Fight

by P. A. Jones

  "Dirty billionaires."

  "You have one as your in-law." Mason teased me. "Let’s get some sleep. Big day tomorrow."

  I nodded and went to sleep. Before falling into bed, I called Eva to tell her about my win. She didn't seem excited. I decided to go back to New York before heading for the last fight, but only if I won the semi’s.

  I took a deep breath to calm myself and went to sleep.

  ***

  Day Four - Match Five

  Big day. I remembered day one, when I fought Jimmy. He was standing in front of me. Confident and arrogant.

  "I'm going to kick your ass. I got extra money for that," he muttered when I shook his hand.

  I wondered who was behind all this. Mrs. Clark? Or Peter? I didn't know. I knew only one thing. I had to win, at any cost.

  Round one started. Jimmy rushed me, right at the bell. I moved right and let him pass by my side and hit his mouth with a fierce upper cut. He stumbled backward, I took the opportunity and hit him with a straight kick. He kissed the floor. I was going to deliver an axe kick on him, but before I could hit him, he moved left. My kick landed on the ground. Vibrations passed through my legs to my thighs. My knee weakened for a moment. I had actually hurt myself. Jimmy pushed his hands on the ground and jumped back on his feet.

  I took a defensive stance. Jimmy charged me, I moved backwards. He jumped in the air and delivered an air axe kick on me. His MMA training was helping him. I was closer to the corner than I thought. I couldn't keep myself out of his range. I leaned back, but his kick touched my forehead. I felt the impact on my skull.

  The first round finished. It had been a mixed bag. I couldn't guess if I had won or Jimmy had. I knew I had to do something extraordinary in the next round.

  The second round started with a bang. Because of my carelessness, Jimmy got an opening on my chest and was able to land a devastating kick on my right shoulder bone. I fell on the ground. I thought my shoulder broke, but before Jimmy could deliver a straight axe kick on my chest, I jumped back. I was furious and frustrated. I could see my final match. I wanted to reach it at any cost.

  I decided to take a risk and cut him with his own method. I ran towards the opposite rope and before touching to the rope I turned my back to it and I got a slight elastic effect from the rope. I dashed forward and before he could anticipate my move, I jumped in the air and delivered a double punch on his mouth and chest. He fell back; his nose was broken. His face was covered in blood. I, myself, landed hard on the ground. My face landed first and then my chest. A sharp pain shuddered through my whole body with an intensity I’d never felt before.

  But I managed to get up. I looked back at Jimmy. He was still on the floor. The referee was counting the numbers. I knew I had KO'd him.

  It was the second KO for me. I had my eyes set on the final match. Mason came and bear-hugged me. I was happy for the win, but I was more happy for the final match. I wanted to share this news with Eva.

  "Dude, I'm going back to New York," I told Mason.

  "Why, man? You have to practice. It's Peter, your nemesis. You can't go back," he replied in frustration.

  "I have to. Something's wrong with Eva and she won’t tell me. I need to get back and find out."

  Chapter 25

  Breakup

  Eva

  Five days passed slowly. Nathan called me daily after leaving for Santa Ana. I just couldn't talk with him. My heart ached to tell him the decision I had made. But I kept quiet, I wanted to tell him in person. These five days were like hell for me. Nathan called every evening, and the burden on my heart increased with each call. Nathan, the person I loved was fighting for his dream and I was planning to leave him.

  Whenever I saw his picture on my cell, my heart filled with sorrow; tears flowed down my cheeks. His thoughts were making me crazy. In his absence, I couldn't eat or I sleep well. My mother asked many times, but I avoided her questions.. What I was going to tell her? That I am leaving my boyfriend and it's breaking my heart? The whole concept of leaving Nathan was killing me inside. Why, Eva, why? My heart asked this question a thousand times in a day. But how could I see him getting screwed financially? How could I watch him losing his pride when I had a chance to make everything right?

