_25_ (Crystal Chelsea Lim's Point of View)
We're already here in GYM II for our Self Defense examination.
Lavalee's just blankly staring at the round mats in the center, there are three mats, meaning we are going to be sparring with our classmate which made everyone thrilled.
"So this would be your arrangement." Our professor in Self Defense said and started announcing the names.
We heaved in relief when we found out that we won't be facing Lavalee. And the guys but we're more thankful that we're not facing Lavalee.
Though, we're pitying the guy that Lavalee is facing.
Yep, she's going to face a guy which made the guys react.
"Is there any problem, Mr. Scott, Mr. Gonzales, Mr. Luar, and Mr. Sandoval?" The professor asked mentioning their real names which made them silent.
"Why is there a pair of men and women competing in the exam??" Caspian asked boldly
"Ah, that's because in a fight no one will consider if you're a girl or guy, am I right?" he said and looked around.
The professor went to the center and called the first three pairs.
Boys.
They were talking at first then they began throwing punches at each other, the other guy seemed too confident and cocky while the other one seems irritated.
The difference with these matches is that there's a timer, 20 minutes for each and if both are still standing when the time runs out, it's a draw and they'll have the same grade while if one of them is down the one who remains standing is the winner and if they're both down, they fail.
That's how harsh this exam is.
I saw Irene shake her head when she saw the irritated guy throw punches at the cocky guy which the latter evades easily.
He already forgot the rules in a fight.
RULE #1: Never let your emotions take over.
That's a very important rule because once you decide with your unstable emotions, everything will be a fail and you would end up dead.
Emotions are dangerous, they can be your ally and your enemy at the same time.
I looked at the other pair.
One of them seems agile while the other one is good at using his force. They seemed to contradict because the swift guy's attacks are too soft while the strong guy is too slow.
They both only have 10 minutes left.
The cocky guy earlier has the upper hand because the irritated guy made hasty decisions and is already down on the mat with a cut on his brow swollen eyes, bruised on the cheek and jaw, and a bleeding nose.
There are 50 of us so I'm guessing that we would have overtime to finish all 25 matches.
20 minutes for every three pairs would mean 9 matches an hour, and 18 for the two hours.
Overtime for 7 more matches would be equivalent to 40 minutes to an hour. I'm guessing that based on the equivalent time needed to finish all the matches we would be able to go home by 7 PM, 19:00 to military time.
When the timer rang the three pairs went off the mats and the professor called another three pairs and two of those were Ethan and Elijah.
They're both facing an opponent with a bulky figure.
"Do you think they'll win?" Irene asked us she's seated a step lower than where Lavalee and I are sitting and beside her is Jess.
"Why did you ask?" I asked her
"Those guys," Lavalee whispered amidst the shout and cheers
"What?" I asked her
"They're Mafia members." She said and our eyes widened not because of what she said but because of what was happening.
The guys are being beaten.
"They're drugged," Lavalee said while looking at the guys.
"How do we fix this then?" Irene asked without looking at Lavalee
"Inject the same to the two," Lavalee said and pointed her pen in Elijah and Ethan's direction.
When she pressed the tip we saw something come out.
"Don't tell me – Yes." Lavalee cut us off and a little later Ethan and Elijah were able to fight back.
"But that was dangerous," Jess said
"No with the accuracy, perfect timing, and prediction of the opponent's next move." she said and smiled mischievously
Oh well.
After the timer run out, all of the results were draw.
When the guys went to sit, Irene and I immediately came to tend their wounds.
"Why didn't you fight back?" Irene asked and hit Elijah's arm
"Ire, you're hurting him more." I told her
"He's numb, Chels." She said and it's true, Elijah really is numb currently because of the drug.
"I'm sorry, the opponent was too strong." Elijah apologized and I raised my brow at Irene because she know that Elijah is telling the truth.
The drug gives incredible strength, stamina, agility, and flexibility and makes the user numb.
"You should train next time," Irene said and I smiled when she began treating Elijah's wound.
I returned my gaze to Ethan who was staring at me.
"Don't fight anymore," He told me
"What? I can't do that, I have to fight." I told him and took out a cotton ball from my purse and a small bottle of alcohol and began disinfecting his wound.
Lavalee texted me last night to prepare this so technically, Lavalee and I are well equipped to do first aid.
"You might get hurt." He said
"Don't worry about me. I'll be fine." I said
"You should be warning Tal's opponent instead," Irene said and tapped Ethan's shoulder before helping Elijah go back to the seat near us.
"See, even Irene trusts me. Trust me on this, Ethan." I told him
"You'll get hurt," he said and I smiled.
"Then so be it, you'll treat my wounds then, right?" I told him and smiled
"Do what you want," he said and smiled before ruffling my hair.
I fixed my eyeglasses before going back to our seats.
"That's so sweet," Lavalee commented while looking at me, and Irene
"Don't start it, Lav." Irene brushed off so Lavalee raised her brow at me
"It's nothing," I said but Jess and Lavalee are still looking at me intently
"What?" I asked and they shook their head
"Just protect your heart, Chelsea," Lavalee said and returned her gaze to the matches in front.
