"How do you do that!" Lei stared at the friend in wonder after five successive defeats in the game they were playing in their rental house living room.

"It's called the Essence of Mike." Michael crowed chirpily, "You can beat me in reality but never in Mortal Kombat."

Just then, a knock was heard at the door.

"Oh, boy, we are still on!" Lei put his game controller on the living room table and started to the door, "You cannot beat me like a child! I am no child to lose games like this." He got to the door and opened it.

Standing at the doorstep was a visitor he found quite surprising.

"Hi, Lei." Diana started with a sweetened dulcet tone, "Remember me?"

Still recovering from the unexpected surprise, Lei smiled approvingly, "Yes, I do. The lady from Tuungane Center."

Diana smiled winsomely, "Your memory is sharp."

"Thank you." Lei said while looking at the beauty the young lady possessed. Beautiful, just like the sister! "Please, come in." He promptly continued.

"No, thanks. I am not staying long."

"Okay... what do you propose?"

Diana's eyes were softened, "Walk me to my car as I tell you why I am here."

Michael and Tyson watched as Lei closed the door behind his back.

"Isn't that Katelyn's sister?" Tyson looked at the friend, a monthly medical journal in his hand.

"Buddy, I don't know of all the millionaire kids running around in this city." Michael said without looking at him.

"I am sure it is her." Tyson said, then a slow smile appeared on his lips, "Just imagine the circle Lei can be in when the two sisters are interested in him."

"I can be very happy to see the mighty Lei get mixed up with girls, but too bad, we both know that can never happen." Michael said, now turning to the friend, "Come and play with me. I will play dumb and make you win."

Tyson turned back to his medical journal, "I don't play with childish things."

"... They loved you and will be glad and happy to have you back for Saturday's discussion." Diana mentioned then stopped beside her car, looking lively, "I will be glad if you come."

"I... I don't like disappointing such kind requests." Lei said then forced a smile, "But Saturday, I kind of have plans already."

"Oh." Diana's liveliness vanished, "Okay... it's fine, I guess. Maybe I forgot that intelligent and smart people always have plans."

"Diana, I am sorry_"

"Oh, no, please, Lei." Diana looked relaxed and comfortable, "It's no problem at all. It is totally okay. Maybe next time I should book you earlier?"

Lei amusedly nodded, "Definitely."

"Then we should exchange contacts so that I can easily reach you."

"Certainly, yes."

They exchanged their mobile contacts, Diana feeling ecstatic and excited.

"I guess this is it." She said after the exchange of contacts, her smile animating her face, "Until we meet again."

Lei nodded, "No problem. But before we meet, feel free to call me at any moment about any discussions you may have at the Center. I will not disappoint you."

"Okay." Diana was happily and deliriously charmed at the moment, "Bye." She said and entered her car. All she wanted in the visit was the gentleman's phone number, and she had successfully got it as per her plans, proving that her next plot would easily bear fruits. She believed she would easily win Lei's cordial approval as she progressed with the plan until she comes to have him as her lover.

"Do you want to know a funny fact about bed?" Michael looked at Tyson and back at his phone as he waited for Lei's return inside the house.

Tyson lowered down his journal looking at him, "Enlighten me." He said perfunctorily.

"It is a place where most of us get laid, where most of us were born, where most of us sleep, and where most of us will die." Michael said with a grin.

"How lovely that a computer geek with an IQ of 175 has humour about bed." Tyson said and turned back to his journal.

"You should at least pretend it is funny!"

"Oh, Mike..." Tyson looked at him beneath his journal, "It is funny."

Suddenly, a beep notification sound from the phone got Michael's attention. He quickly checked the phone, "It is a notification from Amond to his Rogue guy!" He looked at the friend.

Tyson put down his journal as Lei walked back into the house, "There is a notification about Amond!" He looked at Lei.

Lei looked at Michael, "Okay..."

Michael was still on the phone, "He has sent Rogue a message..." When he opened the message body from his phone, terror froze his muscles upon seeing a picture in the message content, even before reading it, "Lei… he has sent Rogue a picture of you…!" His voice was fearfully halting.

Lei's heart skipped, "Only a picture?"

It was when Michael's eyes hovered in the entire message content, "There is a message after the picture! It reads; this is the guy we talked about. Monitor him with your guys. If he gets close to Katelyn, scare the shit out of him, and do it well."

Lei's body relaxed as he laughed, "Scare me off from Katelyn?"

Michael was bewildered and stupefied at the friend, and so was Tyson, "Do you think this is a laughing matter!"

Lei still laughed, "Mike, he wants to scare me off from Kate. How is it not a laughing matter?"

Michael stared for a moment in shock, "Rogue is Amond's drug checker and manager! The most dangerous man in the country! This guy won't give a shit about what he will or can do to you!"

"The message says he is supposed to scare me. I guess that is the only thing he is supposed to do."

"Lei, this is not something to play dice with or joke about." Tyson was serious, "Scaring somebody comes in different ways, including hurting or injuring!"

"Then I will be glad if any of Amond's goons touch me, because it will end even before it begins_"

"LEI FOR GOD'S SAKE STOP THE PRIDE_!" Michael now shouted, looking most profoundly skeptical.

"Mike, I don't do pride." Lei easily said, "I am a realistic person and believe in myself. You have only known me for four years, you don't know the other half of me. Yes, I am supposed to show a good example and do the right things in the society, but you have never seen what I do when somebody crosses my line, and I pray that one day, while we are still alive, you witness what I usually do. I don't take physical fitness and self-defense course to please myself in front of girls. I take these lessons and classes because I know a person like me can have enemies- and dangerous enemies." He walked to the friend, taking back his seat, "Now, can we continue playing?"

Perplexedly satisfied, Michael took his game controller and turned to the screen. Tyson as well slowly went back to his journal. They knew their friend. If he was not worried and believed in himself on a matter, they usually trusted him. He is Lei.