Several Centuries Later
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“Chia? Can you come downstairs? We have a surprise for you.”
Chia closed the app on her phone, stuffing it in the back pocket of her jeggings. Languidly making her way downstairs. “What’s up?”
“We’ve decided to officially adopt you!”
Chia stepped back; her entire body wrought with emotion. Even after her parents placed a bracelet on her wrist, she couldn’t believe she’d just been adopted. It’d been a hard road after all. She went to therapy multiple times to cope with the fact that she wasn’t the reason her parents died.
It was a seven-car pileup on black ice. Dad was getting her magic wand off the floor when suddenly she was locked in her mother’s embrace. No matter how many times she called their names. They never answered, they said it’s going to be okay when that eventually became silenced as well.
Being pulled out of their arms, didn’t make it easier. Nor did the realization that neither side of the families wanted to adopt her. Being too black for the Korean side of the family and not black enough for the Nigerian side of the family. The system really did a number on Chia, but being adopted by this patient white couple. They even went out of their way to buy her childhood home.
It’s really strange how it’s like a time capsule. Everything is stuck in place. Very comforting though. Now that Chia is 17, she regularly talks to the house as if it were her parents. Some might think her crazy, but she just wants to let them know that she made it. Some struggles, but not once did she ever forget who she is. Chiasoka Odessa Lee.
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Pulling back from her parents, Chia wiped her eyes with the paper towels. “What do the colors mean on the bracelet?”
“Don’t worry about it babycakes,” her mother responded. “In time you’ll know. Isn’t that what the Priestess said?”
“Right sweetie,” her dad patted her on the back. “Just enjoy what it does for you now. Protect.”
Chia nodded. When they went to Nigeria, she was too absorbed in all the historical museums to visit the small villages and ask about the origin of their culture. On one hand she wanted to kick herself, on the other hand she enjoyed being surrounded by her mother’s culture. Vibrant. Purposeful. Fulfilling. Hopefully for her graduation present, they will take her to South Korea to enjoy her dad’s culture. Itaewon? Hongdae? Daegu? Pyeongtaek?! Whichever they choose, she’ll be grateful.
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“I should probably go tell everybody.” Chia threw the paper towel away and raced upstairs. As soon as she finished typing in her password, she clicked her bestie group pressing call. One by one, even two by two, causing her laptop to stutter just a bit. They came on. It was 10:37 pm on a Sunday. They should all be asleep in one way or another.
“Wassup?!”
“Are you going to die?!”
“You woke me up.”
A myriad of voices kept coming in until Chia turned on her camera to reveal her semi-stained face of tears. She didn’t expect for the group chat to explode in a choir of “What happened?” and threats. In defeat, she waved her adoption papers up like a white flag. Slowly, the chatter died down, but not soon enough.
“They officially adopted me!” Chia yelled so hard into her mic, it peaked.
They celebrated all night long. Well, not all night. School was technically tomorrow. So, they celebrated until midnight for a good night sleep. It was one week until graduation and Chia was still awaiting her college acceptance letters or decline. Either way. When was she going to know? It was no point in dwelling on it now. Chia quickly got ready for the night and turned off the light.
“Susan” looked at “Dave” once Chia’s heart rate slowed into sleep.
“Do you know how long we have to keep this up?” Dave’s form eroded to reveal Silas. Silas the son of the Roman Goddess of Safety, Salus.
“If I knew, I would tell you.” Susan’s form now completely vanished. Soteria looked at Silas. The Greek Goddess of Protection. “Hopefully when she turns 18.”
“They would have told us, don’tcha think?” Silas looked up to see Soteria giving him the side eye.
“Okay, they wouldn’t have.” He snapped his fingers to instantly clean up the kitchen. “Tell me again how we got wrapped up in this mess.”
Soteria flashed to sit on the lazy-boy in the den. “We’re the only surviving couple of death, who dared to bring the baby to Gabriel.” She sighed. “Unfortunately, one of the few lighties who had sense and was available.”
Silas flashed to sit on the couch right beside her. “Right.” Gabriel belonged to the Christian Faction with God and Lucifer. “How did this start again?”
Soteria smiled and touched her stomach, “Are you sure you’re not losing your memory?”
Silas waved his hands in the air to bring Soteria closer to him. “C’mon, I haven’t heard your voice in forever. Even if it’s saying that bastard, Set’s name.”
Soteria chuckled, “So you do remember?”
“And if I had known before hand what he was planning to do, I would smite thee.”
Soteria busted out laughing. Struggling to compose herself, she snuggled into Silas. “Okay, okay.” Soteria told the love triangle story of; Set the Egyptian God of Trickery, Oya the Yuroba Goddess of Storms and Yeomna. The Korean King of the Underworld.
School went by in a blur. Most of the documents concerning Chiasoka’s graduation went to her parents. She smiled at the thought. Her parents. Concerning her still being a minor and graduating. As far as she understood, it was due to her birthday. Nonetheless, her parents, could explain everything before she went out for college. If there was anything to explain. Hopefully, it’s nothing too serious.
