Digital Souls | Running Away From Love: The Prodigy

Cognac | Cigars | Glitter

JASON

I didn't want to let go of Katana's hand. I wanted to pull her into my room and make gentle passionate love to her. I wanted to hear that soft gentle voice of hers whisper my name. God, especially my middle name. Hearing her meaninglessly say it for the first time downstairs, fucking wrecked me. I'd do anything to hear it again.

But it's gonna take an unearthly miracle for that to happen. I'm a rich guy. Which in her eyes, is a dealbreaker.

Kenji and Sam took Mark and I, to a high class gentleman's bar. On the way there, Kenji asked if I was alright since Katana and I are just friends. If I said anything more about us to her brothers, she would be upset with me.

We sat in the cognac room where it looked like mob bosses were having their meeting. I asked for a glass of Hennessy mixed with Cola.
Sam ordered the same for him and Kenji. Mark stayed sober to drive us to the next place.

Mark leaned into me studying me for a second before he spoke, "Hey..we were in Tech Shop together." I studied him for a second, "Oh yeah. I knew you looked familiar. I didn't recognize you at first. You're so slim now. You look really good, bro."
"Hey, Thanks." He said cheerfully. "How are you keeping so slim these days?" He asked me.
"Kickboxing." I stated with a smile.
"Oh nice, man." He said.
"Kickboxing?" Sam asked. "That's where I know you from?" Your lightweight champion, Jason Lew Shinzo, in the city's division." I laughed. "Yeah that's me, I guess." I said.
Sam was in awe, "So you're thee youngest game company prodigy AND lightweight champion? Your my hero, man."
I laughed, "Gotta stay fit to run a company." I mentioned.
Sam leaned in to me as he lit his cigar, "You know.. Katana can probably kick your ass or just plain kill you?"
I raised my brow at him smiling, "What?" I asked.
"Katana is a black in Martial Arts. She's also excellent at sword play. Katana swords to be exact."
"Wow, no shit." I mumbled in interest. I saw Katana in the Gemu dojo one morning. I was eager to know more. "Tell me more about black belt Katana." I said enquiringly.
Sam puffed his cigar and started choking. "You okay man?" I patted his back, "Drink some water."
Kenji and Mark broke out in laughter. "Haha! You suck, Sam!" Kenji laughed.
"Hey, fuck off, Kenny." Sam complained.

"So.?" I asked Kenji
"What?" Kenji asked.
"I wanna hear more about Black Belt Katana." I said with a smile.
Kenji laughed and took a sip of his drink, "Nah, man. You know enough. She'd kill me if we'd talked about that, SAM!" He said looking at Sam.

Kenji waved the waiter over to us and whispered something to her. She took a card from him and walked away. When she returned she had more drinks and returned Kenji's card.

Mark and Sam grabbed cues from the wall and set up to play a round of pool. Kenji sat on the sofa chair across from me. He started to pick up his drink. "Katana doesn't like talking about her martial arts days."
"Why? If you don't mind me asking."
"She killed a man."
"WHAT?"
"Ha! I'm joking, man. But seriously, she hurt someone really bad that tried to attack her. Put him in the hospital, and he went to jail."
I replayed the history of Katana emailing me(the boss) And filling out forms about her restraining order against a guy that worked in our company. I fired him on the spot and set the order to the company myself.

"Michael Smith" I concluded.
"Right. So now she just chills with yoga. I'd rather her keep kickboxing. She's awesome. I hear there's a dojo in your campus?"
"Yeah. You're more than welcome to come use it anytime. I can give you a company users pass. It's no problem."
"Thanks, But I'd rather find comfort in knowing Katana is in there continuing to protect herself."
"I wouldn't let anyone lay a finger on her after that incident. I still remember the way she looked, walking around at work, around that time. She had bruises on her face, and a broken hand." I zoned out at the memory, which started to make me feel mad at the dude.
Kenji narrowed his eyes at me with surprise and realization. He leaned his elbows back on the chair, "Don't wait too long to ask her, if you're planning on asking her out at all." I looked up from checking my phone for a second. "I don't know what you're talking about."
Kenji side smiled and cocked his head back, "C'mon, man. You're a rich straight guy on a weeks family trip with my beautiful sister. There's a million other things you could be doin, and you chose to come here, with her."
He continued, "..Bro, there was just ass in your face and you didn't even notice because we're having a conversation about Katana. I may not know you like a best friend yet, Jase; but you're all about Katana."

I smiled and blushed. I laughed, and looked at Kenji in the eyes and motioned my finger to my mouth. "Shhh!"

He nodded and laughed.
"For now, I'm just gonna respect that she wants to pretend like she isn't into me. She has me friend zoned for whatever reason." I said as I shrugged. Sam was hearing everything, he walked back to the dark maple coffee table to grab his drink while Mark went to the bathroom. Sam sat next to his brother and shot him a look, "Does he know though?"
"Know what?" I asked.
They looked at each other and then shifted their eyes back at me. "Katana's..." Sam paused.
Kenji shook his head at Sam, "Sam, don't."
"What? A dude?" I laughed.
They laughed for a split second and then became serious. "Katana's saving herself." Sam said.
"For the one." Kenji added.
"I see." I said. "Interesting." I said mostly to myself. She didn't seem like she wanted to save herself when she locked us in my bathroom. But she was drinking, and I stopped her. Good boy. So she still has her VCard. Fuck, where has this girl been all my life?

Now I am beside myself that I didn't let myself go with all the way with Kuma on that bathroom counter. I didn't even want to have sex with her there in the first place. I really could have sexually hurt her. It's not of me to be bragging about, but I am extra well equipped in my gym bag if you know what I mean? In other words, unfortunately, I have a really huge dick that I like keeping a secret until I have sex with a girl that I really truly in my heart want in my life. So far, I haven't found that person until.. Katana.

Sam kept asking me about Rhonda. He confessed that he's had a crush on her since middle school. Now we're adults and he's gonna let it be known. Brave guy if you ask me. I let him know that Rhonda likes to play hard to get with guys she likes, so be careful.

I couldn't stop thinking about Katana and how fucking hot she looked in her dress tonight. I sent her a text.
Me: you look so beautiful, Kuma 😉

No text back when I checked my phone a few minutes later. She's probably having fun with her sister and Rhon. There's a genuine smile that I've been seeing from her today since we've been around her family. How do I make that not go away once this is over?

"You keep checking your phone, man." Kenji said.
I don't know what he asked me, but and I answered, "Katana."

He laughed, "Alright boys. Katana and the girls are at Britain Bar. Let's head over there too."
Kenji shot me a look, "I know you'd rather be there, don't worry about it."

We started to talk about middle names on the way to the girls. I just couldn't wait to see Katana. I felt cosmically unattached to her when we left.

When we walked into Britain Bar, I spotted her right away across the room. Delicately with her smile and long dark wavy curls in her hair, and her hot fucking dress. I felt an instant calm when I saw her.

Mark ordered a round of shots for everyone. I followed him to the table where Katana sat.

I passed Katana a shot. "Hi, Kuma." I said in relief and comfort. She was who I needed to be around tonight.