The ex-champion

I walk into them and made a big stepping noise throughout the alleyway. The four thugs instantly look into me. One of the thugs shouted at me will making go in their way.

Thug 1: oi!!… you've got the wrong way homie! Turn back if you don't want to die!

Even he shouted that maybe the streets can be heard, but I still walking into them.

Thug 2: he's not listening to you bro!

Thug 3: wait he's kinda familiar isn't it?

Me: hoh… so someone four of you still remember me? Let's talk, shall we?

Thug 1: yo-you're!!…. Bro I got to go… I remember I still need to cook breakfast so see ya!!

The first thug hurriedly runs the alleyway, while the other thug looks to the thug who's still running and what on their mind…

Thug 2,3 & 4: 'f*ck you bro… you didn't cook even in your whole god*amn whole life!!'

Thug 4: I-I also have to clean the room bro so see you in our hideout later!!

Thug 2 & 3: 'clean your *ss, you didn't even clean your teeth for a whole god*mn week… that is f*nkin bullsh*t!!!'

Me: so two of you are left? What's your excuse this time?

Thug 3: let's get out of here bro!

The two thugs run away together… yup, they remember me, thank God my intimidation still work cause if the fight starts, one word all I can say run! The girl look at me dumbfounded on what just happen.

Me: you ok miss?

Girl: yeah… thank you? Oh.. .right Jacob you ok… hey… answer me… hey

When the girl starts crying I told him that he's ok, he's just unconscious but it's better to go to the hospital too if there are broken bones. I put him on my back and go to the hospital. I didn't stay long and wait for him to wake up so I say goodbye to the girl and give some regards to the boy if he's awake.

[Stranger: 2/100]

Me: sigh… got a long way to go…

Before I go home I help some small stuff such as helping old woman walk to the streets, helping some heavy lifting, etc.

[Stranger: 9/100]

Me: I got no time to this stuff d*mn it! I still need to do to things such as train my skills, studies and also business stuff. Man, such a drag…

I reach home it's already 9 in the morning and I didn't have my breakfast yet so my stomach is already complaining about it. I unlock the door and look around if my mom is still around. When I about to cook I saw in the table that there is a note saying, mom got to work so what is in the table just microwave it, sweetie! Luv ya!!

Me: tempura huh… never thought of making that dish… but first things first I got to eat!

While I was eating, my right hand was holding a cooking book. I got so much to learn like what the right way is cooking that or like this.

Me: I see… so that how it is…

It's almost 12 that I finish reading that book, but still not enough because it's all on theory so I got to cook something interesting and make it more delicious so my cooking skill will level-up faster. While watching T.V.i was entertained in boxing so in my mind 'what if I joined too? there is no harm in this right?' so I made a call to my mom if she will accept it. She answered the call but I was dumbfounded what she just answer.

Liza: you're what? That bullying you know that right?

Me: wha-why would that be bullying? So is that a yes for me?

Liza: yeahhh… I just wanted to tell you that… don't kill them, ok?

Me: whatever mom… bye mom…*tutt* *tutt* *tutt* sigh… why would she says that?!

I walk around the queens to see if there is any gym/boxing gym near our residence. I asked some people if there is a gym nearby, many of them didn't know about it so after a bunch of people asked there was one homeless guy named Leonard I asked, and he said that I asked the right guy and yeah I as expected he did know everything and everywhere.

Leonard: you know what bro, this gym is like hidden, have you read like martial art novel or something like that?

Me: yeah… of course, I am… why would that gym be hidden so well?

I was interested in this gym on what Leonard talking about.

Leonard: *cough* it's … (he whispered to my ear) there's a world boxing champion in that gym and now he's a coach.

Me: well tell me more about it while we walk shall we?

I listen to his story about the boxer and it's kind of tragic story. He said that the boxer one the greatest boxer of all time, because of his strength he almost K.O'ed all of his opponents. After 40 matches, in the next fight, he loses because someone put something in gloves plus some also put his water a something chemical.

When he lost the match, he was accused that he using drugs before the match, well he denied it of course, but the test result tells that he is using drugs before he notifies the judge that there is something in his drink but he already on the prison. In the prison cell, is much worse, he is always on a fight that almost his body turn into a disabled person, and here's the catch some paid to the prisoner who made him disable.

Me: such a poor guy… was how did you know this story

I saw Leonard look at me and just smiled, I have already doubts in him so keep walking and we stop in front of the abandoned gym.

Me: wait… you are!!!

Leonard: so are here for you to train and become a champion! Boxing is not game child…. It's war!!... there was a saying of a great boxer that "If you never knew failure, you will never know success"1. Hehehehe… hahaha!!!

He just laughed in front of me like a mad man.

1 – it's a quote of Sugar Ray Leonard.