COMBATIVE

PART ONE:  

~COMBATIVE~

He lost today. 

He had been winning all the matches since last year but he lost his streak today. I wonder what happened for him to be that distracted in the middle of a fight. With my chest heaving up and down vigorously out of fear, I enclosed my fingers around the handle of the waiting room and pushed it open with closed eyes. 

Big mistake, because there he was, in the same clothes from the fight, back visible to me. Even from the back of his head and shoulders, I could tell what was about to happen. His shoulders moved up and down due to how heavily he was breathing. I took small quiet steps till my knees touched the behind of the bench he was perched upon. 

"Sir?", his head snapped towards me in less than a second, gorgeous silver hair wet at the ends with sweat sticking to his forehead and dragon-like eyes red with fury. His nose flared with every angry pant of his lips and puff of his chest. I kept my heart which was clenching with fear, at bay and circled the bench till I was standing right next to him. 

His gaze never left mine as I extended a shaking hand towards him. He let his palm clammy with sweat rest in mine followed suit by the same action for the other palm. I gulped but smiled nonetheless, trying my best to not show him how scared I was as I sat down in front of him on my knees between his widely parted legs. I could sense that he was trying to fight the outburst that was bubbling up in his chest and chose not to question anything right now knowing how dangerous it could be. 

"Would you like to have something sweet?", I looked up at him as I tucked my finger under the white wraps around his palm slowly pulling out the part that had been tucked underneath. He too knew I was only asking it so he wouldn't feel the burn of the cloth against his bleeding scratches. Understanding that he wasn't willing to answer, I unwrapped the cloth from both his palms and turned them over to look at the knuckles. 

"Where is she?", his voice came out so vulnerable, so weak and so shaky that I would've mistaken him for an emotional man if I didn't know better. I clamped my lower lip between my teeth before puffing my cheeks out as I blew air out of them. He was getting impatient and honestly, it scared me a little too much. 

"Teressa left before the fight," I could feel him tense up even without opening my eyes since his almost double my size palm was still in mine. With a firm heartbeat, I opened my eyes and found him staring upwards with a clenched jaw and I almost thought he was crying for a moment but he couldn't be crying, right? He was the toughest person I knew. 

He took in a deep breath through his nostrils, the anger evident in his neck and eyes snatching his palm away from me starting to get up but I quickly latched my fingers through his left hand pulling him back down with all my strength. He gave me a questioning look and I silently pleaded for him to sit down. He knew I had reached my limit today and there was no way I'd be able to handle another one of his tantrums especially tonight so he let himself fall on the bench listening to me. 

"I'm gonna be applying antiseptic, squeeze my hands if it gets too much," I warned pulling the box out from under his left leg and he nodded quietly. As tough and emotionless as he was, Nathan couldn't handle smaller problems like getting his thrashed wounds treated but who was I to complain, it was fun, you know, to watch the person I feared so much be so under my control even if it was for a minute. 

"I saw your uppercut today. Impressive," I commented as I slowly let the cotton dab against the wounds while I help his hand as if about to kiss it like a prince. He didn't say anything, he never did when he was angry so I let it go and pressed the cotton against all his knuckles one by one. By the third one, I felt my hand being squeezed so I stopped and looked up at him. 

"Hurts?", I asked him in a low whisper but he just squeezed my hand again so I ceased all movements and softly patted his forearm trying to calm him down. I whispered a string of 'there, there's before proceeding to repeat the process all over again in both his hands. 

I got up from my knees and dusted my pants before taking a step closer and he leaned back on the bench after brushing his hair with his fingers, giving me enough access to his face and jaw. This one was an easy task, it didn't hurt as much in the face so I quickly finished treating him. 

"C'mon, I'll take you home," I said keeping the kit away and grabbing his clothes for him to wear. He held both his injured arms up and I quickly bunched the material together pulling it over his head and then through both his arms. He slipped his feet into his flip-flops and stood up keeping completely mum about everything. 

I picked up his bag and walked beside him to the car that was parked across the street for the three of us but unfortunately there were only two of us here. He glanced back at me over his shoulder and again walked back ahead, for a second I thought he wanted to say something but I guess not. With another sigh, I slid open the door for him to enter looking left and right for any tails. 

"What are you doing here now?", I jumped up slightly my eyes darting back and forth between Teressa sitting in the middle of the seat and Nathan standing by my side with his fists clenched, veins protruding out of his forearms. There was no going back now. He was gonna cause a scene again and I was not ready for another one so soon. 

I whined to myself silently and placed a hand on his tensed up back nudging him forward so he sits inside before he starts yelling or she does. He understands, immediately stuffing himself on the seat opposite to her. I placed his bag next to Teressa and climbed in myself, perching down next to Nathan. She looked at me with a scowl and I gave her a blank look, the feeling of hatred between the two of us more than visible and mutual. 

I had nothing against her till the day she pushed me down to the floor leading to a bruised knee and pride.

 He ran a hand through his hair looking at her and then at me. 

"Why are you here now? Was sleeping with my best friend not enough that you're back here?", His tone was louder than last time and she didn't hold back either. 

"I told you it was a mistake, he was too drunk to function properly!", she yelled slapping her hands against the leather seats. Nathan growled lowly, face turning red with anger. 

"He was drunk but you weren't and I trust him enough to know that he would never make a move on you!", I could tell by his voice that his throat was aching and he was struggling. 

"Oh come on! I said it was a mistake! I've done so much for you till now, you can't possibly break our engagement because of this!" I flinched in my seat because of how loud and stupid she was. He took notice of my cringing face but didn't comment on it. 

"Get out of the car, I'm not letting you ruin my life over and over again." After this sentence, I tapped the driver's shoulder and he pulled the car to the side in a second. She scoffed at my behavior and I smiled graciously before sliding the door open and gesturing for her to leave.

"I wasn't planning on staying anyway, we both know this was all for mom and dad!" Teressa screamed stumbling out of the car in her heels before snatching her purse from the seat. I quickly closed the door and hopped onto the seat in front of him. 

"Fuck!", he cursed under his breath before slamming the side of his fist on the car door. It wasn't new or unexpected to me but the driver was still scared so he swerved the car slightly after jumping in his seat and I held back a snicker at that. Nathan held his head in both his hands constantly slapping the left side out of frustration making me sigh. 

I slid forward in my seat till my knees were in between his spread-out legs and he was in my range of touch. As much as I knew him, he wouldn't act up with me being too close so I placed a hand on his knee and his eyes shot up to me quickly. 

"You know, for such a small woman you sure can take a lot of fights without being scared," he commented when I slid the stress-relieving ball in his left palm while the right one was in my hold. I chuckled slightly nodding along and pulled back when I knew he was stable enough to carry on his own. 

"I've learned to do so, sir. You've been an awfully good teacher," I said with a cheeky smile and he too let out a hoarse chuckle before he quickly traced his hand back to his throat with a pained expression. 

"Sophie, I think I'm gonna have to retire at this rate," I gasped out of surprise and placed my fingers against his lips without thinking much of my actions and vigorously shook my head. I was never good at boxing or any other sport but I looked up to Mr. Kim greatly, he was just so hardworking and tough, I aspired to be just like him. 

I adored him. Every part of him.