Yuri's Pain
Jay-jay's POV
"Sorry... I shouldn't have called you before you got caught up in this." Drew told me. Even if I wanted to lecture him, I couldn't. We're here, what's the point of my lecture? We just kept walking while ollowing Yuri. I'm not sure where this hallway is going. "Drew... Can you tell me why Yuri was hanging around here?" I whispered to him. Drew shook his head. "You should talk to her about that." I can't get that out of my mind. What does he mean that Ella was the reason? Honestly, I don't like this place. It's all illegal business here. Drew admitted to us that he gambles. He said he lost the money he borrowed from me. I just pulled myself together out of annoyance. I don't have any more money, I put the one I lent him aside, then acted like I was disappearing. Money. He promised to replace it but of course, when? "Yuri..." I called. "...Where are we going?" Yuri continued walking. "I'm going to pay..." He answered boredly. It's hard like this. When you don't know where you're going and your friends don't want to tell you. It's annoying! A few more turns and a few more right turns until I hear loud shouting. It's like someone is watching a Pacquiao ï¬ght. I walked a little more and the shouting got louder. When I came out of the hallway, there were a lot of people. There were so many that their throats were almost bursting with shouting. There was a big cage in the middle. Two men were ï¬ghting inside . "W- what is this place?" I asked. "Underground ï¬ght." Drew answered. We heard someone whistling loudly. From not far away near the ring, we saw Tiger. He was sitting on what looked like a veranda, with a table and a sofa. He was the only person there. We approached and from our place. We could clearly see the one ï¬ghting in the middle. "I'm sick of the ï¬ght! They're useless!" Tiger shouted and poured wine into a glass. "...I should have let that kid in, it's a good thing you came!" He pointed at Drew. He looked surprised by Tiger's words. From his appearance and the appearance of the place, it was obvious that he wouldn't be long. Someone approached Tiger and handed him something wrapped in cloth. He placed it on the table and put down the glass he was holding. "You know what to do, Yuri. It's the same old habit..." He said boredly before opening the wrapped cloth. An army knife appeared. I looked at Yuri with no expression. What was the army knife for? "You're next, after that ï¬ght." Tiger added. Yuri stood up and immediately took off his polo and t-shirt, he even took off his shoes. I saw the scars on his body again. Yuri took the knife and waved it in his hand. It was as if he knew exactly how to use it. Drew and I stepped back. It was as if he had become a different person when he held the knife. I was confused by what was happening. He looked at the ï¬ghter for a moment before facing us. His gaze was clearly conversational. "I will explain everything... But please don't judge me." Yuri said and looked at Drew. "...Keep her safe." He walked away from our place and went to the large cage. I didn't see him anymore because of the crowd. "Jay-jay..." Tiger called to me. He motioned for me to sit on the sofa next to him. "...Let's chat ï¬rst before Yuri's ï¬ght starts ." I didn't want to. I wasn't comfortable with him. He just looked untrustworthy. You sing PPAP ï¬rst! I was forced to sit on the sofa he pointed to. I was in someone else's territory , I didn't want to make a scene and maybe get into trouble. "Where did you meet Yuri?" he asked. "They're my C-classmates... I'm also in Section E." He laughed a little. "It's just a coincidence! I was also in Section E at that school. My classmate was Michael Angelo Fernandez... That's where I met Yuri and the others." Kuya was his classmate? Well, it seems like they're a long way from each other in age. "How did you meet?" "Hm?... They always had Angelo's back. There were four of them, I just forgot their names. Then when the animal graduated from college, he let those who had their backs on him go." He answered quickly. I couldn't tell if he was mad at Kuya. I hesitated to ask, in case he noticed that I was interested in Kuya's story. "Y-Is that why Yuri started hanging out here?" I asked hesitantly. Tiger shook his head. "Yuri used to hang out here with Keifer. The hang out I was talking about, right here!" He pointed to our place at the same time. Does he mean, Yuri joined the underground ï¬ght?