Animals
One, Two, Jab
One, Two, Knee
“What are you doing, make it powerful. Again!” yelled my coach.
We are now at the gym preparing for the upcoming match with the other school. With years of experience with this sport, Muay Thai, was never and will never be easy.
“What happened to you?” asked Lee
“Just had a rough day.”
“Why what happened? You stepped on a dog’s stool?” he said mockingly
“No, I stepped on your face.”
Lee gave me a sarcastic smile and continued with his practice. Guess that was a nice one. I was laughing at my response when I realized coach was already beside me.
“You think this is the time to laugh? Huh?”
I just lowered my head and continued when I heard a hint of laugh from the person beside me.
Asshole
An hour passed and we were done. Coach said some announcements and blew his whistle for the last time for this day. While I was arranging the things from my gym bag, that jerk talked again.
“Seriously, what happened to my dear friend Khem?”
“Nothing, I just met a peacock.” I said sarcastically
“Really? We have that here in our school, but we do not have a zoo here or near this area.” he said innocently
I just gave him a side eye and carried my gym bag away. Sometimes I do not know if Lee is innocent or just have a low IQ. That innocence of him can either be an advantage or disadvantage.
I wore my earphones before walking to picking up my sister from elementary school.
Walking through the streets as the sun slowly set, this Khem can never have that.
I should not rest. I do not have the time to rest.
I was tied to this responsibility ever since my parents died due to an accident my relatives never disclosed. We never even had the time to say goodbye, our memory of them was all we had.
“P’Khem” shouted Cherry
I also yelled her name while opening my arms waiting for her hug.
“How was your day? Did you have fun?”
“Yes” she answered slowly losing her hug and looked up to me.
“You? Did you fight bad guys again?”
“We are not fighting, it was a training.”
“Ahhh” she said while nodding her head
After they left, I had to stand and carry Cherry along the path that I do not know how to navigate.
Eat, sleep, wake up, go to school, and train; a cycle I chose to be trapped. They left us a house that I alone need to make a home, for Cherry.
After eating, Cherry went upstairs to study. I slept for 3 hours and went to her room to check if she’s already asleep, and she was. Then, I walked downstairs and went out.
I walked towards the nearest park, there I put on my earphone and started to jog. Mornings are for Cherry; preparing her meals and walking her to school. Nights are for my pre-training workout.
While running, I answered a call. Who could it be? It’s 1 am in the morning.
“Hello?”
“Hey, Khem.”
“Who is this?”
“It’s me Sun.”
Sun, he was a senior from Muay Thai club at the university. He was kicked out a year ago because it was found out that he was with an underground group who fights. It was a talk of the town for quite some time but our coach did not disclose more details about the incident.
" P’Sun, how did you get my number?”
I haven’t personally met him. When I joined the club he was already kicked out.
“Was Lee present today on your training?”
“Lee?” does Lee know P’Sun? That jerk, he’s not into trouble right?
It was silent at the other line for a few seconds then he said, “Nothing”
He ended the call, but was he talking about the Lee that I know? I sent a message to Lee before I continued to run.
To: Lee
Do you remember P’Sun?
After 2 hours I went home and changed clothes. Prepared cooking the food for Cherry and washing the clothes from the last few days I forgot because of the exams.
It was now 5 am when I woke her up.
After sending her to school, I checked my messages and there I saw Lee’s response.
To: Khem
No
It was the shortest message he sent me. Without further questioning him, I put the cellphone in my pockets and continued walking. My eyes seeing straight ahead, I have not noticed the approaching bicycle from the right corner of the street carrying the person I despise, Anan.
He blocked my way using the bicycle and said, “Hey! I did not know you got uglier.”
“Hey, I did not know you got jerkier.” I said forming a mocking face. He let out a laugh that caught the attention of the passersby.
Then I heard a girl say, “Isn’t it Anan? The model from Chula?”
Yes that is him. Do not be fooled. He just got the face, but never the attitude. I said in my mind and continued walking.
Anan, is the perfect definition of a wolf in a sheep’s clothing. He is dangerous.
