The Guang's Rage

The following day, Johan went to train at Slum Gym to find Pedro, Tommy and Gracie gathered in a circle, talking. They atmosphere in the gym seemed tense. Upon seeing Johan the tension seemed to dissipate.

"Yo!," said Pedro, "where you been? Luisa was crying. You disappeared. Everyone was worried!"

"We were looking everywhere for you," said Tommy, "We thought gangs or fighters got to you before the fight. Especially with Luisa balling her eyes out."

"Man," said Pedro lightly punching Johan's shoulder, "the talk even had me worried and I saw you just two days ago."

"Unexpected things happened," said Johan, "but I had them handled."

"Hombre," said Gracie, "I know I been distant after what happened to Beiber, but we are family. Tell someone next time before you disappear. You missing made me question myself. Maybe, your aggressiveness when cornered is a good thing. Helps you survive. Gangs in this city are merciless, they take lives without second thoughts. We were talking to local gangs and those culos were laughing and talking shit."

"We're good, say no more," said Johan pound hugging Gracie.

"JOHAN!," boomed a voice.

Johan turned to see the Guang Hoi and Guang Chong standing near the gym office, looking upset and worn down.

"Come to my office Johan," said Guang Chong opening the door and walking in with Guang Hoi.

Tommy, Gracie, Pedro and Johan gazed at each other confused.

"Go hombre," said Gracie, "I doubt its anything. Probably he is just gonna give you a raise."

Johan walked away from the group and into the Guang's office.

It was the first time he had entered it. It was rare anyone ever went in or out of the Guang Chong's office other than Guang Hoi. The red worn down walls of the office were littered with boxing trophies, pictures, and strung up gloves. There was a one way window in the room that allowed Guang Chong to stare out into the boxing gym, but didn't allow anyone to stare back in.

Behind the wooden office desk sat Guang Chong and on the desk sat Guang Hoi clearly upset.

"Close the door behind you," said Guang Chong, "then take a seat."

Johan closed the door.

Guang Hoi then said, "We team Guang, why you do this? Why you go behind back?"

"Guang Hoi," said Guang Chong, "let me handle this."

Guang Hoi nodded.

Johan looked from Guang Hoi to Guang Chong confused.

"What did I do?," asked Johan.

"I treat you like a son," said Guang Chong, "I pay you generously, give you an apartment, feed you and took you in when you were nothing. You would have been homeless without me."

Johan nodded.

"In return I fight for you every month," said Johan, "I didn't have any of that, until the fight with Ivan, and then Beiber. I proved myself. Before I fought, I cleaned your gym and lived in a storage closet without money and barely decent food."

"I treated you WELL!," said Guang Chong slapping the table, "But then you go behind my back and do this!"

"Do what?," asked Johan.

"You join tournament!," said Guang Hoi, "you no tell us!"

Johan paused and remembered what Pedro had said about Guang Chong intentionally not telling him about tournament registrations, because he was making money off of him.

"When I first came here," said Johan, "you said you'd enter me in the tournament when the time came. You said it was my life."

"You no ready," said Guang Hoi.

"Your technique needs work," said Guang Chong.

"I've been winning all my fights up until this point," said Johan,

"I just don't want you to get hurt," said Guang Chong.

"You train here," said Guang Hoi, "more time, drop out tournament, then you win. Here you have good life."

"I know I am ready," Johan, "I am not dropping out."

Guang Chong frowned as an expression of irritation spread across his face, then he said, "I have been loosing money you on. You know this right?"

"No," said Johan, "I wasn't aware."

"If you choose to continue to compete in this tournament," said Guang Chong, "leave the apartment, leave my gym today. If you loose or don't get noticed, you will be put on the streets. You haven't been taking enough fights to make significant money. You need to fight at least seven times a month to pay for the stuff I give you."

"I want money too," said Guang Hoi.

"Me and my brother grew up at Guang orphanage," said Guang Chong, "we spent a lot of time on the streets. It isn't a forgiving place. You clearly don't know how hard the city streets are. Life is hard without support."

Johan frowned.

The situation Johan was in was looking grim. The Guang's clearly didn't want to loose a valuable source of income and they were trying to strong hand him. These men were forcing him choose between living comfortably as a slave or gaining the means to exact revenge against the person that had imprisoned him wrongly for ten years and killed his parents.

"I need time to think about it," said Johan, "where is the letter from the fight tournament? I am assuming that is how you got out."

"I ripped it up and threw it out," said Guang Chong, "you don't need it."

"You had no right to do that," said Johan.

Johan had about had enough of the Guangs behavior.

"You no grateful brat!," sputtered Guang Hoi.

"You are abusing your power," said Johan, "you just want me here because I make you money when you gamble on me for fighting. I know you make plenty, not just from my fight pockets, but from betting. You are lying."

"You entitled lit-," said Guang Chong turning red.

"You replaceable," shouted Guang Hoi pointing a finger at Johan.

"But will your replacement be able to beat me in a fight?," retorted Johan, "will they make you money or just be good enough to be your new cleaning boy?"

"You are too confident," sputtered Guang Chong.

Johan turned around and went to the door of Guang Chong's office and said, "I will get noticed by a sect, but even if I don't, would you be willing to get rid of a money maker like me? Other gyms would gladly take me in. You know this, especially the ones I fought and won against. I've done great things for the reputation of your gym. I am fighting in the tournament whether you like it or not. That is final. If you try anything, I'll go to another gym. We are done here."

Johan left the room, leaving Guang Chong and Guang Hoi speechless.

Pedro, Tommy and Gracie were waiting for him outside the office.

"What happened?," asked Pedro.

"They were upset that I entered the fight tournament," said Johan, "tried to get me to withdraw and ripped up my letter."

"I told you," said Pedro, "but since you are part of Kru Bu's gym, he'll have gotten a letter as well. All the gyms that you are affiliated with tend to get a letter, its a part of the automated fight tournament system. So loosing one letter isn't an issue."

"Did you get your letter yet?," asked Johan.

"Yeah," said Pedro

"Who are you fighting?," asked Johan.

"Some guy I've never heard of," said Pedro, "the first few fights are usually easy. Its after the initial eliminations that things get hard."

"Never underestimate the opponent," said Johan.

"Kru Bu is holding an intensive fight camp to prep his fighters for the tournament. His fighters do well for a reason," said Pedro, "you didn't hear because you were away. You should go."

"I think I will," said Johan.

"Hombre," said Gracie, "if you need help, just ask, but I've taught you all I know."

"Thanks Gracie," said Johan.

"Do well," said Tommy, "I am gonna kick butt, so don't make me and this gym look bad."

"I won't," said Johan smiling.