3. FRIENDS

Knock! Knock! Came a disturbing call from the door, I pounced towards it and flew it open without a word, and guess who showed up. Miles, my long time friend with his girl on the side, slim built, brown in complexion, wide beautiful eyes.

"Hey bro, long time no see, everything good down here?"

He always had extra words and very charming, hugging me instantly the door of his mouth shut. I was lost of words and motioned them to come inside, away from neighbours' ear shot. Miles and I had planned on coming to crash in my house till Val came, but shows up with his girl. Apparently the brown beautiful girl's name was Ann, though to me she looked a lot like Rose. Composed yes, but she seemed she had a lot to say if given the chance.

"How long has it been?"

I took the chance to annoy Miles and rub it in his face that he didn't bother to show up to pick up my girl.

"You really helped bro, I'm thankful" a smirk on my face and pure sarcastic remarks.

Miles burst out laughing and pulled Ann closer. She just sat there smiling and a bit nervous I could see how her face relaxed and sighed lightly. Miles dropped another one.

"You didn't die, did you?" Silly boy. He was my childhood friend and a close one at that, we were friends by blood. Not even death could separate us. We were brothers. We helped one another in ways we could, and still stand by each other. Right now he is diving deeper in business, he is running his own Credit Company, disbursing funds to business owners. He started it three years ago with another guy as his partner.

Ann got up to find the kitchen, pecked Miles at the cheek and slid away. He scooted closer and whispered like it was some top CIA secret.

"Tonight we have chance to sneak out as they burst their asses in there" he was smiling so broadly and feeling like he had the brightest idea in the room, I had already talked with Val explaining we would be out late.

"She knows, and soon Ann will too. Is just you thinking is a secret" His silly smirk was quickly wiped off his face and some disappointment showed in his brown eyes. I always love to win, winning is my strong point.

I shoved his shoulder and placed a Play Station pad in his hands, time for some real action, FIFA. A holy chance to redeem himself.

He picked Manchester united and I picked arch rivals Manchester City. In the first game he was winning, I substituted Aguero and in came Gabriel Jesus. I played counter attack, Sterling was on the ball, played a small cross inside the box to find Jesus's head and directed the ball straight into the net at the 70th minute.

"Gooooooooal"

I rejoiced and Miles was fuming, he slapped my back to calm my demons down, the game wasn't even close to the end. Miles passed a through ball to James, he was now pacing the right flank, dribbling skills in full force, he passed to the middle of the pitch, Pogba easily took the ball, he paced forward, another pass to Rashford, my team was retreating fast, Fernadinho came to save the attack but was bypassed easily by looping the ball over his head, damn! Rashford came close to the box and shot, the ball flew over multiple heads, bounced straight and square into the net. Miles was overjoyed, it was just before the end of the 2nd half, 89th minute.

"Gooooooooal", Miles shouted, jumped on the couch, it was his turn to celebrate.

I restarted the game, I looked at the time and I wasn't ready to go extra time, we had to fi ish this madness once and for all. I hatched a plan,

Leroy Sane was on the bench, I substituted sterling and in came Sane. I linked the ball to Sane on the left flank and he was already near the box, he did his magic when I toggled the right analog, two defenders went for the dummy, Sane paced inside, dribbled only to come face to face with the keeper, looked at him and released the pace control button, got ready and took the shot, it rolled over keeper's leg, bounced oved the line at was counted as a goal.

Disbelief was on his face, he felt beaten, it was a fair challenge and it was the last action of the game. I won. 2-1

"Anybody wants some juice?" The girls chimed and we received the glasses. I realized we had been playing this game and not moved a muscle for at least two hours. My fingers were exhausted.

Val sat next to me, I enveloped her shoulders with my arm and she rested her head on my chest.

"We made a lunch everyone, Ann is of so much help" They smiled to one another.

"Miles told me you grew up together, and went to the same high school, I wonder what mischief you two were in those days"

Ann shot it to me, I easened my grip on the glass and took a sip before answering her, it was mad silent as if I were some guest of honour, they all fixed their gazes on me.

"Yeah I practically call this douche my brother, haha, we we raised in the same neighborhood, he was the class Maths champion, an I took the lead in language and business, he's good at business too" I looked at Ann and caught her mesmerised and smiling. So cute.

"Not forgetting you are a beast when it comes to arts, history was his strongest" Miles added.

"We are both dating mad geniuses" Val said and laughed, we joined her strife to make a joke. But it was true, Miles was a business genius, he never overlooked any detail. He was thorough with his work and that earned him respect with his peers and as a sales agent now, running his company wasn't a joke. A go getter. He was my motivation.

Lunch was served, rice, chicken, soup, damn and what was that aroma? My stomach rumbled, it was time to fill it. Mouths chewing.

It was always good manners to keep it cool and not annoy people with too much questions while eating. There was so much I would like to know about Ann although I wasn't the kind of a person to want to know about other people barely known to me. But this one had something up her sleeve, I would find out.

It was practically past afternoon when we sat outside the balcony sipping water. Atmosphere was chill except fot the sun that was too hot to walk in.

"How is Val doing? Wish I could make it to come..." I raised my finger to silence him.

"First I understand you got caught up and you don't need to apologize brother, second she's healthy and pretty much happy as you can see."

I stated as a matter-of-factly.

"Okay then, we drove down here specifically to see you both, now we are glad we found you in good shape."

"Yeah and finally our wives to be met and are getting along, haha" Life's a blessing to both of us. We got back to the house and found Val and Ann watching cartoons and laughing hard holding their bellies, wiping tears off their eyes.

Great time to go.

I busied myself in the bedroom getting ready, heavy jacket check, boots check, car keys check, kissed Val goodbye, waved at Ann and dashed out.