Kareem hated grocery shopping almost as much as he hated parties. It wasn't the actual act of buying food that annoyed him-it was the people. Always in the way, taking too long to pick something off the shelf, or having loud conversations like the store was their living room.
Today was no different.
He pushed his cart through the aisle, trying to avoid eye contact with anyone. His hoodie was pulled over his head, a silent don't talk to me to the world. He grabbed a loaf of bread, some eggs, and a pack of chicken wings before heading toward the checkout.
Just as he turned the corner, his cart bumped into someone else's.
"My bad-"
"Damn, Kareem. Didn't take you for the type to ram people with carts."
That voice. Smooth, teasing, and entirely too familiar.
Kareem's eyes shot up, and there was Santi, smirking at him like they were old friends. He had on a simple black tee that showed off his tattoos.
"Didn't know you shopped here," Santi said, leaning on the handle of his cart.
"I don't," Kareem muttered. "This is a one-time thing."
Santi raised an eyebrow. "What, you don't eat?"
Kareem shot him a look. "I ain't gotta explain myself to you."
"Alright, alright." Santi held up his hands in mock surrender, still grinning. "What you got in there? Let me see."
Before Kareem could protest, Santi peered into his cart. "Chicken wings, eggs, bread... man, you eat like a college kid."
"And you talk too much," Kareem shot back, but there wasn't as much bite in his tone as usual. Something about Santi made it hard to stay mad, even when Kareem wanted to.
"Relax, Papi. I'm just playin'."
Kareem stiffened at the nickname, his grip tightening on the cart handle. "Don't call me that."
Santi chuckled. "Why not? Fits you."
Kareem ignored the comment and started pushing his cart toward the checkout. He wasn't about to stand there and let Santi get under his skin again.
But Santi, of course, followed him.
"Yo, you ever cook those wings yourself, or you the type to just order takeout?"
"Why you care?" Kareem asked without looking back.
"I don't. Just curious."
Kareem sighed as he reached the checkout line, placing his items on the conveyor belt. Santi leaned against the counter beside him, acting like they'd arrived together.
"You're annoying," Kareem muttered, pulling out his wallet.
"And you're mean," Santi replied easily. "Guess that makes us even."
Kareem didn't respond. He handed the cashier his cash, grabbed his bags, and made a beeline for the exit, hoping Santi would stay behind.
No such luck.
Outside, Santi caught up with him, casually matching his pace. "You live close by?"
Kareem stopped walking and turned to face him, his expression dark. "What is your problem? You don't know me like that, so why you actin' like we cool?"
Santi looked taken aback for a split second, but then he laughed softly. "Damn, you really don't like people, huh?"
Kareem's jaw clenched.
"Nah, I get it," Santi continued. "But maybe I'm just tryna be nice. Ever think about that?"
"I don't need nice."
Santi tilted his head, studying Kareem like he was a puzzle he wanted to solve. "Maybe you do. Ever think about that?"
Kareem didn't have an answer for that, so he just shook his head and kept walking.
To his relief, Santi didn't follow this time. But as Kareem unlocked his car and loaded his groceries, he couldn't shake the feeling that he hadn't seen the last of him.
Later that night, Kareem sat on his couch, flipping through a car manual. He wasn't paying much attention to the words, though. His mind kept drifting back to Santi's easy smile and how annoyingly persistent he'd been.
"Nice, my ass," Kareem muttered to himself, shaking his head.
He didn't know why, but something about the guy stuck with him. Not in a bad way... but not in a good way, either. It was just there, lingering in the back of his mind like a song he couldn't stop humming.
With a sigh, he tossed the manual onto the coffee table and leaned back. He told himself it didn't matter. Santi was just some dude he'd bumped into twice. Nothing more, nothing less.
But deep down, Kareem had a feeling that wouldn't be the last time their paths crossed.