#oc tag: Tama | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

xoxorealitygalore · 6 months ago

Text

Grown Woman

Tama Tonga x Black OC

Summary: 30-year-old Tahiry has always been seen as a baby and underestimated by those around her. When tragedy strikes and her best friend passes away, Tahiry is suddenly thrust into the role of legal guardian for her young goddaughter, Harmony. As she navigates the challenges of motherhood and responsibility, Tahiry begins to transform into a woman of depth and resilience. Yet, it’s only Tama, who truly notices the changes in her.

I'm a grown woman (Yeah, I'm a grown woman)

I can do whatever I want (I can do whatever I want, hey)

I can be bad if I want (Mhm)

I can do wrong if I want (Mhm)

I can live fast if I want (Mhm)

I can go slow all night long (Mhm)

I'm a grown woman

tahirytravis ✓

1,325 Posts 6.6M Followers 110 Following

Tahiry Travis

Just being me 💓

Liked by trinity_fatu, uceyjucey, jonathanfatu, and 477,246 others

tahirytravis Dear Masika, it’s been two months since you left this earth, and not a day goes by that I don’t think about you. The world feels so different without your laughter, your light, your love. But in the midst of the grief, I find comfort knowing I get to help raise the beautiful little girl you brought into this world. She carries so much of you in her—your smile, your strength, your heart. I promise you, I’ll love her like my own, and I’ll make sure she grows up knowing just how special her mama was. I miss you more than words can say, but I’m here, Masika. I’ll keep going, for you, for her, and for all the memories we shared. Love you forever. ❤️

View all 4,468 comments

Two months had passed since the heart-wrenching day Tahiry buried her best friend, Masika. The funeral was a blur—raw emotion, the sharp sting of loss, and the overwhelming sense that nothing would ever be the same. Masika had been her closest confidante, her partner in crime, the person who understood Tahiry like no one else.

The suddenness of her passing left a void that nothing seemed capable of filling. It wasn’t just the absence of a friend; it was the absence of a promise that had always been there—shared dreams, mutual support, the plans they had made for the future.

And now, in a cruel twist of fate, that future was no longer possible. But amidst the sorrow, another responsibility had fallen squarely on Tahiry’s shoulders—one she hadn’t been prepared for: she was now the legal guardian of Masika’s daughter, her Goddaughter, Harmony.

As she looked at the young girl—only three years old—Tahiry saw not just the innocence of a child, but the weight of the promise she had made to Masika. She had promised her best friend she would take care of Harmony, and now, more than ever, that promise felt like an anchor around her neck. It was a responsibility Tahiry never imagined she would bear alone.

The transition had been difficult. Raising a child was a monumental task, especially when the child was grieving the loss of her mother. Tahiry wasn’t prepared for the sleepless nights, the tantrums, or the endless questioning from Harmony about why her mommy wasn’t coming back. She wasn’t prepared for the emotional rollercoaster that being a mother brought.

But she was standing strong.

Her mind was full of the “what-ifs,” of course. What if she wasn’t doing this right? What if she failed Masika, failed Harmony? What if she wasn’t enough for the child who depended on her now? But every time doubt crept in, she reminded herself of Masika’s wish—that Harmony be surrounded by people who loved her, people who would step in and give her the stability she needed. Tahiry had to be strong for Harmony, not just for her friend, but for herself too. The stakes were too high to fail.

But there was one thing that grated on her nerves—her family’s constant concern. Particularly her older sister, Takecia. Takecia had always been the protective one, the one who saw Tahiry as the baby of the family, no matter how old she was. Nine years older, Takecia had grown up watching over her younger sister, and despite Tahiry being a grown woman now, a successful professional in her own right, Takecia still saw her as the child she once was. Tahiry was tired of being treated like a child. She had responsibilities now. She had a life to manage, a job to do, and a child to care for. Why couldn’t her family see that?

