Fight Club Invitation

I spend the rest of the school day in the Nurse's room. I couldn't do any work so instead I chose to learn the language it's in. Learning how to pronounce words was the highlight of my time spent there.

After the last bell rung, I limped out of Nurse Min's room while thanking him. As I'm walking the halls I see gazes and whispers directed at me. I only hear small parts like "Choehabu...", "fight...", "he won?..".

I keep my head down and continue walking, don't want to attract anymore attention. I make it to the entrance and change out of the indoor slippers into my sneakers. It takes me a few times due to the throbbing pain in my knee but eventually I get it.

The whispers are louder now. Was what I did that absurd? I got my ass handed to me, that's pretty realistic. It's when I turn around that I get why the whispers got louder.

A very handsome guy walking this way with a friend. His hair flowed down to his shoulders and beyond, waving like a river. His eyes were a ocean blue I'd only see at home on Earth. He had a face far removed from worry, accentuated by strong cheeks and cupid jaw.

My mouth was agape before I realized it. Quickly closing it and looking away, I think of how I'm going to get to work on time. Only way would be to take the bus, but I don't know its route nor its times so it might've gone out already.

While thinking that, I feel a hand touch my shoulder. Immediately whirl around while standing up, only to see the handsome boy. He retracts his hand and backs up a step.

"Sorry about that, you seem jumpy from your earlier fight, Choehabu."

Is this guy a part of those Fuckers from earlier? "Sorry, am I supposed to know you?" I harshly ask.

He shakes his head, "No, so don't be too confused, and I'm not with those boys from earlier so cut out on the venom. I saw your fight earlier and must say that you have a ferocity that most others don't posses."

"Um, thank you?"

"Quite. I would like to use that ferocity for some, events."

Holy shit is this guy Mob? Am I getting recruited to the Mob!? "Sorry, but I must decline anything crime related."

He pauses in confusion at my response. "Oh heavens no, we're not doing anything of that sort. I'm part of an, arena, you could say, that hires young talents such as yourself for fighting events. It's all legal, I can even show you my license if you want."

"Um, well I won't be able to join soon for," I gesture at my bruised body, "obvious reasons. And if I were to join, would that mean that I quit my job and work for you, or merely event related ventures?"

"Only events for now. Full time at the beginning would, for lack of better terms, kill you. You don't even know any martial arts, let alone Gi or Mana. At the beginning, you're only fighting new talents such as yourself. If you're interested, call the number on the card in your pocket." He parts after saying what he wanted to.

I fish in my pockets for his 'card'. What card, what number? While rummaging I grab a long thin piece of plastic. Pulling it out, I see a white card. It has words on the front, and on the back it has a phone number. I stuff it back into my pocket, it'll be helpful if I ever do think of joining.

Now begins my awfully long limp to work. It takes me an extra thirty minutes to get there, but I make it.

Waling through the entrance, I see Mr. Lee talking with an angry customer. Mr. Lee is shrinking back from the customer who's about to be my height. Tuning into the conversation, the customer seems to be berating Mr. Lee over... our terrible taste in drinks. He's also holding a bottle and shaking it around. God damn it, I already went through enough today, I just want to take it easy.

Hauling my fat ass over to the counter, I ask the customer, "Sir, is there anything I can help you with?"

The man whirls around and looks at me. He reeks of alcohol. Looking me up and down, he starts yelling a slurred speech at me, "Whaat kind've store, don't even seel booze. Booze, thee leefblud of any well respected, joint."

There's more to his speech, but simply I tone it out while looking at Boss Lee. He shakes his head, probably meaning just put up with this guy's shit. I look back at the guy who's face is now red with anger. He shakes his bottle and flips it, holding it upside down.

Immediately I move my legs into position and get my arms into a boxing guard. He clumsily swings the beer bottle at me. Moving my left arm so that the man's wrist impacts it, I grab the wrist and then plant my knee into his midsection.

Pain pulses through my leg and into my stomach when I do so. My leg doesn't move fast enough to bring down so instead, I grab the man's head with my right arm and fall to the side. His drunken reflexes are too slow so when we finally arrive at the ground, he experiences the brunt of the damage.

I back away while looking at the flailing mass on the floor. He stops flailing soon after and slowly stands up. I get ready again but the man simply walks out of the store without so much as a glance in my direction. He's also not stumbling anymore. Did I beat the drunk out of him? What?

Ignoring the man, and my questions, I head behind the counter with Mr. Lee and ask, "Can that cover me being late? I don't want to lose out on an hour of work."

Mr. Lee nods up and down, vigorously, "Yeah, don't worry about that. In fact, you get a bonus for keeping me safe."

He then pulls out his wallet and grabs three blue notes. Giving them to me, he says, "Take care of yourself, I don't want to lose a good employee."

He then walks through the employee's only area and leaves. I grab the three blue notes and realize they read five thousand each. I just got a fifteen thousand... euro-won bonus! Hell Yeah.

I make through the rest of my shift with little hassle and return home at one. God my sleep schedule is going to die.