sung Jo-Woo, a dungeon diver, fighting monsters, upgrading my ranks.
The car lurched forward, and I jerk back to reality We have finally reach the highway. I could hear the horns from different cars, taxi's and other mehanical motors driving through the Big Apple road. It was a huge hold up.
I felt a familiar twinge of anxiety, my heart rate spiked up as I scanned the crowded sidewalk. People rushed pass, their face a blur, and I shrank back to my seat, overwhelmed. The music in my headset started to grow louder, a cacophony of sounds that threaten to consume me.
"Ugh!" I groaned. I don't have much time to waste till this hold-up clear up for us to drive by. I brushed my long, curly hair to the side from obstructing my view even though it gave him that "hot boy look" that might be appealing to high school girls.
My mind drifted into my love life-- or lack thereof. It was a fleeting, unstable thing, synonymous to a "Greek Tragedy," Unstable, Short lived and Heart aching. Moving from New Orleans to the Big Apple had disrupted what little I had.Well, the main reason been "I haven't seen the perfect match".
High school was a mindfield of dating, relationships and breakups. I'd had my fill of those traumatic experiences, despite having going on one disastrous date-- with my late dog, Puddles at a geek restaurant.
The teasing that followed still stung; back at New Orleans for that action, some people even nicknamed me "Dog Breeder!" Even my own friends. After that, I'd resigned myself to loneliness.
Yeah, Lonely.
Thirty grueling minutes later of traffic later, I finally arrived at my destination.
Central Park.
The lush greenery filled with trimmed grass, fountains and children running/laughing like if the whole park was theirs to keep. I walked up right into a secluded place under ancient Oak tree planted decades ago.
I unpacked my Marvel Spiderman bag. Out came a picnic cloth, Justice League/ Marvel and Avatar The Last Airbender Comics, a spare charger, fully charged power bank and some little accessories for my little alone time picnic date.
Good.
I interested my self to some snacks such as Bread Slices filled with butter, Crosisant, KYC Icecream Chicken Nugget--
On a Chocolate Crusted Cone!
At New Orleans, I'd discovered this unusual snack on a Tiktok video featuring a renowned food critics from around the globe.
Who don't love a mouthwatering picnic?
As I set up my solo picnic, I started a timer on my iPhone and indulged in my snacks. The music switched to Doechii "Anxiety" from her "Allligator Bites Never Heal" Album. I knew about her from her win on Grammy for bagging home "The Album Of The Year Award" Doechii soulful voice and melanin skin had captivated me; she was my ideal crush.
I flipped the glossy page of the Avatar The Last Airbender "South and North" Comic which I'd snagged at a discounted price at the mall along with the Ultra Bass Headphone.
As I delved into the world of Avatar, the sounds of the park faded into the background. I was transported to a realm of elemental magic, where Aang and Katara battled those pesky waterbenders. The comic's vibrant colors and dynamic illustrations brought the characters to life, and I felt like I was right there with them, soaring through the skies on Appa's back.
The timer on my iPhone went off, signaling the end of my solo picnic. I reluctantly closed the comic, feeling a pang of disappointment that the adventure was over. As I packed up my belongings, I noticed a group of people staring at me from across the park. At first, I thought they were just admiring the scenery, but then I realized they were actually looking at me.
My heart skipped a beat as I wondered what I had done to attract their attention. Had I accidentally spilled something on my shirt? Was my hair sticking up in every direction? I quickly scanned myself, but everything seemed normal.
The group began to walk towards me, and I felt a surge of anxiety. What did they want? Were they going to tease me like my friends had after the Puddles incident?
As they approached, I noticed that they were all smiling. One of them, a girl with bright pink hair, waved at me enthusiastically.
"Hey, are you the one who's been playing Doechii's music?" she asked, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
I nodded, still feeling a bit wary. Shit! I was so engrossed in the comic that I forgot that my iPhone was connected to my JBL audio speaker.
"We're huge fans too!" she exclaimed. "We couldn't help but notice you from across the park. Mind if we join you?"
I hesitated for a moment, unsure of what to do. But then I remembered that I was in a park, surrounded by people who shared similar interests. Maybe this was an opportunity to make some new friends.
"Sure," I said finally, smiling back at them. "I'd love some company."
And with that, my solo picnic turned into an impromptu gathering of Doechii fans. We spent the rest of the afternoon discussing music, comics, and everything in between. It was a strange and wonderful turn of events, and I was grateful to have met such kindred spirits.
As the sun began to set, we exchanged numbers and promised to meet up again soon. I left the park feeling more connected than I had in weeks, with a renewed sense of hope that maybe, just maybe, I wasn't as alone as I thought.
The trip back home was quite different from the one I took coming back-- Well maybe it's because I entered the subway. Underground Choreographers danced to the beat coming from their box speaker resembling a character from the Subway Surfers game has on his shoulder.
An old woman sat close to me maybe in her mid-fifties. She was dressed in a modern english gown. "Trump rules, the others drool." The old woman ranted, her voice cracking but a little bit firm. She seem like a worthy Trump supporter at the upcoming election between Donald Trump and his opponent Kamala Harris. The election is drawing closer than I even expected.
A month away.
As if I care less, I took the Jehovah Witness ideology of being neutral when it comes to political matters, interfering just cause rivalry between a group of people-- I'd heard about a family who got separated because the husband supported Democrats and the wife...You know?
