𝐀𝐞𝐢𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐲

2.5 When The Stars Align

"This could all be over in an instant. The decision is yours." I drop down to a push-up and stand up. "Who trashed the Miyagi-Do?" Dad shouted.

We had been doing burpees for over an hour. I was exhausted and my arms were aching. No one's fessed up yet. "Ya'll know I'm not a fan of LaRusso's but that type of bullshit we don't teach here." Dad walked up to the front.

"At least not anymore." He said glancing over at Kreese. I drop down again and again.

"So, I'm gonna ask again. Who trashed the Miyagi-Do?" He shouted again. I bogged as I dropped down again.

"It wasn't me Sensei." I look over and see 'Chubs' talking between breaths. "I would never disrespect another man's dojo." I sigh as I drop down again. I'm not sure how much more of this I can take.

"Shut your cakehole, Chubs." Dad scolds and Chubs goes back to his burpees.

"I'm not looking for excuses, I'm looking for answers." I felt my arms shake under me.

"Da-Sensei, we really don't know who did it." I say putting my hand against my side where I got a cramp. I make my way down again.

"Someone knows something." Kreese says looking around the room. "Question is...who's going to break." I roll my eyes and drop down again. Suddenly the phone rings "Keep going. We could do this all day." Dad leaves to answer it. I groan and drop down again. I struggle to get up, but I keep going.

I see Mitch walk up to Kreese. "Sensei, we need a water break." I keep going and I feel like I'm about to collapse.

"Two-minute break!" He says and I drop to my knees and sigh in relief. "Gather your bearings." I try to get up as my legs burn under me.

I was now on my hands and knees with my head hanging down.

"Come on, get up." I look up to see Hawk offering his hand. I didn't want to, but I accepted his help. He walked over to my bag with me. He grabbed the bottle from my bag and handed it to me. 

I pour the water into my mouth and swallow. I breathe hard and take another drink.

"You gonna be alright?" He asked. I nod with water in my mouth. He nods back and makes his way over to Kreese. I furrow my brows confused.

I walk into Dad's office as he hangs up the phone. "Who was it?" I ask. He gives me a mourning look. "It was Bobby. Tommy's sick and it's pretty bad." My face drops. Uncle Bobby and Uncle Tommy used to come by a lot when I was younger, but I haven't seen them since we moved.

Uncle Tommy helped me get my first scar. I was ten and had a strange fascination with dirt bikes. Mom wouldn't let me ride one, but Uncle Tommy had brought a small one over one time. He showed me how to gas and brake and I took off, straight into a wood fence.

I had gotten a deep cut on my hip and Mom went ballistic. I wasn't upset though. I wanted to go again, but she told Uncle Tommy to throw the bike away.

"I'm gonna go meet up with them, let Tommy have a bit of fun before h-he..." Dad struggles to finish. "It's ok dad. Go." I say. He looks up and smiles at me.

"Thanks, Squirt." He walks over and plants a kiss on my head. "Egh...you're all sweaty." He says wiping his mouth. "Who's fault is that?" I ask. He smiles and walks out. I follow and join everyone on the mat.

Dad walks out and I smile at him.

"Alright, everyone to the back." Kreese says walking into the backroom. We follow.

*

I was now doing bicep curls with Hawk while the others were doing either ropes, core drills, or push-ups.