Beyond the game

The evening sun had long set, leaving behind a sky painted in deep shades of indigo. Malik sat in his car, parked in front of Yuzarsif's apartment. The quiet of the night was only disturbed by the occasional passing car and the distant hum of the city. His hands were steady on the wheel, but his mind was racing.

He had thought about this moment all afternoon, rehearsing the words he would say, imagining how Yuzarsif would react. He had already talked to Rahma, and now it was time to finally speak with Yuzarsif.

Malik exhaled slowly, feeling the weight of the conversation ahead. His thoughts kept circling back to what Rahma had said earlier, about how Yuzarsif would probably just tease him. But Malik wasn't sure if it would be that simple. Yuzarsif was more than just a friend—he was a brother in many ways. The thought of potentially making things awkward between them weighed heavily on Malik's chest.

Taking a deep breath, Malik opened the door and stepped out, making his way toward the building. He hesitated briefly at the front door, wondering if this was the right time. But he knew there would never be a perfect moment, and he needed to stop overthinking everything.

The elevator ride up was short, but the anticipation felt endless. As he arrived on Yuzarsif's floor, his heart began to race again. He knocked three times, hearing the faint shuffle of footsteps inside.

The door opened, and Yuzarsif appeared, a wide grin on his face. "Malik! What's up, man? You need something?"

Malik smiled, though it felt a little strained. "Actually, yeah. Can I talk to you for a minute?"

Yuzarsif raised an eyebrow. "Sure, come on in." He stepped aside, letting Malik into the apartment.

The interior was warm and familiar, with the soft scent of incense lingering in the air. Yuzarsif's place was always cozy, filled with a mix of modern furniture and personal touches that spoke of his laid-back yet thoughtful personality.

Malik settled onto the couch, trying to shake off the nervous tension. Yuzarsif followed, sitting across from him, leaning back with a relaxed posture.

"So, what's up?" Yuzarsif asked, his tone casual but curious. "You're acting all serious, like something's going on."

Malik hesitated, his hands clasped together. "Yeah, there's something I need to tell you. It's... about Rahma and me."

Yuzarsif's expression shifted, the playfulness in his eyes replaced with a more attentive look. "Okay. What about you two?"

Malik glanced up at him, meeting his gaze. "I... we're together now. Rahma and I. I wanted you to know before anyone else."

Yuzarsif didn't speak for a moment, his eyes narrowing slightly as he processed the information. Malik could feel the weight of the silence, but he refused to look away.

Finally, Yuzarsif spoke, his voice quiet but steady. "I see."

Malik swallowed, feeling a knot form in his stomach. "I know it might seem like I've been hiding it from you, but I didn't want to make things weird. I wanted to tell you in person, and... I guess I just didn't want to complicate things between us."

Yuzarsif remained quiet for a moment, his gaze fixed on Malik. He could see the nervousness in his friend's eyes, and it reminded him of how Malik had always been the more careful one between them.

"I don't know what you're worried about," Yuzarsif said, his voice surprisingly light. "I'm not gonna freak out, man. You're my friend. If you're happy with Rahma, then that's all that matters to me."

Malik blinked, surprised by the ease in Yuzarsif's response. "You're not mad?"

Yuzarsif chuckled, shaking his head. "Mad? No. It's just... a bit unexpected, that's all. But hey, if you two are together, then I'm happy for you. Rahma's a good person. You've got good taste."

Malik let out a relieved breath, a smile finally breaking across his face. "Thanks, man. I was... I was nervous about how you'd take it."

Yuzarsif leaned back on the couch, still smiling. "I get why you'd be worried, but honestly, I'm glad you told me. I know we've always had each other's backs, and this doesn't change anything. If anything, it just makes us a little more of a team, right?"

Malik's heart settled at Yuzarsif's words. He had expected some kind of confrontation, maybe a long conversation about boundaries or trust. But instead, Yuzarsif had taken it in stride, treating it like just another part of their shared history.

"I appreciate that, Yuzarsif," Malik said, his voice full of gratitude. "I really do."

Yuzarsif gave him a teasing grin. "Now, if you need me to give you relationship advice, I'm your guy. I've got plenty of wisdom to share."

Malik laughed, feeling the last of his tension slip away. "I think I'll pass on that for now, but I'll keep it in mind."

They both sat in comfortable silence for a few moments, the tension that had once hung thick in the air now gone. Malik realized just how much he had overthought the situation. Yuzarsif's easy acceptance made everything feel simpler, and for the first time in a while, Malik truly felt like things were falling into place.

"Thanks again, man," Malik said as he stood up. "I really needed this."

"No problem," Yuzarsif said, following him to the door. "Anytime, Malik. You know where to find me."

As Malik stepped out of the apartment, he couldn't help but feel a sense of relief wash over him. The conversation had gone better than he'd expected, and now, it was time to face the next chapter of his relationship with Rahma. He was ready for whatever came next, knowing that he had Yuzarsif's support—and that made all the difference.

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