"Ah, shit. My head hurts."
Arnold got up from bed the next morning with an aching head. After drinking so much last night, having a slight ache in his head wasn't strange at all.
Beep. Beep. Beep.
(Credit Alert: You just received $1600 from Grindhouse Wrestling).
This was what greeted him as he rose from the bed.
(Account balance: $2050)
With a smile, he dropped his phone on a table near the bed and went ahead to freshen up.
"Today, I will visit Barrio Logan," Arnold declared as he washed dry sweat and dirt off his body.
Barrio Logan was a low-class town located in southeastern San Diego, California. This was Arnold's hometown... Where he was born.
Before the death of his father, they managed to afford to live in a better place in the city as a middle-class family. Everything changed when his father died, sending them back to the slums to match their financial capabilities.
But Arnold had one thing in mind.
"It is time to end the suffering. I'm taking them out of that slum," he said.
He also planned to render better medication for Eva since the little they had lately couldn't get her good drugs. Arnold was sure that this was the reason why the illness never got better, he didn't want his sister to suffer anymore.
Stepping out of the bathroom, Arnold got to see his phone beeping continuously. It had been happening this way since last night after his victory in the fatal five-way elimination match.
With a towel tied around his waist, almost reaching his ankle, he picked up his phone from the brown table and checked who was behind the messages.
(Goldstar Show: Hello, Max Fury. We are glad to offer you $1300 for an Exclusive Interview on Friday night. Kindly accept for payment and transportation conclusion).
(High TV: Good Day, Max Fury. We are inviting you for an Exclusive Interview with a $1450 pay on Saturday. Please, we are looking forward to your needed acceptance. Thank you!)
(Superstars Hangout: ...
"Ah, gosh! That's too much. It's only going to devour my time," Arnold let out a slight frown.
(Xbox Live: Hello, Max Fury. We will be needing your humble presence on our show for an Exclusive Interview today by 2 pm for $1400. Kindly accept and confirm payment and transportation. Thank you!]
Arnold shrugged on this one.
"Today? No way."
He was going to see his mother and sisters, there was no way he would postpone that, right? It's been over six months since he saw them, Arnold really had missed them so much.
The main truth was that Eva would start to feel bad if she didn't see him on her birthday, which was today!
"I'm sorry but I have to turn down this one," Arnold muttered regretfully.
[No problem. That's a great choice, host.]
Arnold smiled. Of course, he knew.
Arnold left his room after getting dressed in a black Hermes polo and plain black jeans. He put on a $62 wristwatch he bought some days ago and a new $37 black canvas. Arnold was doing his best to appear cool in his hometown, visibly showing that his life had changed for the better.
With his short jet-black hair fixed and arranged properly, Arnold was set to leave Capside Centre.
Grindhouse Wrestling made a free transport privilege for all stars in the company, making it easy for them to venture out of the arena into the cities. Arnold was going somewhere quite far, so he had to travel by air.
The Grindhouse Wrestling transporter could only take care of his journey to the airport.
Before he left, he visited Mark and Lila and informed them. Although he had told them the previous day, he only wanted to let them know he was leaving.
Another go-ahead from the management, and he was allowed to go.
Arnold left Capside Centre at exactly 10 am and arrived at the airport at almost 11 am. A flight to San Diego city only cost $53, Arnold had booked a flight to take off around noon.
When it was exactly 12, the airplane took off, landing in San Diego after a few hours. It took about an hour for Arnold to reach the countryside after landing in the city.
And when he finally arrived at Barrio Logan, his face darkened with amazement.
"This place always remains the same, no improvement," he muttered.
Dirty aging buildings ranged like a street in both directions as sounds of domestic engines disrupted the air. At several points, black smoke could be spotted at different shops, a clear indication of the kind of job done hear.
Due to being close to San Diego Bay, most people here had focused on selling seafood which was barbequed, fried, or steamed with other meals.
Although Arnold's mother didn't sell in the slum, she got herself a shop in the middle-class streets somewhere in the developing part of the town.
Everyone leaving here could barely make ends meet, and this was the story of the Barrio Logan people. Even though life appeared to be tough, these strong-willed people still tried to survive.
After all, the bay was a saving grace.
Arnold's family house was an old bungalow built by his grandfather before he died in the late 1980s. It only had two bedrooms and a living room, the restroom and refreshing room were built out of the building.
That was so disgusting, right?
Arnold was having a heavy heart seeing this again, but he only endured. Approaching the house, he smiled and knocked on the wooden door.
Knock. Knock.
"Who's there? Audrey, go check who is at the door."
"A second please!"
Arnold clearly heard his mother and Audrey's voice from the inside, making him smile more.
Their voice didn't seem too cold and dull, indicating that they were okay. Arnold believed that the money he sent last week had helped a lot.
It took a few seconds before Audrey stepped to the door and pulled it open. When her gaze met who was on the door, her eyes widened in absolute shock.
"Ah! Arnold!!!"
"Mom! Arnold came home!!!"
A second feminine figure quickly ran from the second room inside the house and dashed towards the door with unexplainable speed. Seeing her son looking good, handsome, and healthy, she threw herself at him to give him a cold, sweet hug.
Almost bursting into tears.
Audrey also hugged him tight from the other side as they exchanged warmth.
It's been a while. They had missed him so much.
Arnold had also missed them more.
"Where is Eva, I have a surprise for her!" Arnold smiled as they entered the house.
He quickly walked into the room where she was lying with a smile on his face. When Eva saw him, she couldn't help but throw herself at him for a hug. Suddenly, sobs could be heard.
"I miss you so much, brother," he said.
"I miss you too, sweetheart," Arnold caressed her back.
He held him tightly had didn't want to let go at that moment. And as they stood, he caressed her more...
"Happy Birthday, Eva."