  His abrupt decision to focus on the tournament rather than our relationship made me crazy. I felt he was slipping away from me slowly and I couldn't take it any longer. I wanted him badly, to listen to me, talk with me about our future, walk with me every evening. But he was filled with his dream and his financial situation. One moment I wanted to fly to Santa Ana and kiss him, the next moment I wanted to run away from everyone.

  My mother also continued torturing me with the failure of my father and my brother. I wanted to scream to the world that I wasn't responsible for their failures, but I was afraid that I would break the remaining ties with my mother. I wanted everything to be right, but on my conditions, but that didn't seem possible. All these thoughts were spinning through my head in those five days. Because of this mixed bag of emotions, everything around me felt dull and dead.

  On the fifth day, when I couldn't take it anymore, I decided to ask advice from Chloe. I needed her final push, whether I was doing the right thing or not. I knew I could catch her in the dorm after eight p.m. I took a cab to the dorm. When I got close to her room, I heard the loud voice of Martin. I ran inside. Chloe was sitting on the ground with her legs spread and tears flowing down her cheek and dress. Martin was standing in front of her, shouting curse words at her.

  "What the hell, Marin," I screamed at him. I couldn't watch my friend so messed up because of that jerk.

  "Look, dumb ass, finally your savior is here," Martin again shouted at Chloe.

  "Martin, keep your voice down, or else..."

  "Or else what?" Marin looked at me with surprise." Will you get me arrested like Jacob? Or your boyfriend will come and punch me?"

  "Martin, calm down. We have some manners here."

  "What manners are you talking about? This fucking lady asked me to break up with her."

  "What's your problem, man?" I screamed over him. I couldn't take him anymore. He was a jerk and he didn't know how to talk with a girl. "If she wants to leave you, then what's your issue?"

  "She can't do that to me. I will break up with her. She can't dump me like this."

  "So, your ego is bruised. And why shouldn't she? Have you looked at yourself in the mirror? Do you know how much you are hurting poor girl?" I knelt in front of Chloe and wrapped her in my arms.

  "Poor girl? My ass. She is the worst psycho I have ever seen in my life."

  "Get the hell out of here, man. I don't want to hear you rambling about her. I’ve known her for more than six years. I don't want you to tell me anything about her." I pointed my finger towards the open door.

  "I am breaking up with you, Chloe." He scowled at her.

  "Get out, you moron," I scolded him again.

  He walked towards the door, looked back at Chloe and me. "It could have worked, if only you cooperated."

  "Get out, jerk." Chloe lifted her face and shouted. I saw vengeance on her face. I had never seen her that angry. Martin threw his shoulders in the air and walked out.

  "Calm down." I hugged her.

  "I need to tell you something." She took a deep breath. "This jerk is dominating in sex and has lots of kinky needs. I listened to him for few small things, but day by day he upped his demands. This time, he wanted to have a threesome with another girl." She burst into tears. I couldn't believe that Martin was like that.

  "What the hell? How could he?" I wiped her tears. "I'm happy that you dumped him."

  "I had been avoiding him for days. But he was forcing me into some submission stuff. I didn't like it. Why can't I get a straight and decent boyfriend?"

  "Everything will be fine, Chloe. Everything will be fine." I consoled her, but I was not having any success with it. She continued crying for almost an hour. Finally, she calmed down.

  "Thanks f
or coming over. I couldn't stop that bastard."

  "I'm always there for you. I’m actually happy for you." I smiled. Chloe smiled back, but her smile was very weak. She was in shock. "Anyway, you wanted this." I was happy for her, but I was surprised because she had been dating Martin for the past two years. And she never got to know about his trashy needs. I wondered if Nathan had needs like him. Until that moment, he had never mentioned anything like that. But looking at Martin's behavior after two years, I was shocked.

  "Can you sleep here tonight?" Chloe asked with an innocent face.

  "Yes, sure, I’ll sleep here." I hugged her back.

  Chapter 26

  Final Blow

  Nathan

  I eagerly watched the tall New York buildings from the airport. Mason tried to keep me in Santa Ana, but I wanted to meet Eva. I wanted to tell her about my dream after meeting her face to face. I wanted to kiss her, feel her skin and make love to her. In the last five days I had missed her more than ever. I missed her scent, her aroma. I felt incomplete. I knew she was the one and I had to take the relationship to next level. In my mind, there were doubts about our relationship. But time had proven to me that I loved her more than any pitfalls.