This resentment bubbled under the surface, but Tahiry did her best to keep her frustration hidden. There were days when she just wanted to scream, to tell her family to stop treating her like a kid, to let her make her own decisions. But it wasn’t just Takecia. Everyone in her family seemed to want to "look out" for her, questioning her every move, making her feel like she was too young, too inexperienced, and too incapable of handling the heavy weight she had suddenly been given. Even her brother-in-law’s brothers felt the need to step in. She was the baby of the family, and to them, that meant she was still the child who needed protection.

Tahiry walked into the arena with Harmony, trying to focus on the task at hand. Today, she wasn’t just Tahiry—the grieving Godmother. She was Tahiry, Director of Sports and Entertainment Relations for WWE. A powerful position that required focus, strength, and a sense of professionalism that sometimes felt impossible to maintain when the emotional weight of life at home followed her every step. But today, she had to push everything aside, at least for a little while, and focus on her job.

"Come on, Harmony," she said as they made their way into the bustling arena, the sound of staff talking and the excitement of the SmackDown Live show vibrating through the air. Harmony waved excitedly at the crew as they passed by, her little face lighting up with joy. Tahiry smiled at the sight. It was moments like these—moments when she saw Harmony so carefree—that made all the pain, all the struggles, feel a little lighter. She couldn’t let her down.

Tahiry worked for WWE, and her role as Director of Sports and Entertainment Relations was demanding, to say the least. She was tasked with a wide range of responsibilities, from supporting talent to managing relationships with sports publicists, talent agents, and professional athletes. Her job often had her on the road, coordinating events, scouting new talent, and overseeing logistics for various activations and campaigns. It was a high-energy, high-profile job that demanded her full attention, but it also allowed her to be surrounded by some of the most influential people in sports and entertainment.

Today, however, was about booking talent for upcoming football games—an appearance that would keep her busy for the next few hours.

As they walked through the arena, Tahiry’s phone buzzed with a notification. She glanced at it quickly—just another reminder of how quickly things moved in her world. But then she noticed someone familiar walking towards them: Jonathan, her brother-in-law’s brother. Tahiry couldn’t help but mentally roll her eyes. She knew what was coming. Jonathan was always hovering, always making sure she was "taken care of." He had a tendency to treat her like a little sister in need of constant supervision, and tonight was no exception.

“Hey, Tahiry,” Jonathan said, his easy smile stretching across his face. “Hey, Harmony,” he said, bending down to scoop the young girl into his arms.

Tahiry knew what was coming next before he even said it. "Come on, the fam has a private locker room tonight."

“We’re fine sitting in catering, Jon,” she replied, trying to assert her independence.

Jonathan, as usual, ignored her wishes. He started walking away with Harmony in his arms, fully expecting Tahiry to follow.

And she did.

It wasn’t a matter of needing him to babysit; it was just easier to go along with it than argue. The locker room was set up for a few of the WWE superstars and their families, a space where they could relax before the show. When they arrived, Trinity, Sefa, and Jacob were already there, chatting casually as they prepared for the evening. Trinity was the first to spot Harmony.

"Harmony!" she exclaimed, her face lighting up as she stood to take the young girl from Jonathan’s arms. Harmony smiled brightly and hugged Trinity, clearly happy to be around the people who had become like family to her since her mother’s passing.

Tahiry walked into the room, trying to shake off the lingering tension from the encounter with Jonathan. “Hey,” she greeted everyone, placing her bags down. "I’m going to leave my stuff here for now. Got a lot of work to do tonight.”

Before she could even get settled, Jacob called out to her. "Hold on now, you gotta let us know where you're going."

"Seriously?" Tahiry sighed, rolling her eyes. "I’ll be in the gorilla or catering, working."

"We’re just looking out for you," Sefa said, the protective tone in his voice making her grit her teeth.

Tahiry bit her tongue. She was so tired of hearing that. "I know, I know," she muttered, kissing Harmony’s cheek before walking out of the locker room, her laptop and phone in hand.

Outside, she bumped into Tama—her biggest distraction. Tama, or Alipate as he was known outside of WWE, was a professional wrestler with a presence that made heads turn. Tall, imposing, and impossibly handsome, he was also someone who had captured Tahiry’s heart from the moment she met him. Despite their undeniable chemistry, Tahiry never acted on her feelings. Her family was too protective, too quick to judge anyone who got close to her. And Tama—despite his obvious interest in her—respected that boundary, even if it meant burying his feelings.

