Learning to Be Human (FREE READ)

Chapter 4: Javon's Life

Living in Beverly Hills? That would have been a dream come true for most people. For me, it's more like something that would not have happened even after 20 generations. But Javon Sergin was some top-notch guy in the real estate industry. Surely, he would own a mansion... or at least something more than my closet apartment.

But, I was wrong...

When we arrived at the address, it was a mediocre home that looked too run-down for the Beverly Hills HOA. If there was any. But, it had its charm I guess. Jay got down, and I propped my moped on its stand.

Before we could take a step onto the side walk a woman slammed the front door open. I was about to wave at her when I realized she was nowhere near pleased.

"So you gon' come up to my house after 3 years of separation only to rub it in my face about your new girl?" and yes, she was a black woman.

"Who is that?" I asked Jay.

"I am not sure?" he asked himself.

"She said separation, maybe you were or are married?" I gestured at the situation.

"I highly doubt I'd be legally bonded to such an unstable specimen," he sneered.

"I mean I know YOU would, but this could be dangerous territory. This woman could be your wife..."

"DADDY!" a young girl sped past her mom.

She ran towards us with the cutest smile flinging her arms in the wind behind her. She had two afro pigtails and hugged Jay.

"Daddy did you come home?" she asked innocently.

I felt a churn in my stomach, not jealousy about Jay having a family, but about how this little girl had a support system. Alien or not, Jay's vessel had a life. Seeing how happy she was made the child in me envious. Not the curse you type of envy, but the envy of awe. No, I would not be spiteful of a child.

"Are you my offspring?" Jay lifted an eyebrow.

The little girl started giggling, "You're funny daddy," she paused and then looked over at me, "Is this your coworker?"

I had to nudge Jay with my elbow because he was still assessing what was happening, "Y-yes I am your daddy's coworker," I answered for him.

"Yay! Now both mommy and daddy can have coworkers at the house!" she spun with glee.

Coworkers in the house?

Something churned again, but it was not the same feeling as before.

This might get messy real fast.

"I missed you daddy," the little girl hugged him a bit tighter.

Jay said nothing.

"Oh, so what now? You not gon' say nothing to your daughter? Did you already play house with someone else?" the lady spat.

"Did you bring someone into my house?" Jay finally spoke.

"What?" the lady looked surprised, "You and I been seperated for years, the house may be under your name, but we verbally agreed that it be mine because I have Khlo'e with me. I get to have some fun too."

I know she was referencing about me and I could stay silent no longer, "I just work with him, there's nothing going on betw-"

"I wasn't talking to you!" she sassed, "You're irrelevant."

In a swift motion I saw Jay appear a few inches from her face. I began to run, but I felt heavy! Like when you run in a dream, it's never fast enough, but the energy drained was agonizing.

"Apologize to her," Jay demanded with a stern voice, "Now!"

"Boy if you don't get out of my face I will knock you the f*ck out!" she challenged.

Jay stood his ground, "You brought someone into my house, around my offspring, and then belittled my friend..."

"Friend? I thought she said she was your 'coworker' seems like the lies are piling up Jay!"

The angry sparks flew and Jay then looked at his hands that were balled up. I began to panic.

Move legs move!

Jay smirked, "I heard it's 2023, so you know about equal opportunity?"

That was a dangerous statement. I saw the fearless gaze his ex glared back at him, "Not like you was ever a man to begin with."

"Daddy!" Khlo'e exclaimed, "Please don't hit mommy!"

Jay turned back and said, "I was not going to hit her. What made you think that?"

That seemed to calm the little girl down a bit. But I could see tears building in her eyes. She was just a happy little girl earlier, now she looked like her world was falling apart.

That feeling I was all too familiar with.

"Jay," I finally caught up and grabbed his arm, "Maybe we should go."

"Go where? Back to his second family? I guess he don't care about the one he made with me," she gestured to Khlo'e.

Jay did not look at her, instead he bent down and leveled his gaze with his daughter, "Would you like to visit me sometime?"

Her eyes lit up like the constellations in the sky, my heart hurt for this girl. I could tell that she had witnessed her mother and father fighting before. I couldn't help but think to myself: Maybe it's better to be alone than to have company and be miserable.

Except I was alone AND miserable.

"Yes daddy!" Khlo'e answered.

"Oh, here we go," the lady sighed, "You know he promised you a thousand times before. But, you know he also didn't show up for those thousand times Khlo'e."

"I may not want to be there for you," Jay corrected her, "But I'd like to spend time with my offspring."

"What you need to be doing is giving me child support, you are two months behind!" she crossed her arms tighter.

"So this child is a transaction?" I heard him ask.

The woman tilted her head and lifted an eyebrow, "Are you serious?"

"How much is it?" I butted in. She finally looked at me. I continued, "He just wants to be able to see her."

