Clanking metal, punching bags swinging, and grunts all seep from the training room. Upon entrance I'm met with many pensive looks, I pay them no mind and I size up Isiah. He is obviously taken back, and he even seems a bit afraid.
"Little Exile grew some balls in a week," he says while laughing nervously.
"Ready to finish the exam or do you need that girl here for backup? If so I'd rethink fighting me."
I presume a fighting stance and I try to calm myself and refer back to my training.
He dashes at me again same as last time, I pick up on it just in time to dodge, and I rebound off the ground, stunned the entire room goes silent. He goes in for another flurry, it's all the same, I dodge a few but he lands a critical hit on my face, and I face plant on the training mat again. I get up quickly but to no avail, he kicks me in my stomach sending me on the other side of the training mat. I rebound from that once more, but it's no use he's too quick he lands a side kick directly to my face. He elbows me in the face sending me to the floor again. He walks away.
"Why the hell did you even come back, you're just a little faster and can take a few more punches, nothings changed, I'm failing you." He says while laughing.
I rise up.
"Stay down or I'll kill you for sure." He says in a serious voice.
I rush at him with no apprehension, and I slide on the ground shoving his nail into his toe. He screams in excruciating pain and as he goes down to caress his nail, I grab both sides of his head and I knee him in the face several times. The students rush up to the stage and stop me from continuing my rampage. Isiah is left on the ground as another one of the students runs to get medical help for him.
Horrified at the pain I had just caused I sprint through the facility into my dorm and begin to hyperventilate.
"Why...….why why why why why!" I scream into my hands. I didn't want this life, I would've been okay with mundane life in the village with mom, Michael, and Sarah. I miss being able to be with my family, I have no one here, this isn't fair I can't do this anymore! I sprint into the commons, and I see the old man waiting in the lounge with hot soup and bread. I fought the urge to run and not look back. I walk over and I speak to him.
"Is this for me?" I ask him in tears.
"Sonny what's wrong, you won didn't you?" He asks in a concerned tone
I breakdown once more in front of him, "I completely lost it, it was like a huge wave of anger washed over me and I went on a rampage, and what's even worse was I wasn't planning on stopping." He bends down to speak to me.
"We all have our moments of weakness and it's okay to let it loose sometimes, and you know what, I'm so proud of you, even if you lost you are a remarkable child destined to change this system." He says in a confident tone. "And I'm going to be there to see you achieve your greatness." He pulls me in for a tight hug and I cry again. "Now enjoy your soup Aaron, I don't want it to get any colder." He says in a joyful tone.
As I begin eating I feel a cold hand press against my shoulder, I look up to the intensive gaze of Ezequiel.
"Welcome to the Black Ops Aaron!" He exclaims. "I saw your name appear on the graduates' list and I felt so compelled to come and greet you personally!" He extends his hand out and I shake his hand and he pulls me in for a hug.
"Uhm thanks Mr. Ortiz its an honor, I'm happy I'll be able to attend the Black Ops organization again!"
"Would you like to come to a dinner party with my family and the graduates?" He asks
"I'm not sure I'd be accepted there, after the Isaiah situation, is he okay by the way?" I answer with another question.
"What?! Nonsense, they're in love with you, they think you're a hero for putting a beating on Mr. Isiah like that, you see the test was just to last 5 minutes in battle and land one complete hit, all of the graduates barely did that, but you, you lasted longer and landed continuous attacks on him." He exclaims. "I'm very proud of you!" Totally disregarding the question about Isiah.
"Um then sure I'd love to come!" I respond
"Can't wait to see you there!" He takes his leave, and the old man comes to me in a hurry.
"You just got invited to a dinner party with the Ezequiel Ortiz you need a suit now!" He says while ushering me into his quarters.
"What about the soup!" I say
"Don't worry about the soup!" He exclaims back
I look around and I see a photo of the old man when he was younger and a woman his same age, probably his wife and his child. I pick it up and he walks toward me slowly.
"Those two, they're my world, what I'd give to see them again." He says in a melancholy voice.
"Is this your wife and son?" I ask him.
"Yep, my love Rosita and my son Preston, I miss them so much, but you know I see a lot of Preston in you Aaron." He says in a somber yet happy voice.
"In a way you're like a dad I never had, I never got a chance to meet mine" I smile.
"One day I just may meet them again if you really do fulfill your destiny." He says hopefully. "Let's see here I think I have just the thing....Here it is" he says in a relieved voice.
It was a brown dress shirt black slacks and brown dress shoes; it was the classiest thing I'd seen besides Mr. Ezekiel's outfits. I smile, this was the first gift I had been given in a long time and I really did love it.
"Thank you, Mr. Ummm" I hesitate.
"You can call me Mr. White," he says in a relaxed voice.
"Thank you, Mr. White!" I smile as I walk out of the quarters and fall asleep for the party tomorrow.