PROGRESS?

It's been 4 days since I've come here. And in the span of 4 days, I've somewhat managed to build up my endurance during this time. But as for technique, it is still unrefined. It needed a lot of fine-tuning and polishing. I was able to stick to the plan I had prepared earlier. Though I was still slacking around, day by day, I was able to pick up my consistency with every passing day.

And as for the resources such as food and cooking materials, I was somehow able to persuade my aunt to lend her old crockery utensils. So I had to be a little careful with the wear and tear of the materials, and how I use them. Even though she was reluctant to help me, she was still kind enough to help me get the vegetables and groceries necessary by recommending me a good place. Though, it wasn't free of cost. I had to deliver some goods here and there every day for a minimum of 3 to 4 hours. I had to reschedule my earlier plans to fit in this unexpected part-time job so that I could ease my finances further down the line.

But still, I'm making minimum progress in terms of my training. At this rate, I guess I have to start focusing all of my attention on building up my stamina and bank on making it an endurance battle.

Sigh!

It's too early to give up. I gotta do what I could for now. If I don't make progress, I could switch the gears and push everything to just building up my stamina. For now, that wasn't in the plans. I began my training. Kicks, punches, formations...I worked on all of it. Yet, I was still lacking something. What was it? Agh! I don't know. Anyway...Let's wrap up with the deliveries. I had to get back to the second half of my training from the afternoon.

"Yo kid, you need to take a break. Pushing yourself too much will only end up in you pulling your muscle. What's the rush?"

"Ah no...it's nothing. It's just the heat. I'm not that good with the heat. That's why I want to get this done quickly."

How could I ever explain the dilemma I'm in at the moment to him? I didn't even want to think about it.

"That's quite amusing kid."

"Amusing? What's amusing?"

"The fact that you could lie straight out without even hesitating is amusing."

He saw through me? What the hell? Was that humanly possible?

Ah, I forgot to introduce him. He's the owner of the shop I currently work part-time, and in return, he hands me over a few free veggies, and sometimes some pre-seasoned meat. That's what made this job worthwhile. To be honest, it wasn't the job that made it hard to carry on, but it was this man. Takohashi-san. Why? I really don't believe in fiction or supernatural stuff. But if anything, coming from me, I feel like this man has the ability of foresight or something like that. How do I say so? Well...

"What makes you think I'm lying?"

"Well, it's clear as day. It's my age mixed with the wisdom and knowledge I've gained over the years is what assures me that you're lying."

"You're a 40+-year-old supermarket vendor who goes door to door and sells vegetables, or more like delivers the prepaid order. I don't even know how you operate your business. What was this business model? Or does a business model even exist?"

"You do take after your Aunt a lot. It's like I'm seeing her younger self in you."

"How long have you known mu aunt?"

"Longer than your time on this planet."

"Oh, so you're like my senior along with being my temporary boss."

"I was even your caretaker but it seems like you have no recollection of it."

"Ugh...haha...It's been a long time since I've been here. My memory seems to be a bit corrupted. Sorry for that."

"No, no! I don't blame you. I'd be surprised if you could have a recollection of your time here from back then."

"Yeah, thank you for that."

"Your spirit is good kid, but it's your attitude that invites trouble, like it or not."

"Well, that's nothing new."

"If you stick to your guns, you will only escalate the level of trouble you invite over yourself."

"Hmmm....Understood."

"And about your question earlier...TRUST!"

"TRUST?"

"My business model."

"Ahhh..."

Trust as a business model? What the...Is he serious? Well, knowing him, it wasn't very far-fetched from being possible.

"You think that's nonsense, right?"

"Uhmmm..."

"Well, as you get older, you have to acknowledge that you can't do everything on your own and you have to put your faith in others and hope that they can live up to it."

"Times are changing. The world's one turbulent sphere. What is holy today doesn't have the guarantee that it would retain that same 'holiness' tomorrow. Nothing is permanent, and you know that...and yet you ask me to learn to put faith in others? I think that's stupidity."

"You're desperately trying not to swear at me, aren't you?"

We stopped at one of our delivery spots. I got down the truck and started unloading the carton of veggies and arranged it by the order given.

"I guess you don't need the experience to know that."

"You don't hold back, do you?"

"I just tell what's necessary to be told."

"I hope that's the case and it's not just you being ambiguous and evading the questions by giving some affirmative answers."

"You sound like a boxing coach."

"I was a former boxer."

"Is there anything I must know? About you? Or anything in general?"

"Well, there is one thing..."

I don't like the tone of how he is putting it.

"What is it?"

"Well, on second thoughts, never mind."

Huff! This exchange went on and on. And just like that 12 days had passed by...

And my progress?

MINIMAL!