A few days later, I had a plan with Mr. Laith at the center building. While I'm waiting for him outside, I'm having a conversation with big buddy bodyguards; we're getting closer during the training. I ran after the motorcycle around the Doldrums village every morning, seeing them every day, a kind of relationship development.
"I haven't seen Xin for a while."
Security no. one.
"Today, he can come out to play?"
Security no. two.
"I don't have to do hard-core training anymore."
I explain.
"Ah, I think you don't have to wait longer."
Security no. one.
"Why?"
"After that fight people are really waiting to see more."
Security no. two.
"You gave them a little show…too fast."
Security no. one.
"Fast but memorable."
Security no. two.
"You came to see me?"
"Live on the DD show."
Security no. one, he tells me and shows me his phone.
"They have a TV show?...Does it mean other people can see it?"
I ask.
"More like for some group of people…as you know, who know about this village and about the underground plays, and about the shadows."
"Ah…"
I listen to him while watching myself on the stage, grabbing Gembler's head to hit the floor. The floor is ruined, and Xin is watching it with me behind my back.
"Roelle."
Mr. Laith.
"Sh."
I make a sound to him.
My behavior makes them curious about us.
"Roelle, let's go upstairs."
"You're here for the pay?"
Security no one.
"Pay?"
I repeat.
"Yes. Roelle, let's–"
Mr. Laith grabs my hand.
"What pay?"
I ask security guard no one.
"The fight pays."
Security guard no one.
"Roelle…forgive me…please…I'll buy you a new one."
"That's my lucky shoes… they must be sad and…cry alone…just like me. Shh."
"Roelle…then can we just go upstairs."
"..."
"Don't you want to get the money?"
"...yes."
I slowly answer him and get in the elevator.
"Mr. Kint, you lost her shoes?"
Security guard no. two.
"..."
"You shouldn't…"
Security guard no. one.
"...And when did you get too close to her?"
Mr. Laith.
"Mr. Laith, aren't you coming?"
I call him.
"Yes, Roelle."
"She's sure his feisty princess."
Security guard no. two.
While we're in the elevator, I lean against the wall, watching Mr. Laith from behind. His hands are in his pockets. Perhaps I am overreacting. He has been helping since the first day. He always supports and believes in me before I believe in myself.
"Ro–"
"Mr. Lai–"
We call each other at the same time. He turns to see me.
"I'm sorry."
I tell him.
"..."
"I'm not…that mad but...I am mad…but I know you didn't forget it on purpose."
"..."
He smiles at me in a creepy way again, but I can tell it's a happy face.
He raises his hands over my head and brings me into his arms.
"Oh Roelle, you're very sweet… I'm sorry that I forgot them. I was too excited that you won. So I was in a hurry to come to you."
"..."
His body is warm.
"Ting!"
"11th floor."
"Mr. Laith…We're here."
"..."
He's still holding me.
"Mr. Laith.."
'This mother psycho…'
Then Xin expands his body wide over the elevator.
"Mr. Laith!"
I push him out.
"..."
He looks at me and shifts his eyes to Xin.
"Sorry."
He tells Xin with a smile as if he's teasing Xin.
Then, we get out to the gloomy hallway, where there's no intersection, other halls, or even the rooms to go. It's only one and only long hall ahead of us. Mr. Laith walks before me, and I tilt my head to see what's in front. I notice the glass booth, like movie tickets selling and a man facing the booth.
"Laith…"
And that man walks back in our direction.
"Udemy."
Mr. Laith.
"Come to get the prize?"
The big man with a hairy beard covered all over his chin asks Mr. Laith.
"Not for myself."
Mr. Laith answers.
"Hmpt, so this is she…"
"..."
"Congrats, girl…"
He talks to me and quickly shifts to Xin and back to me.
"Thank you."
"I'll see you soon."
The big man tells Mr. Laith.
"Maybe we can see you…sooner than you thought…"
"Heh, just one match… and you think highly of your girl?"
What is that supposed to mean?
"I always think highly of Roelle."
Mr. Laith.
"Mmm, good luck to you, then…"
Then, that man walks past us to the elevator.
"He comes to get the money?"
I ask.
"For himself, heh."
Mr. Laith answers me while we're heading to the booth.
"He's not the fighter, right?"
"Hahaha, that greedy man? He couldn't even walk up the stairs…His fighter won last night. He's the one to get the money."
"...ah."
I make a sound while watching the person in uniform counting the money in the machine beside her.
The booth person puts it into the black bag and puts the bag inside something I can not see clearly behind the dark glass.
"Ting!"