  I dialed her number the moment my flight landed. The call went through, but she didn't pick up. Without success, I called her again and again. I became restless. I called her and she didn't pick up; this had never happened.

  "Cab." I hailed a cab and decided to go to her hotel. She must be sleeping or something. Let me give her a surprise, I thought.

  "Keep the change." I gave a hundred bucks to the driver and jumped out of the cab. A sharp pain shot through my thighs. Constant fights and various training exercises had exhausted my whole body.

  When I entered the lobby area, I found that all the elevators were busy. Eva was staying on the seventh floor. My patience ran out and I decided to use the stairs. I ran up the stairs, passing the floors one after another.. When I reached the seventh floor, I was breathing heavily. Eva's mother was standing outside a room. When I walked past her, she noticed me.

  "What are you doing here?"

  "Eva?" I knew she wouldn't answer me straight, but I took a chance.

  "She is out of town for five days," she replied, but I knew she was lying.

  "Will you give me a straight answer?"

  Her face was filled with wrinkles. Maybe her makeup artist wasn't doing a good job, or else she was getting old, very old. "Why would you expect one?" She snapped her answer at my face.

  "Never mind." I knocked on Eva's door. Nobody answered.

  Eva's mother sneered." I told you."

  I ignored her completely and knocked on her door again.

  "Take this, it’s the key to her room." She forwarded me the key.

  "And why would I take this?"

  "Don't worry. I will not get you arrested like Jacob."

  "What? Was Jacob here?" I asked with surprise.

  "Oh, so Eva didn't tell you about the whole drama."

  "You’re lying, right?"

  "Let me show you myself." She opened Eva's room and walked in. I followed her cautiously. The room was empty; Eva wasn't there. "I told you she left town."

  "Okay, I lose," I replied and walked outside. I was still doubtful about her answer. I knew Eva wouldn't go anywhere without telling me.

  Chloe. I should check with her. I dialed her number.

  "Hi," Eva said from other line.

  "Hey, babe, it's me, Nathan."

  "Oh, hi," she said in cold voice.

  "What happened to your phone? I called a dozen times."

  "Sorry, it was on silent."

  "Okay, I’m coming to get you. I want to take you out for dinner," I said happily. I was so happy that Eva was in New York.

  "I don't think it's a good idea. Maybe tomorrow." She didn't ask me about the fights or anything. But I wasn't going to listen to her. I wanted her badly.

  "I'm coming to take you for dinner. I will be there in half an hour." I hung up the phone.

  I took a cab to Chloe's place. In twenty-five minutes I was standing in front of their dorm. I dialed Eva. "I’m outside."

  "Nathan, I'm not prepared today. I think you should get some rest first."

  "No way, babe. I have got a big news for you. Please come outside." Eva was making me irritated for the first time.

  "Okay, but you have to promise me something."

  I felt strange at her question. But my excitement about the match with Peter overpowered the weird feeling. "If you come out, I’ll promise you anything."

  She walked out the door. She was wearing a blue top and khaki skirt. Her firm curves of chest looked sexy in that top. I felt my cock tighten against my jeans. Eight days I had been without sex with my dream lady. She walked towards me with an over-stretched smile on her face. She didn't look happy to see me. A sad thought of doubt materialized in my mind. I shook it out of my head and opened my arms to take her in my embrace

  "I missed you, baby." Her warm touch felt like heaven. I missed her from the core of every cell present in my body. I felt her shiver, like she was shaking at some dark, unknown emotion. "What happened, sweetheart? Is everything is all right?" I asked, worried.

  "Nothing, Nathan. Just promise me that you will take things slowly."

  "What promise, Eve?" I was getting more worried with each sentence.

  "Promise me first," she insisted.

  "Okay, I promise. Tell me what is it?"

  "First your big news. I don't want my stuff to over shadow your good news."

