Chapter 112
The place was empty since it was still mid-day. It was a great contrast to the sight you see during sundown. People would be coming from every side of the area, surrounding the place and making it hell for claustrophobic people. Everything was pretty much on lock down except for the back door. I had to do a single round of the area to check every single entrance before I found one unchained. I knocked on it, before someone slid open the small rectangular space on the door. I slipped my ID inside. After a few seconds, it was slipped back to me and the door opened.
A bald and buff guard was standing there, holding the door for me. I walked in without looking back. During normal circumstances, that'd be considered rude but this was the illegal world. Scrutinizing or staring at people is rude. They might take it as you trying to memorize how they look to pass it on to the police, which wouldn't end well for you.
Oh wait, I just realized staring is rude even when legality and police aren't involved.
My eyes roamed the place for any sign of the schedules. You might wonder why I didn't just ask the dude by the door on where to get them, but in this particular environment, people expect you to have a huge ass ego. An ego that's way too big to be set aside to ask for directions or help. It sucked but it's just how you blend in. Or at least that's how I try to blend in. I'm not very observant you see, but at least I do try. It's the effort that counts right? No? Okay.
I continued to walk around the place, not really knowing where to turn or go. I probably looked like a loon, wandering around the place and getting lost all by myself. Suddenly, someone from the hallway I just walked past cleared their throat. I whisked around and squinted. The hallway was dimly lit and I could barely make out the person's facial features. It was definitely a she. I could see her curves clearly thanks to she was wearing. I walked towards the figure cautiously, stopping a safe distance away. I wasn't going to be one of those sexist dickwads and underestimate the woman just because she's a female; especially if that female was wandering around in this kind of place.
"You searching for something?" She asked to me and I recognized her as the woman who guided me through these halls during one of my fights here. Her tattoo sleeves helped me identify her. Her hair was still in unruly strands that made her look fierce.
"I was looking for the fight schedules." I told her with the best stoic look I could muster. Emotions should never be shown at this place. To me, this was the nest of the enemies and it was a must for me to stay alert at all times.
The woman motioned for me to follow her. She walked towards the path I came from after stepping through the door and where I took a left, she took a right instead. She led me to a room and told me to wait outside. She unlocked the room and opened the doors. The sharp smell of fresh paint hit my nose and I tried to refrain from scrunching up my nose at the pungent stench. She went into the room and came back out a few seconds later with a piece of paper, handing it to me.
I looked at it and checked that it was the correct schedule by looking at the dates. I raised my gaze to the woman and nodded my thanks. I turned around towards the door whilst silently wishing that I won't get lost trying to find my exit. That would be a complete bummer.
Luckily, I got out of the place without getting lost and got back home just in time for dinner. My parents were home but since neither of them could cook, we went out to one of their favorite Thai restaurants. Some would prefer homemade food than takeout or fancy food but that just wasn't the case for me. You can't miss what you've never had, you know.
Well that's excluding the times Nana was visited and wasn't too lazy to whisk one of her pork chops for dinner.
Those are inarguably the best meal anyone could ever have.
Nothing beats Nana's pork.
The restaurant wasn't as fancy as people pegged it to be. The portion was fulfilling and the price
didn't make my eyes cry tears of blood, so it was worth it. The place wasn't crowded and the chatter was bearable.
My parents and I chose a table beside the window where we can see the tree that was covered in fairy lights as decoration. I would be lying if I didn't say it wasn't pretty; as cliché as it was. I admired the warm golden lights that lit up in patterns, letting it draw my mind away from the chatter around me.
"So how are your studies? Did you make any friends yet?" My mom snapped me out of my reverie. I gave her a smile, telling her that school was great; and for once, I wasn't lying. Despite being boring, studying was better than having to fight for my life. No matter how much I loved fighting, dying wasn't high on my bucket list. I loved the thrill of it but I wasn't a big fan of having to do it when my life was practically on the line.
"Have you visited Jerry recently?" My mom asked again. Her voice was low as if she was hesitant to bring up the topic up. I nodded mindlessly. It wasn't a secret that I kept from them, I just spared them the details about what happened the last time I was there.
"And how is Adam?"