She collected her things after the school bell rang. Even though she was graduating, she was still required to bring a couple things to school; paper and pen. She opted for a binder full of different color-coded paper and a mirage of pencils. Sometimes you’re feeling fuzzy and other times bumpy. At one point she decided to assign different pencils for different subjects. It helped, immensely. Especially for tests.
Chiasoka drew up short to the vending machine. Not to knock the cafeteria, but the PTA has yet to fund better drinking options. Whipping out her student ID, she scanned for a Celsius. All the vitamins you could ever want and bubbly. Eventually she’ll have to find an alternative, but this was the stuff right now.
Walking into the cafeteria, Chia scanned the crowd for her friends who shared second period lunch. Seoung Kim, first generation Korean-American. We’ve been friends since we were little, our dads were in the same friend group. Vivian Jackson, African American. She helped me navigate extracurricular activities and taught me how to defend myself from bullies. James Deveraux, Cajun. He refers to himself as a “Backwoods Cajun”. I don’t think that’s right, but it’s also not my place to say anything. He kind of just stuck with us through middle school.
After Chia got through the line with her lunch. Something “edible”, but heavily gentrified. She walked towards her friend’s table in the far corner when she heard a voice that involuntarily made her roll her eyes in disgust. Axel Harris. Repulsive. Obnoxious. Fuck-Boy. He uses his money to get his way in the most grotesque way and has been trying to get her attention since freshman year.
Chia rushed over to the table, hoping that the conversation he was roped up in would allow him to never see her.
“What are you guys thinking of doing for the senior prank?”
James looked up at Chia with a crooked smile, “I’m telling you. Horror fest. Pig’s blood, goat’s blood. It’ll be fun!”
“I bet the seniors who said that last year are happy they don’t have to deal with the consequences. But we did!” Vivian spoke up.
That is true. The seniors last year decided to order a mass amount of food and hide it everywhere. Unfortunately, there was a freak storm with heavy raining and winds. By the time school had resumed, mold had grown everywhere. So much so, a Karen on the PTA pushed forward with the ban to order food to school. It seems as if her son wasn’t too affected by it until it comes to someone’s birthday. It was no wonder he went completely home school. You would think she left the PTA? No. Because we were apparently bullying her poor baby. Thankfully the next set of seniors won’t have to deal with her.
“Instead of actually maiming a pig, we could actually use fake blood. Jeepers Creepers?”
Seoung shook his head, “Not everyone is a horror nut like you two. We need something recent like Train to Busan.”
“Gong-Yoo opaar,” Chia mocked, then chuckled.
Seoung recoiled in mock disgust, “I resent that. The new K-Wave brought out all the saesangs.”
Vivian patted Seoung’s shoulder, “How bad has it gotten?”
“The microaggressions have tripled. It’s blatant and passive. Highly annoying.”
“The submissive and breedable jokes,” Chia shuddered.
“If you got my note, the kind thing to do is reply.”
The group looked up at the voice interrupting their sensitive conversation. Axel Harris.
Chiasoka looked him up and down. The arrogance coming off him in waves was insanely nauseating. She turned back to him, sipping on her drink. “Should we just make it a friend graduation dance thing?” Chia took one final gulp. “Dress however we want and celebrate at the cabin? Unless my parents have something else planned.”
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Axel Harris. Billionaire Heir to the most fruiticious business. Collecting. Trading. Buying. He was handsome, fit and very popular at school. Girls would throw themselves at him hoping to get a glimpse at his fortune. Although he gave it to them, they never stayed long. He dated, if you could call that, almost everyone in the school.
Yet this obsidian kissed young woman chose to ignore his advances. No matter if he flaunted or was humble. Chiasoka never looked in his direction and it angered him to no end. At first all he had to do was tease her and she would reply. Albeit angry. A reply was all he needed. For the past several months, she had been ignoring him. Even now, she’s chapping it up with her friends and ignoring him.
“Chia pet, I know you can hear me?” Axel leaned forward and touched her hair. Immediately, he felt her stiffen. The surrounding tables that were once loud, murmured to a hush. Her female friend turned towards him with fire in her brown eyes. Vivian.
“And what in the Holy Jesus do you think you’re doing touching a black woman’s hair?!” She exclaimed. “You wet dog smellin’. Alfredo Alligator lookin’. Fail to wash your ass cheeks streak in your draws havin’. With your hands still on her?!”
“The derogatory name, dawg.” James stood up. “Chia pet? Nah, holmes we don’t play that here.” James walked into Chia’s space and grabbed Axel’s wrist. Physically removing him.
“You out here being predatory. She ain’t even 18 yet and you tryna prove to your klan family you can put anotha one of us on the cross. You betta back the fuck up or square the fuck up.”
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Axel had never been one to back down from a challenge. He could either apologize, because in no way shape nor form, did he ever mean for it to turn into a racial thing. He never knew nor did his friends ever correct him. However, he noticed James’ hand still on his arm. He tilted his head to get a look at Chiasoka to apologize but her female friend, Vivian, continued blocking the way.
He jerked his hand away from James, “Chia.”
“Nah.” James moved in his way again. “Whatever you gotta say, you can say it like this.”
