A BLAST FROM THE PAST

AT SAME EVENING

Charles and Micheal heard the doorbell ring. "Who's there?" Charles asked.

"I don't know; let me check," Micheal replied, standing up to head towards the door.

As he opened it, a girl in a short pink gown pushed Micheal aside and rushed into the house.

"Who are you?" Micheal asked, catching up to her.

"No, who are you?" the girl asked rudely, looking at Micheal with disdain.

"If you don't answer, you might as well leave," Micheal said, pointing towards the door.

"Well, if you must know, I'm Charles's girlfriend. And you are...?" the girl said.

Micheal's expression changed. "Wait, what did you just say?"

"You're not deaf, are you?" the girl sneered.

"Missy, shut up before I shut you up," Micheal warned.

"Charles!" Micheal called out angrily.

"Am I coming?" Charles replied from inside.

As Charles entered, the girl hugged him tightly.

"You better explain," Micheal said, crossing his arms.

"Babe, calm down. This is Lovely, my friend, and Lovely, this is my boyfriend Micheal," Charles introduced.

"The elementary schoolmate?" Micheal asked.

"Yeah!" Charles replied.

"Why did she say she's your girlfriend?" Micheal questioned, still looking furious.

"She's not," Charles assured.

"I am your girlfriend, Charles," Lovely interrupted.

"You're not two-timing me, are you?" Micheal asked.

"No, babe, I swear. She's my ex-girlfriend. We broke up years ago, before I realized I'm gay," Charles explained.

Lovely glared at Micheal. "What's the big deal? You're not a kid anymore."

"Don't speak to him like that," Charles scolded Lovely lightly.

Micheal stepped in. "Hey, don't look at him; talk to me directly."

Lovely continued, "You don't know who you're dealing with."

Micheal interrupted, "Bitch, shut up."

Charles intervened, "Micheal, calm down."

Micheal said, "Keep in mind that Charles is mine. Don't think of having dirty thoughts about him."

Micheal walked inside the room with Charles trailing behind him, leaving Lovely in the parlor.

AT THE MALL

Favor and Sea walked into the mall, browsing around.

"So, what's the theme color for the party?" Favor asked.

"Black for guys, white for ladies," Sea replied.

"Where's the party at?" Favor asked.

"Charlie's house," Sea said.

"Have you thought of what birthday present to get Charlie?" Favor asked.

"Not yet, still thinking," Sea said.

"Okay, let's check out outfits first," Favor suggested.

They walked further into the mall.

JAKE'S HOUSE

Jake sat on the couch, watching football on TV. His phone rang, and he answered.

"Brother," Jake said, his tone changing.

"So, you know I'm your brother before you backstabbed me?" his brother said.

"Brother, I thought it was the right thing to do," Jake's brother explained.

"You don't know what I was thinking before I told you, do you?" Jake asked.

"Brother..." his brother started.

"Don't call me brother. You don't know the trouble I'm in now," Jake said.

"Our parents have money, fame, and connections. What do you gain from getting involved in crimes?" his brother asked.

"You'll never understand. Don't contact me for a while. It's for your own good. Goodbye," Jake said before hanging up.

Feeling down, Jake dialed Charlie's number. Charlie picked up immediately.

"Hello?" Charlie said.

"What's up, Jake?" Charlie asked.

"Can I see you ASAP?" Jake requested.

"Why?" Charlie asked.

"I'm feeling down, and I need someone to talk to," Jake explained.

"What happened?" Charlie asked.

"Are you concerned about me?" Jake asked sarcastically.

Charlie replied, "As if I care. See you at the bar shortly. Goodbye."

Jake wondered, "What's with people hanging up on me today?"

Meanwhile, Charlie looked confused. "Why was I scared when I heard Jake is down? And why am I happy about seeing him?"

Charlie thought to himself, "We're just friends with benefits. Soon we'll get tired of each other. I need to get my head straight before it turns into something else."

CHARLES' HOME

"Charles, it's time to eat. I ordered your favorite pizza," Micheal called out.

"Am I coming?" Charles replied.

Charles sat beside Micheal while Lovely looked on.

"Charles hates pepperoni pizza," Lovely said smugly.

"Sis, shut up and eat your cheese pizza. Don't act like his girlfriend"

"Sis, shut up and eat your cheese pizza. Don't act like his girlfriend; it's disgusting," Micheal said.

"Charles, he was rude to me," Lovely said, batting her eyelashes.

"Hey, don't look at him; talk to me directly," Micheal said.

Lovely continued, "You don't know who you're dealing with."

Micheal interrupted, "Bitch, shut up and sit down."

Charles intervened, "Micheal, calm down."

Micheal said, "I've had enough of her. I'm leaving."

"Where are you going?" Charles asked worriedly.

"Till you get this bitch out of your life and stop contacting her, I won't come back," Micheal said before walking out.

"Charles, don't worry, I'm here for you," Lovely said.

Charles slammed the door. "Shut up and get lost."

Charles barged into his room angrily.

Meanwhile, after the fight with Charles, Micheal walked down Charles' street aimlessly.

"Since when did I become such a person, a shameless, insecure bitch?" Micheal asked himself.

"I think it's for the best. Charlie's birthday is coming up, and the truth will be out. He'll find out eventually, so it's better to end it here," Micheal thought.

Micheal's phone rang, and he looked at the caller - _BABY MICHEAL_. He ignored the call.

"Am sorry, Charles, but there's nothing I can do. This is the least I could do to help my best friend find the truth. Sorry, Micheal."

The phone rang continuously as Micheal walked out of Charles' street.

Question

1. Will Charles and micheal reconcile or is their relationship beyond repair?

2. Who is the real blood donor and how will the revelation impact the characters?

Drop your thoughts in the comment section