The next day, the coach brought the new target for me to the stage ring in the dark room. He put the human-shaped figure as the punching target. It's higher than me and bigger than me. It has both legs, arms, everything, and a head, exactly like a human body; only it doesn't have a face.
"This is your new friend, rookie."
Coach.
"What is his name?"
"No name."
"That's a cool name, Mr. No name."
I tease.
"After we know the technique and stuff. This is another strategy for you to adapt… You need to aim at the weak spot of your opponent's body. I'm sure that he will make you lose in the first round."
"..."
"If he has a chance…so you will not give him that chance…For you, you need to find a dead spot on his body and attack once for good if only you do it right and if only he shows an obvious gap. But if you have doubts, aim for a weak point first."
"..."
He steps up and points at the temples of the figure's head.
"The temples, at this position, a skull is thinner than the rest, making the area more vulnerable."
I shift my eyes to where Coach is pointing.
"The eyes and the ears are easy targets to make the opponent lose the primary to fight. But it's not that easy to reach because they already acknowledge that. They will put the guard up like I always tell you to...so if you have the chance or are in a situation that forces you to do it, then it's the option. For ears can provoke a partial loss of hearing if the impact is hard enough you can tear the eardrum."
He points at the eyes and the ears.
"The Nose is a central, unprotected part of the face. That makes it vulnerable to impacts. If he loses his guard or even a gap, just go for it."
I nod.
"Next is the throat and the jaw, right here."
He points at the middle of the neck.
"Throat is the most efficient when it comes to quickness. The more power, the more destructive it will be."
He raises his fingers and touches the hard lump on his neck in the middle.
"Yes."
"The best good one is the jaw. Because the side of the jaw is attached to the rest of the skull, including the inside, if you know what I mean, it makes your head spin around, and then the muscles, tendons, and bones will stop. Causing brain damage if you punch hard enough or too hard."
Now I wonder how I can survive the match instead of winning it.
"Solar plexus is a complication of nerves and
"Honestly, coach, I don't understand some science words."
"*Sigh, it's a nerve center responsible for the function of your organs like the liver and pancreas."
"Okay..."
"Ribs can cause pain. Spine, attack the back of the neck real hard, and there will be a chance that you will paralyze him."
"..."
"The groin, Testicles."
"Um, um."
"Knees to slow him down. Shin is full of nerves, and there's no flesh to protect it. That's why it is so hurtful to bump into something. But...not for Muay Thai fighters. They use their shins to fight and block kicks."
"I know...because I learned it for 3 months."
"...that's why you learn quickly...what else did you learn?"
"I mainly learned mixed martial and defensive arts...You know, gotta protect myself."
I explain while pouting my lips a bit.
"I see."
"But coach…Does that mean we're playing dirty?"
"The rules down here don't have an explanation for how to fight…dirty or clean, no one gives a shit in the ring. If you want to fight it right, this is the way…And they might do the same with you…but they are guys, you know what guys in the Murking match are like…They are all about strength."
And he takes the body's figure out away from the center.
"They only care about stupid strength, who is stronger, who is the most powerful..."
"..."
"But you have the brain and should care about it."
He tells me and gives me a quick point to me.
"Yes, Coach."
"Well, you know all the locations, weak and dead spots. This lesson is not just for you to them, but also for you to be aware of it as well."
"I understand."
"We only have two weeks left…we'll be focusing on the fight... Fight me."
"Ha?"
"Use everything I taught you and everything you know. If you can hit me the right spots 100 times…"
"What?"
"In two weeks… if you can't, I will not let you enter the match."
"!!"
"With your shadow..."
…Xin.
'Is he for real? If you hit him with my strength…he–'
"What are you waiting for?"
Me and my body, including Xin, and with the four weight wraps, which I haven't taken off since the first day I wore them, of course, only when I take a shower and sleep, start to step forward. Since Coach is taller than me and my height is around his chest and shoulder, I better aim low first than tip my toe to the high point. I push my body with Xin at my right foot ahead with my punch at his solar plexus
"Theuk!"
He blocks in time with his palms.
I quickly grab his left wrist with my left hand and swing myself under his left arm, up to the back, and about to punch at the back of the neck right at his spine.
"!"
He glances at me, tilts his head, and grabs my right fist. Xin sprints himself outside on my hand and swift his hand to catch the coach's wrist instead. Then, I swing my body to the back a little to bring it back up higher to the front. And about to kick at this jaw.
"Thug!"
He blocks, but the impact is quite hard, so it hits his jaw along with his hand.
Then I land to the floor with my left foot first then right one.
"..."
He looks at me.
"Again."
Coach.
I nod.
2 weeks later,
The Underground
Bump, Bump, Bump.
Stop it.
'It's your heart, not me.'
But you're the one rushing it.
'I'm running along with your flow. I'm doing nothing.'
Thugthugthugthug.
Stop shaking my legs.
'I didn't do it!.'
I'm too nervous, very nervous. My heart and my legs are shaking like crazy. I am in the waiting room alone with Xin inside me and with no weights and no wraps. Bare hands, bare feet. Only my uniform, a white top with white shorts. There are no rules about the outfit, but most fighters wear only shorts and topless.
'I'm with you, don't be scared.'
I don't know if I'm scared of getting hit and die or not winning him and dragging myself out to hospital or… their eyes.
'We're ready, Roelle.'
Am I?
'I am, though.'
"Thug!"
Then, the door room is open, showing the body of Mr. Laith.
"How are you feeling?"
Mr. Laith in his handsome suit.
"I feel like I want to throw up or shit something in between."
"...hahahaha. It's normal. Are you nervous?"
"Yes!"
He smiles at me and comes to sit next to me. He puts his hands on both hands, which join together shakingly.
"Cold…"
He tells me after touching my skin.
"You'll be fine. I trust in you since the first day, and I trust in you now…I've seen you improve a lot way more…from the beginning…If you're not ready, Coach will not let you take this match."
"..."
"I'll be right next to you if something happens to you. I'll go get you myself."
"I think it's a doctor is better, Mr. Laith."
"Hahaha, you're still making jokes, that means…you're not that nervous, hehe."
He looks at me with a smile.
"But it's not just that…people…they will…I am a newbie and…a girl."
"..."
He changes his position to sit before me and puts his hands on my knee.
"Fuck them…focus on what's in front of you. Just like the way you lived your life, right?... You might hear and see them, but they are just the background. You keep on living your life by doing whatever you want or what is important… Like the way you ignored me on the first day."
"Hehe."
I chuckle.
"Knock, knock."
The door opens once again.
"It's time."
Coach.
'First time this psycho said something pleasant to my ears.'
I get up and put my hair in a ponytail. And wear my shoes before leaving the room.
"But they're surely going to watch those legs…Next time, I'll let her wear the long pants…"
Mr. Laith mumbles to himself.
I turn my face to see him.
"Are you coming?"
"Yes. Roelle."
He tells me and walks after me.