"What the fuck was that?" Kevin yells at the person who attacked him.
It was a man who looked older than him with grey and black hair. That's all Kevin could make out about him before the man threw a vicious right hook. The speed of the punch shocks Kevin; he can't believe an older man can fight like this. The punch nearly connects, but Kevin blocks it at the last second, retaliating with a left punch of his own, which the man easily evades. The man steps back to create space, and Kevin knows why immediately.
Since the first day Kevin started fighting, he had always been an infighter. Coming in close and throwing powerful punches had always been like second nature to him.
"Shit, he knows," Kevin mumbled to himself. Somehow, this man already knows Kevin is an infighter, and the space he made represented that. Kevin has been out of practice for years. He knows he isn't as agile as his opponent.
"What's wrong with you, old man? You crazy or something?" Kevin asks.
"I'm crazy, huh? At least I can properly throw a punch, dumbass," the old man responds. He quickly gets into a fighting stance, but not one Kevin has seen before.
Kevin is slightly frustrated at the man's insult, but tries his best to calm himself.
"Listen, dude, I think you got it confused. Just let me explain," Kevin replies while still in his boxing stance.
"Misunderstand, huh? Hmph, I guess that's all the fire you'll get out of a washed-up fighter," the old man taunts.
This made Kevin furious; he hadn't thought about his fighting career in a while, and that single sentence set him ablaze. There was darkness in Kevin's eyes. Without a word, Kevin dashes in like lightning, charging up a devastating right hook.
"You think you know anything?!" Kevin yells.
The old man tries to dodge, but the punch connects square with his face.
"Fuck you, old man, you don't know anything!"
Kevin believes he's won this fight. However, the man does something miraculous. Using the momentum from Kevin's punch, he does a complete 360, leaving Kevin bewildered.
"Fuck! I'm wide open!" Kevin's powerful punch had left his side with no defence. Using the spin he just did, the old man uses that same momentum to deliver a powerful knee to Kevin's liver, making Kevin's knees give out.
"Respect your elders, chump."
Kevin hits his head when he falls, knocking himself out.
Thirty minutes later, Kevin wakes up. He is lying on the couch with an ice pack on the back of his head.
"Ooh shit, what happened…" Kevin says to himself.
He remembers the fight he had earlier and quickly sits upright and on guard, but moving that fast gives him a strong headache. He picks up the ice pack and holds it to the back of his head.
"Ow, shit," he groans.
"So, you're finally awake," Kevin hears someone say from the entrance to the living room.
"Fuck, it's you! Ouch!" Kevin stands up from the couch too quickly, giving him another headache.
"Don't lose your head, chump," the old man says. He's standing at the room's entrance, leaning against the wall, holding an ice pack to his face. This time, Kevin can make out what this man fully looks like, a little shorter than him, wearing a white tee and shorts. With a head of hair that was definitely less full than when he first saw him. His face has many wrinkles, making him look older than he probably is.
"Aren't you gonna attack me again? For no reason, might I add," Kevin replies.
"Nah, I won't kick your ass again," the old man says, chuckling.
"Yeah, sure, not unless you want a little more of what I gave you there earlier. Your face hurts like hell, doesn't it!"
Kevin retorts. "Anyways, now can I explain why I'm here?" Kevin asks sarcastically.
"I'll ignore that first part, but yes, sorry about that. I didn't know you were coming because that idiot Zhao didn't tell me," the old man explains. "My name is Xiao Kin. You're Qiao Kai, right?" Kin asks.
Kevin hasn't heard that name in ages.
"Yeah, I just don't go by that name anymore," Kevin says while looking away; the nervousness in his eyes is clear as day.
"Yeah, you go by Kevin now, huh. What a creative choice," Kin says, mocking Kevin.
"Chill, man, it was the most American name I could think of!" Kevin retorts in an agitated tone.
"Sure, whatever," Kin replies. Kevin takes a pause, remembering something important.
"By the way, why isn't Ming here?" Kevin asks.
"Oh, Ming? She's still at school. She should be home soon," Kin replies.
"Alright then," Kevin says quietly.
"You haven't seen her in a while, huh? You must be nervous," Kin asks.
"Yeah, I'm guessing Mr. Zhao filled you in, huh?" Kevin says, looking up to the ceiling. He'd rather not make eye contact while having a conversation like this.
"Not all of it, but I know the main parts," Kin replies.
Kevin looks down at the floor. "How has she been doing, with… You know?" Kevin asks, bracing himself for Kin's response.
"Not great, but not terrible. She's got a good head on her shoulders, you know. Still, it did hit her pretty hard," Kin replies.
"Yeah… I guess it's wishful thinking she would be fine," Kevin says.
"Well, she'll be home soon anyway. It could be good for her to catch up with you."
Kevin nods. His head doesn't hurt as much, so he takes the ice pack off his head.
"Thanks for this, by the way. You sure hit me hard," Kevin says, handing Kin the ice pack.
"Yeah, for sure, that was a pretty mean punch you threw, too," Kin replied.
"Yeah, th—wait a second!" Kevin remembers something important. "When we fought, you called me a washed-up fighter. What did you mean by that?!" Kevin stands up from his chair, eager to know what Kin meant. An awkward pause is shared between the two men.
"I know about your boxing career. I watched you when you were coming up," Kin explained.
"Oh… you did, huh," Kevin replies uncomfortably. He hated the fact that someone recognized him.
"I'm surprised someone recognizes me. I wasn't in the sport for all that long," Kevin says, chuckling awkwardly while avoiding eye contact.
"Yeah, I always watch the newcomers. Some of them have potential sometimes," Kin says.
"You had quite a bit of potential, but what that coach was teaching you was horrible. For better or worse, you were only good because of your own strength."
Kevin looks down at his hands. Everything is coming back to him. All those nights he spent training, all those hours he spent running.
"And that was my downfall, huh," Kevin says remorsefully.
"Exactly, you could've come back after that loss, you know. It wasn't over—"
"You don't know that!" Kevin interrupted. "You don't know what's happened to me! Do you know what it's like when everyone who supports you leaves?! Or being barely able to afford to eat? You don't know anything about what I've had to do! Don't tell me it isn't over!" Kevin yells, furious at Kin. After a couple of seconds, Kevin calms down and sits back on the couch.
"You're right, I'm sorry. I guess I wouldn't."
Kevin closes his eyes, trying to retain his calm.
"Sorry for blowing up on you like that. I just would rather not talk about those kinds of things," Kevin says. Kin stays quiet for a second before opening his mouth.
"If you could go back to fighting, would you?" Kin lets out quietly. Kevin stares at Kin, unresponsive.
"If you had another chance to the top, would you ta—"
Before Kin can finish, they both turn their heads to hear a door opening.
"Mr. Kin, I'm home!"