A/N: First, sorry for late update. Got sick really bad and mind was playing tricks and couldn't focus. Secondly, welcome back! Can't belive we only have 8 more chapters left in thia book! Exciting! Check-in emoji 🎂

Malik is sure he has seen that face before.

Now. Malik isn't the person to say that 'all Asians look alike' type of deal but he has seen this face somewhere. Maybe not fully the same. Small tweaks and shifts but it was all still so familiar. Confused eyes tilted up in confusion at the big black man with a beard.

'Shit! Probably scaring her.'

Taking a slow few steps forward, Malik approaches her.. Eyes ever curious to the small puzzled little girl. A hand strokes down her hair brushing the frazzled hair out of her pink face. A slow sweet smile enraptured her face. She moves to rest her cheek in his hand like a small kitten.

A kiss above the lip.

But no! That is ridiculous! It couldn't be her? 

But

~ 8 Hours Earlier ~ 

"Are you even listening to me Malik!"

Malik jumps to attention from his slumped position in front of his monitor. 

"What? Sorry J. What you say?"

Jordan rolls his eyes. "C'mon Malik, we only get to talk to you like Once a month." Jordan says.

"Calm your fucking ass J. " Tyler pipes in.

"Can you both shut up." Kique silences them much to Malik's pleasure.

Much things have changed in the past 2 years. A little too fast if you ask Malik. From him graduating for college to Jordan popping out a kid in the backseat of Travis' car at prom, life was eventful. 

When he wasn't thinking about him.

Malik knows they searched. Malik knows that he should have moved by now but it still swirls around in his head at times. 

All the time.

He has been told by his guardians, his friends, his school mandated therapist and even the red head's own uncle that it wasn't his fault. 

Why are they trying to make him feel better?

Can't he be allowed to feel like a piece of shit!

But what could he have done that night? What could he have done to protect his family? Can't they see how much he failed them? He walked away. He should have stayed! He could.of done something! Anything! If he wasn't such a useless piece of-

"Woah Malik! You're crushing the hell out of your orange.", J says.

Just his luck. Malik places the scrunched orange to the side and wipes his hand on a spare napkin. He is still a mess isn't he?

"Let's move on. So Malik, excited for your game today. First re-match with the Eagles.", Kique says.

Malik shrugs. "Not much. More re-match to them. Kick they ass last time."

"And I'm sure as hell that they will be flat on their ass again.", Ty says with a grin.

"Very encouraging words Tyler.", Kique says with a slight roll of the eyes.

The conversation died down from there. He doesn't like the calls all that much. It is not because of his friends however. He can't imagine his life without that group. Despite that, he can't get over how they dance around him, especially at this time.

"They closed the case.", Malik said softly.

All movement stopped. There's that look again. That look of fucking petty seaping through the screen. No one dared to say a sound for a good minute.

"It has been two years.", J mutters.

"Really? Two years is all it takes for them to give up on a human being!", Kique snapped.

"I understand that Key! But let's face facts, we never knew where or how that sick man got them or where in the Timbuktu they are!", J counters.

If Kique was a porcupine, Malik was sure her pines would have bristled. "They didn't care to know! I have been saying this for the past two years! If wanted they would catch that son of a bitch and Rhys would be here right now!", Kique shouts. Her mouth snaps shout realizing her slip up.

That was another way they walked on glass with him. It's not like he is going to burst into tears every time that name is mentioned. It's just tough sometimes. 

"It's fine." Malik tried to reassure. 

Ty sighs and sits up closer to the camera. "Listen Malik, just take it easy today. Use the game if you want to take your mind off things. ", Ty reassures. "Gomna check off now. Much love brother."

"I will head off too. Got to give Melody a bath.", J sighs.

"You better not be letting my sister get carried away by ants! You know what, I'll be right over! See you Malik!"

J scoffs. "Bitch.", he mutters. "Catch you later Malik!"

Blank monitor and a million thoughts in his head. Malik flings back his head and groans. 

'I need to get my year in the game.Malik thought and hoists himself from the seat. 

Now, think Malik. Clear mind. Clear mind. He needs strategies, play or something not related to today's date. 

Up the middle 

Iso…

Off tackle…

Freckled Skin

Warm smile.

Beautiful red ha-

Malik smacks himself. A loud grumble echoed against the tiled wall before him. He can't even be mad at his brain. Malik can't stop thinking of him. Hasn't stop thinking of him for the past two years and he is still angry up to this day. 