"The judge ordered it to be $600 a month since he fell out of his job, but he is a year behind. I should be calling my lawyer. I have been struggling with the bills," she looked defeated, "But of course, we can't do anything because you don't have no job."

"Do you have cash app?" I asked.

"Yeah it's Khloemomma808," she looked as I input the data into my phone.

I made a few taps and then said, "There."

Her face lit up the same way her daughter's did. She was about to break down and she hugged me!

"Thank you!" she sobbed, and then let me go, "You are a good influence on Javon. Thank you. Oh, and yes ya'll can see Khlo'e."

I celebrated silently as Khlo'e jumped for joy. She hugged her dad and Jay lifted her into the air. He was not smiling, but managed a smirk. I couldn't help but ask myself if something was wrong.

"My name is Anita," she introduced.

"Katie," I attempted to shake hands with her but she grabbed and pulled me in for another warm hug.

"I apologize about earlier, emotions can really set a tone. You know?" she wiped her blurry eyes.

"It's okay..." I fanned away the guilt off her, "hope everything works out."

Anita and Khlo'e waved their goodbyes at us and Javon and I left to a nearby park. The park was practically empty, except for the dog walkers.

"I'm guessing that Javon's life shouldn't be assumed merely from a business card huh?" I lifted my shoulders and pursed my lips.

"I think I need to study humans a bit more. There are some things in reality that cannot be explained in books," he had his elbows propped on his legs, thinking.

"I noticed that you weren't smiling when holding Khlo'e," I remembered.

"I didn't know what to do," he shook his head, "I'm not legitimately Javon, and seeing how happy she was to see me just baffled me."

"You were put on the spot," I swung my legs below the bench we sat on, "It's pretty normal to have your thoughts and emotions scattered in times like that."

"You think so?" Jay looked at me, and then looked away, "Despite the harsh tones of the incubator, the offspring came to me with no regard."

"Let's stop using incubator," I laughed nervously, "And offspring. Anita is your previous intimate partner, or as we call it 'baby momma'. Khlo'e is a girl so she is your daughter."

And then the automatic response of: It's 2023 you can't assume their genders. Kicked in.

"You seemed to handle that well, sorry I didn't know I had no mansion," he seemed disappointed.

"That's alright," I threw a "pfft" gesture, "We can afford a better place real soon."

"Anita seemed happy when you were tapping your phone, did you send her words of encouragement?" Jay asked.

"I wish that was all it takes to make someone happy," I muttered, "But no, I paid of Javon's debt and we are left with a few thousand dollars now."

"So money makes humans happy?" he began to look confused.

"Well... a lot of things are structurized by money here. It's basically labor for goods exchange," I explained.

"But why doesn't every human just have a homestead and live off their means?" he continued, "Wouldn't it be better for everyone to work together to feed one another?"

"Like I said," I shrugged, "I wish it was that easy."

But I knew it wasn't. How am I supposed to explain the basic government structure to someone from a different universe?

"Wait..." I changed the subject, "So you do have a ship? That crash landing was not an illusion?"

"Ahhh," he paused, "Yes. But I cannot show anyone it just yet, it is still recharging. And this distance from the sun has delayed it's estimated fuel capacity."

"So your ship runs off from solar energy?" my eyes glinted, "That is so cool."

"And yours runs off non renewable resource called petroleum correct?"

I stuttered, "Well, yeah..."

Jay folded his arms and leaned back on the bench, "Why don't you humans concentrate on cleaner inventions?"

"We have Teslas?" I offered.

"I've seen those on the roads. They aren't all that clean. Yes emmisions aren't as much as gas vehicles, but pollution happens at the construction point."

"So do you just magically create space ships with your mind?" I asked.

"No," he gave me a dull look, "It would be too advanced for your kind to understand. This species is far behind on its evolutionary prospects."

He' not wrong. But ouch?

All of a sudden, we heard the chimes and sirens from an ice cream truck.

"What's that?" he pointed, "Why does that vehicle have so many colors?"

"Come on," I got up, "Let's go have some ice cream."

"Ice cream?" he tilted his head in confusion, "Is that food?"

"Yes," I answered and grabbed his wrist, "One of the staple sweets of this world."

We came to where the truck stopped. The ice cream lady asked us if we'd like something.

"I'll have the cookies and creme," I ordered. Yes, I have been called basic before.

The lady smiled, "Coming right up. For you sir?"

Javon was busy looking and couldn't make up his mind.

The lady continued to make my request as he continued without any decisions. I wasn't surprised. He probably never had ice cream back where he is from. So it hit me.

"Why not try the rocky road?" I suggested, "It's basically every chocolate lover's favorite ice cream."

"That sounds probable," he nodded, "One rocky road, please."

The lady smiled at him, but not the same she did with me. Her eyes hunted his body from head to toe. I laughed internally because yes, Jay was physically attractive, but he doesn't read the room like a human would. As she began to pomiscously prepare his he gave her the straightest expression known to man and I almost choked on my ice cream!