DANDELIONS

Ch.18

Today is the day of the kung fu tournament, and as we entered the large arena, it was filled with people holding different colored flags, cheering for their favorite participants.

I looked around and noticed many competitors stretching in the middle of the mat. Seeing Dre looking nervous, I held his hand for support.

"Dre, nervous?" I asked, and he replied with a pale face, "Yeah, I think I'm going to be sick." I patted his back reassuringly.

"I know that feeling. I felt the same way in my first tournament. But Dre, always remember everything you've learned in kung fu, and both me and Mr. Han will be right beside you, supporting you in this journey. Stick to your goal and give it your best," I encouraged him, and he took a deep breath, smiling at me gratefully.

"Thank you, [name], for supporting me from the beginning," he said, and I nodded with a smile. Just then, Mr. Han approached us, holding a small book.

"What's that, Mr. Han?" I inquired, and he replied, "The rule book." Dre and I exchanged disbelieving glances.

"You don't know the rules?" Dre asked, puzzled. Mr. Han rolled his eyes and answered, "Of course, I know the rules. You hit him and don't let him hit you."

As Dre groaned in frustration, I added, "Two points to win, Dre. Focus on your moves, and give it your all." He looked a bit confused, but he nodded determinedly.

I pushed him into the arena where he faced a boy in a green jacket who seemed eager to fight. While Dre was preoccupied, I noticed Cheng staring at me, but I chose to ignore him and focus on supporting Dre.

As the fight began, the boy in the green jacket started punching Dre, making him run off the mat in fear. I yelled at Dre, telling him that he couldn't do that, and Mr. Han warned him about losing a point if he ran off again. Dre returned to the mat, and I reminded him to be strong.

The boy continued to attack, but Dre used his training, dodged punches, and executed some great moves. He won the first round, and I was ecstatic, rushing over to hug him.

Now we sat next to the mat, watching Liang in his fight with a boy in a brown uniform. Liang displayed his skills, and I winced when he made a powerful kick to the boy's chest, winning the second round.

Next up was Cheng with another opponent. He looked very angry, and I couldn't help but feel uneasy as I watched him kick his opponent hard.

Cheng's eyes met mine, and I glared back, not wanting to show any weakness. He smirked, but I didn't let it bother me.

Then it was Dre's turn again, and I heard Mr. Han say, "Dre, you're up against Zhuang." Dre looked nervous as he gulped.

As he entered the mat, Master Li lined up his students beside us, and Dre faced Zhuang. The fight began, and Zhuang started moving first, landing a punch on Dre's ribs, making me wince in sympathy.

Dre groaned in pain but retaliated with a powerful kick to Zhuang's face. I clapped for Dre, and someone in the crowd commented that Zhuang got lucky. I didn't hesitate to tell them to shut up, and I noticed Cheng watching the scene.

Ignoring him, I turned my attention back to Dre, who won the first round by knocking down Zhuang. I hugged him, proud of his performance.

Suddenly, I lost my balance and was about to fall when someone tightly hugged me from behind, preventing me from hitting the ground. I realized it was Wuping, and I looked into his worried face as my back touched his strong chest.

As I heard gasps from the audience, I slowly opened my eyes and saw Wuping looking up at Cheng, who was glaring at him while still holding me. Wuping told Cheng to let go, assuring him that I was fine.

I coughed slightly, and Wuping removed his hand from my waist, and I thanked him. Then I quickly ran beside Dre, who looked concerned for me.

Cheng continued to stare at us, and I blushed when he caught my gaze. He smirked, and I looked away, feeling a mix of emotions.

As the tournament continued, we cheered for our friends, including Dre, Liang, and even Cheng. I noticed my aunt Adeline and aunt Sherry in the crowd, and I waved at them with a wide smile.