Brad

"Why don't you buy a big house, man? You already have millions in your bank account," Mack said while pushing the empty box away.

"I bought this apartment with my hard earned money. Those millions which I have are from illegal fights," I say taking the empty box

"But you won the fights and got the money, it's a hard earned right? I mean you busted your face and broke a bone or two in those fights," Mack said in confusion.

"I'm comfortable here and it's not that someone is going to stay with me. It's just me." I look at my apartment, it isn't in a good position but I'm comfortable here.

"Okay!" he said getting up.

I don't have any furniture or anything in this apartment. It's a small apartment with one bedroom. With a small open kitchen attached to the living room.

I don't even have kitchen utensils and all. I never thought of decorating this place as I never stay here. I spend my whole time in the gym and sometimes sleep there.

As I was looking at the whole place I realised how empty the whole place is. The wall paint looks dull. Every corner plastic throw-away boxes are laying.

I need to clean this place. I stood up and walked into my single bedroom where all my clothes are laying on the floor, bed and on the single chair present in the room.

I pushed the clothes away from the bed and laid back. My back hurts because of the punch. My back muscles are tense, I need to give my body a break before it starts aching.

"Brad, I'm leaving." I heard Mack's voice. I didn't say anything as I slept feeling the body pains.

I didn't remove my clothes just slept soundly without any care. My body and mind needed this sleep.

*

"Take rest, don't stress about tomorrow," Conner said while handing me a water bottle. I nodded my head as I closed my eyes.

"How is your back? Does it hurts?" Conner asked.

"No, it doesn't hurt anymore but I need to stretch those muscles. I may visit chiropractic center," I tell him.

"Good."

Conner is training me for the upcoming knockdown session. This is my very first knockdown. I don't wanna lose it, I want to be in the semifinals. I pulled my hood and walked out to the nearby cafe. My stomach is growling for food. I wanted to shower first but listening to the growling stomach I need food first.

I looked at the dark sky to see it is going to rain soon. I don't have any problem as my apartment is very near. I entered the cafe and walked straight to the counter. I gave my order and waited for my food. As I looked around my gaze caught someone. I frowned before walking towards her. She is writing something on her notes.

I don't have any problem with her being here but the thing is it's too late for her to stay out.I took a seat in front of her which made her head snap towards me. A smile lit up on her face

"Hey Brad!" I didn't say anything

"What are you doing here?" her smile erased and a frown settled.

"Why do you always ask me that. You could have greeted me back or at least smile."

"Don't you think it's late and the weather is not good," my statement made her look outside the window. Her mouth opened when she saw the rain droplets falling down.

"Ugh! I had a project work with one of the girls, she wanted to meet here and it's raining," she says looking at her phone. It's getting heavier and heavier and by the sounds of the rain, I don't think it would stop soon.

"Have you eaten?" I asked her.

"Yeah."

"Join me again," I said getting up to order another plate of pasta. When I sat back with our food, Ava looked at me as if she is seeing an alien.

I frowned "Is anything there on my face?"

"No, this is the first time you've spoke more than four sentence," I rolled my eyes before keeping her plate in front of her. Now that she is eating I observed her, her hair is in a side braid. She is wearing a lose black tee and joggers. Her reading glasses are back.

She is looking so cute that my hands are itching to touch her soft skin. I look away when she lifted her head off the plate.

"Brad why you never visited us again? I mean after Vincent moved to London you guys never came home," she said.

I didn't answer her question, I just ate my food. She asked me many questions about what I was doing now and where I live. I gave her one-word answers without meeting her gaze. I turned my head towards the window and saw how heavily it is raining.

How did she became so talkative with me?

"Your dorms are seven km away from here, it's looking like it's going to storm. Cabs aren't available," I said while checking for any cab.

"Ohh," her voice sounded low.

"We will wait for some time then we will think of something," I said. She nodded her head as it is the only option left. I want to her to my apartment but knowing the situation of my apartment I don't want to take her there.

She lived in a very good home. She would be in shock if she saw my apartment.

"You are going to graduate this year?" I asked her as I don't want her to feel awkward.

"Yeah."

"What you thought of doing next?"

"I'm not sure, the initial plan was to write banking exam but right now I'm working for the firstborn magazine," she said. Her eyes are filled with happiness.

"That's good," and for the first time, we both spoke after all these years. I was really scared to talk to her. I know Ava is a talkative girl and happy kid. I know her from childhood but talking to her personally is something I never thought in the past.

"I don't think it's going to stop raining," she said getting up and looking outside.

"Pack your belongings, my apartment is across the street."

"Your place? No, I think I will go home."

"In this bad weather? You think I would leave you alone and the cafe is going to close now," I said getting up. She looked hesitated and to be honest I'm not sure about her coming to my small place. I'm a little bit scared of her reaction. I don't know how she would react.

"Okay," she replied.

"Is your bad waterproof? Or else we can keep your bag here," I tell her.

"No, my bag is a waterproof. I will take my bag with me." She lifted her packed bag and started following me. Outside it is really bad. I opened the exit door and pulled Ava's hand in mine before running towards the back street.

The rain hit our bodies and faces. It's really raining heavily. By the time we entered the lift, we both are drenched in rain.

"Ugh!" Ava hissed, I turned my face to see her hair is sticking to her face and her clothes are sticking to her body. I blinked my eyes before looking straight. When we reached my floor, I pushed the lift doors and closed them when Ava is out.

I walked towards my apartment number 406. Ava followed me like a wet puppy. I unlocked the door and made someplace for Ava to get inside.

"Ignore the mess, I will get you a towel," I said not daring to turn around and see her. I took out my third towel which I don't use and a T-shirt along with my knot shorts.

I went back to the living room and saw Ava looking around with her curious eyes. When she heard my footsteps her eyes snapped towards me.

"Change into this. You can change in that bathroom," I said pointing towards the single bathroom. She nodded her head before passing me to go to the bathroom.

I went into the bedroom and changed into a pair of sweatpants and a T-shirt. I waited for Ava to come out. She came out in my shirt which looked huge on her with my shorts which are like full pants to her.

"Your place is cute but you need to decorate it," she said sitting on the love seat sofa. I just looked at her, she said that genuinely. she started drying her hair with the towel I gave her.

"I don't have time."

"Well, I can decorate it," she said her eyes are sparkling with hope.

"No."

"Please Brad, I always want to decorate a home."

"You can decorate your home or your dorm. This isn't home and I hardly stay here."

"My mom already decorated hers and I can't decorate my dorm room," she said in a sad tone.

"Brad you hardly stay please I will do it," she pleaded.

"What's the point of decorating it when I hardly be here?" I said keeping my voice on check. I don't want to scare her with my loud voice.

She will end up crying if I raise my voice. I was a mess when she cried that night just looking at my angry face.

"If I decorate it maybe you would like to stay here. This place is very good and if you decorate the whole place I'm sure you gonna love it. We argued for sometime before I gave up. She gave me her bright happy smile before taking out her phone.

"And I will tell the budget limit," I said.

"Okay, we will go to the mart and buy things." she said.

I leaned my head against the sofa and closed my eyes."Brad?"

"Hmm?"

"I heard from my friends that you make lots of money from the fights and why you didn't buy a house?"

"I make that money by illegal fights, I bought this place with my hard work. I want to buy my house with my legal money which I earn." I don't know why I explained to her all these. But it's good to have her here. I messaged Mack that I need a car. I want to buy a car, I never had a car but now I feel the need of having a car.