Fighter

Chapter 1

I have to hurry to get to the gym, I knew I was already late and Dongho was going to kill me. I started to jog, I was only two blocks away.
            Up ahead I saw a big crowd of guys. I slowed down to see what was happening. Three or four men had ganged up on one lone guy. He looked rough, one eye was swollen shut, blood was coming from his nose, and he was on the ground. He looked like he wasn't going to be able to get up.
            I never liked bullies, and I liked an unfair fight less. I elbowed my way to the center of the circle, past all the men just standing there watching this happen. Absolute numbskulls.
            I push my way in between the kicking men and the guy on the ground.
            "Hey, stop it! Four to one doesn't really seem like a fair fight," I push with all my might on the guy in front.
            "Lady, go play with your dresses."
            "It's 2018, are people seriously still trying to use that as an insult? I could still kick all your asses in a dress and heels. Keeps me on my toes," I laughed at my own joke, but none of the other guys seemed to think it was very funny. "C'mon, no one is going to laugh at that? That was funny!"
            One of them was walking toward me. I instinctively put my fist up in front of my face.
            I get a chorus of "ohhhhs" and "so scary" but I just roll my eyes. Just wait till they're on the ground crying, I'll seem pretty scary then.
            The first guy continues to walk towards me, as he reached out his arm I take a sideways step, then a nice punch to the inside of his elbow. He reals his arm back, shocked. And while he is still confused I step closer to knee him in the stomach. I was aiming for the balls but he was shorter than I expected.
            Next guy, who obviously did not learn from the first guy, strides over and tries to grab me.
            Duck. Two steps back. He keeps coming at me. Duck. Ouch, I am a second late and he gets a lucky punch that glances off my cheek. Back up, and 1,2 to the side. Then while he is in pain and unawares, a nice elbow to the cheek.
            Dongho would kill me if he saw me boxing like this, but street fighting was completely different. I touch my cheek, when I pull my hand away there is blood on my fingers. Great, how was I supposed to hide this from Dongho now? The guy must have had a ring or something on his hand that punched me.
            A third guy was already coming at me. Time to pull out the big guns. I spin around quickly lifting my foot. My foot makes contact with his temple and he crumples like a bag of rocks.
            The fourth guy looks livid that a small girl had beaten up his friends.
            "Men just never know when to give up," I grumble. I don't even fight this one at first. I let him get so close he could have punched me before I drop and sweep my leg around, knocking his legs out from under him.
            "Anyone else want to beat this kid up?" I point to the guy on the ground. But I am talking to no one. The crowd is already dispersing. Everyone going every which way.
            I crouch down in front of the guy who is on his hands and knees now. "so what did you do to, you know, piss them off?" I ask genuinely curious.
            "I, ugh, I got into a mess with them a while ago, they only just found me," he was trying to stand now.
            I pop up. "Well, you're welcome, but I have to get going. You might want to get that checked out at the hospital. It looks broken." I point to the mess that is his nose, before I turn and start walking away.
            "Wait!" he struggles to run up beside me. "Um, thank you-"
            "It was no problem, really. I've been meaning to practice my MMA skills."
            "No, um really thank you, my name is Seyoon. What's your name?"
            I look him up and down as I walk. "It's none of your business. Hurry along to the hospital now."
            "I really think that I owe you. You saved me. Plus, you're hurt as well. You should come to the hospital with me."
            I stop in my tracks. He almost keeps walking without me before he comes back and stops next to me. I turn to him looking him up and down. He was dressed well. Sensible. I could see that underneath his black eye and swollen bleeding nose he might even be handsome. But he was scrawny. Looked like he hadn't ever thrown a punch in his life. I look him up and down one more time. "Doesn't look like theres much to save," I take a peek at my watch. Shoot, I was so late. "Listen I really have to be going, I can't take you to the hospital. You think you can get there by yourself?"
            "Yeah, but-"
            "Wonderful. Bye," I give him a quick wave before I hurry away, trying to make it to the gym as fast as possible. I don't give him a second glance.
            I try to sneak in as quietly as possible. Maybe he hasn't noticed I'm late yet. Crouched down I look left and then right before hurrying around the corner, straight into Dongho.
            "Oof," I let out my breath. "Hey there babe," I give him a halfhearted grin. "I was just about to go get ready. I'll see you out on the ring in a couple minutes." I try to sneak past him but he puts his arm out to stop me.
            He reaches out his other hand to grab my jaw, he turns my face to the side. Exposing my cut. "What were you doing?"
            "I, uh, cut it when I fell," I try to lie to him.
            "You cut your cheek when you fell?" he looks at me skeptically. I nod back. "Go get changed, we'll talk about it later." He shoos me to the bathroom. He has his hands on his hips. I can tell he is upset. I hate it when he gets upset with me.
            I hurry to change and bandage my hands. I also grab a band aide from the first aid kit. It was only a scratch after all.
            As I come out of the bathroom I start stretching all my limbs and get ready, it's go time.
            I am currently one of the front runners for the world championship this year. The championship was only in another four months so I need to make sure I am training as hard as I can, plus I had my private teaching lessons to do today. The teaching was my job, I have to pay the bills somehow.
            I duck my head under the ropes and into the ring where Dongho was waiting.
            "Since you were late, you are going to do drills for 15 minutes before we start practice."
            I let out a groan. Drills consisted of a lot of repetitive ducking the rope, squat punches, and plank hi touches. All of the above sucked and was super annoying. "Make it 10 minutes, please?"
            "Sure, tell me how you got the cut on your face." My face fell. I silently walk over to the rope to begin 30 dodges.

                    —————•••—————

            Dongho and I just finished up our mock fight. I was dripping in sweat. That was some great training. I could feel my muscles were aching from everything, plus all the drills earlier. But I was ready to go another round.
            "Harder! How do you expect to win worlds if you fight like this in practice. You need to be faster."
             I breath hard. "Sorry."
             He throws down his pads. "Don't be sorry, work harder!"
             I duck my head and wait for him to stop yelling. He was the only person in the world who made me feel powerless.
            "Hey! I have a new client for you," shouted the manager of the gym.
            I look at Dongho and he nots for me to go. "Alright," I walk over to the front desk. I pause. "Where is the client?" I turn to the manager.
            "Oh he said he had somewhere to be, but he requested you specifically, he'll be back later today after your other private lessons if that is okay with you."
            "Yeah, sure I guess," huh they had requested me specifically. I wonder if I had met them before.
**
            "Good! Keep going Mr. Hungjoo! You got this! You only have 30 more seconds left! Keep punching, don't give up. Go, go, go! Times up! Good job." I take a look at the clock. "Alright it's time for you to go. I'll see you next week. Keep practicing those right hooks." I smile and pat him on the back. He was in his seventies and probably the most adorable old man ever. He came and worked out with me once a week.
             I walk him to the front door and watch him leave. As he exits I turn around to confront the manager who is sitting at the front desk.
            "So where is my new client? Is he coming?"
            "Hello," he says to someone behind me.
            I turn around. "Oh, black eye! What are you doing here?" Standing in the doorway is.... shoot what was his name again? Seyoon! The guy I saved from getting beaten up. "I have to say you smarten up nicely. What brings you here?"
             "He's you're new client."
             "He's what?"