The Real Us

Naya stared intensely at her reflection. Everything appeared to be perfect yet something felt off. She spun around in her golden dress, checking off the possibility of her clothes being wrinkled. She ran a hand over her arms and legs and smiled when she found not one hair on any limb. The hair on her head had been straightened and pulled back into a neat ponytail, no fear of that natural mane popping out unless it rained.

“Oh, please, God, don’t let it rain,” she silently prayed, despite having never stepped foot in church during her adult life.

A lightbulb went off and Naya rushed over to her dresser, opening the top drawer. With a relieved sigh, she gently picked up a porcelain mask. To Naya, this mask was the most beautiful creation she’s ever owned. It had a permanent smile etched into it, the cheeks were rosy, the porcelain shined without a single stain on its white surface. The mask didn’t match her at all but it fooled everyone regardless.

“Can’t forget this,” Naya muttered as she slipped the mask over her face.

Kendrick drummed his fingers against the table. His leg bounced rapidly as he glanced around the restaurant. All around, couples were sitting at small tables, eating off plates with even smaller portions and most likely making nonsensical small talk. The dimmed lights and orchestral music seemed to slow time.

It was too slow for him. It was too classy for him. He didn’t belong here. Why was he there?

Right. To impress her. A woman he’d only just met at work and decided was the one. Was she the one? She certainly was attractive. She was a proper woman. Would most likely make a good wife and mother too.

Kendrick straightened his tie then his mask. If he was to woo this woman, she couldn’t see what…who he truly was. No one could know that his smile was crooked, that his skin was dark as chocolate, that he didn’t really speak “proper”.

A waiter came by again. This was the fifth time in the past twenty minutes. Could he see that Kendrick was putting up a front? Kendrick waved him away, almost slipping into that hooligan’s tongue. He caught himself.

“Just a few more minutes. She’ll be here.”

Naya glanced at the clock on her phone and cursed.

She was late. The first, real date she’s been asked on and she’s already making a bad impression.

The second her Uber driver announced their arrival, she practically burst through the car door. She paused right outside the restaurant, thanked the driver, then entered gracefully. The maître d’ looked her up and down. Naya gulped. The maître d’ smiled widely.

“Welcome, miss. Do you have a reservation?”

Naya internally sighed. “Oh, yes. Under Smith? I believe he’s already waiting for me.”

“Smith…” He scanned a list, finding many “Smith” parties. “Do you know the first name?”

“Kyle.” Naya glanced into the restaurant and pointed. “That’s him, right there.”

“Ah, yes. Go on right back.”

Naya thanked him and quickly but not too quickly walked over to the table.

Kendrick thanked God when he spotted her. The same God that he hadn’t ever believed in. Not that this mattered. She was here and he didn’t look like a fool anymore. The golden dress she wore made her look even more like an angel.

Kendrick waved down the waiter just as she sat. “I was beginning to think you wouldn’t show, Nicole.”

Naya chuckled nervously, “The traffic was unbelievable. I thought I would get here after this place closed.”

Kendrick laughed. It wasn’t that funny but he didn’t want her to know. “Well, you’re here now. And we can get to know each other outside of the office.”

The waiter brought over a bottle of fine wine and poured a little into both parties’ glass. Kendrick held up his. Naya picked hers up.

“To getting to know the real us,” Naya proposed.

Kendrick thanked God again that the mask hid the sweat that dripped from his forehead. “The real us.”

They gently clinked their glasses.