NUNU

it’s been almost five months since you and juju broke up, but no one in her family seems to accept that it’s been over.

you and juju’s breakup was super unexpected to everyone. you guys were like a match made in heaven. everyone around you knew you loved each other deeply.

juju wasn’t a bad partner, she just was never there for you. not physically, she was always there, but emotionally she’d shut down when things got hard. whenever you needed reassurance, she could never give it. she’d just get quiet.

when you’d ask her about it, she’d try to change the subject. the more you tried reaching for her, the more she pulled away, so you just decided to end things.

even after that, juju’s parents still love you and they still invite you places, whether it’s their house, a restaurant, or some type of gathering. you’re always invited.

sari still calls you every day to see if you’re doing okay. robert always looks forward to you coming by, and with her siblings, you talk to mali like you guys are best friends.

juju can’t stand it, and it doesn’t help that her parents and siblings adore you. she feels like it just makes everything awkward and weird.

tonight sari and robert are hosting a family dinner, and sari decided to invite you. and juju is trying to persuade her to uninvite you.

“mom, why did you invite her?” juju says.

“juju, it’s a family dinner. why are you so upset about it?” sari says as she’s setting the table.

“yeah mom, keyword family.”

“she is family, juju,” sari says sternly.

“no, she is not, mom. why are you inviting my ex to have dinner with us?”

robert walks into the kitchen. “what’s all the commotion about?” he asks.

“she’s upset about me inviting y/n,” sari says.

“it’s not that big of a deal, juju,” he says.

“that’s exactly what i told her. she keeps acting like it’s such a big deal though,” sari adds.

juju puts her hands on top of her head and lets out a sharp breath. “oh my gosh. why does no one see the issue here? why would you invite my ex? that’s so weird. it’s going to be awkward.”

she turns and walks upstairs, heading straight to her bedroom. she drops onto her bed, staring at the ceiling as if it’s going to give her an answer that makes any of this make sense.

for a moment, it almost works. her eyes start to get heavy, the tension finally loosening just a little.

then her mom’s voice cuts through from downstairs.

“juju, come open the door for your sister.”

she doesn’t move right away. just lies there for a few seconds, staring at nothing.

then she exhales, pushes herself up, and drags herself out of the room.

by the time she gets downstairs, she already feels drained in a way she can’t shake off.

she reaches the front door, unlocks it, and swings it open.

mali is standing there, purse in hand. she pauses for a second before stepping inside.

“you good?” she asks, closing the door behind her.

juju stands there with her arms crossed.

“no,” she says flatly.

mali raises a brow, already knowing what this is about.

“juju, it’s not that serious.”

“it is that serious,” she shoots back, voice tightening. “y’all keep acting like it’s normal.”

“you’re the one making it weird,” mali says casually, hanging her purse up on the hall tree before walking toward the kitchen.

juju follows her. “i’m making it weird?” she lets out a short laugh. “she’s my ex, and she’s coming to our house for dinner.”

mali shrugs. “you guys were dating for so long she’s practically part of the family now, juju. get used to it.”

that hits something sharp in her, and she doesn’t respond.

because that’s the part she hates the most.

they walk into the kitchen and juju takes a seat at the island, watching as mali greets their parents like nothing is wrong in the world.

“you guys are in—” mali starts, but she’s cut off by a knock at the door.

“she must be here,” sari says.

sari wipes her hands and walks out of the kitchen, heading to the door. she opens it.

and there you are.

“hi, mrs. watkins,” you say softly, hugging her.

“hi, honey. you look so beautiful today. come inside so we can get ready to eat.”

you step in and close the door behind you.

the house shifts immediately, like it always does when you’re there.

you walk into the kitchen. mali smiles and greets you, robert does too.

juju, on the other hand, avoids your eyes completely.

everyone eventually moves to the dining table while sari finishes bringing out the plates.

mali and robert are talking to you, asking how you’ve been, what you’ve been up to, like time didn’t split anything in half.

sari sets down the last plate. everyone starts eating.

except juju.

she takes a few bites, then just starts picking at her food, eyes distant, jaw tight.

then mali, too casually, like she doesn’t feel the weight of what she’s about to say, speaks up.

“i hope you two figure it out. you guys were an amazing couple.”

sari and robert glance up.

the air changes.

you freeze.

juju freezes.

for a second, she just sits there, processing it, staring at the table like she can rearrange the moment if she looks hard enough.

then she exhales.

“why are you doing that?” she says, voice low.

mali blinks. “doing what?”

juju shakes her head slightly, like she’s trying to hold herself together.

“being weird.”

“you know what?” she says suddenly, pushing her chair back. it scrapes loudly against the floor. “i’m not doing this.”

she stands, grabbing her phone from the table.

for a second, she pauses, like she wants to say something else but can’t find a version of it that won’t come out wrong.

then she looks up.

“and so everyone is aware, i’m done.”

she turns and walks out of the dining room.

no one stops her.

before anyone can say a word, the front door slams shut.