Page 8 of Sucker Punch Drunk Love

“I don't want to hear the wordcan't. What you need to do is stop with the swings. She's more composed than you, so every time you leave yourself open, it backfires. She's getting comfortable because you're making her. If you don’t want to change the levels, draw her out, fake or bait. You can counter with a power shot or come up with an overhand. Shoot for a takedown, even if it's just to score and control. Damage accumulates faster than you think when it'sfocused.”

“Okay,” I nodded, grateful someone still thought I could win this fight.

“Keep her guessing, because she's got your style down to a T. You just need to shake her up.” He held my face between his fingers to inspect my obvious damage. “You're fine now. But listen to what I told you.” As I silently agreed, watching as everyone disappeared from the cage, but me and my opponent. I had to force her into familiar territory, hoping the judges noticed that shift.

Faking a jab, she took the bait as I stepped in with a power shot, followed by bursts, so she couldn't recover. I wasn't fighting better, I was fighting smarter. And it wasn't long before I broke her rhythm.

It wasn't clean, but I forced her backwards, building the comeback to be anything but predictable. I had her up against the cage, and while she successfully broke free, she was trying to keep her distance, which I wasn't letting her hold.

Baiting a counter, I slipped and returned with a combination that feigned a level change once she hit the floor. Landing the take down, I forced myself to move fast, in her attempt to scramble against each strike against her, as the bell went off. Round three hadn't been the same fight as those first two rounds, I was so in my head to switch direction, but guidance really led the way of that last one. Whatever fight this had been before, it evolved by that final call for scoring.

Far from art optimistic, I fell to my knees in tears hearing them call it, adding to my three-fight streak.

A fight for me had never been that close. I either knew I was going to win or was confident that I'd lose. The crowd wasn't huge, but they went wild, given how hard I'd given it in that final round. I stuck around after the match to get my proof of payment, annoyed that Sal had really stuck around for twenty-five bucks. He’d been no help, he was lucky I paid him at all.

But who I didn’t find?

Josue Mendez.

Did this guy just tag in for one round and just ghost me? What was it with this guy? First, he says he doesn’t train women, then he’s breathing down my neck, giving me advice. Only to turn a corner, just for him to be gone again? He was lucky he was my whole reason for coming here, because I knewexactlywhere to find him.

I thought that I would’ve already be training there once I convinced him I was the fighter for him, but when he turned me down, I figured there was no point in embarrassing myself. But after tonight, he wouldn’t be able to hide from me. Because tomorrow, I was going toHouse of Beast.

***

It took some time getting used to Newark’s bus routes, and Philly transportation was definitely cheaper, but somehow, I managed to find Josue’sHouse of Beaston the outskirts of Newark, located at a warehouse off the Newark riverfront.

Storming inside, I ignored the woman at the front desk, the cat calling that came from the men all sabotaging their workouts just to gawk at me, as I stormed past the main floor,the grappling area, and marched into what looked like the only office space in the building.

Whatever and wherever the phone conversation he was having was irrelevant to me, as I threw my heavy bag onto the space in front of him, it startling him at first, as he yelled, “What the fuck?”

“Why would you come to my fight when you fucking refused to train me?” I exploded.

“First of all, Ma, you're lucky you even sparked my curiosity atallenough to show up in the first place,” he pointed an accusing finger in my direction. “All the fucking helpyouneeded. And you’re welcome by the way.”

“You’re welcome for what? Playing mind games? I would’ve rather lost on my own than have you coach me through a round just to ghost me.”

Josue held up his hands in surrender, “Heard. Next time, I’ll let you fucking lose.”

“So, you helped me win, now what?”

Josue finally stood, expecting his looming presence to intimidate me. It didn’t. “You get that attitude out my face and get the hell out my office?—”

“And what if I don’t? Huh? What if Irefuseto leave until you agree to train me?”

Josue laughed, and it made me aware of the other presence in the room. He was a handsome guy, maybe not as intense as Josue given he had no scar, but I could tell by the way he was sitting, he was just as tall as him. “Would you look at this girl? I’m going to try and speak slower and clearer for you,I do not train women?—”

“So why even help? Why even waste your time in the first place?” I demanded to have an answer, and honestly, I wasn’t leaving until I got one.

“Kid, you needed a lot of help?—”

“Well, I’d need a lot less help if I had someone like you training me. And if you had been smart, you would’ve taken that stick out your ass and took me up on my offer in the first place,” matching his energy so he’d know just because he spoke louder and meaner, didn’t mean he scared me.

“You wanna know why I turned you down? Because I have the feeling you’re fucking arrogant. And fighters who think they know every damned think act impulsively. I need a fighter who will listen to me?—”

“Well, I listened to you last night, and I won. If it’s all fair to you, I’d really like to maintain my streak, so I’m not leaving here until you agree to train me,” I commanded.

“I train beasts, Ma. All I’m looking at is a teddy bear—” Before he could finish his statement, my fist met his face, which seemed to wake him up. But instead of taking me seriously, he just laughed and pointed to his colleague.