Axel looked at James up and down, “No, I’m going to apologize to her face.” Axel brushed past James.
James grabbed Axel’s arms and pushed him with all his might. “Nah, you needa back the fuck up and that’s on god son.”
“You better not grab me again before I buy your life!” Axel growled.
James began to laugh in disbelief. “I’m sure you know they used slaves as furniture and bait. So I find it funny that you’re causing more of a ruckus instead of saying; I’m Sorry Chiasoka for being an ignorant colonizer creep.”
Axel’s face heated up as he realized James was right. He spent more time trying to get past him instead of voicing out loud his apology. But he was way too angry to do it now. He could feel the crowd push up against him, the flashlight for better lighting. Phones tilted vertical and horizontal for angles. The adrenaline pulsing through his veins. He couldn’t have stopped it if he wanted to. He punched James in the face.
Next thing he knew; pain exploded in his back, face and chest. Through blurry, bloody eyes. He could see Chiasoka holding James’ face preventing him from doing further damage. That should be him that she does that to. Instead it was that violent prick. Axel expelled one last breath before he slumped from his injuries. Just what did James do.
It’s been several days since the fight. Now all the parents of the kids involved are having a meeting. By now, everyone has seen the video. As short lived as it was. Once it made it to public eye, Axel’s family immediately had it taken down. It showed Axel punching James first. Then, James picked up and dropped Axel. Delivering swift punches to his face and body. Thank God whomever posted it removed the part where James almost kicked him in the face. The reason for the fight hasn’t been fully leaked. The people who know, know and the people who don’t, ponder.
Either way, Chiasoka is ready to vocalize all the hell Axel has put her through. If he tries to paint himself as the victim, she will not have it. The secretary looked towards us and put the phone back on the hook. “They’re ready to see you now.”
Seoung squeezed her hand in affirmation. First, Vivian entered. Followed by Chiasoka, Seoung and James pulling up the rear. They sat facing a bruised Axel and parents whilst their parents sat on either side of the oval with the principal and two officers.
“Your parents have promised to be silent while you give your side of the incident,” he angled a look toward the Harris’. “Any interruption will result in immediate expulsion without graduation.” Principal Mackey looked at everybody. A simple nod to confirm. Everyone nodded back, the Harris’ a bit grudgingly but nonetheless a nod back.
“James. Why don’t you start? We already know Axel’s side of this.”
James leaned back in his seat, twiddling his thumbs. “He was being racist and beyond disrespectful. All he had to do was apologize. Instead, he continued to be irate to a female. Pick on somebody your own size. He effed around and found out.”
Principal Mackey nodded and looked down at his notes, “You never mentioned a female.” Looking up he scanned the Harris’ faces. “But it looks like your parents already knew.” He looked at James’ witnesses. “Anybody else would like to tackle on?”
Vivian raised her hand, “I would like to.” Principal Mackey waved for her to continue.
“Even now, James just sugarcoating. He,” Vivian pointed at Axel, “said he was going to buy James’ life after he refused to apologize to Chiasoka. He called her a Chia Pet and touched her hair.” Vivian withdrew her finger but gave him a disapproving look.
“Don’t forget,” Seoung piped in. “We were talking about the influx microaggressions towards the Asian Americans in school and he admitted to writing a note about Chiasoka being ‘submissive and breedable’.”
Principal Mackey motioned for the officers to call the police station and crowd the Harris’. “Chiasoka, is this true?”
Chia braced herself as she stood up, grabbing the folders out of her tote bag. “It’s very true.” Backing up her chair, Chia walked around the table placing a folder in front of all the parents. “Ever since freshman year, he has been harassing me. I say no means no, but he says he has the money to turn the no into a yes.” Chiasoka stopped in front of the principal. “May I?”
Principal Mackey nodded, feeling sick to his stomach. He’d see the varying emotions of all the parents faces. He had hoped this was simply a misunderstanding between boys. Now he knew that it was not. A sexual harassment hate crime on a minor.
Chia plugged in her USB to the laptop connected to the projector. Turning off the lights she used the remote to flick through all the notes she received, voice mails and conversations throughout school. There was no way he was getting out of this. He would finally pay.
Once she was done, everything was silent. Suddenly Mrs. Harris rushed across the table and slapped Chiasoka in the face just as the Chief of Police walked through the door. “It’s a good thing we have two squad cars out front.”
The police read Mrs. Harris and Axel Harris their rights before leading them out the front of school with everyone watching.
Chia’s eyes continued to water as the heat on her cheek grew. In complete shock. “I didn’t even do anything,” she whispered to herself.
Vivian sat in the backseat of her parents’ car. She swore to herself she wouldn’t do it and let the rumors stay a rumor. But that grown ass woman who failed to parent her child put her hands on a kid. Chia. The nicest person she knows.
As soon as he got home, she headed upstairs. Using a VPN she wrote an article about White Privilege, Money, NDA’s, Systematic Racism and the Harris’. Which each letter she wrote, she made sure to cover her tracks as best to her ability. Even using the software she uses to go on the deep web. No matter how hard they tried to, Vivian would make sure they could never be silenced. Ever.
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