21. Jason
21
Jason
Sabum’s expression hardened as Jason backed away from him for the third time. “You have to get past this, Jason. You must.”
Sometimes, the man reminded him of Master Shifu, the old red panda on Kung Fu Panda . He was stern but had a good heart. And he had hair growing out of his ears.
A shadow passed over the door. Jason instinctively turned toward the entrance to see if it was Hannah but it was just someone passing by. Since the gym didn’t have air conditioning, they usually left the doors open on hot days. The building was in a bad area of town, but the cops policed the streets plenty, and Sabum had mentioned he’d never had issues.
“Should we shut the door?” Jason asked.
“Looking for someone?” Sabum asked.
“Uh... Hannah and I were going to go for a walk after practice. No big deal.” Actually, it was a massive deal. The two of them had started talking about marriage, and what they wanted out of a relationship. Even though he wasn’t quite ready for that step, he had purchased her a beautiful promise ring, and the ring box was in the pocket of his jeans.
Seemingly annoyed by the interruption, Sabum gestured for him to get back in stance. “Don’t worry about the door. Don’t worry about anything. Breathe and focus.”
Jason sighed and dropped his heavy arms. “I don’t know why I can’t get past this. I shake hands, I accept pats on the shoulders, I even love kissing. It’s massive progress, and yet, I can’t defend myself.” He bowed his head and groaned. “I want to move past this.”
“I know you do.” Sabum sighed and gestured for him to sit.
Jason plopped down on the gym floor, completely spent.
“Your technique is strong, but when you’re required to block a hit, you can’t get past the touching.”
Jason ran a hand through his sweaty hair. “I know. I want to. It’s like I see that guy at the movie theater, and I can’t get past someone trying to hurt someone else. I think of all the times in school when someone found out I had a sensitivity to touch, and they made it a game to touch me. I’ve never really thought about it until now, but it’s a major part of why I digressed over time.”
“That makes sense. Unfortunately, that might take years of talk therapy.”
Desperation clawed at his insides. He wanted things to improve now, not when he could mentally move past his childhood. “Don’t give up on me, please.”
“I won’t if you won’t,” Sabum said sincerely. “I know your heart, and it is good. When you look into my eyes, tell me what you see.”
Jason lifted his chin. “I see... a man—”
“That was putting it nicely. Just call me old already.”
Jason actually cracked a smile, and it released the tension he was holding in his shoulders. “I see an older gentleman with wisdom in his eyes. You have dark features, dark eyes, dark brows, but a heart-shaped face. Someone with a big heart.”
“You see much. And when you look at me, do you see trust?”
Jason nodded without an ounce of doubt.
“What good is my heart if I can’t share it?” he grumbled.
“Taekwondo gives us self-control and clarity of mind. We find power in movement, and that power gives us confidence. Every action you make is intentional and every block is a choice. You can do this, Jason. Just as you force yourself to shake hands with coworkers and even people you don’t know, you can also initiate a hit.”
Hope bubbled in his chest. More than anything, he wanted to prove to himself he could do it. He’d hoped for more progress, but it just hadn’t come.
Another shadow passed by the door, catching their attention. Both of them, this time. Sabum looked at his watch and then turned to the viewing window. It was transparent on one side and reflective on the side the students viewed. It allowed parents to watch their kids but not distract them.
“Is someone back there?” Jason asked.
Sabum whipped around. “What? No, of course not. It’s just you and me in here.” Sabum glanced toward the door as two people passed by.
“And whatever is out there,” Jason mumbled.
“Yes, well, I think they’d be the ones in trouble if they came inside with ill intentions. You’d protect me, right?”
Jason laughed. “Um, sure. If you had a heart attack or something. Otherwise, I don’t think you’d need it.”
Sabum sighed and nodded back to the floor. “Okay, back to business. I’m going to try something, Jason. Humor me, all right? ”
Jason nodded and stood across from him. His heartbeat thumped in his ears as Sabum stepped toe-to-toe with him.
“Don’t move,” his instructor said. “I want you to root yourself to the ground.”
“Root myself to the ground,” he muttered to himself. “Okay.” Jason froze and watched the instructor’s hand reach out and hold his shoulder. “Don’t move,” he said again as Jason started to flinch away.
He froze and imagined Hannah there, casually touching him as she talked about one of her students. He pictured her face, her laugh, her touch. He smiled, remembering how she lit up the room whenever she laughed.
“That’s it,” his instructor said, drawing his thoughts back.
Jason looked down and saw both of Sabum’s hands on his arms, holding him.