"Hey, Tahiry," he said, a smile spreading across his face when he saw her. “You look so pretty, I like your hair like this.”

Tahiry smiled, her heart doing a little flip. He always knew how to make her feel special, even with just a simple compliment. She had the biggest crush on him—one that she knew was pointless, given their circumstances. But that didn’t make it any easier to ignore.

“Thanks,” she said, her voice softening. “I actually need to talk to you about going to an appearance.”

Tama groaned but smiled. “Let me guess, a football game?”

“Exactly,” Tahiry said with a laugh. “I know you don’t like public appearances, but it’s part of your job.”

Tama sighed. "I’ll only do it if you come with me."

Tahiry laughed, surprised at his sudden proposal. “If that’s the only way to get you to do it, then I’ll go with you.”

"You don’t have to if you don’t want to,” he said, although there was a warmth in his voice that made her believe he was genuinely grateful for her accepting his offer.

“No, I want to go,” Tahiry said. “Let’s do it.”

Before she could turn to go, Tama asked, his voice quieter now, “How are you doing?”

Tahiry’s face tightened. Two months had passed, but the grief was still raw. Her best friend—her sister in everything but blood—was gone. How was she supposed to answer that question? How could she explain the constant ache, the feeling of being pulled in a thousand different directions?

Tama must have sensed her distress. He pulled her into a gentle hug, his strong arms offering comfort she hadn’t realized she needed. She buried her face in his chest, letting herself be vulnerable for a moment. “I just miss her so much,” she whispered, her voice muffled by the fabric of his shirt.

Tama didn’t say anything at first. He just rubbed the back of her head, offering the kind of tenderness that Tahiry hadn’t allowed herself to feel in weeks. "Some days I’m great, and others just hit me like a ton of bricks," she confessed.

“I know it’s hard,” Tama murmured softly.

They stayed like that for a few more minutes, the noise of the arena fading into the background. For once, Tahiry allowed herself to be cared for, to be held.

Eventually, she pulled away, embarrassed by her emotional outburst. “Sorry for crying all over you,” she said, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment.

Tama gave her a gentle smile. "You don’t have to apologize for crying. You can cry all over me anytime," he said, the sincerity in his voice comforting her in a way she hadn’t expected.

Tahiry smiled through her tears and nodded. They parted ways, and Tahiry returned to the locker room. Harmony was sitting on the floor, brushing Trinity’s hair while they waited for the show to begin.

“Oh, you’re finally back,” Trinity said with a grin. “I need you to do my makeup.”

Tahiry sighed, dropping her things on the table before going to Trinity’s side. As she worked, Sefa and Jacob’s voices echoed in the background.

"Why were you hugging Tama?" Sefa asked, clearly too curious for his own good.

Tahiry ignored him at first, focusing on the delicate art of makeup. But Sefa didn’t let it go.

“You heard me,” he pressed.

She finally answered, her voice tired but firm. “He asked me how I was doing, and I broke down. That’s why we were hugging.”

“Are you okay?” Trinity asked, her voice soft with concern.

Tahiry paused, looking at Harmony, who had fallen quiet, staring at an old video of her and Masika dancing in the living room. Harmony whispered, “I miss mommy.”

Tahiry quickly wrapped her arms around the little girl. “I miss her too,” she whispered back, holding Harmony close as the weight of her grief settled back onto her shoulders.

The world moved on, but Tahiry felt suspended in time, torn between the life she was building for herself and the memories of the life that had been taken too soon.

Tahiry’s house was a place that once felt like her sanctuary, a private space where she could unwind after a long day, away from the noise and chaos of the world. But today, the quiet had been replaced by a steady hum of voices, laughter, and the clatter of pots and pans.

She stepped into the kitchen, a little annoyed, to find it already overtaken. Her sister, Takecia, was talking animatedly to her husband, Joshua, who was rummaging through the fridge as if it were his own. Her nephew, Jeyce, was lounging on the couch in the living room, engrossed in his game console, and her goddaughter, Harmony, just three years old, was playing in the corner of the room with her toys.

