More Than Just A Kick

Chapter 27

Handkerchief

"I don't wanna," Stephanie says as she stomp her feet multiple times. 

"You see, my cousin, Rouge would be mad at your brother, if he thinks we are a couple." I explain calmly.

"I don't care!" She says. I bit my lower lip to stop my irritation on. 

"But we are not a couple, I don't like your brother." Mahinahon kong sambit.

"Ouch, it hurts." Bulong ni Stephen. "Please, don't be a hard-headed on this. Just say that you are joking. In exchange, I'll go with you while you're shopping at my expense." He says bribing her. Lihim akong napailing sa sinabi niya.

"Yes but I want to go with Ate Francis and you. I'll match you, till you fall in love with each other." She says, claps her hand in excitement and sits on the bench.

She watches our one-on-one training. We do the usual routine: warm-up, stretching and sparring. Sa sparring talaga kami nagpo-focus ni Stephen. Never ko pa yata siyang natalo sa sparring, sobrang galing niya kasi—na kilalang kilala ang pangalan niya sa ibang bahagi ng mundo.

"Go Ate! Talunin mo yan si Manok." She says, cheering me.

"Ako dapat ang manok mo, yun ang tawag mo sa akin eh. What a disrespectful child." Stephen says, glaring at his annoying sister.

Mas matangkad sa akin si Stephen kaya kailangan ko pang mag-extra effort para maabot ang ulo niya. Roundhouse kick it is. I nearly kick him, pero siya iniwas niya lang ang ulo niya nang mabilis at walang kahirap-hirap.

"Come on," pang-aasar pa niya.

I hiss at him. I look at his open area and it is his chest. I use axe kick to slam his chest but failed because he immediately read my next move. He just moves to the side.

"If I move to this side, attack me immediately using left roundhouse kick on my chest." Pagtuturo niya. Inulit niya yung pwesto kanina kaya ginawa ko yung axe kick ko sa kaniya at sinunod ko ang tinuro niya. I hit the point. I hit his chest!

"Very good," he says. "Always sharpen your eyes on your opponent's movement. Look at my torso, it will indicate my next move so you can defense it or avoid it."

"I got it."

After all the techniques that he thought me while sparring with him, I gladly thank him. 

Humahangos si Rouge papunta sa amin. Maybe because he is really mad at him. I think he hates him because they have the same feather—parehas silang malandi.

"I already gave you my last warning and you waste it!" Rouge shouts at him.

"I can explain it, the photo was nothing. Please hear me out." Pakiusap ni Stephen.

"Hear me out, huh? " Nakakuyom ang kamay na tanong ni Rouge habang nagtatagis ang kanya bagang. "Then taste this first." Mabilis na dumapo sa kaliwang pisngi ni Stephen ang kamay ni Rouge. Kaya naman dumugo ang kaliwang labi niya.

"Rouge, please calm down!" Sambit ko habang inihaharang ang katawan kay Stephen.

"It's okay, I can take it." Sagot  sa akin sa likod ko.

"Rouge, that's enough." Suway ni Marsan at hinila palayo sa amin.

"Let me go, Marsan. Huwag kang makialam dito." Pagpupumiglas ni Rouge sa hawak sa kanya ni Marsan.

"If it's just nothing, then why are you protecting that bastard?" Tanong sa akin ng pinsan ko.

"Because I know he will not survive in your hands. You're a soldier after all." Paliwanag ko na ikinangisi ng pinsan ko.