Pretending with the Snob (Pyxis #1)

Chapter 38

Chapter 38 - Kurumizawa

I'm back at Lolo's side.

I don't dare watch the fight. Nakatingin lang ako sa mga paa ko. Lolo wants me to watch, pero kahit ipabugbog niya ako sa mga tauhan niya, hindi ako titingin. All I can hear are loud grunts and thuds, and the kobuns reacting, cheering for Hanazono-sensei. Siya ang unang kalaban ni Tyler. There are no rules, except there are no weapons allowed. Basta mapatulog, mapagbagsak, maparuhan o mapasuko mo ang kalaban, panalo ka.

Hanazono-sensei's expertise are judo and mixed martial arts. He's not as aggressive as Kento-sensei, but he is as great and is way bigger than him. Kayang-kaya niyang bumalibag ng ilang tao.

Tyler, hindi ko pa siya nakitang lumaban ng totoo. I saw him fight with his brother once, but that was just a glimpse. All I know is he's good at fighting, and is incredibly fast. But it's my senseis he's fighting, with years or even decades of experience in the blood bath.

Stupid, why can't you trust me?

Naglakas-loob akong mag-angat ng tingin.

Tyler is on the ground, Hanazono-sensei on top of him. Tyler tries to break free, but sensei smashes a huge arm across his neck, strangling him.

Pumikit ako.

I trust him.

Lalong lumakas ang sigawan ng mga tauhan ni lolo. Kahit hindi ako tumingin, I know Hanazono-sensei is winning.

I trust him.

The cheering stops.

Everyone is silent.

I open my eyes and look up.

Hanazono-sensei is still on ground, lying on his stomach. Unconscious.

And Tyler...

Tyler is standing a feet away from sensei, trying to catch his breath. Putok ang isang kilay at isang bahagi ng bibig niya. He was wearing a few layers of clothes earlier, pero ngayon black shirt niya na lang ang natira, along with his wrinkled pants and now dirty shoes. May ilang gasgas at pasa siya sa braso, but he's okay. He's still standing. He's won.

How did he—

Lolo's menacing expression gave me the answer.

Pressure points. With Tyler's swift and precise moves, he can easily hit the right spots to make someone—anyone unconscious. And he can only do that... if his opponent is near enough.

A sly, dangerous move. Too reckless, too risky. If he was near me, I'd smack him.

Habol pa rin niya ang hininga nang biglang umatake si Kento-sensei. He throws kicks and punches, all are deadly, and Tyler who just finished a fight couldn't dodge them all. Muli akong nag-iwas ng tingin.

I trust him.

"Kento," says Lolo. "I know you hate pretty faces, but he's Tom's grandson. Spare his face."

Muli akong pumikit.

There it is again. The grunts and the thuds. The ones watching are quiet and serious now, dahil ngayon, alam na nilang hindi basta-basta si Tyler.

He groans in pain and I snap my eyes open.

There's blood in his mouth, in his whole face. Still trying to dodge sensei's attacks, he can barely stand now.