Maya Orivo had always been the kind of woman who refused to break.
Strong, brave, and sharp-minded, she pushed her way out of her small Nigerian town and earned a scholarship to study in Canada. After years of lectures, sleepless nights, and surviving in a foreign country, she finally landed a certified job as an accountant — a job far harder than people liked to admit.
But Maya had never been afraid of hard things.
She would come back late in the night most days, tired and exhausted. But she loved novels so she would always create little time for them before sleep can overtake her.
One night coming back from an exhausting work hour. She was eager to read the reincarnation novel she just started... Laying on her bed she lost track of time in the interesting book, her sleepy state not registering the loud crash downstairs. Minutes later she passed out from exhaustion.
She wakes up in a haste to find herself in completely blacked out surrounding. Confusion etched all around her face as she tried to understand the setting of the whole thing. A blue screen appeared causing her to look up.
"You will be transferred to the new world chosen by the system. In 3...2..." The bot said in a mechanical voice
Maya frantically called out "No...wait!" She was suddenly blacked out again and soon she finds herself in a forest, green and springy. The whole atmosphere surprisingly warm. She started to think this was just a dream. She walked around for what felt like hours before she quieted down when she saw another presence by the river. It was a charming young man with blonde hair, Amazing white skin and hazel eyes with loin leopard clothing around his waist. That's the only piece of cloth he's wearing and with furry like boots.
He hadn't noticed her, his hands weaving through the water before he straightened up slowly. She stood behind a tree watching with wary eyes. He suddenly untied the fabric, it fell, revealing a thick long and veiny...
She couldn't resist a sharp gasp at the sight, causing his head to snap to the direction of the sound, "Who's there? Veronica I swear to God this is the last warning". Who the heck was Veronica? And god what is this place? Was all Maya could think, her hands clasping her mouth tightly as she stayed still not answering the stranger.
"You better come out or I'll come drag you out myself" He said coldly threatening. Oh fuck, she's in trouble. She looked around, not dumb enough to run because he might be faster. So she stepped out into the open. When he saw it wasn't Veronica but an unknown woman, he quickly turned away wearing back his piece of cloth in embarrassment. "W-who are you?" He asked in a low tone.
Maya stared at him for a while before speaking "I don't know and I damn as well don't know where I am" She mumbled in frustration. "So what are you gonna do?" She continued. He turned back to her slowly, "you look very different" he was talking about her color, not in a bad way, more curious like (This is the first time he's seeing a black woman). She raised an eyebrow crossing her arms, she was unfortunately still in her ducky pj's, looking ridiculous.
"Yeah I could say the same for you, stranger" she says sassily. Suddenly he began to approach making her step back slightly "Aye, back up" she said quickly making him pause. "I am not going to hurt you" he says quickly. She stayed tense as he stood just an inch away. "Your beauty feels....unreal" he whispers reaching up to grab her cheek, unintentionally rough. She swatted his hands away in annoyance. "Please have decency" She says.
He simply smirked. "Do you have a home?"
"Like I said I don't know where I am." She repeated.
"Then let me take you to my home. Very welcoming" He wasn't so fluent in English but he's trying.
She hesitated but realized it's getting late so she agreed reluctantly. "You'll have to wait first, I need to bath" He said quickly. She turned away without having to be told.
He took off his clothes and dived in. Bathing, he couldn't get his eyes off her, her curly hair, slightly pink lips and doe eyes and then those curves beneath that weird attire she's wearing. He's entranced by her...
She remained still ignoring the feels of his intense gaze on her back. Once he was done, he got out and tied back his clothing and approaching her. "Let's go now" He reached out to take her hand without asking, surprised by how soft it was. He pulled her along with him, she followed with a scrunched up expression(African vibes). As they approached his home, she expected to see just a single house. But she was surprised to see it's a village. Usually when they said village, it's supposed to be lively right? This place looks dull as fuck.
As they got in fully, heads turned to look their way, some curious, some fascinated by her skin color. Suddenly a loud woman with light red hair and brown eyes came running towards them, "oh Damon Damon!" She shrieked excitedly clinging to his arm. His mood sored at the sight of her. "Damon how could you leave me alone?" She started.
"Veronica get your hands off me" he snatched his arm to himself. She pouted before turning to face Maya with a hint of disgust "And who's this woman?"
Maya rolled her eyes slightly. "I am Maya Orivo" she answered calmly. "So you're Veronica? Nice to meet you" she said, forcing her politeness. Veronica's face contorted quickly "And why are you with Damon? What's a girl with your color following him for?" Veronica said with jealousy clearly feeling insecure because of how beautiful Maya is.
But the racist slur? Wow.
Maya stared at her in slight annoyance before responding calmly "oh sorry I didn't know this color is hated around here, and I don't know why a perverted creep like you is talking so boldly" she paused, hearing the gasp from the villagers prompted her "yeah I heard you sneak up on Damon while he baths" she reasoned calmly. Veronica's eyes widened, the others shaking their heads in dissaproval and shock. "It seems like your very own people didn't know, Damon right? why didn't you tell everyone about your little stalker?" She urged turning to Damon, not caring if she's going too far.
Damon shook his head silently looking away,"Maya, don't go far like this, please calm down" He said calmly. Maya frowned but kept silent.
Veronica however took this as an opportunity to strike "why are you here anyway? Do you know who my father is?" Her father is one of the top Ministers in the village. "I could get you kicked out if I felt like it" she snapped.
Maya smirked only slightly "Something smells real spoilt and stinky. Oh I know, your personality is the problem. Go wash it off quickly. I'll wait" She scoffed slightly.
Suddenly Veronica slapped her... causing Maya to retort, slapping her back, triple. They went into a full blown fight. When Damon tried to interrupt he was SLAPPED hard across the face by Maya in her wave of frustration. He stood there holding his cheek as they continued their fight.
Soon a booming voice rang out halting the fight. "ENOUGH!"