And the sound rises up and the sign is lit in pink color on the right side of the wall. Then the wall is opened, sliding up in square shape in front of us showing the black bag. Mr. Laith grabs that bag and carries it for me with a smile.
I try to look at what is inside the wall while he walks ahead to the elevator.
"Roelle, let's go."
He comes back for me, holds my hand, and takes me to the elevator.
We get in the elevator, and Mr. Laith throws the bag over his shoulder and lets his back support the heavy paper money inside it.
"We got the money. We'll cut the share at the Playground, okay?"
Mr. Laith tells me with a happy face and raises another hand that is holding mine up.
"Yes."
I answer and pull my hand back.
"Is your hair really this color?"
Out of the blue?
"Yes, since born."
"I see, it's beautiful."
"Yours are more beautiful. Like milk tea.. looks soft."
"Eh… hehe. Want to touch?"
He bends his head to me
"Touch it."
He tells me, but it's like an order, and moves his head closer to my face.
I raise my hand and gently touch his hair. It bounces. And he grabs my hand to touch it fully.
"It's soft… very soft."
"Hehe, you like it?"
He asks with a smirk.
"Yes."
Like a pudding.
'I like it, too.'
"You can touch it anytime you want."
He faces up to see me.
'… soft yummy heh.'
I hurried to pull my hand back.
"What is it?"
"Nothing, hehe."
I lightly laugh it out.
He smiles and bends his body back.
The Playground
We're on the first floor, playing the arcade while waiting for Mr. Laith and his two team members counting the paper.
'That's a lot, Roelle.'
I turn my eyes to see.
I push my right foot.
"You won."
The Machine's sound.
And I change my position to sit on the couch next to Mr. Laith.
"Here for you."
He gives the black bag to me.
"You can count first."
"No, It's okay. I trust you."
"…"
He smiles mildly.
"What are you planning to spend on first?"
Team member no. one.
"Mum."
I answer.
"Wow, what a good girl."
Team member no. one says with a surprised face.
"No. So she can be at ease… let me be on my own."
Then they're looking at me curiously.
"Do I still have special training, Mr. Laith? Or can I pack my stuff?"
"Hmm… I hope you'll stay here. Even if you don't train as crazy as before…if there's an upcoming match, Coach can help you right away…"
"Mmm…but all my stuff is there…and I paid for it last month. I didn't even stay there..."
"Why don't you move for good?"
"Ha?"
I am surprised, and the team members are a little surprised, but they smirk at Mr. Laith.
"You like it here, right?"
"Yes, very much, but…"
"It's very convenient for you. We have everything for you in this place…games, you like games…"
"Yes.."
"Food: We have the kitchen and food station for you when you want a snack. And you like Kimbok restaurant, right? Now you can eat whenever you want…when it's open, of course."
"Why don't you just tell the real reason you want her to stay?"
Team member no. two.
"I'm telling the real reason here."
Mr. Laith.
"...Are you, team leader?"
Team member no. one.
"It's true, Roelle. Emris and Raden didn't disturb you or mess with you during the stays, right?"
"Ahh…"
"They did? It's Riz, right? what did he do to you!?"
"No, no, he didn't do anything…they both are great room neighbors."
"Okay…then what is it?"
"If something happens…I think…I better have a backup."
"..."
"But I can stay for a few weeks, Mr. Laith."
"She's being reasonable here, good for you. Roelle."
Team member no. two.
"I get that…"
He tells me with a smile.
"Thank you, Mr. Laith, and...everyone. Then, excuse me, I'll think I'm going to lay my back in my room."
I carry the black back and get upstairs, leaving them downstairs.
…
Laith puts the pack of the money in his bag, pack by pack.
"Why don't you just tell her the truth."
Team member no. one.
"That's the truth."
"But not all of it."
Team member no. two.
"Don't you have anything to do?"
"You want to be with her more…don't you?"
Team member no. one.
"I don't even stay here."
"But you can come here whenever you want…"
Team member no. two.
"Seriously, team leader, the Playground is your house...that place is just the second house."
Team member no. one.
"Can you guys shut up and get off to work?"
Laith puts his last pack of money in the bag.
"I can see…you walked her out to the stage, you worked in the center all day, all night to prepare her fight and get the match for her…"
Team member no. two.
"When it comes to Emris you don't put all the energy like this…"
Team member no. one slightly lowers his voice.
"Even Raden…"
Team member no. two. support his mate to the last.
"Yeah."
"I'm out!"
Laith zips and closes the bag. He gets up, leaves the building with his bag, and shifts his eyes to the second floor before he's on his way.