Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
___________
Jaheim kicked back in his pad, eyes glued to the game on the tube. The air was thick with anticipation, not just for the match but for the move he was about to make. He tossed a bag of chips across the room to Maurice, who caught it with a grin.
"Yo, Mo, you know we've been tight since day one, right?" Jaheim said, eyes never leaving the screen.
Maurice nodded, crunching on a chip. "For real, man. Ride or die, you know that."
Jaheim took a deep breath. "Well, I need you to do me a solid, Mo. Like, the biggest solid of all."
Maurice raised an eyebrow, suddenly more interested in his friend's words than the game. "Spill it, Ja. What's the 411?"
Jaheim paused the game and turned to Maurice, locking eyes. "I'm tying the knot, man. Settling down. Got myself arranged to marry Dalilah."
Jaheim nodded, a mix of excitement and nerves in his eyes. "Yeah, man. It's happening. And I need you by my side as the best man, holding it down for your boy."
Maurice leaned back, processing the bombshell. "Bro, you serious about this? Dalilah, the arranged marriage thing? That's some next-level commitment."
Jaheim chuckled nervously. "Yeah, it's crazy, right? But she's the real deal, Mo. I can feel it. And I want you riding shotgun when I take this plunge."
Maurice grinned, a mix of disbelief and pride on his face. "You crazy, Ja. But you my homie. I got your back. Best man duties? Consider it locked and loaded."
And just like that, the game on the screen became a backdrop to a different kind of play. Jaheim and Maurice, navigating the twists and turns of life with a bond stronger than any arranged marriage.
