ELEVEN
Cain
T
he gym was alive again on Monday morning and the weekend had been busy to say the least. This time of year meant that there had been plenty of newcomers in and out of the gym and demand was high. I was most eager to see who would last the distance and who would not stick around. Our systems were still very old school, Duncan not wanting to invest into the business to make it easier on me. He said that computers for the most part made the work unauthentic and too easy. On the Bip side, I argued saying that we needed something in place so that I could spend more time elsewhere in growing the gym and the revenue, especially when I was not bringing in money whilst I could not jght.
However, whilst the old man still controlled the cash Bow, I was in a bind. I remained at the front desk, using the pen and was jlling up our membership book. Wefore Duncan had gotten older, no longer wanting to run the gym himself, I had taken corporate Yobs that had been nothing but soul sucking. Ahilst I had learnt a lot in management and how to keep books in balance, the draconian paper system also killed me. Ret despite whatever Duncan thought about me wanting to modernise the business, I
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would rather be dealing with this paperwork than the micromanagement of some overbearing middleFaged suburban 0usan.
Ks long as I turned up to classes on time and as long as the gym itself was kept in pristine condition, Duncan was happy. I had the freedom to go wherever I wanted, when I wanted and at the base of it all, I loved the gym. Ahen Darcy had died, I had no direction in life. The corporate Yobs had only been a distraction from my true passion, Muay Thai.
Aith Darcy running the gym, there had been no place for me here, e’cept to jght and train. Darcy had grilled me each and every day, ensuring that I was going to become the best that I possibly could. Wut it was only Duncan who agreed that he needed someone to run the gym for him that I had taken my game to the ne’t level. I had been able to dedicate my life to Muay Thai and not long after, my jrst win had followed. Erom there, I had continued to build upon my legacy to the point where it now rivalled Darcy. One more jght to go and then Duncan would not be able to hold him above me. I would make Darcy proud.
Ret considering Klicia4s hesitancy to get me training again, it looked further away than ever before. If only my own impatience had not gotten the better of me on Eriday. I had taken her advice, after the fact and had rested. There was also something di“erent about seeing her in her normal environment compared to mine. I was unable to read her, but something told me that the no would change in time. I sighed and sunk back into the o”ce chair, wanting to burn through the stack of papers so I could go back up to my room and meditate again.
The radio was playing beside me, another one of Duncan4s old relics. It was all the same as the news announcer came on, her voice breaking through the silence like the trumpets that preceded her. It was all the same, all bad news. There was another war starting, another ta’ being brought in by the government and the weather was as always uncertain. That was part of the reason why I liked jghting so much. Sot only did it give me
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life, but it was also simple, straight forward. The rules were laid out before you and did not change, even once the bell had rung.
In that ring, there were only two things that mattered. Ahat I could do and what my opponent was going to do with me. It was simple, structured and even though inYuries happened, it was predictable. I took refuge in it, my escape from the rest of the world. I ignored the broadcaster as she started to read through the weather and jlled my mind with happier things, back when my life had been easier. I replayed jghts over in my head, and the many memories that I had beside Duncan and Darcy.
My thoughts were interrupted and I looked up from the stack of paF perwork as the door opened once again. Much to my surprise, it was none other than Klicia coming through it with her physio bag in hand. I checked the clock on the desk and saw that it was only eightFthirty. I thought that had been the case, with the last of the morning students only Yust leaving minutes ago.
qRou4re early. Our appointment isn4t for another hour.!
qI4ve been thinking.!
I could not help being a smart arse. I smirked at her. qThat4s dangerous.
So wonder why I could smell something burning here.!
Klicia glared at me, but continued speaking, ignoring what I had Yust
said. q5ery funny. Rou want to get back in the ring, don4t youz! The 6uestion pi6ued my interest, and I raised an eyebrow at her. It was
only three days ago that she had told me that I was not going to get back in
the ring anytime soon. Ahy did she suddenly have a change of heart over
the weekendz Aas it something that I had saidz Or had she gone back to
her desk and done some researchz Vven though I had the setback on Eriday,
I was ready to jre.
qOf course I want to get back in the ring. I4ve told you as much, haven4t
Iz!
qKlright, so then that4s what we4re doing then. 1ome on;!
