Honey & Spice

Kiki arrives at Malakai’s apartment with a bottle of wine and a crate of Supermalt, a drink she knows Malakai likes. She feels butterflies at the thought of just hanging out without work to do. She overhears a discussion between Malakai and his father in which Malakai’s father scolds him for pursuing film, claiming Malakai is being irresponsible. They speak in both English and Yoruba, and Kiki shows she understands Yoruba when she addresses Mr. Korede in the language. After his father leaves, Malakai makes dinner and tells Kiki how he discovered that his father was cheating on Malakai’s mother. The betrayal crushed him, and he experienced a “breakdown” (226) that led him to switch schools. Their dating relationship might be fake, but both feel their friendship is real. Kiki feels vulnerable enough to tell him what happened with Nile and Rianne, and how she withdrew in response. She met a group of women who came to her father’s restaurant who enjoyed hearing Kiki’s advice on their relationships, and that inspired her to create Brown Sugar. After he walks her home and gives her a hug on parting, Kiki can’t remember why she insisted on no kissing.