'I should have stayed a bit longer.'

'I should have looked around with him!'

'I should have, I should have, I should have done some many things!'

Yet…

Here is Malik, alone and disheveled. Too much ' should haves' and not enough 'did ' happen. He is so pathetic.

Malik threw himself onto his twin bed and buried his face in the pillow. He just needs to rest. That's all he needs to do. Relax and play hard later. Maybe then Malik would have time to think about that red head.

~5 hours later ~

Malik would like to think he was successful in keeping his head clear. He really would. But judging that his teammates are giving death glares he would have to admit defeat.

"C'mon Malik! What the fuck is wrong with you?", the team student captain huffed.

Malik casted his eyes off and more or less ignored the other protests. 

"You think we won't bench your big ass?", he challenged.

He looked almost smug saying that. Waving his power over Malik like a wolf to his prey. 

Luckily, Malik hates dogs in wolf clothing.

"Then do it.", he says in a crispe cool voice. "Bench. my. ass.", he challenged.

The captain looked taken aback. "What man?"

"You said think. I thought. Bench my big ass like you say.", Malik challenged again.

Now they have a sort of crowd. It's not everyday you see the silent giant talk back to the captain. The captain looked around the crowd as the pressure grew.

"Fine! I won't bench you but don't try that shit again!" He threatened and walked away.

Small cheers and pats on the back for Malik 'standing up' to the captain. Malik didn't hear half of them. He doesn't understand why they are so happy?

He wanted to be benched!

'I guess Kique was right about my tone being unclear.', he thought as he trudged himself back onto the field.

~3 hours later~ 

Malik wished he broke his ankle. Break his wrist or hip or something to get him off this field. Out of this repetitive life. His team is in the lead and he doesn't have the slightest joy about it. How could he? If the person who helped him get here is not here to share it with him.

.

Maybe he is crazy. Holding onto a teenage romance so close. He thinks he would have felt better if they had broken up.

No. He would probably still feel like crap. But at least he would know that he is safe and not… 

Gone.

The sound for halftime sounds off and his team trudges into the backrooms. The hyped up atmosphere of the locker room was suffocating. He holds no fault for his discomfort on his teammates. They are enjoying one of the best days of their life. Not his fault for being such a downer.

Malik eases his way out of the room to stand in the lower area. Most people who were this close Most likely went to the field to watch the halftime show. He didn't care much for it. He hasn't cared much for anything his entire life.

That was until he met Rhys.

"Rhys…"

Malik hadn't said that name in close to a year now. He remembers how that name used to send him into such a sullen state. Days where he didn't want to get out of bed. When the room got messier and the tiredness only grew.

They were supposed to do so much together. They were supposed to be together when he signed that football contract. They were supposed to be together to teach Lee to walk and talk and potty train and all of her milestones. They were supposed to be together for prom.

 They could have done so much! So much more!

He leans back against the wall and lets out a strangled cry. 

He was supposed to be happy

He was supposed to finally have his own family.

He wasn't supposed to be alone!

"Ow!", a little voice shouts.

His eyes lined up and that was when he saw her.

Malik is sure he has seen that face before.

Now. Malik isn't the person to say that 'all Asians look alike' type of deal but he has seen this face somewhere. Maybe not fully the same. Small tweaks and shifts but it was all still so familiar. Confused eyes tilted up in confusion at the big black man with a beard.

'Shit! Probably scaring her.'

Taking a slow few steps forward, Malik approaches her.. Eyes ever curious to the small puzzled little girl. A hand strokes down her hair brushing the frazzled hair out of her pink face. A slow sweet smile enraptured her face. She moves to rest her cheek in his hand like a small kitten.

A kiss above the lip.

But no! That is ridiculous! It couldn't be her? 

But

"Ming Lee!"

No, that can't be the right voice.

His mind quicker than his eyes, he caught a glimpse of who the voice belonged to.

 Freckled Skin. 

Golden brown eyes.

A mop of red hair.

"Rhys?", a cracked voice he didn't  recognize as his own.

He too froze seeing the man standing before him. Tears forming and falling down his pale face.

"Malik!"

That's all he needed to hear before he fell to his knees. His own tears cascading down his face. 

Oh how he missed that voice.

A/N: How would you kill Oscar?