Blake was driving down a small alleyway in the middle of the city, looking for the address of a gym. As he was peering at the barely noticeable signboard around the corner, he spotted a familiar looking sport motorbike. He stopped his car, made his way out and into the old building. It was pretty dark, considering he entered the place in a broad daylight. As he made his way deeper into the building, a musky smell hits his nose and the burn scent of rubber sifted through the small opening at the end of the hall. That was the entrance to Akimura Gym - an old school combat gym which was hidden from plain sight.
The entrance into Akimura Gym stood out from the rest of the it as it was newly refurnished. Behind the dilapidated outer appearance, the gym itself was pretty modern and well furnished. With new equipment and firm mattresses, the gym was fully functional. It was buzzing with people - even women and children, as the morning jiujitsu class for kids had just finished. Blake was trying to make his way through the sea of children carefully so as not to step or bump into a kid. His eyes darted around, scanning the room looking for the one he was there for. He heard the loud deep voice of a man, sounded like he was giving instructions to someone in the octagon - the ring , on the right side of the gym. He heard padded mats hitting each other, the hit echoed on impact. Then, he heard a female voice, grunting as she landed another hit - this time a strong swift kick on the pad, pushing the pad holder, another male trainer, stumbling backwards. Blake stood stock still as he watched her land one punch after another, one kick after another. Beads of sweat glistened on her face, with her hair in a mess, her eyes focused like a hawk. For a second, he had a strong feeling of admiration towards her, and that was when he locked eyes with her.
Naomi spotted Blake on the corner of her eye and lowered her guard. BAM! at that time, her trainer swung a punch straight to her head. Blake gasped in surprise as Naomi hit the net, dizzy from the punch.
"Focus Naomi! Don't let anything distract you while you're still in the ring!" The other coach who was watching her from outside the octagon scolded her. He was a big man, his well built muscles looked pretty intimidating. His gaze was sharp and his expression was hard to read. That man was Kaiji Akimura, a retired MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) fighter from Japan who held undisputed title for five years prior to his retirement last year. He was Australian by birth, to Japanese parents who were also martial artists and he trained in Japan since he was 7 years old. Akimura was once endorsed by Altheda for his fight, the one where he won against a Korean fighter in the Rouge Fighting Championship. Blake was familiar with his name, as Jacky took the young Blake out to watch the match live in the stadium when he was 21.
Realising that Naomi lost her focus with his presence, Akimura turned to follow her gaze. He spotted Blake, standing a few metres away from the octagon, looking straight at Naomi with admiration. He cocked his head, wondering if that guy was the one that Naomi told him about.
"And you might you be?" Akimura walked towards Blake with a questioning gaze. There was something in him that he could not trust, as he was worried about Naomi.
"That's Blake Carson. My boyfriend." Naomi butt in as she exited the octagon, breathing heavily.
"Fake - boyfriend, actually." Blake emphasised the word 'fake' as he shook hands with Akimura.
"What do you want, Blake?"
Naomi asked coldly as she took her gloves off and helped her other trainer take off the pads.
"Is that how you talk to a boyfriend? No wonder you're single."
He threw a towel at her which landed on her head. She pulled the towel down and glared at him.
"Do I need to remind you of your incapacity to love that you have to pretend you're in love with every single cunt you slept with and propose to them the day after?" she struck back.
"Well, jokes on you, princess, you're my girlfriend now."
Naomi made a fist and was about to punch him when Blake caught her hand mid-air and grinned. Akimura shook his head in disbelief. He could sense Naomi was reluctant to play his games but at the same time, the two had a weird chemistry - so weird that it almost seemed perfect.
"Enough, you delinquents." Akimura strolled casually towards Naomi, patting her on the shoulder.
"We gotta fix the last stance. You were not fast enough, you were distracted. You gotta use your core more."
"I will train harder, coach."
"Why?" Blake cocked his head, "Being with me means you've got a bodyguard all the time, except when you go into the ladies of course..."
Naomi gritted her teeth as the words got stuck in her tongue, words that Blake had already known.
"I'll protect you. I promise."
Akimura and the other trainer exchanged glances. Naomi was dumbfounded at Blake's words. She tried to examined his nonchalant expression, his goofy smirk, looking for the meaning behind his words.
"Do you think i'm a weakling?"
"No, exactly the opposite."
He moved closer to her, stood right in front of her, towering over her. Although Naomi was considered tall for an Asian standard, she looked just average beside Blake.
"Like I said, you're my girlfriend now, it is my duty to protect you."
He smiled at her, patted her head and turned towards the exit.
"The car's right out front!"
"Wait!!! It wasn't anywhere in the contract!!"
"Even if it's not, you're mine!!!"
With that, Blake disappeared behind the door, followed by curious gaze of the other gym goers.
==========
Twenty minutes passed and Blake was puffing on his vape - grape flavoured, leaning against his car door, facing the entrance of the gym. Naomi emerged from the gym, with her messy wet hair and her big duffel bag. She was about to mount her bike when Blake came striding up to her, grabbing her duffel bag and slung it behind his back.
"What are you doing?"
"You're coming with me. We've got things to do."
"But my bike..."
"I'll send Mike to take care of it."
Mike was Blake's personal assistant cum bodyguard who was quietly watching from a distance. At the sound of his name, he came forward, took Naomi's keys from Blake's hand and promised to deliver the bike back to her house safely.
Blake tossed her duffel bag at Mike as he rode off, looking very comfortable as if the bike was his own. Naomi was all confused when Blake, gentlemanly, opened the passenger door for her and helped her in.
"Where are we going?"
"You'll see," he started the car and winked at her, "Even a warrior princess needs a gown."
"What?"
and off they went to the busiest shopping district in Sydney, hunting for the perfect gown for Naomi to wear for the Charity Night.