Fighter

Chapter 10

"C'mon, I even brought a note from my doctor that says my ribs are good and that I can fight again. You didn't wait this long when you hurt your ribs."
"That's because I hurt my ribs before and I know what to do and what not to do." I continue to punch the bag.
"But the doctor-"
I abruptly stop punching and turn to face him. "Fine." He gives what could almost be a squeal of delight. "But only because you're doctor said it was alright."
Seyoon grabs my arms and hops me around in a circle. "I am going to wrap my hands and then we are going to fight."
I can't help but laugh as he jogs off to his bad and pulls out the red wrapping that I had loaned him when he first started training with me. I watch his hands as he meticulously wraps his hands like I taught him. I think back to that first day we trained together. I didn't think he would last. I really didn't think that he would love to box as much as I did. He truly enjoyed the feelings of the gloves on his hands. Of the adrenaline rushing through his veins.
He starts to wrap his right hand now. I can't believe that I think I am starting to fall for this man. This man who, when I met him he couldn't even defend himself. This man who made me feel so safe yet challenged me and cared for me even when I tried to push him away. Goodness, I was thinking like some poor old sap. I smile as I focus back on Seyoon who has finished wrapping his hand.
He looks up and stares back at me. "What's so funny?" He slings his gloves over his neck before he stands up and walks back over to me. "Why are you grinning?"
"No reason." I can feel my grin get a little bigger. "We aren't going to start fighting yet." I poke at the gloves swinging from his neck.
"What do you mean?! You said I could fight!"
"You haven't fought in weeks. You are probably really out of shape. We are going to do drills and maybe the punching bag today. So you can put the gloves away."
He doesn't try to argue with me but just trudges back to his gym bag and throws his gloves in there. Then he slowly trudges back to me.
"Let's go. Look I will even do the drills with you." I see him think about it before nodding an okay.
We work out doing drills for another half hour.
Seyoon takes one of my hands. "Can we do one mock fight please? We can go easy and-please I am dying to get back in the ring." He is giving me puppy eyes.
"Alright we can do some work in the ring." I finally give in. He would probably be fine anyways. If they had been broken I wouldn't have let him fight.
"Yes!" He does a small jig.
"Go put your gloves on." I am laughing at his giddiness. His excitement was contagious.
When he comes back I ask him, "You ready?"
"To quote my favorite-" he starts.
Oh, no. "If I hear one more anime reference from you I'll-"
"You'll what?" he teases me.
I make a small motion as if I was going to punch him. He quickly darts away from me and into the ring as fast as he can.
"You can't run. I'm coming after you." I duck into the ring and put my gloves up, I am just waiting for him to make the first move.
He and I shuffle around each other for a moment before he tries for an uppercut but I am quick to hop back. I jump back forward to try to punch him twice on his left arm before feinting a punch to the face.
Instead I undercut to his stomach but I stop before my punch lands. I don't want to aggravate his ribs. But my halting throws me off balance and before I can step back Seyoon gets a lucky punch in to my side.
I duck low as I see him swing again this time for my head. I have to duck again as he takes another punch with his left hand.
I need to get the upper hand. I want to try something but it's risky if it will work. I take a couple steps back and hope that he takes the bait and comes after me. When he does I turn to the side and try to punch his head. He is smart and dodges. I accidentally over reach my punch and lose my balance. I start to fall forward and I feel Seyoon try to catch me but we both end up falling over.
Unexpectedly I land on top of Seyoon. I hear him let out a low groan.
"Seyoon oh no! Your ribs!" I shout as I try to get off of him.
"My ribs will be fine." His arms hold me down as he looks me in the eyes, "You look really pretty right now."
I look back up at him. What an odd thing to say at this moment, "Oh my goodness. Did you hit your head?"
He gives me a silly lopsided grin. "No, I am fine."
"Are you sure?" I roll so I am lying next to him rather than on top of him.
"I actually don't know. Maybe you should take me home and watch over me to make sure."
I chuckle at his not so subtle attempt to hang out. "Is that your way of inviting yourself over after practice?"
"Maybe. Is it working?" He looks over at me.
"Maybe. You up for some card games?" We are both smiling at each other as we lay on the boxing mat.