The house had become an extension of Takecia’s family, and at this moment, Tahiry wasn’t sure how she felt about it.

“You need to go grocery shopping,” Joshua said, his voice light but filled with the hint of authority as he reached for a jar of peanut butter. His tone suggested that this had become a routine request, one that Tahiry had come to dread.

Tahiry folded her arms across her chest and rolled her eyes, glancing at the half-empty shelves of her fridge. “I wouldn’t have to if you and everyone else didn’t come here damn near every day eating my shit up,” she retorted, her voice tinged with frustration.

Joshua just giggled at her, clearly amused by her irritation. He was used to it. “Instacart some groceries and I’ll pay for it,” he offered, flashing a grin over his shoulder.

Tahiry gave him a side-eye, not entirely trusting his offer. “Remember you said that,” she warned, her fingers already tapping on her phone as she pulled up the Instacart app. Her eyes narrowed as she scanned the available options.

The tension was brief, but Takecia, always quick to stir the pot, couldn’t resist joining in. “So... what’s this I hear about Tama being a little extra friendly with you?” she asked, raising an eyebrow as she leaned against the counter. “You know he’s twelve years older than you.”

Tahiry’s immediate response was a simple roll of the eyes, her body stiffening in a defensive posture. “And?” she asked, a challenging edge to her voice.

Takecia pursed her lips and shook her head. “You don’t need to be getting involved with someone that old,” she said, her voice laced with concern, though it was clear she didn’t fully understand the dynamic.

Tahiry didn’t hesitate. “I can do whatever I want,” she shot back, clearly irritated by her sister’s unsolicited opinion.

Before Takecia could respond, Joshua piped in, trying to ease the tension, but also to reinforce Takecia’s concerns. “Nah, you can’t. I don’t want him trying to take advantage of you, Tahiry,” he said gently. “You’ve already got enough on your plate.”

Takecia nodded in agreement. “Exactly,” she added, her gaze softening. “You’re too young for him anyway.”

Tahiry’s expression hardened. “I’m thirty years old,” she said firmly, her voice steady. “I’m old enough to make my own choices, and if I want to deal with a man twelve years older than me, then I’ll do just that.”

“Yeah, but we’re just worried about you,” Joshua said, his tone still gentle but filled with concern. “You don’t need anyone adding more stress to your life.”

Tahiry shook her head, feeling the familiar weight of their protective instincts pressing down on her. She opened the Instacart app once more, but before she could ask Joshua for his credit card to pay for the groceries, she turned back to face them. “You guys are so hard-headed,” she muttered, trying to let the irritation roll off her shoulders.

Takecia let out an exasperated sigh, clearly fed up with the constant back-and-forth. “You never want to listen to me,” she said, her voice soft but full of frustration.

Tahiry’s laugh was bitter. “Because you think I’m still five years old and not a grown woman,” she snapped. “Why would I listen to you when you don’t listen to me?”

The conversation paused in the heavy silence that followed, and it was in that moment, just as Tahiry was about to relent and give Joshua the credit card details, that Harmony’s small, trembling voice broke through.

“I want mommy,” Harmony cried, her face scrunched up in distress, and her little body quivering as she ran toward Tahiry, her arms reaching out for comfort.

Tahiry instinctively crouched down, opening her arms to scoop the little girl into her embrace. “What’s wrong, baby girl?” she asked softly, brushing a tear from the child’s cheek.

“Mommy,” Harmony whimpered, her tiny voice breaking as the pain of her mother’s loss resurfaced. Tahiry’s heart twisted painfully as she held the child, knowing full well the profound grief that still gripped Harmony’s young heart.

Masika’s death had shattered the little girl’s world. Two months had passed, and still, Harmony couldn’t fully understand why her mother wasn’t there to tuck her into bed at night, or why she couldn’t feel her warm embrace. Tahiry had always been the one to step in, trying her best to offer the love and stability that Harmony desperately needed. But it wasn’t the same, not even close.

