“I’m just a Crescent nigga…I can put that shit on though.”
He came over and handed her the small, black velvet box. No logo,. just raw and simple—like him.
“Open it,” he coached, scratching the back of his neck like he had more words than he knew how to say.
Aku opened the box and paused. Her mouth parted, but nothing came out.
Inside was a thick, stunning chain—not gaudy, just bold—weighty without being loud. Hanging from the center was a pendant shaped like a small, warped crescent. Raw silver. Edges imperfect like it had been carved by hand. She touched it lightly and flipped it, revealing an engraving:
You keep me grounded…and still I fall.
Her throat tightened.
“You like it?” he asked, eager to know if he did good or not. Malik had never given a girl a gift before her. Now he wanted to give her the universe if he could.
Her voice caught. “Malik, this is…”
“It’s a real meteorite,” he said, sliding down to sit across from her. “From space, like actual space. You was talkin’ all that ‘fallin into gravity’ shit and I was sittin’ up late thinking about what that even means.”
She blinked hard.
“It means,” he continued, picking the pendant up between his fingers, “you could be anywhere. Floating…untouchable, but something still pulled you back to Earth - tome.And I ain’t even tryna sound poetic, that’s just how it feel.”
She was still quiet, just staring at the most precious gift she’d ever got.
“I ain’t buy this to flex,” he added. “It’s heavy. That’s the point. I wanted you to feel what it feels like to hold somethin’ that got weight. ‘Cause that’s what you been to me. Youweight...pure pressure, and I don’t mean that in no corny way. I mean…you anchor me.”
Her bottom lip quivered. “Malik…”
He wasn’t finished though.
“I put a code on the clasp,” he said. “Scan it next time you get on your laptop.”
“What it lead to?”
He shrugged, eyes soft. “A little piece of me.”
She pulled the necklace out, running her fingers along the chain like it had history, like she could feel the care in every inch. “This the most thoughtful gift I ever got.”
He looked away like the compliment made him itch. “It ain’t even about the gift. I just needed you to know—when I say I see you? Ifeelyou, too.”
Aku leaned forward, heart pounding, voice low. “Nobody’s ever said that to me before.”
“Then they ain’t been lookin’ right,” he said, his voice dipped in gravel.
A beat of silence passed.
She slid closer. “You love me?”
Malik inhaled sharply. That question hit him like a swing to the chest. He knew love, his people loved him, but something about the differences in love made him second guess if he knew how to love her in the way he felt she was accustomed too. The love of his people was hard, sharp, jagged, but love nonetheless. Loving Aku felt soft, serene, and safe.
“I don’t know what this kind of love supposed to look like,” he admitted, eyes locked on hers. “But I know gravity, and you it.” He licked his lips. “But to answer your question, hell yea, I love your lil ass…even if you forced me to do it.”
She slapped his arm, laughing. “I didn’t force you!” Aku squealed.
Malik got serious. “You happy with me though?”
Seeing him get serious, made her get serious. Straddling his lap, Aku grabbed his face. “Hey…” she examined. “What’s wrong?”
