The sun has risen once again and its rays shine through the windows. One of them touches Mark’s skin as he’s soundly asleep. Despite the alarm ringing in his phone, his slumber cannot be disturbed.

  Suddenly, someone bursts through the door.

  “Wakey, wakey, sleepyhead! We’re gonna celebrate today!!”

  Mark gently lifts his head, “Cesar?”

  “Yes, it’s me. Your dark-skinned friend.”

  Mark rubs his eyes, “Isn’t it too early to celebrate?”

  Justin, who is behind Cesar, jumps in.

  “We know we’re feasting on lunch but we’re gonna celebrate,” Justin says as he leaps onto the bed. “Warriors the Champions!! Champions are the Warriors!! Wooo!!!”

  “What time is it?” Mark sits up while blinking his eyes.

  “It’s six thirty in the morning,” says a deep-voiced figure whose thudding steps echo throughout the room upon entering.

  “Kevin!” Mark is awestruck. “Welcome to our home.”

  Mark quickly hops off the bed and goes over to Kevin.

  “My man,” Kevin says.

  Mark daps him up with a hug.

  “With Kevin you get enthused. When it comes to us, you just lay there on the bed,” says Justin as he hops off the bed.

  “Enthused?” Mark says. “What vocabulary you have, my friend. Where have you learned it from?”

  “I, uhh,” Justin hesitates. “I learned it from Cesar, of course.” Justin smiles at Cesar.

  Mark looks at Cesar and the latter smiles and offers a dap.

  “Congratulations on our victory, Splash. We’re finally champions,” says Cesar.

  “Congratulations. We sure are now,” Mark replies.

  And the two of them dap up.

  “Hey, what about me?” Justin goes over to Mark.

  “Of course. I wouldn’t forget about you, bro,” Mark replies.

  “Glad to hear it, bro.”

  The best buds dap up with a hug that lasted ages.

  At last, they let each other go.

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  Mark takes a glance at every single one of them.

  “You look fine mighty dapper at this early hour.”

  “Oh, spare us your poetry, Mark. Haha,” says Cesar.

  The four of them laugh.

  “Get changed, Splash,” says Justin. “We’re gonna take a stroll for a while to the Park and chill. And then we head straight to church afterwards.”

  “Not yet,” says Kevin turning to Mark. “You stink like a sweaty dead rat. Did you have a wet dream?”

  They look at his shorts and they see a roundish stain. Kevin laughs out loud with a deep voice.

  “I can’t believe it, I guessed it.”

  “Oh. Come on, you guys,” says Mark. “Don’t act like you haven’t experienced this before.”

  Justin laughs too, “Mark, that’s a big stain you got there. You got yo babies swimmin’ in there.”

  Mark is fuming, “Don’t act like you’ve never had it.”

  Cesar only smiles, “Mark’s right. Don’t act like you didn’t experience it.”

  “Thank you, Cesar.”

  “But,” says Cesar. “Kevin’s right. You stink like a sweaty dead rat. Take a bath for now, we’ll wait for you downstairs.”

  Mark’s knees are weakened from his remarks.

  “Cesar, you don’t have to slam me after you treated my wounds.”

  Cesar laughs, “I’m sorry, Mark. But you really need a bath.”

  “Yes, master,” says Mark dejectedly as he walks to the bathroom carrying his underwear and clothes for change.

  Mark takes a bath and before his friends know it, he’s dressed for Sunday Service. Waiting in the dining room for breakfast, his friends are astounded at him.

  “Our friend has become a man,” says Justin.

  “Look at the button up shirt and the shiny shoes. Sheeesh!” says Kevin.

  “Now that’s classic,” says Cesar.

  Mark three-sixties while they compliment him.

  “What do y’all think?” Mark says.

  “You look like a pastor, Mark,” Justin then laughs until Cesar elbows him to the side. “Oww.”

  “You look splendid, Mark,” says Cesar.

  “Thanks y’all,” says Mark.

  George, who’s still cooking, says, “You look neat, kiddo.”

  “Thanks, dad,” Mark replies.

  The father and son exchange smiles.

  George serves the meal on a plate and the boys are drooling in anticipation.

  “Would you look at that,” says Justin. “Buttered Chicken. Just like my brother Jollibee used to cook.”

  Mark quickly turns to him with a look of amusement, “You’re brothers with Jollibee?”

  “Of course, we’re brothers. He cooks me everyday—”

  “Cooks you everyday?” Kevin says. “ No wonder you’re burnt.” He then bursts into laughter.

  “You call me burnt when it should be Ce—”

  Just as Justin is about to finish his sentence, Mark throws a spoon at him. The spoon flies off to its course where it lands on Justin’s head.

  “Frick!!” Shouts Justin. “Mother of Crumpets!! Son of a Biscuit!!”

  “Stop saying dumb things, Justin,” says Mark. “It doesn’t make any se—”

  “I’m so burnt, you can use me as charcoal. Haha,” says Cesar.

  Nobody laughed except Justin. Justin laughs and laughs, slapping his knees in the process.

  “That’s so funny, Cesar.”

  The others chuckle uncomfortably.

  “Come on, guys,” says Cesar. “Let’s loosen up a bit.”

  Nobody says a word until Kevin interrupts the silence.

  “Ooh, would you look at that. That’s good chicken you got there. I’ll get some rice.”

  George gives him his plate and spoon as he goes to get some rice. The others follow suit as they grab plates and spoons for some rice.

  All of them sit around the table casually talking to each other. Cesar tells Mark that they should start praying so Mark takes the initiative.

  “Guys, let’s pray so that we can eat,” Mark says.

  They bow their heads and clasp their hands, all except George. Cesar sees this and chooses to ignore it.

  “Heavenly Father,” Mark starts. “Thank you for the food you’ve given us today. Thank you that you’ve led us through this day to go to church and worship you. Protect us in our ways, Lord. Thank you for this food you’ve given us and may you strengthen us for the day. In Jesus’ name—”

  “Amen,” All of them declare.

  They eat to their hearts’ content in every passing moment. They enjoy their breakfast in each other’s presence.

  Mark looks at everyone around him and thinks, ‘I hope this won’t change. Everything looks happy and joyful. Please, God. Change nothing. Please.’