MIGHT AS WELL BE OP

Chapter 669: Boys’ Night-2

The group laughed amongst themselves as the conversation drifted toward Anthony’s supposed inexperience. Their laughter was not malicious but rather the kind that friends shared when teasing one another, a comfortable rhythm of camaraderie that only deepened the bonds between them.

Then, as though seizing the perfect opportunity to stir mischief, Dale leaned forward. His chair creaked softly as he moved closer to Anthony’s ear, and with that familiar, devilish glint in his eyes, he spoke, his voice deliberately low and laced with a sly amusement.

”You know what I think?” Dale began, drawing out each word with calculated leisure, his lips curling into an ever-widening grin. ”I think you should sleep with a few women. A variety, of course. Gain some... hands-on experience, you know? Different women, different styles, different techniques, different experiences. A man of your position can’t rely solely on ideals, Anthony. You could sharpen yourself that way, so you wouldn’t get rusty after a while.”

His mischievous smile widened further, stretching with self-satisfaction as he leaned back with the air of a man who had just imparted profound wisdom, as though his outrageous counsel were some eternal truth that philosophers had long overlooked. He reclined smugly, sipping from his glass as if awaiting applause.

Reynold, ever ready to add fuel to the fire, joined in without missing a beat. He stroked his chin in mock solemnity, affecting the manner of a sage or philosopher carved from stone.

”Dale has a point,” Reynold intoned gravely, nodding as though the universe itself had revealed a secret through his companion. ”Knowledge is gained through study, yes, but true experience, real, tangible experience, comes only through practice. Anthony, my boy, what you require is not mere instruction but... practical education. A hands-on apprenticeship, if you will. With a variety of teachers.”

He could not resist chuckling at his own absurdity, clinking his glass against Dale’s in a triumphant salute. The two of them basked in their shared humor, united in their ridiculous logic, savoring the laughter it evoked.

Anthony stared at the pair, his brows rising in disbelief. For a moment he was silent, caught between shock and incredulity, unable to decide whether they were jesting or truly serious.

The suggestion was outrageous, yet their earnest expressions made it all the more bewildering. Were they actually encouraging him to betray Vega, one of their own teammates, all in the name of so-called ”experience”?

”You two are really suggesting I cheat on one of our team members?” Anthony asked finally, his tone even but underscored with a sigh, as though tired from merely entertaining the thought.

”You misunderstand, Anthony,” Dale replied smoothly, his mischievous smile never leaving. ”This would only serve to strengthen the relationship.”

”Strengthen the relationship, my ass,” Anthony muttered under his breath, lifting his drink and taking a measured sip as though to wash away the absurdity of their words.

Inside, however, his thoughts drifted. ’Is this why parents always warn their children to avoid certain friends? To steer clear of the ones who might drag them down into foolishness, corrupting them little by little until they themselves became rotten fruit?’ He sighed inwardly, shaking his head at the irony.

It was not anger that stirred within him. No, Anthony knew better than to waste frustration on Dale and Reynold’s antics. Those two were notorious for chasing fleeting pleasures, bedding whoever crossed their paths with reckless abandon. They were the last men alive from whom anyone should take relationship advice.

On the sidelines, Kingsley chuckled softly, breaking the moment with his calm, composed presence. ”Well, at least someone here has a spine when it comes to loyalty,” he remarked, his lips curving into a faint smile as he glanced at Anthony.

He swirled the liquid in his glass thoughtfully, watching the light play across its surface. Then, turning his gaze toward Dale and Reynold, his smile sharpened. ”You two should be ashamed of yourselves, offering such ridiculous advice.” His tone, though edged with reproach, carried more playfulness than venom.

”Ridiculous?” Reynold scoffed, his voice rising dramatically, though the grin tugging at his lips betrayed his amusement. ”We were merely trying to broaden his horizons. You cannot blame us for that.”

”You call that broadening horizons?” Spectre’s voice cut through the laughter, calm but edged with understated wit. He had been quiet all evening, watching and listening, ”sounds more like dragging him into the swamp where you two happily wallow.”

That earned a roar of laughter from Kingsley, whose composed demeanor broke into unrestrained mirth. Even Clement, who lingered in his usual silence at the fringe of their group, gave a subtle nod, an acknowledgment that carried more weight than a hundred words.

Dale and Reynold, undeterred by the ridicule, raised their glasses in mock defense, feigning indignation with theatrical flair. ”We merely offer perspective!” Dale declared with exaggerated solemnity, earning yet another wave of laughter.

Anthony shook his head, unable to hide his own grin. ”You two will never change,” he said at last, his voice touched with fondness despite his exasperation. His smile softened as he regarded them, seeing in their flaws a strange sort of charm that had bound them all together through numerous battles and hardships.

The hours melted away like wax before a flame. The night stretched long, each moment rolling into the next with effortless ease. The dim lights of the bar glowed amber, throwing shadows that danced lazily along the walls. Beyond those walls, the faint hum of the military base resonated, a distant reminder that the world outside continued relentlessly, indifferent to their laughter.

But here, in this circle of friends, none of that mattered.

Anthony leaned back, cradling his glass in his hand, his eyes moving slowly over each of them. He saw Dale’s mischievous grin, Reynold’s mock-philosopher’s pose, Kingsley’s steady composure laced with humor, Spectre’s quiet but growing confidence, and Clement’s shadowed silence that concealed more than it revealed. In that moment, Anthony felt something rare, a deep, unshakable peace.

These nights, were treasures. Fleeting gems buried amidst the endless grind of duty, responsibility, and the crushing weight of expectation. Tonight, there were no wars to fight, no demons to slay, no burdens to bear. Tonight, they were not soldiers, leaders, or pawns of fate. They were simply men, friends, sharing laughter and drink beneath dim lights, bound by unspoken loyalty.

Slowly, almost unconsciously, Anthony raised his glass. He did not speak loudly, but his words carried through their laughter and stilled the room for a heartbeat.

”To us,” he said simply, the words plain yet heavy with meaning.

For a moment, silence lingered, and then, one by one, the others followed. Kingsley lifted his glass with his usual poise, Reynold raised his with dramatic flourish, Dale grinned and clinked his with a flourish, Spectre lifted his with quiet resolve, and Clement, silent as ever, raised his glass in the end, his eyes glinting faintly.

”To us,” they echoed, their voices overlapping, weaving together into a harmony that carried weight far beyond casual camaraderie.

The gentle clinking of glasses rang like a vow, soft yet eternal, sealing the moment.

The night did not end there. It continued, filled with stories, some wild, some foolish, some nostalgic, each tale adding another layer to the bond they shared. Laughter rose and fell like waves against the shore, filling the room until the stars outside began to dim and the first hints of dawn crept quietly across the horizon.

Morning would come soon enough, carrying with it new battles, fresh challenges, and the shadow of fate that always lingered at their backs. But none of that mattered tonight.

Tonight was theirs, and that was enough.

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AUTHOR’S NOTE: I’m begging y’all, please my second novel a try. It’s also peak and battle rich. You already know what I can write and do.