"I will, Lav," I said and she placed her arms over my shoulder so I leaned on her
Lavalee's always like this to us, sweet and caring. If you don't know that Lavalee belonged to the dark side of the world, she'd be the kindest and most loving person you'll meet.
She's just too sweet but she's deeply scarred.
They can't see that because of her façade but I've seen things deeper.
Lavalee's scarred, she doesn't want to bother anyone even if she's hurting, that's how selfless she is.
"What are you thinking about?" Lavalee asked me and removed her arms
"Your scars," I said and she sighed
"Let's go, we should go get changed," Lavalee said and brought her duffel bag.
We went to the Locker room, placed our bags inside our lockers, and then changed into more comfortable clothes.
We smirked at each other when we saw each get up.
"We didn't plan this, right?" Irene joked which made us chuckle
We're all wearing a black sando, cotton jeans, and sandals.
Lavalee's sando has a small fire embroidery on the upper right side of her chest.
"Let me tie your hair," Jess said and Lavalee sat on the bench.
I saw how Jess stilled when she lifted Lavalee's hair.
"It's fine," Lavalee said and looked back
"Are these… the Punishment...?" Jess asked reluctantly, Irene seemed stoned to the spot.
"Yeah, from the thirty lashes." She said it's nothing
"Thirty?!" Jess and Irene exclaimed.
"It's fine," Lavalee said and stood up.
She tied her hair up herself and I gave her a hair tie.
"I'm fine. I promise I'm going to tell you when I can't take it anymore." She said and gave us an assuring smile
Suddenly, we heard the door open and a group of girls entered too.
"We'll see how long Kan will last." One of the women said
"Maybe that Valerie is just smart." Another one said and we looked at each other
"You know bad-mouthing other people is bad," I said taking their attention
"Oh, they're here," the one in the middle said
"We're not engaging in fights." Lavalee said
It seemed like she told the girls but she's actually warning Jess and Irene
"Why not?" Jess asked with her balled fist
"Just no," Lavalee said seriously and the two surrendered
"Let's go," Lavalee said and we walked past the group of women but they held Lavalee's shoulder.
"Oh, why is this? You have so many scars. Weakling." The woman taunted
"Oh sorry, I forgot that I still have the scars from the 30 whiplashes." She said and turned her back harshly leaving the girls dumbfounded
We went back to our seats and looked ahead.
"You were serious with those 30 counts?" Irene asked Lavalee and the latter nodded
"Yes, thirty whiplashes, 3 hours of endless battles, 30 minutes of contact with allies, 3 possible times to contact people. 3 hours of endless paperwork 300 quizzes in 3 hours." She said and we glanced at each other like we can't believe what we're hearing
How inhumane could those councils be?
"But why?" I asked her and she smiled at me
"I talked back, I talked back to Frost, I defied one of the councilors because of an order against my will, I got involved with them and I helped him solve a case." She enumerated before smiling widely again and looking forward again.
"Go, Uzmundo. Han, Verzosa. Jang, Sierra." The professor called us so we stood up I gave my glasses to Lavalee and she hanged them on her shirt's neckline before we walk down.
"Win," We told each other in sync we looked at Lavalee and she mouthed the same.
"Let's get this over with," Irene said and stepped on her mat.
I stepped on my mat and faced my opponent.
A girl, her built is firm so I knew she's working out very hard.
"Weakling, leave this place," she said but I raised my brow at her.
When the professor told us to begin, she threw a punch at me which I dodged easily, I continued dodging her attacks.
She landed a few hits on my waist because I got too engrossed in looking for an opening and a little later, I saw an opening so I positioned my hand to punch her but when it was about to hit her I kicked her waist and then gave her a round-house kick. She tried to kick me but I held her foot and twisted it roughly.
She continued to fight while I continue to manipulate her, I kicked her knees hard which made her lose her balance then I immediately stepped on her stomach with my full weight on my feet.
I removed it and turned my back on her giving her a false hint of breaking the second rule. When she stood up, I held her arm and twisted it then choked her using my arms.
"I am Talia Go, little girl, I am the Death Chess Champion." I whispered and let her go then kicked her in her stomach and when she was kneeling out of all the injuries, I kicked her in the face and pressed her critical points causing her to lose consciousness.
The timer rang the moment her body made contact with the ground.
"Win?" I asked the two
"Duh," Jess raised her brow at me while Irene smiled
"Win," Irene said and we went back to our seats and Lavalee sat beside us.
"Congratulations." She told us and gave me a cold pouch which I placed on the parts that got hit earlier while Lavalee tended Irene's hand.
Jess is the only one who doesn't have any injury because I think she used the first rule. She manipulated her opponent's emotions.
Lavalee smiled wickedly at us when we saw Jace get called. I learned that Caspian fought earlier while we're in the locker room.