Sweetheart || BBANGSAZ

3. Ready Or Not Here I Come

"Hey, Kenny," I said as I pushed open the doors.

"Sup, Wide Eyes," he replied, smirkin'. Kenny's the leader of the club, the big guy who talked to me that day. He's been callin' me "Wide Eyes" ever since, says it's 'cause I looked all wide-eyed on the freeway that night.

"Where's Kim?" I asked.

He shrugged, nodding towards the back. "Check the back."

I nodded back and started squeezin' my way through the crowd. My ribs still ached, and a few guys jostled me as I passed.

"Sorry, missy," they mumbled when I shot them a glare. The thing about these guys is they don't respond to kindness; you gotta be a little sassy to get through to 'em.

"Shove off," I snapped, pushin' Chuck back when he got a little too close, breathin' down my neck. He just chuckled, holdin' his hands up like he was all innocent.

Finally, I made it to the back, and there she was—Kim, wrappin' her hands in bandages.

"Already?" I smirked, leanin' against the wall.

She looked up, her focus broken like I'd interrupted somethin' important.

"We barely even started, and you're already bandaged up?" I teased.

She scoffed, a smug look crossin' her face. "That's a lotta talk for a girl like you," she shot back.

I grinned, feelin' a little bolder. "Well, I'm not just a girl, Am i?" I said, meetin' her gaze head-on.

Kim paused for a moment, her eyes narrowing as if she was sizing me up. Then, a slow grin spread across her face, one that made me feel like maybe I'd passed some kinda test.

"Alright then, not 'just a girl,' let's see what you've got," she said, unwrapping and re-wrapping the bandage on her hand like she was prepping for somethin' serious.

I nodded, a bit of nervous energy buzzing in my chest, but I wasn't about to back down now. I took a deep breath, stepping forward into the makeshift training space in the back of the bar. The place was dimly lit, the air heavy with the smell of sweat and motor oil. There wasn't much room, but that didn't seem to matter. It was just the two of us now.

"First things first,"Kim said, tossing me a pair of gloves. "Put these on."

I caught them, pullin' them on over my hands. They were worn in, probably seen a lotta action, but they fit pretty well.

"Alright," Kim said, her tone a little more serious now. "Let's start with the basics. You know how to throw a punch?"

"I've seen it done," I said with a bit of a shrug, tryin' to play it cool.

She shook her head, a small smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. "You're gonna do more than just see it. Come."

She showed me how to stand, feet apart, hands up, and how to throw a punch without hurtin' myself. It felt awkward at first, but with each jab and cross, I started to get the hang of it. Kim was patient, her usual tough demeanor softening just enough to guide me through without makin' me feel dumb.

"Not bad," she said after a few rounds. "You've got some strength in ya. But remember, it's not just about power. It's about control, too."

I nodded, focusing harder, tryin' to get each move right. Kim watched me closely, correcting my stance, my form, until it started to feel more natural.

After what felt like hours, she finally stepped back, nodding with approval. "You've got potential, Wide Eyes," she said, using that nickname in a way that didn't feel like a joke anymore.