A BOND BEYOND BLOOD

my new best friend

CHAPTER THREE:

The boy's words hung in the air like a dark cloud. "Thank you, brother, for your help; I guess it's my time to leave this world." I couldn't hold back my laughter anymore; it burst out of me like a released balloon.

He stood there, lost in thought, until I finally composed myself. "My guy, the boys have all gone; you don't need to be afraid anymore." For what felt like an eternity, he didn't respond. Then, he turned to me, his eyes wide with hope, and rushed to my window to confirm. His face lit up with joy, and he shouted in relief.

As he turned back to me, I got a good look at him. He was tall, with a chocolate complexion and dark, shoulder-length hair. His handsome face was smooth, with no beard, making him look like a youth of eighteen years.

"Guy, I thank you so much for your help," he said, his eyes brimming with tears of joy. "I saw you pointing towards your house, and I thought you were with them... I tried to escape, but my mind went blank."

I laughed again, this time with a hint of teasing. "So, you had the guts to destroy someone's property but couldn't face the consequences?" He shook his head, a hint of a smile on his face. "It wasn't like that, guy. Those guys couldn't beat me in the game, so they tried to beat me up without paying me my winnings. After I escaped, I just couldn't let it go."

Michael flashed a sly grin. "So, I went back and stole the money when they weren't paying attention. They made up the story about me destroying his car because it would be a shame to them if others knew an outsider had beaten them in their own street and even managed to steal the money too."

I chuckled, and Michael's eyes sparkled with amusement. We burst into laughter, our bellies shaking with mirth.

After our laughter subsided, Michael's expression turned serious. "Listen, I need to stay with you for a while. I'm not sure if they'll send someone to watch your compound."

I nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. "Of course, Michael. You're welcome to stay as long as you need."

For six days, we shared what little food I had, and Michael even gave me some money from his winnings - two tal, a huge sum for us, enough to feed a family of seven for over a month. That's how my path crossed with Michael's, and since then, we've been inseparable.

As we spent more time together, I realized that Michael's ability to solve problems with the guys was not just a coincidence. He had a natural talent for mediating conflicts and finding solutions that benefited everyone. No wonder they became close friends a week after the incident.

But little did we know, our friendship was about to be put to the test. A new challenge was looming on the horizon, one that would require all of Michael's problem-solving skills and more.