That Sunday after that memorable Saturday, Numa woke up with a headache that split his skull in two.
Asked Lucas something for the headache, he had a coffee and looked much more recovered. Nothing much was said as Numa had to leave quickly.
Lucas analyzed every detail of the previous night, especially the moment when he came back from watching TV and lay down next to him for a few moments, timidly, trying not to get too close, just enough to feel the scent of his skin. He would have stayed there for the rest of the night but he didn't want Numa to see him lying next to him in the morning. He got up and went back to the couch with an empty feeling and looking from time to time towards his room, longing for him.
During the week he tried to see him as little as possible except in the breaks. On Tuesday they met with other students to go to the Mall, when he saw Numa was coming too, he escaped just in time with a good excuse. He also decline the offer of Numa's group to have some snacks in the park on Wednesday.
On Friday, Numa approached him to comment that it was his turn to fight again. Lucas had to repress a crazy urge to ask him if he could come as well. It wasn't necessary as his last line of defence broke when Numa asked:
"Have you ever seen a boxing match?"
"No" he replied, thinking instantly "I want to go, I want to go, I want to go"
"Do you wanna come? It's today at 7 p.m., well it's just an amateur fight and the truth is, I usually don't feel confident showing that to other friends ...but I don't know...."
"I am coming!" "Wow, Lucas, you already accepted? so fast?!" spoke his little voice inside his head.
"Great, I'll send you the address, I have to be there earlier to train."
That was all he was going to say, he would surely die to see him fight, but he would be even more sorry to miss that opportunity.
How Lucas made it home, was still a miracle. His mind was busy with dreams and nonsense, he barely greeted his sister, changed clothes, ate something, watched TV without knowing what he was watching until 6:45 pm when he went down, and waited for the cab he ordered.
He arrived at the Sport Club. It was a grayish colored building about 6 floors high, whose first two floors were used for sport activities. There were quite a few people coming in and going out, some of them wearing different outfits, which lead to the conclusions that several disciplines were taught.
Following the instructions of a female receptionist, he reached the second floor where the fight was taking place. The room was huge, in the middle was placed the boxing round, the ring where the opponents confronted each other. On the right side occupying a good part of the room were the empty bleachers except for 5 people scattered. He entered slowly to take a seat on one of the bleachers, he was quite close to the ring and from there he could observe it perfectly. He only hoped that this proximity would not bother Numa.
About 15 minutes later, two young guys entered, followed by a man around 50 years old, with tanned features and a muscular body. Apparently he was the trainer, his expression was gruff and the thin line of his always straight lips only accentuated even more that severity.
Numa saw him instantly and could have sworn that he blushed, perhaps he was too embarrassed to be seen, and thought that maybe it was not good idea to stay there.
He was looking very handsome; sweaty, apparently tired from training, his eyes were shining, its green coloured eyes contrasting with his burning face. He was wearing red shorts, his torso bare and a towel over his shoulders. Lucas thought that there definitely couldn't be a more sensual creature than Numa, he simply wanted to eat him up.
The other young man, with olive skin and black curly hair had an imposing presence, with a robust complexion and powerful arms, he seemed to have a physical advantage except for his height, where both were equal. They greeted the trainer by shaking hands and entered the ring.
They stood in their respective corners and Lucas felt that he could no longer hold his nerves, what if they hurt him? Oh he could offer him help and even a massage. He chuckle at his own ridiculous thoughts.
The bell rang and the fight began.
They both moved to the center of the round, arms folded across their chests, partially covering their faces with them. The olive skin guy was the first to throw the first blow dodged just in time by Numa, who deflected a little to the right, again another blow from the brunet this time attacking the left side of the young man. Numa only protected himself but did not seem to be willing to attack. Lucas felt like getting up and shouting at him but it was too much.
The guy kept attacking him this time looking at the sides of his body apparently uncovered but the young man was quick to dodge the movements although that was not enough to win or at least that was what Lucas supposed. Numa stepped back a little, his opponent went to meet him, in that instant Numa launched the first blow hitting him squarely in the left side of the face. The dark-haired boy did not let himself be intimidated and began a series of blows of which only one hit the young man with green eyes, who bent over his belly, apparently breathing with difficulty. The whistle blew, the young men separated. The trainer went from one corner to the other to whisper something in each one's ear and to ring the bell again.
This time the opponent was not fooled by Numa and kept as close as possible to the young man, with each movement the young man was not gaining distance and looked a bit cornered.
Lucas didn't want to think about what could be the worst injury he could get from a fight like that and he didn't want to imagine it either.
The dark-haired man was pinning him down, pushing him into the net, throwing punches that the young man dodged but finally hit him in the other side again, forcing him to crumple from the pain. Numa straightened up again, the expression on his face told how he was feeling, he looked up and gradually regained his breath, and although Lucas could not be sure, it seemed to him that the young man was smiling. Numa's fist moved with incredible speed, hitting the young olive skin guy full in the jaw and throwing him against the net. It had been an incredible blow, the coach applauded him, the whistle blew and the fight was over. Lucas was a little confused, he thought that there were 3 rounds to play but he didn't want to say anything. The dark haired guy was resting against the net, smiling, perhaps amused by his own failure. The coach on the other hand was talking to Numa who seemed satisfied with what he was hearing.
Numa turned around looked for him, and said goodbye to the trainer and headed towards him.
He looked slightly embarrassed, although he tried to hide it. His golden skin was shining under the lights of the room.
"The last punch was incredible, really... " Lucas felt like hugging him.
"Yes, for boxing I'm a bit of a chicken, I don't attack as much as I should."
"I could never practice a sport like that, I thought it was going in rounds.
"It depends, it doesn't go by points, they are matches to practice, see mistakes, to shape techniques, etc. We usually do it once a month or every two months, at least in this room."
Lucas observed that on one of the sides there was a huge bruise, where the young man had hit him.
"Are you all right?" he pointed to the dark spot.
"It looks worse than it is."
"What does your girlfriend say every time she sees you all bruised up?"
"Not much, she likes my body and that's what matters to her."
"How shallow" he thought, although it was none of his business.
"I'm going to change and we'll go, ok?"
"Okay, I'll wait for you downstairs at the reception desk."
Lucas went downstairs and stood in front of the reception desk, there was another female receptionist, with beautiful orange hair who was on the phone, their eyes met and she straight forward winked at him, smiling. Lucas averted his gaze trying not to look back, took out his phone to pretend he was reading as he waited for Numa.
He was starting to feel nervous when he finally saw him appear at the end of the corridor, wave at him. Numa signaled him to go out.
As Lucas left the building, the female called Numa
"Hey, Numa"
His green eyes looked in her direction and smiling, went over to her.
Would you introduce me to your friend?"
"No" replied Numa, smiling but with firm voice.
The young woman looked at him, surprised.
"Why not?"
He smiled mischievously
"Because you are a she-wolf"
The young woman pretended to be offended but didn't say anything, she just continued with the phone, answering calls.
Once outside, Lucas looked at him with curiosity.
"Lucas, please, if I leave you for two more minutes, you'll get the whole gym up"
"Nonsense. What did she say?"
"She asked me to introduce you, but don't worry, I told her I wont."
Lucas nodded, smiling. They both went home.