Of Kings and Aces

07| The Fight Club

Ever since the time at the Green Room, Jacob rarely made an appearance unless it was warranted. He coursed all his concerns through Bart or through Noelle, and rarely through Jaxx. It was a relief because I didn't have to have another internal debate on my quarter-life crisis, nor did I have to dwell on anything remotely close to opening old wounds and issues.

Summer was about to end and the thought of having some quiet time in the white sand and aquamarine waters of Milieu Paradise Club revisited me. The beach was haunting me. It wasn't as if I haven't gone to one the entire summer. In fact, I've been to the beach almost all weekends but it was always so busy and we always ended up drunk senseless, like we were still in college.

What I wanted was quiet time with a few good friends. I never imagined I would choose that over partying and women, but I suppose things change, people change. A person's preferences change as he matures indicating he was slowly giving in to adulthood and all the crappy responsibilities and shits that went with it.

"Now I understand how Chino feels when he says he needed some quiet time," I mused. I used to think he was such a pussy. He partied and drank but if given the option, he would stay home and chill with his dog over Netflix and chips. Oh wait, he didn't have a dog. 

Not able to wait any longer, I barged into Jaxx's office without knocking to find him and Jacob in a serious conversation.

"Is this a bad time?" I panted, breathless from walking too briskly.

"Not really."

"Yes."

They said at the same time. "Which one is it?"

"Get in," Jaxx said while Jacob sighed, defeated.

"What's happening?"

"Do you want to go to an underground fight club?" Jaxx asked, eyes twinkling with excitement.

"Hell, yeah! Like that Fight Club fight club, with the rules and shit?" I quickly closed the door. I suddenly felt giddy from eagerness to find out where and when we'd be going. That movie was too violent for high school kids but it was a cult classic because everybody wanted to be cool even though it also was a little too deep for us to understand the real message or point of the movie.

"The first rule of Fight Club is," I began.

"You do not talk about Fight Club!" we say in unison like Tyler Durden's army and laughed. Jacob sat there watching us. The earlier annoyance was replaced by a stoical expression, not giving away any emotion except that I saw the corner of his lip raise ever so slightly.

"Wait, are you fighting again? Aren't you too old for that shit?" my eyebrows furrowed.

"I retired, remember? We're just going to be an audience," Jaxx answered lazily.

"Shit, did you tell Bart?" I panicked, afraid that, with Bart's big mouth, the entire office would end up at the secret club tonight.

"I'm not stupid," he scoffed.

"Well, that's news," I chuckled and sat on the chair in front of Jacob. I was feeling more relaxed right now but it seems it was the opposite for him. He just stared at an object on the table, not bothering to even glance in my direction. "So what time are we going?"

"There are two fights tonight. First one starts at ten but the main event is at eleven, eleven-thirty," he said, looking only at Jaxx. "I suggest you park somewhere safe or take a taxi. If you guys get there before ten, I can let you in. After that, though, you'll have to pay the lookout guy."

I scrunched my eyebrows, "Today's Tuesday. Are you sure there's going to be a fight on a Tuesday night?"

"Duh," Jaxx answered for him. "Who's your guy in the first fight?"