“You’re doing great,” he said softly. “Now, lift your arms and hold my shoulders.”
Jason’s arms were lead, but he tried anyway. He closed his eyes and pictured Hannah in front of him.
“Well, I didn’t expect that, but . . .”
Jason opened his eyes and found himself against Sabum’s chest, hugging him tight. As if realizing he was holding a hot potato, he dropped his hands and stepped away. “Sorry. I pictured that you were Hannah.”
“I see.”
The light from outside dimmed behind them.
They both turned and saw a guy in a black hoodie and black pants step in. “Is this—is it just you two?”
Sabum tucked his arms behind his back. “Yes,” he said politely. “I’m in the middle of a private lesson. Regular classes are—”
The guy grabbed a gun from his pocket and pointed it right at them. “I don’t care, old man,” the guy snapped. “Give me your valuables, cash, whatever you got.” He shook the gun at him. “Now!”
Adrenaline pumped through Jason’s blood as he stared from the butt of the gun back to his instructor’s face. The talk earlier had given Jason bravery, but even as Sabum shot him a look of determination that said they shouldn’t take this sitting down, he wasn’t sure he could do it.
“You,” he said, pointing at Jason, “Stay there. No funny business.”
Jason would have laughed had the situation been less dire. “It’s not me you have to worry about.” He wasn’t sure how he could joke at a time like this, but as Sabum continued edging closer to him and the man, his confidence grew.
“That’s right, young man,” Sabum said, addressing the intruder and taking another giant step toward him. “My student can’t touch anyone without it causing him great pain. That’s why he’s here.” Another step. “Maybe I can help you too.”
The guy shook the gun at them. “Oh, no you don’t.”
Sabum took a tiny step back and held up his hands. “No problem, but listen, I don’t have anything here for you. My accounts are all digital, though I may have a dollar in my pocket leftover from lunch.”
The guy smirked, and Jason got a good look at his face. A long scar crossed under his right eye and ended at the joint under his ear, as if someone had dragged a knife down his cheek. The more he looked at him, the more Jason knew the guy really didn’t want to do this. This was his last resort and he needed help. “My bag,” Jason said, pointing to the door. His voice shook, but it was there. He was doing this. “It’s on that chair.” He pointed to his duffle bag and change of clothes.
He stilled as the guy picked up the jeans. Not that.
“Jason, are you ready to go? ”
All three of them turned to the door where Hannah was. Jason’s heart squeezed.
“G-g-go,” Jason said hoarsely.
Hannah turned to the guy and got into a stance.
The guy turned the gun on her and grabbed her around the neck. “No ideas, sweetie.”
Red spots danced in Jason’s vision. “You hurt her, and I’ll kill you.” His voice oozed with venom as adrenaline coursed through his veins.
“Right.” The guy laughed. “Aren’t you the one that has touch issues? This girl must be something special to you.”
Hannah flinched as the guy rubbed the barrel up the side of her face.
“S-stop it,” Jason choked out.
The guy laughed, and the sound echoed through the room, chilling Jason to the bone. Somehow, he needed to distract the guy. In his peripheral, his instructor edged closer, and when the guy didn’t notice, Jason stepped closer too.
Even if there were police in the area, it wouldn’t help. His mission was crystal clear. Protect Hannah. Take the guy down.
Jason took a step closer to the guy as he shifted his grip on Hannah and held her with his gun hand while he searched the jeans with the other. Hannah, who could take care of business had gone completely pale. He tried not to look at her, too worried it would spook him. He needed a distraction.
“My wallet... I don’t have much, but if you need it—”
“I don’t need your charity,” the guy spat, letting go of Hannah and shaking the gun at him instead. “Don’t think you’re better than me.”
Hannah still didn’t move. Why wasn’t she reacting?
“You don’t want to do this.” Jason raised his hands slowly and took another step closer. “Just take my money and go.” He stilled as the guy dug in the front pocket of his jeans. “There’s nothing in—”
The guy pulled out the ring box and grinned. “Holding out on me, are you?”
“Have it. It’s nothing.” Jason didn’t dare look at Hannah, but hopefully, she had missed the entire interaction. Who cares? There’s a gun pointed at you!
The guy pocketed the box and continued to dig through Jason’s jeans with his back turned.
Sabum turned and nodded at him, and in that moment, Jason didn’t hesitate.
His heart pounded as he ran the rest of the way and pushed the intruder down to the floor. The gun skidded across the floor.
“Hey—”
Jason’s eyes narrowed as he knelt on the guy’s back to keep him down, then pinned his arms behind his back.
