Me and Abs (Abdollah Ahmadzadeh) went way back in sixth form where we both teamed up for an inter-county dodgeball tournament, we hit it off ever since. Going through tough and good times, every moment with him was platonic. Maybe the history of us losing parent(s) made it easy for us to be emotionally connected and would clique instantly.

Abs was a child refugee from Hazarajat when he came to this town with his adult relative. His parents fled a year later but his mother was killed during the journey, she died of suffocation in a 40ft container when they stowed away on a cargo ship. His dad survived only by a mere chance when some locals rescued them during their arrival in Greece. His dad went back to Hazarajat and remarried when he was 17, leaving Abs with his uncle in Oldham but he paid him visits every once or twice a year.

Abs' has a charming face I would describe as a Persian version of Michael Conlan, the Irish boxer. His perfect set of straight teeth, deep set brown eyes, sharp concave nose, defined lips and strong jawline was something that I would love waking up to.

His chiseled abs gave away the nickname making people perceived him to be a gym junkie. Yeah, he's an active person and going to fitness centre excites him. Although doesn't have a body build type like Steve Rogers though, his abs were Instagrammable. His workout routine as far as I know, was a combination of high-intensity interval training and whatever-you-can-do-at-the-gym during the weekend.

Although I acted tough in front of everyone, I just wish that Abs would be attracted to me, I wish he would fall in love with me as who I am in trainers, loose fitting jumpers, boyfriend jeans, no chemicals slapped on my face. But Abs, being the typical prince charming, would definitely pair himself up with a perfect runaway model like the Hadid sisters.

"Abs, there's something I'm gonna tell you," I said, trying to contain my excitement over the news I was about to share. "I got an offer from UoM for my degree."

"Brill," Abs responded casually. "Why the sudden move?"

"I've got to have real jobs soon because honestly, Al-Safar can't take me anywhere and I don't know where I'd go from here," I explained. "I've been thinking with a degree I could go somewhere. Maybe here or maybe back home, you know."

"You don't need an effin' paper to tell you where to go, ZJ. Don't be such a daft," he pronounced my initials in American Zee Jay, the way I like instead of the British Zed. "I won't be dropping names to prove you wrong because you already know that."

"You meant Gates, Dell and Zuckerberg?" I replied. "I reckon they're experts with technologies, so they are better at understanding industry-market trends, that's their angle."

"And you think you can't keep up?" Abs twisted his upper torso towards me and tilted his head to the side while his legs glided forward. "Or maybe you're not smart enough to move yourself up."

"Well, I am not born with minds like theirs to think differently and make the changes. But I need to nurture my mind to some greater heights. Maybe one day, just maybe, I could join the think tanks and make the changes for the world." I answered exasperatedly.

"Wow," Abs mouthed, withdrew from the argument. "You just make me feel like shit."

I was taken aback by Abs' unsettling lost for words and I wish I didn't say what I just said. "Sorry, bro." I said apologetically. "Didn't mean to disrespect. You're alright by the way. It's just... I gotta count on myself to walk on these streets and put some food on the table to survive."

"Nah, it's fine. I understand you need to progress," he drew his breath, lowering his gaze on the pavement as we quickened our pace. I could see wispy clouds of warm fog from his mouth emitted into the crisp cold air as he respired. "I'm sure gonna miss you."

"Abs, I ain't goin' nowhere," I elbowed him, oblivious with the sight of a Jaguar (presumably X351) swerved from the junction behind us. "I'll still be around except that there are times where I'd be busy. But I'll always be there for you."