PARADOX

PDX14

"Which ones you take for a cold?" Rashad asked, "I like zinc, elderberry, turmeric, and basil." Amina answered. Both her mother and Travis were herbalists, and it rubbed off on Amina. She never took Tylenol or anything of that nature. Shortly after, a silence fell over them but this time Amina wasn't complaining, she wanted all her focus to go to his hair.

"Let me see right quick." He demanded, Amina turned around and grabbed a hand held mirror from her drawer before handing it to him. "You don't trust me?" She questioned.

"I just wanna see nigga, damn." Rashad replied, handing the mirror back to her. "You think the next time if I bring a design you'll be able to do it?" He added.

"Definitely—I could do it now." Amina answered, he lightly chuckled, "Nah, I won't put all that stress on you." Rashad replied, Amina briefly chuckled before rolling her eyes, as if he could see her.

"I wanna wear it half up half down though." He announced, Amina nodded her head, making note of that. "You copying me?" She jokingly questioned.

"No." He blankly replied. She couldn't help but to laugh at how monotone and dry he was, it often managed to make her feel dumb. Another silence fell over them since Rashad was deep into his phone. As a hairstylist, she couldn't help but to look. She looked in all her client's phones. She noticed the only social media apps he had was YouTube, Twitter, and surprisingly Pinterest.

"When I post this on Instagram, you want me to tag you?" Amina questioned, wanting to see if he had an account or not. "I don't have a personal account—only one for Blue's." He replied, Amina nodded her head.

"Why?" She questioned, super curious. Although he came off as super private, it still intrigued her when people didn't have social media accounts. As sad as it was, she wondered how they filled their day. It made her question why she let social media consume so much of her life, so mindlessly at that. "Cause it's negative." He answered.

"I agree—but to a certain extent. I think it's what you make it, what you see is literally curated from what you interact with most." Amina contended. "You got a Twitter?" He questioned.

"Yeah." Amina answered, slightly moving her head up and down. "They got some new shit on there that show you shit from random ass pages, either way it go you're bound to see some shit you don't want to...I don't like that." He explained. Amina still felt like social media was what you made it, but figured they'd agree to disagree.

"Instagram is the worst—hella people living a facade, just to keep up with the next. Then whole personality be based on that shit." He briefly shook his head. Amina could agree on that, she knew first hand that people dressed shit up and made it look nice on social media, comparing yourself to shit you saw on there was crazy—because a lot of it wasn't real.

A few hours later, Amina was finished and Rashad was pleased with the results, and so was she. She snapped a few pictures just incase she wanted to add the style to her services. "How much I owe you?" Rashad questioned as he reached for his Hermes cardholder.

Amina half shrugged, "Nothing, it was a practice service." She replied.

"Let me give you something at least." Rashad demanded. Amina shook her head no, "It's fine." Amina assured as she began to straighten up. It was around 4 o clock and she was gonna stop at target before going home.

"Let me get you dinner then." He spoke, Amina realized he wasn't gonna stop so she decided to give in. Food didn't sound so bad after being on her feet for four hours straight either. "From where?" She questioned.

"Your choice." He answered, "You ever been to Perry's?" Amina questioned as she grabbed her Fendi crossbody purse and draped the gold chain strap over her body.