And on the other side--
Ching!
The sound of notification dropped right at my home screen corresponding to my "Don't Touch My Phone" wallpaper.
The caller ID was; Momma with hearts emoji and a queen crown at the ending. It was a message from my mum, it read; "Damian Andrea Coleman! , Come back home this instant. You are already passed your curfew time, Mister"
I felt a lump at my throat reading the message. She just called my full name meaning it is super serious. I replied "Sorry, Momma. I'm on my way home now." I quickly grabbed my bag and stood up, trying not to make eye contact with the old woman, who was still ranting about Trump.
As I made my way out of the subway, I couldn't help but think about the strange encounter I had just had. The old woman's passion for Trump was admirable, but also a bit scary. And the choreographers... well, they were just plain entertaining.
.
As I walked out of the subway and onto the street, the cool evening air hit me like a slap in the face. I blinked away the brightness of the streetlights and took a deep breath, feeling the city come alive around me.
I walked quickly, my eyes scanning the crowded sidewalk as I dodged pedestrians and street performers. The sounds of the city swirled around me - car horns, chatter, music - and I felt my senses come alive.
I passed by a group of breakdancers spinning and flipping to the beat of a boombox, and I couldn't help but stop and watch for a minute. The energy was infectious, and I found myself tapping my foot along with the music.
"Stop it, Damain"
As I continued walking, I noticed a street vendor selling roasted nuts and pretzels. The smell of salty goodness wafted through the air, and my stomach growled in response. I bought a bag of roasted peanuts and munched on them as I walked.
The streets were crowded, but I felt a sense of freedom as I walked. I was just another face in the crowd, anonymous and invisible. It was a strange kind of liberation, but it felt good.
As I turned a corner, I noticed a group of people gathered around a street performer. He was a musician, playing a soulful melody on his guitar. The music was hauntingly beautiful, and I felt myself drawn in.
I stopped to listen, mesmerized by the music. The performer's eyes met mine, and he smiled. I felt a connection, a sense of community with this stranger.
And then, my phone buzzed again. I sighed, feeling the spell broken. I glanced at the screen, and my heart sank. It was my mom, calling to check up on me.
I hesitated for a moment, then answered the call. "Hey, Momma," I said, trying to sound casual.
"Damian, where are you?" my mom asked, her voice firm but worried.
I hesitated, unsure of how much to reveal. "I'm just walking around, Momma. I'll be home soon."
There was a pause on the other end of the line. "Be careful, Damian. I don't want anything to happen to you."
I nodded, even though she couldn't see me. "I will, Momma. Don't worry."
We chatted for a few more minutes, and then I hung up. I felt a pang of guilt for not telling my mom the whole truth, but I also felt a sense of rebellion. I was old enough to take care of myself, after all.
I continued walking, lost in thought. The city streets seemed to stretch on forever.
Finally, I approached my front door, I could feel my mom's eyes on me, watching me from the window. I knew I was in for a lecture, and I steeled myself for the inevitable.
"Damian Andrea Coleman, you're late," my mom said, her voice firm but worried. "What happened?"
I took a deep breath and launched into the story of my encounter with the old woman and the choreographers. My mom listened attentively, a mixture of amusement and concern on her face.
When I finished, she sighed and shook her head. "Damian, you need to be more careful. The city can be a strange and unpredictable place."
I nodded, feeling a bit chastised. But as I looked up at my mom, I saw the worry in her eyes, and I knew that she was just trying to protect me.
"Sorry, Momma," I said, giving her a hug. "I'll be more careful next time."
My mom smiled and hugged me back. "I know you will, sweetie. Now come inside and get some rest. You've had a long day."
And with that, I went inside, feeling grateful for my mom's love and protection.
"Where's dad?" I asked her.
"At the"
"Right here, duckling" my dad spoke up from behind.
I was greeted by the warm smile of my dad. He was sitting on the couch, watching TV, and he looked up as I entered.
"Hey, kiddo!" he said, opening his arms for a hug.
I dropped my bag and walked over to him, wrapping my arms around him in a tight hug. "Hey, Dad," I said, feeling a sense of comfort and security.
My dad held me for a moment, then pulled back to look at me. "How was your day?" he asked, his eyes crinkling at the corners.
I shrugged, feeling a bit tired. "It was okay, I guess. Just a lot of walking around."
My dad nodded, his expression understanding. "You need to be careful, Damian. The city can be a tough place."
I nodded, feeling a bit guilty for not telling him about my mom's worries. "I know, Dad. I'll be careful."
We chatted for a few more minutes, catching up on each other's days. Then, feeling a bit tired, I said goodnight to my dad and headed to my room.
I closed the door behind me and flopped down onto my bed, feeling the softness envelop me. I lay there for a moment, staring up at the ceiling and thinking about my day.
It had been a strange day, full of unexpected encounters and thoughts. But as I lay there, feeling the comfort of my bed and the security of my home, I felt a sense of peace wash over me.
As I settled into my bed, my phone pinged, signalling an incoming message. I slid out of the bed and reached for my phone, typing my Alphanumerical password to unlock it.
The message icon flashed and I tapped on it to open the conversation. It read; "You're not alone as you think. Damian Coleman."
I jolt out of the bed sweating.
End of Chapter Two
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