8:37 PM, Alleyway Street in Queens
Ashan's hoodie was drenched from training.
He was on the walk back from the corner store, just some foodstuff and water.
Headphones in. Shoulders relaxed.
A little more confident than usual.
"I look different."
"I move different."
Then
"Yo."
Ashan paused. Took one bud out.
A man in a baggy jacket stepped out of an alley.
Face shadowed. Eyes too alert.
"You got somethin', don't you?"
Ashan clenched the bag tighter.
"I'm not looking for trouble."
"Too bad."
The guy lunged, sloppily throwing a wide punch directed at Ashan's face.
---
Ashan's feet moved fast, pendulum back.
The punch missed.
Ashan then stepped in, countered with a jab to the nose.
Solid contact.
"It landed!"
The thug stumbled, surprised. Ashan pressed forward.
Left jab
Right cross
Step back
Hook
Then it hit him.
His lungs were on fire.
His arms? Felt heavy. Sloppy.
He missed the next punch, badly
It was almost as if all his training was useless.
The thug grunted, rushed forward, and,
THUD.
Ashan's back slammed into a dumpster.
A fist crushed into his ribs.
Another smashed into his shoulder.
"I'll show you street, boy!"
Ashan tried to raise his hands, but it was too slow.
"Why can't I move?!"
"Why now?!"
---
"HEY!"
The thug turned.
WHAM.
A blur in a hoodie.
Jalen drove his shoulder into the guy's chest like a freight train.
The thug hit the pavement. Groaned. Didn't get up.
Ashan dropped and gasped on all fours, trying to breathe.
Jalen didn't speak right away.
He just stood over him, arms crossed.
"You're not ready, you weak bastard."
Ashan looked up.
"I dodged the first one…"
"You landed one."
"Then what? Gassed out? Got folded?"
Jalen added with a smirk
Ashan looked away, shame burning hotter than the bruises.
Jalen knelt beside him.
"That was a grown man, you weren't prepared but now you know."
"Next time, you might not be lucky enough to have me walk by."
Jalen stood again and turned to leave.
"Train harder, Bruce Lee."
Ashan stayed on the ground, fists clenched, lip bleeding, chest aching.
And yet
"I landed one."
---
Project Dragon, Day 46
"Got into it with a street guy today."
"Dodged. Hit. Almost felt like a real fighter… for one minute."
"Then my body shut down."
Ashan paused.
Then wrote:
"Pain is honest. So is exhaustion."
"Thank you, Jalen."
---