Heartstrings | Miguel Diaz

𝟬𝟱. finders keepers

CHAPTER FIVE
you've got a side you can't explain

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     𝐉ohn Kreese didn't seem like a man of few words, but he was quiet most of the time, watching, judging, and calculating. Those were the few things Raegan had noticed about the old man. Truth be told, she didn't have the guts to talk to him and look at him in the eyes. There was just something about him that irked her. She wasn't scared of him, no, it was a different feeling. Like he knew a lot about her.

     When Raegan arrived earlier than usual at the dojo, she found Kreese exiting the office, his chin up high and eyes into slits as they landed on her. She tried to ignore him. She did. But the man called her name. He called her last name as if it was something ridiculous and funny, or rather he sounded amused.

     She'd approached him, bowing slightly in respect (if he even deserved that). "Sir."

     "Ms. LaRusso," He'd smiled at her. A smile that seemed so fake, but reached the corner of his eyes. He was a great actor. "You know, I must admit, I'm very curious about your... skills."

     "My skills?" She furrowed her brows at him.

     "Would you like to join me in a quick spar?" Kreese asked with a polite tone, gesturing towards the empty mat. "I want to see if you're as good as they say."

     Raegan looked around the dojo. She had no idea where Johnny was, but the dojo wouldn't be open without him. He must've gone out. She looked back at the old man and sent him a short nod, dropping her things on the floor.

    "Very well." He raised his head at her, and Raegan joined him on the mat. "Don't hold back, Ms. LaRusso. I don't like it when people underestimate me."

     "Okay," She muttered, getting into a fighting stance.

     Despite how unsure she felt, Raegan dived in first, the old man blocking her punches and strikes. Kreese didn't lie. At least he was honest that he didn't like being underestimated as an opponent. He was almost as good as Johnny. Well, he was his Sensei. Maybe she shouldn't have judged him too easily. He laughed and smiled as they fought like he was a father teaching his daughter. It was almost familiar, but Raegan still had doubts. It never left.

     There was more to his sudden act of kindness towards her, and Raegan had to figure out why.

      As the other students arrived, Raegan now sat on the mat with her legs stretched out, Miguel sitting beside her and doing the same thing. In front of them stood Kreese, he had his back on them as he spoke with their friends, Aisha and Hawk, who seemed very enthusiastic about the stuff that the old man kept telling them. Miguel, beside her, didn't seem like he was feeling the same thing as he scoffed under his breath.

    "They were outgunned, we were outmanned," Kreese told them. Miguel sent her an incredulous look as if what the man said wasn't right. "I tell you... Rwanda was no joke."

     "Don't you mean Somalia?" Miguel said as he stood up behind him. "Mogadishu is in Somalia, Rwanda's a whole different country."

      Kreese turned to them, sizing Miguel as he looked at him from head to toe as if he were a piece of insect that he needed to smash with his bare hands. He ignored him, briefly looked at Raegan behind the boy, and turned back to Aisha and Hawk.

     "Of course, Somalia," He chuckled. He was playing it cool, but Aisha and Hawk didn't look too convinced now. "I've spent so much time in the sandbox, it all kind of bleeds together, you know?"