“Get off of me,” the guy said, his face smooshed into the gym floor. “Sabum! A little help.”
“Sabum? You know him?” Jason looked behind him and saw Hannah and his instructor talking, heads together. “What’s going on?”
Hannah knelt next to Jason and pulled his hands away from the guy. “It’s okay, Jason.”
Adrenaline was still pumping through his body. “What’s going on?”
She continued to pull him back, and eventually, she pulled Jason off the man completely. Then she helped Jason to his feet.
“What are you doing?”
Sabum picked up the gun, which had slid over by his feet. And then he pulled the trigger.
Jason winced just as the gun clicked .
“No bullet,” Sabum said. “A simulation that... would speed things up. And I’d say it worked.”
He looked over at Hannah, who was smiling. “You did this?” he asked.
“Well, I kind of helped.”
“I’m the one who got his face smashed,” the intruder—no—the hired man mumbled.
“Let me help you.” Jason offered a hand and helped him to his feet. “I’m... sorry about that.”
“Don’t be. My name’s Barry. I’m one of Sabum’s old students. You had the perfect reaction. Anything less, and you would’ve failed that little experiment.”
He turned to the two people he trusted most. “Yes, about that.”
Hannah’s face whitened. “I’m sorry, Jason. It’s my fault. You mentioned a few weeks ago that you wanted help making progress with lessons, and look... you totally defended me. Did you feel any pain?”
“Uh.” Had he? He couldn’t remember? “I was too panicked. I don’t remember.”
She laughed. “Well, I’d say that’s a good sign.”
Sabum nodded. “I’d say so. Good work tonight.”
Jason looked down at his feet and back at the three people staring at him. He couldn’t believe what he had just been through. “I can’t believe this.”
“Oh yeah.” Barry dug into his pocket and pulled out the ring box. “Um... I am really sorry about that. Hopefully, I didn’t ruin anything.”
He looked between Hannah and Jason. Hannah was looking down at her feet, a terrible sign. “Uh... I better get out of here before I make things worse. Great job tonight, Jason. I hope we meet in other circumstances next time.”
Jason blew out a slow breath. “Me too.”
Sabum pulled at his shirt. “Yes, let’s all get out of here. Hannah, take this shell-shocked guy home. He worked hard tonight.”
Hannah met his eyes for the first time. She was chewing on her bottom lip, not the best sign. He started gathering his things, and then she led him out to her car. They didn’t say anything as they headed home.
“Are we going out?” he said. His voice shook more than it had earlier. Well, not as much but there was definitely something wrong.
“I think we better head home.”
Disappointment stabbed him in the gut. “Okay.”
When she pulled up to her house and was about to turn off the car, he stopped her. Better to have this conversation in air conditioning.
He pulled out the ring, but she put up her hands to stop him. “I’m not read—”
“I know.” He opened the box and showed her the simple silver band. “I’m not either.”
“Oh,” she breathed. And then she sighed. “That is beautiful.”
“It’s a promise ring, to show you that, one day, I want you forever.”
Her smile widened. “Jason, you’re going to make me cry.”
He chuckled as he slipped the ring on her finger. “I love you, Hannah, and even though you almost gave me a heart attack tonight, there’s no other person I want by my side.”
Her face broke as he stared into her eyes. She wiped at her face with her shirt. “I know it’s silly to cry over this, but... I can’t remember the last time someone’s told me they loved me.”
“I promise to tell you every day.”
She grinned and held up her ring. “Promise?” she joked. “So, you’re not mad at me for tonight?”
“No, I need a moment to process everything, but more than anything, I’m happy. I did that tonight. I protected you. Well, I’m pretty sure the guy went easy on me, and you could have karate chopped the guy to pieces.”
“But still, you didn’t freeze up. You stepped up and defended me. I was so proud.”
He reached for her then and pressed a kiss to her lips. “I need you, Hannah.” He spoke with his lips touching hers. “By my side. Every day.”
She blinked away tears. “Do you mean that?”
He lifted her hands to his mouth and kissed them. “With every breath I have.”
A smile started on her lips, and his chest felt fit to burst. And suddenly, he wanted to kiss her again. He closed his eyes and pressed his lips to hers. A shiver of pleasure rolled through him, and with both arms, he held her shoulders closer. He pulled back only for a few seconds to gauge her response.
“Wow,” she breathed. “Did you feel that?”
He nodded and smiled, wrapping both arms around her waist. “Sure did. But I think this is something I should experiment with again.”
“Go right ahead. I think I can handle this kind of experimenting.” She laughed softly in his ear, a lovely tinkling sound that filled him with peace.