After cleaning himself up in the showers, he wore his clothes and ready to take his leave. Most of the people around him held some form of respect towards him given that they hadn't expected such an outcome from someone so young.
Looking at the ring, Stan's body was being watered down with some of the other participants. He regained consciousness however his mind was in a perpertual mess. His head dizzy, a constant sharp pain ringing all over his cranium and his legs tired as if his tendons were torn apart.
Given his heavy mass, it would take him even longer to get up let alone walk. The metallic taste in his mouth growing more by the second. He reached inside his mouth to pull out a tooth which was coated in blood.
His face projecting the fury that was growing inside of him as he saw Andrew's figure. He wanted to rip him apart himself however his situation wouldn't allow him to do so. Not to mention a direct physical confrontation wasn't ideal.
"It seems that you're pretty good kid but don't expect your battles to be so easy. After all not everyone you face will be as slow or as clouded like that excuse of a competitor." A voice came from the crowd.
Taking a closer look, it was Derrick. Andrew's expression ever banal as he laid his eyes at the approaching figure. The rest of the onlookers were surprised that Derrick knew Andrew. "But first, let's go somewhere else more private." And with that, the two left the stadium.
He had a match on Wednesday thus he had no business dallying around. Unlike the rest, he knew exactly from start to finish what was in-store in the competition.
Every single opponent's weakness and strength, their history and all. Nothing was out of his scope. The two made their way to the parking lot where a stylish posh car was parked. It was the same lamborghini that he has seen back at Hector's place.
"Okay, so this is how it's going to be. It's quite clear that you're not that useless as I had thought you'd be thus I'll propose an offer to you." Derrick started off, his figure casually leaning on the side of the car, his overall presence exuding confidence.
A sharp contrast to Andrew who stood still , as if awaiting instructions. "I'll pay you ten thousand dollars to drop out. Sure fight a bit longer before losing. I'm sure that you'll be able to make some money on your own as well."
As he spoke, he stretched into his car and threw a fat stack of cash into his face which he failed to pick up. "I'll have to decline your offer Derrick." Derrick who wore a smug look was puzzled. "I'm sure that you're here for the money, right so how about this..."
His torso bending into the car, his hands shuffling into dashboard before emerging once more with a fatter bundle of money. "Here, it should be a total of thirty thousand dollars. It should be able to satisfy your needs not to mention it's the only way you'll make money without a sweat."
Andrew stood as if adamant to the world around him which ticked Derrick off. 'He's doing this for fame and recognition with some of the other participants bought out as well.' Derrick clicked his tongue, tired of how zoned out Andrew looked at him.
With a forceful grunt, he grabbed him by his collars. "Okay you excuse dead beat! You better take this money or let's just say things won't end well for you. As for rough housing, don't think that I'm defenceless either." His tone cocky as his eyes locked with Andrew's.
Despite his situation, Andrew kept his cool, brushing off Derrick's hands off his collar. "Can't you handle a little competition?" A light tease as a small smile formed on his face before taking his leave.
Derrick was forced to watch him walk away. Even he was wary of his fighting prowess, making him feel something that he detested and that was weakness. His fingers digging deep into his palms forming marks, he was forced to pick up the money that lay on the floor and sped out of the lot.
...
'It would seem that these two know each other, that may be useful.' Greta lightly chuckled as she watched the scene that played out on the parking lot. She was aware of who Derrick was given that his parents were well known not only in the state but in the country as well.
His father a tech savvy who ran an electronics company known world wide while his mother ran a model industry that would have top tier models and actresses begging to be in a showcase. To say that she was perplexed that he was in the tournament was an understatement.
'It's quite clear that he's doing this for fame, typical of these young kids however Andrew... it seems that he's doing it for the money.' A glass of wine clutched in her hands, swirling it lightly before taking a sip.
'He's not a bad fighter given his age. If nurtured properly, then he'll be a professional fighter in a matter of years.'
...