"I could be."
I sit up, "Let's get going. We've pushed your ribs enough for your first day back." I get to my feet and hold out my hand to Seyoon to pull him up.
"Alright." He grasps my hand and stands up. "Let's go."
We both gather up our stuff and head out of the gym.
We haven't gotten far before I start to have this ere feeling. Like something or someone had their eyes on me. I waited for the feeling to go away. I kept glancing around me., expecting to see someone staring or something to make sense of this feeling.
"What's wrong?" Seyoon asks me.
"I am not sure. It feels like someone is following us. Do you feel that? Like the hairs on the back of your neck are standing on end?" I rub my arms.
"No, but maybe we should hurry back to your apartment." We both walk a little faster after that. Seyoon is grasping my hand tightly.
He doesn't say it but I know we are both thinking about the same thing. Dongho.
***
"Why don't we make things a little interesting?" I look up to see Seyoon's clever smile.
"Interesting? Interesting how?" I look up at him through my eyelashes.
"Well, how about a small bet." He starts to chew on his lip.
"Oh, and what are the stakes?" He looks so good when he did that.
"If I win, I would like you to go out on a date with me."
"A date? What have we been doing?" Oh my goodness, I could feel the butterflies start to flutter in my stomach. I couldn't believe this was happening.
"I mean a proper one where we get all dressed up and I take you out to dinner. We can even go ice skating after or something." I can hear the nervousness in his voice. I can almost see him blush.
"Alright. And if I win?" I wonder if I can further his blushing.
"Then you get whatever you want." He looks me dead in the eyes.
"Deal." I hold out my hand for him. He takes it and we both shake on it.
***
"Uno." Seyoon holds up what looks like a single card.
"What? No way." I look at the card closer. "I just looked at your cards 2 turns ago and you had at least 5 cards. There is no way you are already at Uno."
"Better believe it because I am going to win." We are both sitting cross-legged on my couch facing each other with the pile of cards between us.
"I think you cheated." I point an accusing finger at him.
"I would never cheat." He is holding up his arms.
"Prove it, show me your card." I reach out now for him to show me his card.
"No." Seyoon holds it far away.
"Show me your card!" I reach over the deck to try to grab at his card. "Give it to me!"
I am still reaching and when I look down at his face his is only centimeters away from mine. We are breathing the same air and slowly we forget about the cards in our hands.
I want to lean in. I want to feel our lips meet and touch. I want to be in his arms. Seyoon's eyes close softly and I can feel mine start to do the same.
But I don't know if I can. Is it still too soon? Can I let myself love him?
I don't think I have a choice or if I did, it's already been made. I reach up with one of my hands and place it on his cheek. I can feel him lean his head into my palm. I can feel the heat of our bodies.
What am I waiting for? Everything in my body is telling me to kiss him already.
I close the small distance and our lips meet. As soon as our lips touch all the passion that we had been holding back was released through us. Suddenly it was if someone had stuck us with a live wire and to break the kiss would cause us both to be electrocuted.
I could feel myself melt into the kiss as his arms wrapped around me. His large hands placed flat along the small of my back. I wanted this kiss to last forever.
But soon we both had to come up for air. We stayed close with our noses still crossed as we looked into each other's eyes and feel one another's presence. I can feel my heart is veering a million miles per second.
"Uh, um." I struggle to clear my throat.
For a minute he doesn't respond. He just sits there looking at me. His eyes glance down at my lips and quickly he goes in for a peck.
"I guess no one really won the game." He chuckles.
"I guess you're right." I can't help but let out a breathy laugh as well. I know if I stay in his arms I will just want more and more kissses so I sit back across the couch.
"It's probably best if you go home now." I pull my hair behind my ear as I feel myself starting to blush.
"Okay. That's probably a god idea." He moves to stand up and heads towards the door.
As he is leaving I realize I have something I want to say. "And uh, how do I say this?" I stop him right after he crosses the threshold. "It would be okay with me if you still wanted to take me on that date."
A big grin stretches across his already smiling face. "Really?" I can't speak so I just nod. "I'll pick you up at 7 tomorrow!" He heads off towards the elevator and I shut the door.