Kevin's eyes widen. She sounds a little older, but he'd remember that voice from anywhere. That's his sister; that's Qiau, Ming.
"Mr. Kin, are you here?" she yells. Her voice rings in Kevin's ears, and he's too shaken to move. What should he say? How would she react? Should he even be here?
"I'm in here, Ming. How was school?" Kin responds.
"Huh? You're not usually awake at this time," Ming says, chuckling. "School was alright, same as every day." She turns to put her shoes away and notices a different pair.
"Mr. Kin, do we have a visitor?" she asks, looking around.
"Uuh, yeah, we do, give me one second," Kin replies. He goes into the room, grabs Kevin's arm, and pulls him into the hallway before Kevin even notices. He still has a dumb look on his face when he's in front of his sister. Her hair is a little longer than before. She hasn't gotten much taller, but she looks much older than she actually is. Seeing her like this, Kevin nearly passes out.
"Oh, uh, uh, hi M-Ming. How—"
"Greetings, I don't think we've met before. I'm Qiau, Ming. What's your name?" She bows halfway. She does not recognize him.
Kevin is too stunned for words; his legs are ready to give out.
"He's the new guardian, remember I told you someone was coming for that?" Kin quickly says.
"His name's Kevin," Kin adds, slapping Kevin's back to shock him back to his senses.
"Kevin? Kevin, what?" Ming asks.
"Uhh, just Kevin," Kevin finally says quietly. Kin palms his face.
Ming raises an eyebrow. "Oh, well, alright, Mr. Kevin." She turns to Kin. "I'll be in my room doing homework. I'll see you both later."
"Yeah, for sure, kid. I'll just get everything settled with… just Kevin over here," Kin says sarcastically, elbowing Kevin. He barely notices. Ming walks away and goes upstairs. A few minutes later, the two men hear a door close. They both breathe a sigh of relief.
Kin turns to Kevin. "Nice save, fucking idiot."
"S-sorry about that, I just…" Kevin doesn't know how to respond.
"Yeah, I get it," Kin replies. "You look pale. Go get some fresh air, then come back inside to join us for dinner."
"Yeah, I'm gonna go outside for a bit." Kevin goes for the door and leaves. He sits on the porch, thinking about what just happened. His face feels ice cold; life has punched him harder than any boxer could, and he feels like he deserves it.
A couple of hours pass. Inside, Kin and Ming are getting ready to eat dinner. After Kin is done setting the table, they both sit down.
"Is Mr. Kevin joining us?" Ming asks.
"Hold on, I'll call him," Kin replies.
"KEVIN! GET YOUR ASS TO THE TABLE!" he yells. They wait a few seconds, but there is no response.
Kin turns to Ming. "I don't think he's here."
He rolls his eyes. "Fine, I'll go get him." He gets up and drags himself to the door. He sees Kevin outside, still sitting in the same spot.
"Hey, kid, aren't you hungry?"
"Uhh, I think I'm good." Kevin doesn't even look at Kin.
Kin sighs and sits beside him.
"Look, kid, I know what happened there was rough, but look at the bright side; this could be a fresh start!" Kin tries to lighten the situation and help with the turmoil in Kevin's heart. Kevin shows no sign of responding; he keeps staring into the distance. Kin thinks it's best to leave him, so he gets up and starts to walk inside.
"Do you know what happened to me when I lost that championship?" Kevin says.
Kin stops and turns to him.
"First, my coach left me. Apparently, he put me up against the champion on purpose, then bet big money that I would lose. He knew I could never win that fight. He even bet everything he had on my loss. He sure made big bucks outta that one," Kevin continues.
"Then my fiancé left. I guess she was only with me for the money. When she found out my coach had gone and I would probably have to step down from boxing, she left fast and took more than half of my earnings. Do you know how expensive a lawyer is? Because I sure as fuck found out!"
Kin tries to speak. "Kevin, I—"
Kevin stands up, cutting him off.
"Then, after all that, my friends left too! Still, no matter what, I kept going! No matter how hard it was!" Kevin tries to calm down.
"I'm not mad she doesn't remember me, really, I'm not. I'm mad at what it means. It means I can't be the brother she wants, the brother she needs. It means that no matter what I do, she really does have nobody. I'm so close to her, and now I can't even help my own sister! So don't tell ME to look at the bright side! I don't wanna hear shit about a fresh start!"
They stand in silence. Even though cold winds hit Kevin, his face feels hot with rage, anger, and sadness—not for himself; for his sister, for everyone in his family he couldn't be there for.
"You know, Ming didn't change much since I left, but you know what did change?" Kevin clenches his fist, biting his lip, doing his best not to let the tears escape. Kin stays silent.
"Her eyes, Kin. Her eyes don't have their light. Her light of joy and curiosity. It's GONE!"
Kevin starts to yell near the end. Kin takes a couple of seconds.
"Are you done? 'Cause I'm starting to get tired of your pity party," Kin scoffs.
"What did you say?!" Kevin grabs Kin's collar, ready to punch him.
"You think crying about your problems will help her!? What's done is done! You can't go back!" Kin yells, making Kevin furious.
"You're fucking asking for it!" Kevin reels his fist back.
"You really wanna help her? You wanna atone for what happened? Huh? Do ya?!" Kin screams. Kevin's grip loosens.
"I do," Kevin says quietly.
"What was that, kid? I couldn't hear you!"
"I DO!" Kevin yells. "But how can I?!"
"Do what you do best. You fight!" Kin yells back.
"Huh?" Kevin says, confused.
"In China, you can make big money fighting. People come from all over the world to watch the fights here. I'll guide you, I'll teach you how to fight properly! I saw your old fight tapes—that coach didn't know shit! I think together we can make it to the top!"
"Going back to fighting…" Kevin shudders at the idea. "I don't know, I—"
Kin punches him in the face.
"What was that? Where's all the energy you had earlier!? I guess you don't really want it that bad!" Kin taunts. Kevin tries to hit him back, but Kin grabs his fist.
"Of course I do!"
"Then let's do it together, for the people we care about! Let's prove ourselves, kid!"
"LET'S FUCKING DO IT!" they both yell. Kin lets go of Kevin's arm and heads for the door.
"It's settled then. We start tomorrow. You better not quit on me when it gets tough!"
"I won't! I won't quit!" Kevin yells back. Kin chuckles, motioning for Kevin to come inside, then walks in.
"I'm gonna give my family…"
"A better life!"