Calvin stared at the familiar small house in front of him as he debated whether to go and knock the door or just leave. He took two step forward and stop, he couldn't bring himself to take more steps. He decided to leave. As he turned and took a first step away he heard the sound of a door opening. He closed his eyes and silently cursed. 'Just when I decided to quietly leave!!' He sighed.

"What brings you here?" a familiar voice questioned. He slowly turned back to face him and there he was, looking tired as always. If anything he looked more tired than that night, he looked like he hasn't eaten or slept for days. The happy smily Haroon he once got to know was all gone.

"By any chance have you talked or meet with Winnie since yesterday?" was the first thing that came out of his mouth. He internally cursed. But then again isn't that what really brought him there?

"And for a moment I thought you were here to give me condolences," Haroon scoffed. 'Winnie was right, he really did come here early in the morning to look for her' He thought.

"Don't give me that look!! Don't make me pity you!" He told him in annoyance, "You know that you have no one to blame for your situation but yourself. Your mother died because of you. You could have easily saved her if you just took your share. You could have done anything you want, you could have everything you desire. You're the one who chose this hard path."

"Do you know what I have been desiring the most these days? Going back to the time where Mike, me and you would just hang out after school, playing basketball. Go to his house and play games until late at night and we would pass out in his living room. That is what I'm desiring the most. Can money give me that? You said I could get anything I want," Haroon said in a low broken voice.

"You say this is the hard path, but hasn't that easier path we took cost us so much already? How can I still go on that path? When it hurts this much how can I still go on that path?" Tears fell down from his eye. "Don't you ever regret it? I can barely sleep a wink at night, I regret it every single day, I ask myself so many questions. If only I made a different choice, if only I could go back in time. If only Mike was still alive," he closed his eyes to prevent more tears from falling.

"What is the point of regretting now??" Calvin asked him, his face lacking any emotions. "He is dead now, there's nothing you can do about it. The sooner you accept it the better. Until when are you planning to live this pathetic life?"

"I don't deserve a good life. We both don't."

"Maybe you don't, but I do." Calvin answered before turning back and head towards his car.

"Just leave Winnie alone. If she finds out the truth-"

Calvin abruptly stopped, he turned back and angrily sprinted towards him and grabbed the collars of his sweater, "How will she ever find out? As long as you shut your mouth everything will be alright. So make sure you do your part and we won't have a problem!" he angrily pushed him down and got in his car before driving away in a full speed.

Haroon sat down there watching Calvin's car leave. 'How did we reach here?' Haroon could feel his eyes become watery. He lowered his head and closed his eyes, a tear fell to the ground, he suddenly heard a voice, the voice he knew so well.

"How many times have I told you to not lower your head?" Haroon looked up to see Michael standing infront of him, his back rested on the tree, one leg a bit crossed over the other, his hands were crossed on his chest and he had that signature smile. He looked handsome as always. Haroon smiled back at him.

"Exactly, that's it. Smile more Man. Smile suits you best," Michael smiled even wider after seeing Haroon smile, he then started laughing, his strong broad shoulder shaking a little as he did so.

Haroon watched as Michael or what he thought was him slowly disappear and only sadness left him.

Haroon still couldn't believe Michael was really gone. He watched him falling to his death, he was there but everyday he kept wishing that was just a dream. That he would wake up the next morning and Michael would appear on their porch and ask him if he wanted to play basketball. And then they would go and play like the old times. Calvin would come and tell them that they're crazy to be playing basketball in this hot weather but he would join them anyway.

Calvin and Michael were the most athletic ones and throughout their school years they played in almost every sport that was in their school, and they always forced Haroon to join in with them. Haroon was bad when it came to any sport so Michael would occasionally come to his house and play with him so that he can get better and so their couch won't kick him out of the team. He was never kicked out but he had never been even half as good as them. But those were his happiest times, being as good as them was never his goal anyway. Calvin had a bit bulk muscular body and Michael had a lean well built body, compare to his short thin weak body he always thought it would be greedy of him to wish to be as good as them.

Haroon took his phone out, he looked at the missed calls to the number that has been calling him a lot but he didn't pick up, no he couldn't. How could he? Mom Katy, that's how he saved it. He knew she must be so worried over him. He had to make the call, it's the least he could do. He didn't want to be one of her worries. He then clicked the number and placed the phone on his ear, he listened as it rang once, twice then she heard her voice.

