Heroes Gone Haywire! [HGH Book 1] [Completed]

Chapter 18: Alpha Male

A/N: Warning: LOTS of strong langauge ^^;;

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Chapter 18: Alpha Male

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Sa hapon mismo ng araw na 'yon ay nagtipon ang iilan sa kapatiran ni Jason sa isang disyertong kanto na ilang pagitan sa likod ng paaralan. Naroon na ang tagahatol ng laban na si Sir Alarcon; siya'y matangkad, na halos kasingtakad ni JR; may pagkamestisuhin, matipuno ang katawan, at matalim ang mata. He seemed to be in his late late twenties or early thirties.

Jason was smirking; he had at least seven of his allies with him. Erin had tagged along with JR and Emilio; Jason looked at her with contempt, at malagkit ang tingin niya sa dalaga. Erin seemed to be resisting the urge to squirm under that stare.

"Ang angas mo rin, ano, EJ?" ang hamon agad ni Jason Sandoval sa walang imik na humalukipkip na binatang nanlilisik ang mata. "It's no fucking joke to challenge anyone from the kapatiran. And most especially," Jason's smirk widened, "it's no fucking joke to challenge me."

JR stooped to whisper into Emilio's ear. "Bro, hangin lang 'yan. Don't let that son of a bitch get to you."

Emilio answered quietly. "Alam ko."

"At ang tanga mo rin, Alfieri!" dugtong ng isa sa mga kasamahan ni Jason. "Pahamon-hamon ka pa at ang epal mong kaibigan. Alam mo naman, pare, that you don't stand a chance. Formality lang ang lahat na 'to!" Napangiwi nalang si JR. Halos magkakamukha na ang kapatiran sa paggaspang-asal at sa kayabangan.

Pumiksi si JR. "There's eight of you; too bad I've got only two middle fingers. I don't really have much fucks to give."

"What the fuck did you say—?" Nameless kid was about to charge towards JR when Sir Alarcon stepped in between him and EJ's group. "This duel is between Jason and EJ, Mr. Guevarra." The older man cautiously lifted a finger at him and then at JR. JR clenched his jaw but obediently held his tongue.

Jason shook his head impatiently. "Let's get this shit duel over with. Aksaya lang 'to ng panahon."

Sir Alarcon sharply glared at Jason, and he began outlining the rules of the duel. "This isn't a duel to death, gentlemen. No other weapons will be used but the fists. You can only go down three times. Third time you fall, you lose. And if course, if you get knocked out, you lose. Understood?"

Emilio was clearly straightforward. Pagalit pa ang sagot ni Jason. "Yes, sir," ang tugon nilang dalawa. Sir Alarcon swiftly gestured for them to take their places at the middle of a circle formed among the onlookers to lock the makeshift arena. A tightness hung in the air.

Emilio quickly glanced at Erin before turning his attention back at his opponent. Their eyes met for a moment, but in that split-second, napanatag ang loob ni Erin. Tumabi agad si JR sa dalaga na tila siya'y pinag-iingatan sa bilin ni Emilio.

Halos isang talampakan din ang tangkad ni Jason kay Emilio, ngunit hindi man nag-alangan si Emilio. Itinaas nila ang kanilang mga kamao habang hinintay nila ang signal ni Sir Alarcon.

Tila isang boxing match ang naganap. "Fight!" ang bulalas ni Sir Alarcon.

There was a moment's pause between the two young men, as if they were measuring each other's strength. Subalit si Jason ang unang nanhandulong; he aimed for Emilio's head. Agad-agad pumitlag si Emilio sa suntok at marahas niyang tinaplak ang bisig ni Jason. Emilio grimaced at the effort at napuna niya ang lakas ni Jason. But he successfully blocked the attack at bahagyang sumubsob si Jason palabas ng arena.

Jason appeared to have been caught off-guard; Emilio took that opportunity to strike. It was an underhand punch; to Emilio's frustration ay blinoke din ito ni Jason and as quick as lightning, Jason threw a counterpunch. It successfully hit Emilio on the face. There was much force at humapay si Emilio, ngunit hindi siya natumba.