School day was finally over.
This was my last year and so, every day was a day closer to being out of school.
Alex and I walked out the building, and I let out a sigh of relief immediately we got out, thoughts of the ring flooded my head.
"Your mum makes the best food, I'd love to thank her in person." She looked so happy, practically radiating happiness .
"I'm not heading home today" I said simply, just to test her reaction.
"What?, why?....." I cut her off before she could finish her sentence. "I already told you before, I'm Batman." I said, puffing my chest out with my hands on my hips.
The joke felt very dumb as it came out of my lips, making me feel embarrassed just saying it.
Unfortunately for me, Alex completely ignored me, leaving me standing right in the middle of the side walk posing like a fool.
'How old did I say I was again?'.
"Hey, hold up!" I shouted loud enough for her to hear me as I jogged to her side.
I caught up to her very quickly. "I'm actually serious this time. I'm a boxer." I said as we walked.
She stopped walking, which made me instantly nervous, I stopped too and we both stared into each others eyes.
Her eyes were twinkling with curiosity and other emotions I couldn't place at the moment.
"Boxing was the best thing I could do with myself." I looked down, I could hear my tone became somber.
The street was crowded, but at this moment, I felt alone with her, this was my last secret-- the only thing I hid from her.
She touched my cheek softly, making me realise the weather was still cold, and then she kicked me.
"A boxer?, that's dangerous and filled with so many shady organisations, why would you do that to yourself?, I mean you definitely aren't an official, proper boxer are you? I doubt they would take in someone so young...." Her voice wasn't loud but It felt like I was being shouted at as we were walking.
"Your parents agreed to this?" She asked as her last question.
I let out the breath I was holding, "They weren't supportive at first.... especially since it was after the... accident, but now they let me be."
"And you are alright with it?" She sounded concerned.
"Oh please" I said, making my voice sound as relaxed and casual as possible while waving my hands.
"What young man doesn't dream of defeating his enemy in GLORIOUS BATTLE" my tone was dramatic earning me a small chuckle.
"Sure Batman..., The Boxer" Alex matched my dramatic tone with a teasing one making me smile.
As we walked home, I told her stories of my fights and we quickly got to her house where I dropped her off.
'Now, It is time to Battle'.
..........
I stared at the sign hanging above me.
'The Spot'. Taking a deep breath while closing my eyes I could almost smell the Adrenaline.
'I love this place'.
The guards led me to the back, and I stared down the wooden steps, the wooden steps that led to my world.
The air was humid with sweat and noisy chants assaulted me the second I opened the doors.
As usual a match was already ongoing, I went to the top part of the bleachers, my favourite area, and hurriedly wrapped my fists because I was up next.
Remembering the message I saw at the beginning of this week, a list of all the games and their times for the week.
'I've been cutting the matches close haven't I?' I've got three matches a week, mostly by my own choice.
That makes 12 matches every month, as every month was evenly divided into 4 weeks.
At the end of my 12th match I get atleast 12,000 Notes, which is just enough for two month's upkeep, without extra bills like housing or electricity.
It would have been good...., but this was only because I made them stop paying for my medical bills and I've been boxing for a while.
All my money goes to an account my parents opened for me since I still feed off of them.
Today I am up against a newbie, I plan to go easy and lose the match -- I'd still get paid either way.
I was done with my hand wraps in about 3 minutes, and so I took a look at the match ongoing below me.
This was a battle of speed and flexibility against strength and endurance, on one side the boxer was weaving through attacks.
On the other side the boxer was calm, but still on the offensive, my guess was that he was used to people fighting him this way.
His energy was steady, but flared up in certain moments giving him more power.
They were both skilled in their areas, but the speedy guy was fighting a losing battle, everyone even the crowd could see it.
The fight was entertaining, but no one was surprised by the victor, the battle was won by experience and body weight.
I guess that's why professional matches are characterised in weighted classes.
Here there were weight categories, but people often fought matches outside their weight bracket, like me and VIPER, but not always by choice.
The announcer stepped up, riding on the crowds emotions and hyping them up, I closed my eyes, letting the chants carry me along.
".....This figther is one you have never seen before. A newbie on his debut fight, ..." He paused allowing everyone to gossip amongst themselves before he continued.
"Oh Yes, this match would be brimming with potential, the stakes are high for everyone involved!!!!!!!".
"So allow me to welcome..... our very special guest The..... Barrier!!!!!!!" I winced, feeling enough second hand embarrassment for the guy, was he young like me?
The crowd cheered, with a couple boos in between, as my opponent stepped out I realised he was no child.
He was seated at the top like me, He walked slowly, completely shirtless, allowing the crowd to fully observe him.
"Built like a wall" that was the impression he gave, and yet he was a short man.
As I took a good look at him, apart from his physique something else stood out.
Something I had never seen before.
His energy..., it was solid- as solid as energy could be.
They were small squares, arranged in a block pattern inside his body.
This guy was not normal.