"Are you hurt? I hope that you're okay!" Juliette asked, her eyes landing all over his body trying to spot any injuries whatsoever. It was the day after he ran into Derrick and he was back at his post at the clinic.
"I'm fine Juliette, so stop worrying." His tone light as he tried to shoo away the light directed at his eyes, momentarily blinding him. He was top naked thanks to her insistence and after a couple of minutes later, she was satisfied.
"There aren't any injuries on you. However next time if someone challenges you, I advise you not to take it. After all you never know what will happen." Putting her tools away. "If I don't take them then won't the rest view me as easy to pick on and intentionally want to fight me?"
She fell silent, her eyes locked onto his sculpted figure. Her jade green eyes seemed absent, as if lost in another world all together. Realizing this, Andrew made a light snap of his fingers right in front of her.
"Wha- Huh? I guess you're right! Just don't take too many fights or pick those that you don't need to." Her cheeks tinted with a hue of pink before she was lost once more. He gave a light sigh as he hopped off the chair and made his way to her.
She subconsciously stepped backwards which only made him advance further before he came to a halt and picked up his shirt. Putting it on, she seemed to permanently snap out of her world that she was lost in.
'What were you thinking?! Stupid Jullie!' Her face turned away from his direction. "What? Am I so ugly now that you wouldn't be damned to look at me?" His tone light as a playful smile formed on his face. "No! You're not ugly, you're quite handsome to look at! No, wait..."
Her composure out the window as she frantically tried to construct sentences which all fell flat. As if enjoying her torment, he drew closer to her which took her by surprise, making her pull back away from him till her back was facing the wall.
Andrew however kept on advancing and in a blink, he towered right above her. She was roughly the same height as him however her breathes were heavy and ragged as her eyes scanned all over his body. "You wouldn't happen to have a crush on me, would you?"
Her face contorted into that of shock. "No! And besides, don't you already have a relationship with Cassie?" Her tone shy as she felt him draw even closer. His hot breathes brushing across her face as his eyes locked onto hers.
The air was tight, as if everything had come to a grinding halt. Andrew who was about to draw closer felt her hands stopping him, landing on his firm and broad chest however despite it, he went on with his advances to which he wasn't faced with opposition. Her body tensed up as she saw his lips draw close to hers.
"Hahaha! Gotcha Andrew!" With a swift motion, she pressed her palm onto his face, pushing him back. Andrew however had a small playful smile. "I really can't believe that you fell for that! Though I have to commend your acting skills, they were mistakable for the real thing."
Her tone fused with laughter and teases. "You weren't such a bad actress yourself, Juliette." His tone similar to hers, light and comforting. "I guess that I now have to warn Cassie that she has a player on her hands. Speaking of which, how is she after Sunday?"
'All of that just to question me about Cassie. It would seem that she feels somewhat guilty about what she said then.' "She's fine really, however I fear that she may not like it after hearing that you tried to seduce me."
Her face shifting from warm to sarcasm. "Please, I was just trying to look out for her. And to check what goods she has on her hands." Andrew however didn't laugh along with her, only choosing to watch her go on about with her antics. "I could take you to meet her if you'd like." He offered.
"No, I think that it would be better if I did it myself. And please don't try to get sidetracked so easily." Her tone filled with laughs. "It's going to be hard with such a beauty right in front of me." Resigning to play her game. Her laughs came to a slow stop as she pondered what he had said
Her eyes squinted slightly, her tone now flat with a hint of seriousness in it. "Andrew... do you really think that I'm pretty?" He too had fallen out of his burst of laughters. The pair alone in the clinic felt the tense air rise once more.
However unlike before, this time it felt heavier, as it there was some form of pressure on top of it. "Juliette, of course you're pretty. Why would you think that I wouldn't consider you so?" Without warning, he made a dash to her similar to a prince, on one knee as he grabbed her hand.
"Thou art such a fair maiden, thy beauty alone capable of bringing nations to their knees, prostrating just to breath the same air with such a fairy." His tone smug and filled with confidence.