Santiago

Listening to August's 'survival of the fittest' song, I looked at Khia who was sitting next to me but sound asleep on my shoulders. The flight was just now about to land after 4 hours. I was tired and I knew Khia was too by the way she was sound asleep. She looked so innocent when she slept. Khia was definitely gonna be surprised at the fact that i booked her and I a room in a hotel. I don't know if she used to sleeping with me yet but I guess I'll find out once I tell her. Just felt like Why waste money on two bedrooms when i could get one suite for the both of us while my parents get a suite of their own with the rest of the family. I know she's not used to being with me for long amount of times but this was a good way to truly know each other if we around each other 24/7. I already know she gonna annoy the hell outta me but I don't mind. Once the plane landed abruptly, causing Khia to wake up, i kissed her on the forehead and told her, "it's okay. We're here baby."

She smiled at me and quickly reached for her purse, she looked at herself through her make up mirror and applied more. I'm looking at her like she crazy.

"What? I gotta look presentable. I was all drooling on you and stuff",she said.

"I told you no amount of makeup gonna make you more beautiful than you already are babe."

We got out and I grabbed my black carry-on on the top cabinet. We got out the plane and went to a tourist line to get our tourist card since we didn't live here. I looked around and enjoyed the hot weather. I forgot DR is hot all year round unless there's a hurricane or somethin. My dad called me over and spoke to me briefly about keeping Khia close to me because I am responsible for her and I don't want nothin to happen to her. Especially cause this discrimination going on in the country.

"It's hot babe",she said walking towards me.

"I know you are."

"Your so corny i swear",she said laughing and admiring my watch on my wrist.

"When You had time to get a new fit."

"I was with you the whole time. What you mean?"

"Yea but this ain't none of the outfits we selected sir",she said playin around.

We went to go rent out the car we ordered online & it was a easy process this time around. It was a all black Toyota Corolla van cause my family was pretty big. We all piled up in the van while my dad drove.

"So we're going straight to your family's house?",she asked me.

"Yeah they prepared a dinner for us. I'm ready to grub",I said rubbing my stomach. I could really eat.

"I'm nervous",she said looking at me. I kissed her on the cheek (out of respect for my fam in the car).

"You still nervous?"

"Not as much as before. But I don't know Spanish. How are they gonna understand me?"

"Some of them can speak English. It's just my grandma and grandpa that won't understand."

The ride was a lil rocky because the streets weren't the same as United States to be made. I still didn't understand how Santo Domingo was the Capital but at the same time, the worst lookin place out of the country. When we arrived to the house, we found everyone already outside waiting on us. It looked like the whole village. My lil cousin, Rico, wasn't so little no more. Dude was as tall as I was. My other cousin, Romeo was still into dope the way his eyes hung low and he had a bony structure. Some things never change. My parents got out and hugged the family. My abuela and abuelo got out to hug the family as well. Khia and i were the last to get out mainly because she was so nervous, freakin out in the back seat. I got out of the van and helped Khia out as well. My cousins rushed to hug me and so did my aunts and uncles. They were so recieving of Khia as well.

"Esta es mi novia Khia",i introduced.

"Hola",she said kinda shy. They hugged her.

"Ella es muy bonita. Es ella uno de nosotros?",my auntie said.

"No tía, ella es americano",i explained.

"Oh ok. Ella es no habla español."

"No inglés",i said.

"voy a hacer mi mejor esfuerzo para hablar el pequeño inglés que tengo",she said causing everyone to laugh.

"I missed you so much",she said with a thick accent.

"Me too tia",i said holding her hand.

"I remember when you was so small. I was have to change your diaper."

I became so embarrassed remembering those times.

"Let's go eat. I'm starving",Rico said. We dapped and figured we'll talk later while Romeo looked at me and acted like he ain't know me. I wonder what that was all about but I'll find out later. We all went inside the hot house and sat at the long rectangular table. I pulled out a seat for Khia and I sat next to her. My father prayed over the food and we all started to eat.

Khia

I looked next to me at tiago, and he seemed so in his element with his family. I could tell he was a real family man and that's something I'm kinda afraid of. That's more of a reason for his mom and I to get along. During this entire trip here, all we've said to each other is hi. She engaged in no contact with me or anything where as his father was happy and constantly engaging in a conversation with me. I can't change the color of my skin, or have soft flowy hair that curls up whenever I wash it. But I feel like that's the only way that she would actually accept me in her heart. No matter how many times tiago says it doesn't matter, I know deep down it does because guys love their moms. That's something everyone knows. Maybe on this trip, I'll try to reach out to her and we could have a conversation.