I will return

54

I have just left Fred's body and am now comfortably in Tom's. My eyes focus on the bar, where N' Goo Tuana is making a drink right in front of me. Even though the body I occupy is already somewhat affected by alcohol, I can handle it. Tom orders another round, but I decide to change things up a bit.

"Better just an orange juice, N' Goo," I reply, in a casual tone.

He looks at me strangely, but nods and turns around to squeeze the oranges himself. As I observe his concentration, the thought crosses my mind: here I have in front of me one of those who once kicked me when we shared a cell. However, I must maintain control.

—Hey, N' Goo, did you already know that there will be a fight tonight? —I tell him, as if I just wanted to make conversation.

N' Goo Tuana raises an eyebrow and nods with a small smile.

"Yes, my friend Zarkos is going to fight two idiots," he answers, without hiding his satisfaction.

"And against Titan," I add, seeing how his face tenses a little when he hears the name.He goes quiet for a moment, as if remembering what Titan represents now. Finally, he nods, although his expression shows that he dislikes it a little.

"That's right... that guy has knocked down Zarkos several times," he admits, with a mixture of resignation and annoyance.

I smile with Tom's body, simulating empathy, and blurt out the following comment with apparent nonchalance:

—I think he's knocked it down about six times so far this month.

N' Goo Tuana frowns, clearly irritated.

—Is something wrong? —I ask with apparent innocence.

He sighs and, with a touch of frustration, responds:

—I still don't understand how his representative continues to support him. All he does is lose.

—And how do you represent it? —I tell him, knowing the answer.

"I'm one of your sponsors," he admits, with a touch of pride. Sometimes I cover the expenses of their injuries, falls... I have even had to contribute to their salary on some occasions.

I clearly remember how I handled things so that every hit, fall, and defeat of Zarkos was part of the plan. I make sure Titan always humiliates him.

"I can tell you like losing money," I say, with a smile on Tom's lips.

N' Goo Tuana gives me a hard look, frowning.

—What did you say? —he asks me, with a note of menace in his voice.

Just then, the door to the bar opens, and I see Fred and Daphne enter. Ah, the timing is perfect. I look at the couple and murmur in my mind, pleased: "Just in time."