I once had a normal, yet fascinating comfortable life with friends to socialize, families to love, enemies to hate, awesome high school years, until the car crash at Banff National Park, Alberta took the life of my both parents and my brother. I've been living independently ever since but occasionally my grandad, Tok Ba would fly here to check up on me after the loss. I live a life of an average person with no strings attached, no relationship commitments other than my job and my life. And that one friend I cared about.

I worked in a small Middle Eastern eatery, Al-Safar. The hourly wages were okay but when you are able to devote yourself to this shack for 12 hours per day with only one day off and free meals every day, you'd be loaded by month's end. Occasionally, I would suffer emotional and physical breakdown due to work overload but Yosef, the store owner is one empathetic boss. Oftentimes when this happens, he would allow me to leave before my shift ended and still paid me in full.

Al-Safar has always been peoples' favorites regardless of what season. It will usually be at its peak in September because that's when the college or university kids from all parts of the world, current or new would flock back in to kick start the new term. Even on holidays or Eid, the shop will be filled with people until past midnight. Other than that, the shop would operate at a normal capacity with crowds filling in the late afternoon and then increased gradually by sunset and be busy between 8.00 pm to 10.00 pm. It would slow down to almost dead after midnight.

I believe it is typical for people to occasionally glance at their watch, ticking away the last hour of their shift duties or lecture class or whatever they are in the middle of. Either they anticipated for it to end or anxious for it to be over. I don't plan to stay long for my shift tonight, not that I don't want to get paid for the extra hours, I just don't feel like doing it tonight. Yosef doesn't mind, though. After all, it'll suffice to have two guys to handle the shop during the dead hours, one at the kitchen while the other multitasking between the counter and the kebab station.

When it hits 12.00, we grabbed our jackets and walked out of the back door and went our separate ways. I live within Rusholme area and my flat was a 15 minutes' walk away while some who live in Longsight, Fallowfield or Salford either had to drive, Uber or cycle. Buses don't usually available after midnight unless those that travelled from the airport.

Abs texted me, "Moss ln. now," as I walked across the parking lot.

"Aight, c u in 5," I texted back.

Moss Lane Sports Complex was Abs' second home, besides Shisha Spot, Ball'in Snuker, Antwerp bar. At times when he got tired with all the possible avenues, he'd hang out at my workplace seeking for free meals and lounging until I was done with my shifts.

I spotted Abs leaned sideways against the wooden fences of the entrance, scrolling through the screen of his iPhone while its bright light beamed on his structured face making it easier for me to recognize him under the unlit pavement.

He sensed me as I drew near, looked up at me and winked, while elbowed himself away from the fence and ambled towards me. "Hey, you alright, mate?"

"Cool, man. How'r you?" I responded, lifting my knuckles towards him as he lifted his for a fist bump. We both walked side by side towards a nearby bus stop.

"I'm cool. Me dad's wanna come over this weekend," he said casually. "I don't know if I wanted to watch the game with him or I should just tell him I'll be away so I could watch it with friends."

"When you said friends, you meant me, right?" I beamed.

His thoughts drifted away for a moment and then he responded with a chuckle. "Yeah, yeah. You gotta be in there too."

I scoffed, "You sounded uncertain, bro. What holds you up?"

"No, you should be there. This world needs a wingman– a wing person like you for the game," he gave a thoughtful pause. "But I'm bringing James and Sid too. It will be awesome."

At that moment, I sensed that he was being apologetic for organising a night out, brought a couple of his tag team and forgot about me. But why would I be mad about it? It was his call, I just have to jump right in as his wing person.

"Abs, come on. Don't beat yourself up," I patted on his shoulder. "I kinda get it why you brought them in. They'll be packing some reefers with them?"

"The best in town," Abs responded abruptly with a beam. We both headed to Moss Garden bus stop.