Through flashing red and blue and yellow lights, Cobe can make out two male figures in a kitchen at a house party. The scene has gone bad and everyone is fighting and throwing drinks and things, but for some reason Cobe is able to walk through it all. It's not until he gets closer to the doorway of the kitchen that he realizes the other side of the kitchen is on fire. The two male figures are still in the kitchen kissing. He continued walking closer and closer until he is right up on them close enough to see their faces and suddenly the fire turns into an explosion, the two figures begin dissolving like sugar does in water and the floor crumbles beneath Cobe's feet.
He closes his eyes to brace himself, but when he doesn't feel himself falling, he opens his eyes. Now he's in a completely different house. He's in the kitchen. There's a man standing at the sink and the water is running. The figure is saying something to Cobe but he doesn't understand the language. The man, irritated with Cobe's non-compliance, turns around and starts hitting him in the chest and in the face. This time speaking clear English he yells, " Your dumbass, I told you to...." the man was cut off by a woman walking into the room.
Cobe closes his eyes to catch his breath. When he reopens them, his location has changed again. This time he's in his childhood bedroom. He hears commotion outside his window so he goes to peek and he sees a man pull out a gun on another man, the gun fires and he hears glass shatter and something heavy drop to the floor in the next room. He runs over and sees a woman laying there with a hole in her head and blood all over the wall behind her and all over the floor. His eyes fill up with tears. He begins to scream the woman's name, but when he tries to, his voice goes mute. No one can hear him screaming.
Cobe forces himself out of the nightmare afraid of what could happen next. He lies there with his eyes open, unwilling to close them ever again. His chest is heaving and his clothes are soaked in sweat. Looking around the room he finally realizes that he isn't home. Rewinding the events of last night in his mind, he remembered why. Still sweating from the horrific dream, he finds his phone in his discarded pants on the floor beside the bed. He unlocks it to read a message from an unknown number.
Message from unknown
9:21am
unknown
Yo, why u ain't come over last night?
—Kwabena—
I decided to stay in
Unknown
I swung by ya pops
place to check on u,
yo truck wasn't there 🧐
—Kwabena—
Chill nigga, u dont check
for me no mo remember
Unknown
Fuck that shit
—Kwabena—
Don't call me no more,
lose my number
unknown
Cobe
—kwabena—
No! FUCK YOU MO
Unknown
Bby
—Kwabena—
Blocked
"Ugh, this nigga is nuts..." I exhaled loudly at the foolishness in the texts he just received from Mohammed. Me and him been on and off for the last four years.
Like usual, we'd gotten into it and are not on good terms again. The last time we'd 'broken up' we were apart for almost two months. I always go back to him tho cuz I won't just fuck with just any nigga... I'm not trying to get exposed. You can't trust nobody for real. But after the stunt he pulled the other night, I might just leave him alone for real this time. He crossed the line.
"Shit, it's late as fuck" I just remembered that I reserved a uhaul for 8am. I scrambled to get out the bed and call to cancel the uhaul. I'm supposed to be moving today. I decided it's time for me to spread my own wings and finally leave the comfort of Oz's care. I've always dreamed of having my own apartment, one high in the Sky like Cole's. I found the perfect place and I'm excited. Just as I was about to leave the room, I got a phone call from Oz. I answer it and sit on Cole's bed.
Audio call
"Wassup pop"
O S B O R N E 'oz ' Haygood
50
Portrayed by Mos Def
"Morning son. Where u been at the last few days? I saw on the camera a young man pulling up to the house several times last night. You know ion like nobody in my house boy.... specially when I'm outta town."
"I ain't been home Oz."
"Who was it, then?"
"..."
"Booooy you better answer me" Oz says sternly growing impatient.
"Alright, his name is Mohammed"
"Who the hell is that? Ion know no Mohammed."
"He's... a friend. Well, we ain't really friends no more so Ion know why he keep coming around the house."
"I need to call the police?" Oz responds chuckling, but when Cobe goes silent he gets serious.
"Kwabena."
"Yessir" he responds softly.
"What is going on there?! Do I need to come home?! You know what? I'm coming home. Danny! Tell Forrest I'm out! This boy must be crazy thankin he grown and shit!" He yells to his old friends before heading back to his hotel room. "See, This why ion like you brangin strange ass niggas into my house boy." He says the last part in a suggestive tone and which I picked up on.
" huh? Whatchu tryna say Pops.." I asked skeptically, suddenly feeling that Oz may know my best kept secret.
"I'll be home in a couple hours boy. And you better be in the house when I get there. I ain't running around Detroit looking for yo high yella ass." He remarks and hangs up.
Cobe gets out the bed and stretches before leaving the room to head downstairs. Just before his foot touches the third stair he hears..
"Cobe..."
He turns around to see Cecil walking out of his room.
"Aye commere man lemme holla at chu."
Cobe walks into Cecils room and sits on the bed. He quietly watches Cecil sort through his suitcase.
"Why you stay here last night? Everything alright?"
"Yeah, Im just tryna be careful you know. Drinking and driving is dangerous." I chuckle hoping he doesn't pry more.
A few minutes pass before another word is spoken.
"You seem different". Cecil noted.
"You been gone a while man"
"I mean different from yesterday nigga. You aight?"
"Yeah I mean..." I say looking at my phone.
"Yeah I mean" Cecil mocks Cobes attempt at being nonchalant.
"Why you act like that? I remember how you was when yal was kids man. You not a nonchalant nigga."
"..."
"Aye, I'm here for you when you ready to talk. I came back to fix the relationships I broke when I left bro, and that includes you so... I ain't givin up til you talk to me..."
"..."
"You smoke?"
"Mhm"
"Oh okay, so you'll answer that question" he smirks trying to lighten the mood.
"How that smell?" Cecil brags holding up a bag to Cobe's nose. That shit loud as fuck. I raise my brows and point at it saying, "yoooo"
"Yeaaaah that's that good shit boy" Cecil grins nodding his head at Cobe reaction to it.
"Imma put on some sweats right quick and we can go to my car.... and put a shirt on bruh" he says frowning to shirtless Cobe.
Cobe smirks and walks out the room. "Yeah aight" he says throwing up a middle finger.