It’s finally the big day. The sun rises early, I see it rise. Normally, I don’t wake up this early but today, it’s different. I want to win and win these next few rounds pretty badly. I get dressed, get the food ready and leave early. I don’t let anyone know that I am leaving for one simple reason. I want to meet a certain person before going to the tournament’s final.

“Why did you want to meet me?”

Old man Jake asks me.

“I want a little practice before the tournament. Little tips on my body structure and composure while fighting.”

I say to Master Jake as I get myself ready to fight.

I take a deep breath.

*Boom*

I try to hit a strong sidekick but Master Jake blocks it.

“I never said that I was going to fight you.”

Master Jake looked right into my eyes. It was as though he wanted me to have confidence in myself.

“What’s wrong, boy? It’s almost like that one time when you lost to Carly in a one-on-one fight and looked disappointed.”

Master Jake reminds me of my old days.

That’s right, back when I was training. we had our first serious fight. I thought that I had gained enough strength to surpass Carly but I was soon proven wrong in seconds. Her training was much greater than mine. I had lost my hope to get stronger. I thought if I couldn’t be stronger than her than how am I supposed to stronger than Master Jake. I am supposed to protect my brother. I almost had a thought, that thought had me thinking, what if I turned to the dark side...I still remember that.

“Remember what I said that day?”

Master Jake asks me.

He was the one who gave me the words of courage that day. Even though they were harsh, they were inspiring.

“If you get defeated once, get back up again, if you get defeated twice, get back up again, if you are near death, cheat death and fight back. My family depends on me and me only no one else. If I give up now, I will always be a coward and give up in the future. So don’t give up till the very end.”

Those are the words that Master Jake had said to me when I was little.

There was a smile on Master Jake’s face when I recited those lines.

“Look at you, remembering everything words to a word. That’s my young boy.”

Master Jake keeps on smiling.

I smile.

“You are stronger than that other teacher. Just don’t let him get to you. That’s the advice I have.”

Master Jake says.

“You are getting late for the tournament, boy. Go, your team is waiting for you and my daughter is waiting for me in that stadium.”

Master Jake begins to walk in the direction of the stadium.

“Want to ride with me?”

I ask Master Jake since I bought my brother’s bike with me.

Master Jake laughs at me, “Boy, you are joking. Can you even ride that thing?” Master Jake asks me. He seems to not believe that I can ride bikes.

“Y-yeah, I mean, I do have the license for it so you know...”

“Drive then.”

Just like that Master Jake walks past me and waits near the bike.

“Just like that...”

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