I never got to see Ren again after that. Though I wondered if I'll ever get to see him again.
Then until I made it to highschool, I've still dealt with a number of bastards who goes after me because I always seemed like a prey in their eyes. With all the experience I got, I managed to bring down some thugs who dared to fight me.
Eventually, i got the a cringey nickname from those bastards. "Calling me the lone wolf? What a bunch of idiots."
"Well t-that's because you're a delinquent that was never part of any gang. You also got the wolf cut, thus letting have the idea of calling you with that nickname." Said by the lackey nerd whose name I can't remember anymore.
"Who even asked you? Shut it and go buy me another cola!"
"Y-Yes sir." That day, something awaited me after school.
It surprised me to see the guy who I met back in middle school. I barely even know him, and yet I can't forget about him. Infront of me stands this person who once helped me, he still looked amazing to this day. And of course, it was none other than Ren. "You!"
"Greetings!…" he said with a smug look. "…you must be the person who they call… the lone wolf." Tsk, that shitty nickname is so annoying.
"Yeah, what do you want?"
"Hm. What I want you ask?… I'm just looking for someone who can actually beat me. What do you say?" So he's lookin' for a fight. He even seem to think that he can beat me, it was clearly written on his face.
Even though I admire this person, I was also curious how far I can go fighting with him. I agreed and he brought me to an empty lot, there were a few people watching though. "Woah, you got him?" Asked the guy with the lame mullet haircut.
"I told you, don't ever doubt me." Ren laughed then turns to me. "So shall we start?"
Then as soon as the fight start, he was the first to make a move. I can tell right away that he's way more better than I am, and he was mocking me with his grin while he was tirelessly aiming for my face. My skills doesn't even compare to his. And what's more humiliating is that he's clearly just playing around.
"Heh, all you do is dodge. This is getting boring…" he said in a cocky manner.
"Fuck you!" This bastard!!
I tried to hit him on the face.
Just once!
Just one hit on his face and I'm done with him! "Eat shit, you fucker!" And I did it. I got my fist planted on his face. But my smile soon faded as he didn't even flinched. "That all you got?"
He let me hit him on purpose?
I was too stunned. Anyone who I punched on the face always fall back, but why is he—"Argh!" He punched me back, and it was nothing like I ever experienced before.
It was an unforgettable punch. And I can still remember how that hurts.
Soon enough, Ren made his own gang and included me. I'd fight along his side and enjoyed rampaging like a mad dog. And whenever I get home looking like a mess, my damn parents never got tired of scolding me.
"Oh shut it…" I muttered and continued to ignore them.
Dad would always swear when he sees me, and turn to my brother to remind him. "Never be like your brother! He's a lost cause."
I became a little immune to their insults, though sometimes it still upsets me when I'm not in the mood. They were the only people who gets to look down on me without getting beaten, and those who even tries to look down on me… well, they can just taste my fists.
Then a day came where the gang grew a bigger than it was before. That's when Ren decided to set goals. "We should all aim to get more people. Do some of you ever heard of… the neutral faction?" He began to tell us all about it.
A group that recruits big gangs to their business, and pay them for winning competitions. I also got interested because of the money, but I'm way more interested in achieving our goals. I wanted the gang to become something far more greater.
A gang where Ren can more proud of. He'll totally look cool if that happens. And after being so patient for a while, it took Ren long enough to announce what we always waited for. "Guys, I managed to get a contract with the Neutral Faction."
Everyone at cheered about the good news. Even if it took so long, it was actually worth it.
However, things got a little way more difficult as we achieved our goal. On every fight, the opponents were getting even more difficult to deal with. And then it happened… "—TO THINK THAT I EVEN PUT YOU ON YOUR FUCKING POSITION JUST TO GET FUCKING BATTERED BY SOME UNKNOWN NAMELESS SHIT WE NEVER HEARD BEFORE!" I got beaten by Ren again because I disappointed him.
My position in the gang already became unstable after that. Making it so far as the second division leader, and then losing it just because of one mistake. I've worked so hard to earn everything what I have in the gang. I also supported Ren with everything I have. Then my power, authority, reputation in the gang… I'm all going to lose it.
Ren's going to get rid of me if I make another mistake.
He's going to throw me away like some garbage.
…he doesn't even consider what we've gone through together.
I always admired Ren for being so strong and cool. To think that the person who I looked up to can treat me like shit, then he's not different from everybody else who looks down on me. He's just another jerk I can't handle.
"…it's alright, everything will be alright." Then a comforting hand patted my back. He kept repeating that everything will be alright. I pushed him away a couple of times, and I'd never expect to meet a stubborn person to care for me like this.
He stayed with me even though I'm not doing anything, just… looking down and holding back the tears. He might not know but I'm so greatful that he noticed how hard everything is going for me right now. He was the very first one. And might even be the only one I can call a true friend.
"…thanks." I told Lyde.