"Oh my God Hun, I'm so glad you called. How are you?" she asked sounding very worried about him. A tear fell down from his eye. 'I don't deserve this.'

"I'm fine. How are you?" he answered, tried to not let his voice show that he was crying.

"I'm fine. Where are you? Are you at home? I came so many times but no one was home," Katherine asked.

"Yeah, I'm rarely home. And Dad went back to his hometown, He wanted to be there for a while. Staying here reminded him of mom,"

"Oh my God does that mean you're alone? I didn't know. Do you take your meals on time?"

"Yes, I do take all my meals on time. Don't worry, I'm a grown up man, I can take care of myself."

"Then why do you sound like that? You sound like you haven't slept or eaten anything."

"I'm really okay. Don't worry," he assured her.

"Where are you now? Are you home? If you're home let me come and pick you up, I want to cook something nice for you. Plus It has been a while since I last saw you, you rarely visit anymore. I've really missed you,"

"I'm not at home," he lied. "I also already ate, and I'm so busy right now," another lie.

"Oh really," she said in disappointment. "Then what about tomorrow? If you're less busy tomorrow do come over."

"I'm going out of the city tomorrow, I don't know when I'll come back. It's work related," he lied again.

"Oh okay," she said sadly " Then do call me when you come back. I'll cook a really nice meal for you. Or we can go out or something."

"I'll."

"I'm really sorry about Esha, I didn't know. I'm really really sorry. And I'm sorry I couldn't be there. I found out too late," she told him apologetically. She wanted to say it in person but she was left with no choice.

"It's ok. I know you have a lot in your plate. It's fine. She is in a better place now," He responded.

"Yeah she sure is. When you come back take me to her tomb, I want to visit her," she told him.

"Okay," he answered "umm I gotta go now. I left my post for too long. They will fire me at this rate." he fake laughed as he lied again. At that moment he didn't even have a job!

"Oh okay, bye. Don't forget to take your meals on time."

"Bye," Haroon ended the call and he could no longer compose himself. He sobbed loudly, tears kept flowing from his eyes. He could feel his chest paining and he felt stuffed all of a sudden. He punched himself so hard on the chest to make it all go away but if anything he felt even more worse. He hated his life!

*******************************************

~11 years ago~

"Calvin what is this?"

"Mom, it's nothing. I already told you."

"You've a black eye, what do you mean it's nothing. Did you get in another fight? Can't you just be like Haroon and Michael? Why do you always have to get into fights?"

"Mom! How many time do I have to tell you it's nothing. Why do you always think worst of me?" Calvin yelled before sprinting to his room.

Tina sighed as she watches her son's closed door.

"Don't worry mom Tina, he did not get into a fight! He accidentally got knocked out in practice and he is ashamed to say it," Michael told her with a smile.

"Oh is that so?" Tina said in relief.

"Yes it is. He rarely gets in fights nowadays, don't worry." Haroon assured her.

"That's because you two are always there to stop him. I'm so glad he has you two." Tina smiled at them. They smiled back at her.

"Where's Emma and Ava?" Haroon asked her.

"They bugged his father to take them to the park for weeks, he finally agreed today. they will be back soon."

"I bet it was Ava who delivered the last blow. That girl can be persuasive," Michael laughed.

"Oh yeah it was her." Tina said and they all laughed.

"She is seven and she always orders her twelve year old sister around," Michael said, amused.

"She even manages to order me around whenever I'm here!" Haroon pouted. "Just be grateful she likes you and listens to you, you have never really experience her wrath. Even Calvin can't win over her!"

"Oh yeah, she always speaks how she is going to marry Mike when she grows up, that girl is something else." Tina laughed.

Michael laughed. "I think she is sweet! She'll grow up to be a very important person in life, I can tell."

"I do hope so." She smiled. "Okay come on boys, let's eat. I don't think Calvin will want to come out of his room any time, he is probably in there sulking."

She sighed, "Was it my fault I assumed he got in a fight? If he did tell me he got it in practice the first time I asked, would I have assumed worst?"

"Of course it's not your fault! You had every right to assume that," Michael told her.

"Plus he always gets in trouble. After getting himself in countless of trouble before it's only natural I assume another trouble whenever he refuses to answer."

"Yes, it's only natural you assume that. And don't worry, I'll get him out of his room to come and eat...even if I have to drag him," Michael told her.

Tina hugged him before hugging Haroon, "You two are angels, thank you."