Page 16 of Blake University HBCU Chronicles: Azari & Chozen

“I’m okay, baby, especially now. Damn. You so fine, Chozen. Thank you for being the man I need.”

He lowered his face to mine and kissed me again until we heard, “Man, let the woman breathe! I would have said something else if lil man wasn’t with y’all.”

I smiled against Chozen’s lips. I recognized the voice as RJ’s.

His deep, thunderous voice could never be confused with anyone else’s.

Chozen pulled away from me and grabbed my hand, leading all of us to the doorway.

I glanced at my mama to see she looked to be in a trance.

When we got close, RJ slapped Chozen’s hand then hugged me.

Once he pulled away, I said, “RJ, this is my son, Xavier, but we call him X, and this is my mama, Justine Michaels.”

He gave X five, then turned to my mama and gently shook her hand. “It’s nice to meet you. Y’all come in.”

“Nice to meet you too.”

When we walked inside, I looked around in awe. “Wow. This house is beautiful,” I said softly.

My mama gasped, so I knew Noah had to be in the vicinity. I turned to her to see she had caught sight of him. “Mama, breathe. We can’t have you passing out on us.”

RJ frowned. “Plus, that nigga ain’t all that anyway. He just a’ight.”

“Sounds like my designated hater is calling me,” Noah said from the other room.

I chuckled as RJ led us to the family room where everyone was.

I had to grab my mama’s hand so I could squeeze it and bring her back to us from the clouds she could ascend to.

Several men stood to greet us. Noah approached first and gave me a hug, then I turned to Mama and X and said, “X, this is Mister Noah. He’s a famous rapper and producer. ”

Xavier’s eyebrows lifted. “Rapper? Do you know Exodus?”

Noah smiled big. “I sure do. I’m rapping and singing on a couple of his songs. He’s signed to my production label.”

“Wow! Can I meet him?”

“He’s not here, but I’m sure you will one day.”

Noah brought his attention to my mama who looked like she was about to hyperventilate. He smiled big and said, “Calm down, shorty. Give me a hug.”

“That’s my mama, Justine,” I said as he pulled her in his arms. “She’s a huge fan.”

“Oh my God. Can I take a picture?”

“Yeah, of course.”

He put his arm around her as she smiled big and handed me her phone. I rolled my eyes and took the picture. I was excited to meet him at the restaurant and somewhat starstruck, but she was taking shit too far. She was acting like she was about to pass out at any moment.

“Y’all come on so X-man can play with the other kids.”

“Yay!”

I smiled and followed behind them at a somewhat slower pace. Chozen never left my side. He held my hand and asked, “You in pain, baby?”

“A little. It’s this damn leg.”

He nodded but didn’t say another word. Two men approached us, and I could clearly tell they were related, although one was significantly older.

Chozen smiled and said, “Azari, this is my uncle Carrington, the man that raised me to be the man that I am, and this is his brother and Noah and RJ’s father, Ryan Charles. ”

I smiled big as Mr. Carrington extended his hand. I shook it as he said, “It’s nice to meet you.”

“Likewise. I needed to thank you and your wife for this amazing man.”

Chozen kissed my head as I shook Mr. Charles’s hand and offered the same greeting.

Mr. Carrington only smiled and nodded. I could tell he had a quiet demeanor.

He wasn’t very talkative, and Chozen didn’t seem to be bothered by it.

My leg was starting to throb, so we needed to sit as soon as possible.

As we walked, my leg shifted and nearly dropped me to the floor.

I grabbed ahold of Chozen’s arm to steady myself.

My face heated up tremendously when I noticed RJ and Noah’s eyes on me.

I rested my forehead against his arm. Closing my eyes, I took a deep breath.

Before I could open them, Chozen lifted me in his arms. He always did that, but instead of feeling his care and tenderness, I only felt embarrassment.

Here I was, meeting most of his family for the first time, and I couldn’t even walk to a seat. “Everything okay?”

I glanced up and saw a man that had to be Nate Guillory. He was tall as hell and made everyone around him look like midgets. “Yeah, everything’s good, man. Thanks.”

“Wow! You’re tall!” I heard Xavier say.