---shit! Is that why he knows how to hold a knife? And his scars. "I- I'm confused." He paused for a moment. "The disco upstairs, that's their favorite hangout. Especially Keifer----- oh! He's so good at causing trouble. He ï¬ghts everyone!" You're not alone. I understand you! "...I know he got a girlfriend. Then he never came here again." He added. That must have been the time when he and Ella were together. He was also good at being a good boy. "...Then this Yuri, I think he lost himself. He was ï¬ghting outside when I saw him. When we asked him, he wouldn't answer. Until he said he was going to join Kingsground..." He paused for a drink. "...I didn't agree. He's still young, maybe he'll just be like me by chance. But he didn't get weaned and that's it. I found him inside the cage and ï¬ghting one of my underdogs." As for Keifer, he didn't come here when he and Ella were together. Yuri was the one left behind because----shit! I think I understand. That was the time he was broken-hearted because of Ella. He became a hangout here because of Ella! The shouting got louder for a moment, causing us to look at the large cage. The ï¬ght was over, Yuri was next. I couldn't help but worry. Even though Yuri knew how to ï¬ght, it was still impossible to tell. Yuri entered, holding the knife Tiger gave him. His opponent also entered and I admit it. They were very different. Yuri's opponent was too big compared to him. Jusme! The bell rang and Yuri and his opponent immediately ormed. They just circled around . Waiting and feeling who would go ï¬rst. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Yuri's POV The last time I came here, I was faced with the most unexpected person. Keifer. I don't know what I'm doing back then. I'm not in myself. When Ella chose Keifer, I elt like the world had thrown me down. All I knew at that time was that they shouldn't have seen me. I loved Ella, I wanted her to be happy and I didn't want her to think about me anymore. It really fvcking hurt! I just wanted to die because of the pain. But I'm not that weak. I will never let the pain decide for me. I want the pain I feel to go away. Move on? I don't think so. But the fastest way for me is if I feel another pain. Pain vs pain That's what I thought was right. That's what I thought was the quick way. That's what I thought would end my eelings for her. But I was wrong... Only one woman could end my feelings for Ella. She's the woman looking at me now, full of worry. Jay-jay. If I fought here before to feel pain, to release all the pain and anger and to throw myself away. Now, I will ï¬ght for her. I will ï¬ght to defend her, to make sure she's safe and for what I feel for her. And I will never let you lose! +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Jay-jay's POV I'm going crazy! Every time Yuri and his opponent swing the knife, my heart drops. This is happening too intense. "Yuri can do it!" Drew said next to me. I knew he was just taking away the worry I was feeling. But how could that happen when he was shaking with nervousness too. "Let him go! Yuri is smart! He knows what to do!" Tiger said. No matter what! It's just a ï¬ght with knives. A hand-to-hand ï¬ght is scary, that's all . "Aaahhh!!!!" I screamed when Yuri suddenly got hit in the chest with a knife. It looked like it was just a graze because he didn't hit it but there was still blood. "Aaahhhh! I can't watch anymore!" I said and covered my eyes . But I couldn't bear not to peek. Especially when the people's shouting got louder. A moment later, Yuri swung the knife and hit the opponent. There was a lot of blood and the other one was clearly angry. Suddenly, the opponent threw his knife at Yuri. He managed to dodge but was immediately followed by a punch. "Yuri!" We shouted. He immediately stood up but he no longer had his knife. The ï¬ght turned into a ï¬st ï¬ght. Given the size of his opponent, he had difficulty recovering. Yuri fell and seemed to have difficulty standing up. I couldn't stand it anymore. I immediately ran towards them. I knew I couldn't get in so I took his place. Since Yuri was already down, his opponent was kicking him. "Yuri! Stand up! Please!" I shouted. I didn't know if he could hear me but I still didn't stop shouting. "YURI! Please!" I continued calling him. For some reason I couldn't understand, my tears just ell with each shout. This is not possible! This is not possible! "Please! Stand up!" +