“I’m just saying, you could have gone later. Like, I dunno, tomorrow morning.”

Jamal gave Jordan a mock amazed look, then shook his head. “Bruh?? Wait until tomorrow morning to get that good-good from Daisy? You definitely are mental, my brother. Listen! If you know what that girl does under the sheets… you’d understand.”

Jordan shook his head as they walked across the beach to the path leading to the palace ruins. They had spent the rest of the morning plotting and planning how they would get past the checkpoint and how they would take numerous pictures of themselves at the various notable spots. Jamal even stepped out briefly to get some needed ‘tools’ for the diversion. Everything was in order, and they were readying themselves to move by 6 pm.

Until Jamal got a text an hour earlier that got him all giddy and rushing out.

Daisy, evidently still in awe of the previous night’s romp, sent him a steamy topless picture along with some suggestive emojis and a plea to come over for some more loving. Jamal was never going to resist that call, spending another two hours with her before returning home. As displeased as Jordan was, his best friend was hardly remorseful when he returned, looking wholly satisfied with that impromptu round he had engaged in.

“Boy, why do I even bother?” Jordan muttered aloud. “Once it’s got anything to do with good-good, there’s no stopping you.”

“Oh, you know it!” Jamal gladly agreed. “Especially after getting that amazing pic. Broski, those tits are heavenly. Trust me on that. I spent last night with my face in between them, so I’ve got experience. And man, getting that girl on all fours was the boost of motivation I never knew my soul needed. Clapped those sweet cheeks so good, I know I can do anything. I swear down, Daisy’s one of the best babes I’ve screwed in my short time on earth. Right on par with Yasmin. That girl knows how to work her way around a man’s body, I can’t lie.”

Jordan sighed. This was definitely one con of being Jamal’s best friend: you were bound to hear the details of every tryst he engaged in. This womanizer had no idea what it meant to keep his business secret; his bosom buddy had to hear every single detail.

“Best part of it all? She absolutely loves the way I rock her world. You know what she told me after we were done? She said she’s so glad her boyfriend broke up with her; otherwise she never would have known there are dudes out there that can send her body to seventh heaven the way I do, and that she’ll never forget our time together for as long as she lives. Bro, I made it! I got a sexy Dutch goddess so mad about my little friend, she’s never forgetting us. I’m the man, for sure!”

“Whatever, man. Whatever,” Jordan replied dryly.

Jamal cocked his head sideways, giving him a puzzled look, then returning to a smirk. “Someone sounds pretty jealous, doesn’t he? But, you know, I get it. I totally get it. You’re still butthurt at the fact that you’re not screwing that Abryann babe. I totally understand, bro. Fumbling that juicy bod must suck for real.”

“Stop,” Jordan muttered, visibly irritated by the mention of her.

“Hehehe! You made her mad, I’m driving Daisy mad. You know… while she hates your guts, I’m deep in her guts. We are not the same, my G.”

“Bro! Are you with me or against me? Chrissakes, man!”

Jamal laughed out loud, unperturbed by his friend’s irritation. Pissing Jordan off was nothing new; he did it all the time, especially pertaining to matters concerning girls. This mission was to soothe the guy’s ego, anyway, so that wasn’t something to worry about.

“Don’t worry, man. You know I’m with you. Else I wouldn’t be here. Now let’s get this thing done.”

***

It was dark when they arrived at the path. Using the screen light from Jordan’s phone, they slowly and carefully tiptoed through the path, calmly moving with the utmost caution. A few meters in, they elected to crouch behind a cluster of ancient olive trees, their eyes locked on the two guards stationed at the checkpoint from a distance.

Jamal nudged Jordan, his voice a whisper. “You got the fireworks?”

Jordan patted his backpack, grinning. “I still can’t believe you managed to get fireworks, man. How the hell did you pull that off?”

Jamal smirked. “The Darkweb is a real thing, broski. Only geniuses like me possess the skill and wherewithal to utilize it effectively.”

“I would’ve said whatever, but it’s a mutual job we’re doing, so… well said, my man! Ready to cause a little distraction?”

“Absolutely. Now remember, the key is to remain as hidden as possible. Since this path is narrow and in the midst of so much foliage, it is absolutely critical that we time our moves perfectly. Got it?”

Jordan held back a light laugh. “I swear down, man, you sound like Will Smith’s character in Bad Boys.”

Jamal shrugged, a puzzled look on his face. “But I am like that character, no?”

Jordan gave him a deadpan look. “Uh, hell no. You’re more like the Martin Lawrence character! The clown of the duo!”

“I’m just gonna act like you don’t know what you’re talking about. Anyway, I’m gonna plant and light the fireworks on the far side of the path,” Jamal outlined, pointing to a spot where the path curved out of sight from the guards. “The guards will think it’s an intruder or something, move to check it out, and that’s our window to move.”

Jordan nodded, his eyes sparkling with excitement. “Can’t lie, this plan is simple but risky. Let’s make sure we’re quick. We’ve got one shot at this.”

They crouched lower, moving silently along the path until they reached the best spot. Jamal moved over to the other side and quickly set up the fireworks while Jordan kept watch. Once he was done setting them up, he glanced in Jordan’s direction and gave a two-finger salute.

Time to set it off.

With a flick of his lighter, Jamal ignited the fuse, and quickly darted back into the cover of trees, joining Jordan and waiting with bated breath.

The first spark flew into the sky, and it was on.

The fireworks erupted with a hiss and a burst of colour, startling the birds on the trees into a cacophony of cries. The guards, alerted by the noise, exchanged confused glances before one of them shouted, “Let’s check it out!”

They both moved towards the noise, leaving their post unguarded. The duo watched, holding their breaths as the guards sped past them, barely noticing their presence.

“Now!” Jamal hissed.

They immediately sprung up and sprinted across the now-empty path, their feet barely touching the ground. They sped toward the checkpoint, and with nobody in sight, ducked under the checkpoint’s wooden barrier, hearts pounding like drums in their chests.

“Hey!”

“Damn it, they’re on to us!” Jordan hissed.

“Forget about them! Just keep moving!” Jamal yelled. “And don’t look back!”

Obediently following orders, Jordan kept his eyes on the ruins ahead, as they scaled one broken wall and made their way through a barrier of torn barbed wire.

“Hey! Stop!”

“You don’t know what you’re doing!”

“Come back! Get back here now!”

The voices were as distant as could be while they kept running. As they neared the palace ruins, they slowed down eventually.

Finally, they stopped, grinning at each other, a rush of dopamine flooding their system with the thrill of their success at hoodwinking the guards, who now stood miles away from them, unwilling to go any further.

“We did it, man,” Jordan whispered, his breath coming in excited gasps.

Jamal clapped him on the back, snickering softly. “Told you those fireworks would come in handy.”

“Yeah. A bit of a wild one still. But man, that was good.”

“You know the drill, broski. Life ain’t for the faint-hearted,” Jamal commented, a knowing smirk on his face.

“Damn straight!” Jordan agreed, giving him a fist bump. “Now, time to check out these ruins…”

Well, they got the guards out of the way. I wonder how their little tour’s gonna go…