Nate chuckled as we continued into the area where everyone was. Once Chozen sat, I quickly slid off his lap to the couch and cleared my throat. He grabbed my hand and rubbed it between his, as my mama sat next to me, and X followed Nate and Noah outside.

“Azari, look at me,” he said.

I hesitantly lifted my head, and he kissed my lips. “You have no reason to be embarrassed, baby. Whenever you’re feeling up to it, we will go to the medical shop near campus and get you fitted for a better prosthetic leg. This one is slowing you down and putting unnecessary stress and pain on you.”

I only nodded then looked around and saw several women seated and in discussion.

When one noticed me looking at them, she said, “We didn’t want to rush you like the men did and overwhelm you.

Plus, I could tell that you needed to sit.

Men aren’t as attentive at times. I’m Raquel, Noah and RJ’s mother and Ryan’s wife.

Everyone around here calls me Raqui, except my husband.

” She began introducing everyone near her, all four of her granddaughters, her daughters-in-law, and Nate’s wife.

When she was about to introduce the last lady, she stood and made her way to me. Chozen scooted over so she could sit next to me. “Hi, beautiful. I’m Candace, Chozen’s aunt. I’ve been so excited to meet you. Can I hug you?”

I nodded, and she wrapped her arms around me. The hug was warm and heartfelt, just like Chozen’s were. When she released me, she said, “I can’t wait to get to know you better. I’m going to be here longer than everyone else.”

Grabbing my hand, she squeezed it. Before she could leave, all the ladies had stood and surrounded me.

The young lady Mrs. Raquel introduced to me as Noelle, one of Noah’s daughters, said, “The Lord put on my heart to pray. I never take those feelings lightly. He’s given me a gift to hear His voice and sense things, just like my parents.

I promised Him that gift wouldn’t go in vain.

If Chozen is with you, then I know you believe in the power of God, because he wouldn’t be with you if you didn’t.

He surely wouldn’t bring you around his family if you didn’t. ”

I smiled as I thought about a conversation Chozen and I had about God and how he wouldn’t put more on me than I could bear.

He prayed for me every night, and I prayed for him every morning and whenever he crossed my mind.

I found myself uttering prayers for him as much as I did for my baby.

A warm feeling came over me as I nodded and said softly, “Thank you.”

I noticed the men joining us in the room, some that I hadn’t met yet, and they intermingled in the circle.

While I hated attention, I wouldn’t dare turn down prayer.

My mama stood and grabbed Mrs. Raquel’s hand, and Chozen scooted back over to me and wrapped his arms around me.

I lowered my head to his chest, and he kissed it.

“I’m sorry if this is overwhelming for you, but they mean well. ”

“I know. I’m grateful for your family. I can sense the love and spirituality of everyone here . . . except RJ.”

He chuckled, as did everyone who heard me. I looked around and felt RJ’s eyes on me. When my eyes met his, he nodded repeatedly. “Mm-hmm. Talk noise now, shorty. Like the Lord, vengeance is mine.”

Everyone laughed as his dad slowly shook his head.

“Go ahead, Elle,” Mrs. Raquel said.

Everyone bowed their heads, and she delivered the most powerful prayer I had ever felt.

As she finished up, Mrs. Raquel started singing “I Need Thee,” a song I used to hear the deacons sing at church when I was a kid.

When Noah and his daughter Noelle began harmonizing with her, I couldn’t stop the tears that fell down my cheeks.

It was like I could feel the anointing of God all over me.

When they stopped, Noah’s wife started singing, and she did a polyharmony thing.

It sounded like four voices came out of her at once.

Noah closed his eyes and nodded his head.

When he reopened them, he said, “Get a second opinion. God said, through her voice, that He has the final say. Get more blood work done. Don’t take any of that medicine until you’ve gotten that opinion.

I can get you in to see a doctor in Cove City, near Blake U. He’s reputable.”

I broke down. I could no longer contain my cries.

Chozen held me tighter and rocked me in his arms. Tonight was already shaping up to be a day I would never forget.

My faith was strong, and I believed that God spoke to Noah and Noelle.

I was grateful that they bombarded their way on Mrs. Candace and Mr. Carrington’s trip here.

God orchestrated it all, and I wouldn’t take that for granted.