Rebels At Their Finest (Block B)

45: Heart is Hurt

Kyu Ree had slunk out from Taeil's grip long enough to get changed and hurry out the door, quietly closing it behind her. He didn't need to know that she was leaving, and he didn't need to know why. Nervously, she hurried to the elevator, knowing that if the doors closed before the apartment door opened she was safe.

Luckily for her, that was just what happened and she stood alone on the inside of the elevator, her breath frozen in her chest and her heart racing. What was she going to do? What in the world was she going to do if she was right? God, how was she going to break the news to Taeil?

The elevator opened and she walked out of the doors, greeting the man sitting at the desk, and continued outside. God, why was it so bright outside? She tugged the sunglasses from the bag she'd grabbed to bring with her and slid them on, still glaring through the bright morning light as she hurried down the street towards the subway station. She couldn't get a test from nearby. If she got it from around where she lived, there was a possibility of people she knew seeing her getting the test and talking. She couldn't have that, not now.

Her heart was racing, even though she knew no one would know besides herself. She couldn't let anyone know. She couldn't be right...

River stopped for a breath and stood to continue kicking at the man before holding pads. Maybe she was taking her anger out on the pads, or maybe it had finally hit her and all she could do from that point forward was be angry and aggressive.

Haneul stepped between her and the pads just as she had straightened and stared at her with half lidded eyes and a slight smirk. River didn't hold back. She swung out at him, punching as hard as she could, swinging her legs as fast as she could to impact him with her heel. But Haneul knew her too well, like he'd said. He easily dodged and weaved away from her, grabbing her wrist and tugging her arm towards her.

But she knew his moves and how he executed them, so she ducked down, letting him hold her wrist still, and hoisted her feet into his stomach, launching him over her and slamming him on the ground behind her.

"Time!" The ref on the side shouted.

Haneul stood with ease, as if the impact hadn't harmed him at all. "Nice launch but your form faltered. Had you kept your form steady I wouldn't have been able to grab you so easily."

"I'll work on it." River said, panting. "Punishment?" She asked, tugging off her hand gloves and wiping sweat from her forehead.

Haneul shook his head. "None. You're still just getting back onto your feet. I'll go harder on you next time, go for a shot that's not so easy to read. For now, work on endurance. You never used to pant like that." He said, pointing to her. "Maybe hit the sauna later."

"I'll head down to the treadmills." She said easily.

Haneul shrugged. "Or we can take a few laps around the track. Together. Like we used to." He said, reaching out a hand. One of his workers hurried over and handed him a towel, offering one to River as well. "Actually, I thought you could do my regular workouts with me. If you start doing what I do, then you should reach my level with ease."

"I think-"

"That sounded like an insult? I didn't mean that. I just figured it meant having someone who understand your moves, your approach to a fight for better advice or something like that. If we can watch each other use the same approach we can watch our flaws in action. We can see what we're doing wrong in each other." He shrugged. "Just a thought. You don't have to."