Obvious Truth, Oblivious Mind {ZIAM}

Ch. 5: Caught Cold

 ❝

Dear Liam,

My mum insisted that training with Marshall was not an option until I healed, so I spent most of my time ignoring my schoolwork and hanging out with you, Liam. Standard. The day after the fight we spent at your house, listening to music and showing you the wonders of Chris Brown and Usher. You were concerned about my face and how I winced when you hugged me, but I said some excuse that you didn't believe, but it looked like you wanted to. It was then that you told me you wanted to join the footie team. The bruises on my face were nearly gone though, but my ribs were still sore. I hadn't told you about the fight, I tried to protect you from knowing. I didn't want you to think I wasn't strong. All I wanted was to be as strong as you.

❞

"Come on, Zayn! Another ten seconds!" Marshall pushed as but I couldn't take it. The blood rushed through my ears and my arms felt like they were padded with lead. I put my hands on either side of the punching bag and closed my eyes. I swore my heart was going to pound out of my skinny torso.

"I have-- to, stop," I huffed, grabbing my water bottle and gulping the cold water.

"That was good, Zayn," He said, clapping a muscular hand on my shoulder. The force was gentle, but I was so weak it nearly made me fall over. "Stretch out and head to the showers, I'll see you in two days."

I nearly groaned. It was my first day training with Marshall and I desperately wanted it to be my last.

Marshall did not look like someone who was once friends with Trisha Malik. He was a large black man with a thick African accent and even thicker arms and legs. His face glistened with sweat, making his dark skin shine like I imagine saints would.

I got to the locker room and laid on the bench in between the lockers, I knew I should stretch like Marshall said but I didn't have the strength. After the sweat covering my body dried I sat up, wincing as my abs protested at the effort and slumped to the shower. The cold water felt amazing against my still hot face and body. I put my forearms on the wall and leaned my head against the freezing tile. Never had I pushed my body as hard as I had today, and it felt amazing. I saw my reflection in the mirror after I washed up and I began to see something different. There was something about me that had changed, and it wasn't physical I had just started training, but something different all the same. Before I could text Liam I saw that I already had a couple texts and a missed call from him.

I checked the voicemail first.

"Hey Zaynie, what's up? You're not answering any of my texts. I have something to tell you. Get back to me, I miss you!"

A smile lit my face at that. I called back immediately.

"Hey Zayn, where have you been!"

"I've been boxing, I told you that," I said, surprise he didn't remember.

"Oh yeah, sorry. I'm sorry, but some of my friends are going to the bowling alley tonight and I wondering if you wanted to come by too."
"Oh, oh yeah, okay," I said, excited already. "Oh, um. Who will be there?"

"Just some kids from school, Justin and Andy and his cousin."

I sighed in relief, it wasn't one of the kids who beat me up.

"Okay, well I should go. I'll see you tonight," I said, as I heard someone coming into the locker room.

"Alright, bye."
"Bye."

Just then Marshall walked into the room, a white tank top thrown over his sculpted body.

"Hey, Zayn. I gotta talk to you about something."

"Okay, what," I said, taking a towel and rubbing through my damp hair.

"I always have this talk with someone I'm training. It helps me understand what they want out of this better."

"Okay," I said, still slightly intimidated.

"You seem like a quiet kid. And you come from the sweetest and least-aggressive person I know. So it makes me wonder why your mom called me and scheduled this training."

"Humiliated, but not wanting to be dishonest I said, "I'm getting beat up at school."

"That makes sense."

"Why?" I said, finding the courage to look at the brute of a man next to me.

"When you were boxing there, just for a minute or so. When I pushed you really hard, this different person came out. This person who was stronger than the bullies. And that's who you really are."

"I don't understand."

"With enough training those boys won't stand a chance. Your speed and your agility is natural, and your work ethic even better. You're strong enough, you just have to show them who's boss."

"Thanks Marshall," I said, wanting to believe him.

"It's good. Head on out so I can close up."

With that, I picked up my bag and walked to the car park where my mom was waiting.

"How was it?" She asked, turning around.

"I looked at my mom and back at the building, where somewhere inside was the man who was gonna make me strong. The one who would make bullies cower away from me.

"Potentially life changing."

She smiled, and then we were gone.