"What's your problem with hospitals?" This time, Devon wasn't on Dash's side upon learning about the injury on his head and the need to be fully recovered if he planned to participate in a new tournament scheduled for a few months later.
"I hate hospitals after Devon and I watched that horror movie marathon..." Dash muttered, earning a punch in the side from Devon after everyone looked at her.
"That's not an option if you want to go to China to participate in another tournament while injured." Elena, this time, had no plans to negotiate with her son; he had to visit the hospital without any objections.
"Well, am I the only one?" Dash glanced at his friend as if he intended to drag her into his suffering.
"Yes, obviously." Devon felt completely healthy, except for some soreness in her knuckles, parts of her body that had been hit, and hands that had been struck more frequently while raising her defenses.
"Of course not." Zoe looked at her daughter sternly, as if she wouldn't tolerate any objections.
"Why?"
Zac intervened in the conversation and said, "Mr. Hale has decided to make reservations for both of you to be thoroughly checked after the tournament. We won't accept any 'no' as an answer."
After a brief half-hearted discussion about whether visiting the hospital was necessary, at least for Devon, everyone headed to the hospital in a single van.
During the journey, Dash was pondering many things about why he disliked revisiting a hospital. Since he has memories, at least those not covered by the new ones he has been creating since he woke up in this world, he has bad memories of his experiences in the hospital.
His breathing became difficult even when he was near one; the bad luck Dash believed he had in these places was the result of all the bad things that had happened and yielded in this place.
Truth be told, he doesn't know if his avoidance is the right way to deal with these bad feelings. Often, that hidden pain inside can be healed if things are faced very slowly or directly.
He hasn't been living a life filled with things he always wanted to do for long, so it wasn't the time, at least for him, to overcome that pain he occasionally has to face.
"Well, we're here." Frederick said after getting out of the van.
"Will you tell me why you lie to your parents about the hospital?" Devon walked alongside Dash and asked why he didn't open up to his parents.
"I don't know. I've been away from these pointless worries since I was a kid, and now bringing them up isn't something that would be convenient for them. You know I hate hospitals because of my nightmares, but for someone else other than you, that wouldn't make sense."
Dash couldn't open up to his parents about his history with them before waking up here. Although, in a way, they hadn't done anything; it's difficult to face it after having lived through the worst part that only he remembers.
If in one of your lives a man kills your parents and that same man becomes your neighbor, would you look at him with a smile? That's Dash's issue with his parents; he couldn't erase that pain overnight, and maybe he never can.
It's not strange to think of it that way, but those are just his own terrible battles that he should fight, as telling them to anyone, no matter who, would be a madness he doesn't even want to think about.
"You should be thankful you have a friend who supports you in all your problems. What would you do without me?" Devon tousled Dash's hair as they headed towards the first medical checkup.
"I don't know. Have you thought about what you would be doing if you didn't train in Kung Fu? Maybe you wouldn't be the youngest champion of the annual Valley tournament..."
"That sounds good." Devon said, looking at the surroundings that were quite empty.
Throughout the process, Dash couldn't help but feel suffocated; all these check-ups ended up exhausting his mind that was happy until recently. The things he had to do here ended up making him have a bad day after an incredible victory. And as it would take a while, everyone left except for a driver whom Dash's father had arranged to take them home once they were done with the medical examinations.
"I can't believe they're leaving us. You have a reason not to trust your parents much if they treat you like this." Devon sat next to a vending machine while drinking an energy drink.
"I've gotten used to it..." Dash replied with a touch of insensitivity as he took out something to drink.
Devon raised her eyebrows. Just as she was about to respond, Dash said, "Haven't you been injured? In the end, I ended up with some bruises. I'm afraid it will get worse tomorrow... I thought it would happen, but I didn't think there would be so many. I hope to recover by the time I go to China for the tournament."
After hearing those words, Devon looked at Dash's arms and that blow to his face that ended up opening his forehead, thinking it was normal after having so many fights. In any combat sport, it's normal to have bruises; there's no way to escape them if you receive blows frequently.
Still, she also had some bruises that weren't very visible but did appear on her skin.
So, after receiving anti-inflammatories and creams for the marks, both turned out to be very well, so they returned home to join the family.
They had agreed to eat together and spend the weekend, so since Dash's house was located in a private residential area, it was much more comfortable to spend the days for everyone.
In the car, Devon looked at her hands and remembered the recent confrontations she had. "Will we continue to climb in Kung Fu and Karate?"
While Devon was thinking about how much better she could become, Dash's question pulled her out of her thoughts.
"What do you mean?"
Dash looked at her and said, "There are a couple competitions, so as long as we get older, we could participate as a team, you and I representing our Dojo. Doesn't that sound amazing?"
"It seems like you've been looking into it. To what extent do you want to go?"
"National competitions, but for that, we must improve much more and make our Dojo recognized to have a place to attribute our reputation." Dash said as he closed his eyes and rested. Today had been a very tough but fun day.
He just hopes that this fun never ends...