Tahiry kissed Harmony’s temple, trying to soothe the little girl’s aching soul, though her own heart ached just as much. She, too, was still in denial, clinging to the hope that Masika would walk through the door one day, telling them it was all some sort of cruel test. But Masika wouldn’t be walking through that door. The reality was a hard pill to swallow, and each day felt like an insurmountable challenge for everyone in the house, especially for Harmony.

Takecia watched the scene unfold with a deep, quiet sympathy. She understood the pain her younger sister was carrying, even if she didn’t fully know how to help her heal. Losing Masika had been a blow to them all, but for Harmony, it was like losing a piece of herself. Takecia’s gaze softened as she looked at the two women—her sister and her niece—clinging to each other in a bond that felt fragile, like a single thread holding them together.

Tahiry murmured to Harmony, trying to find some comfort in the words she had said to the child before, something that had helped her through difficult moments. “Remember what I said about missing mommy?” she asked gently.

Harmony nodded, wiping her tears. “She’s in my heart,” she whispered, her voice soft as if testing the words, still unsure of their meaning.

“That’s right,” Tahiry confirmed, nodding as she held Harmony even tighter. “She’s in your heart. Every time your heart beats, that’s a little part of her reminding you that she’s with you.”

Takecia couldn’t help it. The tears that had been welling up for weeks now finally broke free, spilling down her face as she witnessed the raw grief of her little sister. She sniffled and wiped her eyes, trying to stifle the sob that threatened to escape. Joshua, who had been standing silently by, moved to take his wife into his arms. He knew that, despite her tough exterior, Takecia’s heart was breaking for her sister, just as his was.

Jeyce wandered into the room, his face lit up with the energy of a typical 12-year-old boy. He noticed Harmony’s tear-streaked face immediately, and without hesitation, he reached for her, taking her gently into his arms. “Come on, Harmony,” he said softly. “I’ll let you play the game with me.”

Harmony sniffled, but the prospect of playing a video game with her older cousin was enough to pull her from her sorrow, at least temporarily. She nodded eagerly, wrapping her arms around Jeyce’s neck as he carefully carried her to the living room.

Tahiry watched them go, a bittersweet smile tugging at her lips. “He would make a great big brother,” she murmured, her tone light but filled with warmth. “Y’all should give him a little sibling.”

Joshua and Takecia both groaned in unison. “This factory is closed and out of business,” Takecia quipped, rolling her eyes dramatically.

Tahiry chuckled softly, her own grief momentarily pushed aside by the banter. She wiped the stray tears from her eyes, the warmth of the moment a brief respite from the emotional storm that raged within her.

Just as she thought the moment of calm would last, her phone lit up with a new message notification. She glanced down at the screen and saw a text from Tama. ‘Hey, how are you? I was wondering if I could pick you up for the game tomorrow.’ Her heart skipped a beat, and she couldn’t help but smile at the simplicity of his words.

Joshua noticed the smile creeping onto her face, and his brows furrowed in suspicion. “Who’s texting you?” he asked, his voice laced with an edge of protectiveness.

“Your daddy,” Tahiry answered quickly, not bothering to hide her amusement.

Joshua’s eyes narrowed. “That better not be who I think it is,” he warned, his voice taking on a more serious tone.

Tahiry’s smile only grew wider. “And if it is?” she asked, not bothering to back down.

Joshua leaned back, crossing his arms over his chest. “I’ll call Joe and them so quick to jump his ass,” he muttered under his breath, his protective instincts kicking in as usual.

Tahiry laughed, the sound light and genuine. “Oh my gosh,” she sighed, shaking her head. “You’re such a drama king.”

But even as the playful exchange continued, something lingered in the back of her mind. Tama’s message had stirred something within her, something she hadn’t fully allowed herself to acknowledge until now. There was a part of her that was ready to open her heart to Tama, even if the path forward was complicated, and she wasn’t sure where it would lead.

But for now, she allowed herself a moment of peace, wrapped in the comfort of her family, as chaotic and imperfect as it was.

67 notes · View notes