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I stood up from the desk, pushing the chair out from behind me. V’citeF ment coursed through my veins. There was no way she was actually serious, was therez 0omething told me that if Klicia was saying it, she probably meant it. I controlled my e’citement and followed her out onto the gym Boor.
Once outside, Klicia walked towards the pad rack and threw a pair in the ring. I frowned at her and she gestured towards the ring. qAell are you going to get inz!
0he was being serious and I grinned at her in response. qSever thought you4d ask.!
qAell, how else are you going to train for your jghtz!
0he was right. I sco“ed as I climbed in under the ring ropes. I held them open and Klicia stepped inside easier than what she had done the jrst time that we had done this. V’cept this time, I was the one with the gloves that were going onto my hands. Klicia had not held pads yet, at least from what I had seen, so this was sure to be interesting. 0he tightened them around her wrists as I put my gloves on. They were one of my favourites, emblaJoned red with black pattern throughout it, straight from the 5enum brand. I had worn these particular gloves for over a year, but they were starting to wear out. Eor a light pad round, they would do.
Klicia strapped the pads around her forearms and she smacked them together. 0he was ready to go. I looked at the clock and then back at Klicia who was holding the pads in front of her. 0he was awkward in her approach, and I knew that she was not comfortable with this. 0miling, I knew this would take some time. This is why she had come early. Nather than striking at her awkwardly held pads, I put my arms out with my gloves to correct her. 0he looked like a noodle, unsure of how far away she needed to hold them.
qHere, like this. Rou want to hold them out and hold them tight, so you don4t knock yourself in the face when I hit them.!
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Klicia nodded at me. qI watched some videosG I think I have some idea about what I4m doing as the pad holder.!
q0o, little Miss Cnow It Kll. If you know so much, you4ll be able to give me a combo.!
qKlright. 'et4s start easy then. 8ab, straight, hook.!
I raised my eyebrows, impressed by her. This was more than enough to get us started, even if it was Yust in bo’ing. I was hoping that she would start to give me kicks as well throughout the combinations because I wanted to test out my knee. If she was smart we would work into it.
qRou know what that is. Don4t forget to turn your hand on the hook.!
qI know. Kgain, how else are we going to be able to get you ready in the ring unless I know what you need to do.!
qMuay Thai isn4t that easy, Klicia. Rou can4t Yust watch a few RouTube videos and know everything.!
Eor the jrst time since she had arrived, Klicia smiled at me. 0he gestured at me with the pads to come at her. qI know. Wut I4ve also been to a class and I4ve picked up a thing or two. Sow did you want to do this or Yust stand here talking about it all dayz!
I was already in my stance, the feeling coming back to me as soon as I stepped forward. The jrst combination Bowed as I worked into it again. I was careful not to put all of my power into the strikes. Klicia4s hands were Bying back even though I was only tapping her. 0he still had not gotten used to the hits, and her blocking techni6ue was not what I was used to. Negardless, she grinned at me from between the pads after I struck again.
qOkay, do you want to try a kickz!
q0ure, do you know how to hold thatz!
Klicia turned her body to the side and I could tell that whilst she had watched something, it either was not the correct video nor had she retained the information. I grinned at her again and adYusted the pads so that she would be fully protected when I kicked her.
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qThanks. 1an you kick mez I Yust want you to go light. I need to see the motion. This is so I know what else I need to do with you going forward.!
qHow slowz!
qKs slow as possible. Ae4ll build you up over time.!
I nodded and it made sense to me. There was no point in getting inYured again and Klicia wanted to put me through my regular motions. It felt odd going so slow at a pace and power level that I felt was beneath me. Ahen I was training, I did not hold back, but with Klicia I needed to. There was no point in hurting your training partner, and I had no intention of doing that. This was my jrst time kicking since I had busted my knee, and Klicia was watching me like a hawk.
q ood, Yust slow it down a touch more for me. I4m really trying to see the motion here.!