So that's what Lisa's mom said when she said that she wanted to see me in action...
Now I'm supposed to fight Malik, he told me it was a sparring, but knowing him he will try to push further than that...
"What are you waiting for? Gear up!"
he says with a smile on his face.
"Hey wait! Johan's not even warmed up yet! And he didn't even put a mouthguard on!"
said Lisa.
Thank God Lisa's here, she bought me some time to prepare.
"What are you waiting for? Take a mouthpiece and put it in boiling water!"
she adds.
"Aye captain~..."
said Malik while leaving the room.
I wonder how long it will take. He once told me that mouthguards are actually pretty quick to boil, but I don't really know how all of this works.
"Anyways, let's stretch! It would be sad if you were to injure yourself because your body is not ready,"
she said.
"U-uh ok,"
I replied.
"Let's start with leg swings!"
"Uh what's that?"
Leg swing? Is it literally just swinging my leg, or is there more to it?
"Ok, you know what, I'm going to spot you."
"Oh no, don't worry, I can do it myself if you just explain it to me—"
She cuts me off.
"—It's also for me that I'm doing this. I'm willing to be a coach in the future, so helping you could actually benefit me!"
she says while smiling.
Whenever she smiles, it's really hard for me to say no to her.
"Fine..."
After she carefully explained, I started doing the movement. I felt really embarrassed, I'm glad nobody else was there to see it.
"You're actually doing good! Keep it up. Try to go higher each time!"
After she observed me for a while, she spoke again.
"Alright, now do the other leg."
I continued to warm up, hearing her counting...
It was pretty fun actually.
"13, 14, 15! Alright, now let's do arm circles."
"I don't know how that looks either..."
I said.
"That's fine, Johan! You're here to learn, remember?"
she replied.
"Now then, let's do it!"
she added.
Usually I don't like sports, but her smile, her laughter...
Everything seemed to indicate that she loved it, and for her I think I could do anything...
...
"Yo, guess who's back!"
said Malik while entering the room.
"There you are,"
I said.
I'm ready now, whatever happens, I won't let him win, even if it's just a sparring.
"Woah, you're all dressed up, looks like you're ready to go now!"
he said.
"Be careful Malik, Johan's all fired up, he might go and beat you up!"
she said, proud of herself.
"Catch,"
he said while throwing me my mouthpiece.
"Put it in your mouth and bite it for a few minutes. I'll go stretch in the meantime,"
he added.
...
It was finally time for the sparring. Malik was standing in front of me, but it felt weird.
I fought him a lot of times in the past, but I don't think I ever fought him in those conditions.
Since he was calm, his posture seemed more refined, and it felt like he was ready to strike me at any time.
He reached out with his hand for the tap, and as soon as our hands touched, he went back a few steps.
"No helmet, huh?"
he said.
"Helmet?"
I turned to take a look at Lisa, and she was keeping herself from laughing.
Fuck, I feel like I just got played.
Whoosh.
I barely dodged the first he threw at me. Was Malik always that fast?
He stepped towards me and threw a jab, that was actually a feint—
—I lifted my guard, but...
Thud.
"Gasp—"
He actually lured me into raising my arms so he could throw a huge kick into my ribs...
I couldn't afford to take much of those shots. Malik is a heavy hitter and a very fast one at that.
Swish—
—Smack
I finally landed a blow on him.
It wasn't a heavy one, but it felt good.
I think I'm picking up the pace.
I rushed dangerously close to Malik to have a direct face-off.
Pow.
Wham!
I had the upper hand. Malik couldn't do anything else but keep his guard up and take the punches head-on.
"Huff—"
I took a heavy breath to prepare the finishing blow—
—BAM!
The whole world went dark for a moment.
I heard two voices but couldn't really tell what they were saying.
All I know is that I got surprised by a mean uppercut and was now lying on the mat.
...
"Malik, what was that for! It's just a sparring!"
"Well sorry, I think I got caught in the heat of the moment—"
"—Heat of the moment? Come on, you knocked him out cold!"
Oh, it was Lisa's voice just now...
"Hehe~"
I chuckled.
"Johan! Are you alright?"
she said while crouching beside me.
"Yeah... That was fun... I had fun,"
I replied.
Phew.
"I'm glad he's alright,"
she said.
"Well honestly, I don't know what happened, but Johan's not that bad usually,"
he said while removing his gloves.
"Hey! The conditions are different, okay?"
I said while getting up.
"I mean, I understand. Everyone is pretty stiff when they spar for the first time. But you have great instincts, I think it will just come with time,"
he replied.
"The issue is that we don't have time,"
said Lisa.
Don't tell me...
"What do you mean, not enough time?"
"Oh—Um, the fight is tomorrow, Johan,"
she said.
"Fuck."
"Fuck indeed, my friend!"
said Malik while going into the locker room.
Well, it looks like I'm going to have a tough day tomorrow.
But more importantly, it's already 1 PM.
I have to go back home already!
"Holy shit! I have to go!"
I said.
"Ok bye, Johan. See you tomorrow! Don't forget to come tomorrow, we're all counting on you!"
she said.
I bolted out of the gym and saw Lisa's mom leaning against her car, smoking.
"Uh—you're done already?"
she says.
She threw her cigarette at her feet and stomped on it.
She looked like someone just caught her doing something she didn't want to be revealed.
"Yeah, I have to go back home. My grandparents are coming over for the first time in a while, and I'm already late,"
I replied.
"Hop in, I'll drop you off."
"Thanks ma'am!"
"By the way, now that you stepped foot into my gym, you have to call me coach, kiddo,"
she said while buckling her seatbelt.
"Alright, coach!"
...
"It's there! Thank you for driving me all the way here,"
I said while getting off.
"It's fine, really, though it's a shame I can't meet your parents today,"
she said before driving off.
"Meet my parents? Why for?"
I mumbled to myself while walking towards the front door.
Ding dong.
I rang the bell and waited for someone to open the door.
...
"My... look at who just arrived. I was wondering where you were this whole time!"
said my mom.
"Sorry for being late, Mom. I was hanging out with a friend."
"Oh, don't worry, Johan. Come, your grandparents are waiting in the living room."
My heart was beating fast.
My grandmother, the same grandmother that made my childhood hell.
She was there, sitting in my living room...
"Oh, if it's not our Johan! Look at how tall he grew!"
said my grandfather while walking towards me.
"Hello grandpa, it's been too long. Way too long."
"Oh, come into my arms, Han. It's been too long indeed!"
he said while hugging me.
My grandfather is the complete opposite of my grandmother.
He is kind, brave, outgoing, and I know he loves me.
I always wondered how he came to marry a woman as petty as my grandmother.
"Hmpf, I heard you were outside hanging out with friends. Congratulations, you even have friends now!"
said my grandmother.
I could feel the sarcasm in every word she uttered. It looks like she doesn't plan on hiding her mockeries like last time.
"Mom!"
said my mother while looking at her.
"Don't worry, Mom, I'm fine—
—It's been a while, granny. I'm glad to see that you're still alive. I thought that all this drinking would have you dead by your seventies."
I replied while heading to my room.
"Oh! Come here this instant, you punk!"
she said angrily.
I didn't even bother to turn around. She can't even lift herself from the sofa without help anyways.
"Come on, let's calm down here. I think Johan is still a bit tired, he's going to calm down in his room before coming back down,"
said my dad.
...
I opened the door and laid on my bed, face first.
Ahh—
If only this old hag could just disappear...
No, as much as I hate her, my mom still sees her as family...
"Fuck, why did she have to come here if she hates me that much,"
I said while stuffing my head onto my pillow.
...