  "It's nothing."I held her at my arm's length. "I want to hear from you first. You look different today. Um... let me guess. New skirt?"

  "Tell me your news first." Her voice raised.

  "Let’s sit on a bench first." I wanted to take her out for dinner. But she looked like she was in a bad mood and taking her to dinner suddenly started sounded like a bad idea. We moved to a nearby park bench and sat there. She looked away from the bench, like she was searching for something. I kept looking in her eyes. After few minutes she realized that I was sitting there.

  "Tell me, Nathan, your big news," she said in a low voice.

  "I'm in the finals of the championship."

  "That's great," she said, but she didn't sound like she meant it.

  "And my final opponent is Peter."

  "Okay." She looked away.

  I shook her by her shoulder. "What happened, Eva? Aren't you feeling well today? Why you are sounding like this?"

  "An hour ago, Chloe and Martin broke up."

  "Shit...I'm so sorry. I caught you at a bad time." I felt sorry for Chloe and Martin, but I had seen it coming.

  "And I'm moving to Canada for a while." She had completely dropped a bomb on me.

  "What?" I shouted.

  "You promised me that you will take it okay."

  "Fuck my promise. Why are you moving to Canada suddenly?" I couldn't really understand what she meant. "Is this some kind of a joke?" I was losing it.

  She looked in to my eyes. Determination was clearly visible in her eyes."I'm sorry, Nathan, but I have to do this. I have to join my family business. I'm going to help my mother from now on."

  What? "You are going to help your mother?" I asked with surprise.

  "Yes."

  "But she..."

  "Please, Nathan. I know I said many bad things about her. But... Please, let's just not get that way." She stood up and moved away from me. "Congrats on your victory. I hope you will score big this time." She walked away towards the dorm.

  "What about me, Eva?"

  "I don't know. I need some time away from New York. Anyway, you don't spend much time with me these days. I’m leaving tomorrow morning." Her words penetrated my heart like a sharp knife, cutting me in two.

  I sat there watching her petite figure fading in front of my eyes. A tear rolled out of my right eye. That was it. I had lost her, her mother had succeeded in ripping us apart. I didn't know how long I sat there
alone, but when I came back to my senses, I found a small dog was sleeping near my leg.

  I tried to stand up, but I fell back on the bench. Because of me, the dog woke up and started barking. I tried to scream at him, but no words came out of my mouth. I sat there, helpless and powerless.

  Chapter 27

  Lost Hope

  Nathan

  The dog got tired of barking and finally slept near my legs. I looked around; the park was covered in gray shadows. My life wasn't different, but it was much darker than the night. I wanted to scream, shout Eva's name out and cry like a child. But I couldn't do nothing. I sat there with an blank mind and empty emotions. When the sun rays touched my face I decided to get up. My left leg touched the sleeping dog accidentally. He woke up, looked at me with sad eyes and walked away from me, like everybody in my life walked away from me. I missed Eva more than anything, but she was gone. She might be packing her bags or on the way to airport.

  My phone shouted on me. It was from Mason.

  "Hey, buddy, where are you?"

  "New York," I answered abruptly. I didn't want to talk to him.

  "I know. I can see you sitting in the park."

  "What are you doing here?"

  "Chloe called me. She asked me to come."

  "But why?"

  "Let's go somewhere. I’m hungry." I looked around. Mason was standing in front of the park gate in a black jacket and jeans. He looked tired.

  "When did you fly back?"

  "Two hours ago."

  "How did you find me?"

  "Let's get out of this shitty park first. We can talk over the breakfast."

  "I don't want to go anywhere." I snapped a sharp answer.

  "But I want company." He dragged me out of the park. Slowly, he took me to his car. I wanted to resist, but I didn't even feel like doing that. He started the car. I went blank until he stopped it somewhere. When he dragged me out of the car, I noticed the place. It was Eva's college canteen.

  "Why are we here?" My mood became worse.

  "To find out what the hell you are doing with yourself."

  "Nothing. I want to practice. I'm going to compete with Peter next week."