Brothas

The Brotha Who Cried Wolf

Aaron: Previously on "Brothas..."

Sa-Chan: How can you say you love me when it's clear you don't?

Ichiban (crying): All I ever wanted was for you to marry me and become my wife.

Sa-Chan: Like that's ever going to happen. Either grow up or shut up, Ichiban Kasuga!

Kebo: What exactly did you do?

Ichiban: I proposed to her, asking her to become the most fortunate woman in my life, but she declined.

Kebo: Why would you ask her that now? She's clearly not ready for marriage. What were you thinking?

Ichiban: I don't know, I just... I just wanted her to be my wife. That's all I've ever wanted...

Kebo: If love is causing you so much pain, then maybe it should've brought your ass home that night.

Mike: I received a message; it claimed that Aaron has been using drugs.

Bryce: Did you honestly think Valerie wouldn't notice and fire your sorry ass? What the hell were you thinking, man?

Aaron: Bryce, I can't help it! I've got so much crap going on in my life. I just want this nightmare to be over.

Kebo: Life is a rollercoaster of ups and downs. One moment everything is stable, and the next, everything changes.

Mike: So, what brings you here?

Aaron: Any ideas why I'm here?

Kebo: Hey, Ichiban, can you update him for me?

Ichiban: We heard the gossip about you, like being on drugs and acting all high at work.

Aaron: I see.

Mike: Hold up, man, what's all this about?

Aaron: I knew all you two face bastards were talking smack about me when I wasn't around.

Ichiban, Kebo, and Mike: Seriously?!

(Continue the story)

[In Salem, Illinois, at 12:45 A.M., just outside the town limits, the scene unfolds at the Fiery Dragon Grayson's Lounge & Bar]

Brotha Circle's POV:

Back at the pub, in the midst of the ongoing night, Mike, Ichiban, and I were having a blast, enjoying our guy's night out and leaving our worries behind. We were in high spirits, until Aaron showed up fashionably late and confronted us about spreading nasty rumors of drug use. To make matters worse, Bryce had caught him red-handed using drugs in his own office. It was total buzzkill.

So, here we are again, sitting at our exclusive VIP table, with Aaron seething in anger over what he had heard.

He turned to me and sarcastically questioned whether Ichiban was truly my friend. "Oh, so he's your buddy, huh? That's what you always claimed, right?" Aaron taunted, testing my loyalty to Ichiban.

Before I could even respond, Mike jumped in to defend me. "Dude, what's your problem? He's Ichiban's friend" Mike tried to reason with Aaron, but his words were abruptly cut off by Aaron's outburst.

"SHUT THE----UP! I WASN'T TALKING TO YOU!" Aaron snapped at Mike; his anger fueled by the drugs he had taken. The tension in the air was palpable, and it seemed like our night had taken an unexpected turn.

When Aaron began cursing at Mike and interrogating me about my loyalty to Ichiban, Mike was scared and visibly shaken.

"Dude, seriously? He's my friend too! We met in Japan right after I became friends with you and Mike. What's your issue, man?" I confronted Aaron without hesitation.