Russell

Figaro

Russell (One Week Later)

I had been busy the whole day running from one class to the next. At the beginning of the year, my sole focus was to concentrate on my classes, graduate from university, and apply for the internship at Knight Enterprise Corp.

I studied at that company for two years straight. I was fascinated by their business. They were top of the chain, breaking barriers and reaching top charts all over the world.

But I can't help but smile as I see my priorities changing. Samantha has become someone special to me, and I can't seem to get her off my mind, no matter what I do, she's constantly in my thoughts. Her dad is a pretty amazing guy as well. I can't believe we got along so well from the start, but I can't say the same about her mom. It's evident that she doesn't like me, but I am bound to win her over one day.

I sat at the very top of the theater-like classroom, jotting down the last notes for the day of my quantum physics class.

I look at the clock and realize it's 15 past the usual class time. I just know I'm going to be late to meet up with Joseph. He's very particular about timing, and if I'm going to train tonight, I'll have to leave in the next five minutes.

Joseph doesn't take lightly when I miss training sessions. He's similar to me; likes promptness, perfection, hard work, dedication, and good attendance.

If I don't show up for training, it means I won't fight next weekend. And if I don't fight, it means I can lose my sponsorship with Knight Enterprise.

I lose my sponsorship, it probably also means I won't meet my quota for next semester's college payment. The last thing I want is to bother my uncle to help me out with the money for more payments.

The sponsor representative is real nice and I've already met up with him a few times for lunch to sign and work out the details of the sponsorship.

I feel bad for my uncle. He had to raise me on his own, working countless hours to support and feed me for almost ten years. He gave me his full attention and dedication, and never went out to look for someone to settle down with. He was so busy working to maintain me in a safe and clean environment after learning I was being bullied when I was young. I have so much to thank him for.

From what I know, I have a few other family members, his uncle and three cousins, two guys and a girl, but I have never met them. I often wonder what they are up to or why they never bothered to stay in contact with us, but it doesn't matter. My uncle is all I need, and now Sam.

I quickly grab my phone out from the back pocket, swing my backpack to my back and grab my notebook in hand. I place my pencil between my teeth and turn my phone camera on, snapping quick pictures of the massive board behind the professor.

I quickly place the phone back in my pocket and unzip my backpack, placing my notebook and pencil back inside. No more time, I leave the classroom and make my way out running to my bike.

I swing my foot over the bike, start it up, place my helmet on and speed off towards the gym. Passing one car after another, I accelerate until I make my final turn onto the parking lot.

I make it inside just in time to start training. The girl in the reception waves at me as I run inside and to the locker room to change into my workout clothes.

✨✨✨✨✨✨✨

"Ok Russ, remember! the guy you are fighting with next week is really good. He's fought internationally, so the fact that the boss is letting you fight this guy means that you are getting better, and he likes your fighting skills. He believes in you, and so do I kid. But, don't get too confident! you need to stay on guard all the time. Now, concentrate, ok?" Joseph puts on the gloves and holds his hands up.

I stand with my knees slightly bent, and hands guarding my face. I take one jab after the other and move in a clockwise circle. Joseph keeps my pace for a good 40 minutes until he asks for a rest to ease his aching arms for a good five minutes.

He throws a bottle of water making me catch it mid-air, "You're doing good, buddy. You're going to be great out there, I just know it." he says taking a seat next to me and downing his water bottle. He pats my shoulder making me smirk.

"Thanks, Joseph. I couldn't have done it without your help." I reply making him chuckle.

"Now come on, let's keep going," he adds making me get on my feet.

Training continues with the usual; jumping jacks, burpees, lifting weights, and more cardio workouts which I honestly hate, I can do the lifting and all other exercises but I hate doing cardio.

Then, we get to my favorite part.

Most of the guys have already gathered around the ring. Joe comes and places the gloves back in my hands and gives me my mouth guard to protect my teeth.

The guy that stands before me has been an experienced boxer and cage fighter for over ten years and has been asking me to brawl with him since the beginning of last summer. Finally, his time has come to enter the ring in a friendly match with me. I won't lie, this guy is good, and I can't help the vertigo rise in my stomach as the nerves begin to get the best of me.

The two of us bump our gloves and begin pacing counterclockwise as Joe gives us the cue to commence. One jab after the next, both of us are successful in avoiding contact with the other fist. I managed to avoid his kicks and got out of his headlocks.

Twenty minutes pass. But after a few good punches along with kicks, uppercuts, and headlocks with no luck, Joe calls the game off. We both stand in the middle and bump gloves once again, smiling at each other and breathing heavily as we try to catch our breath.

I take my left glove off and then the right and shake my opponent's hand for one last time as we both make our way towards the lockers.

"You're pretty good kid! If you ever decide this is what you want to do for an actual profession, I know you'd go real far. Hey, you may even become famous someday, now that Knight Enterprise has you under their microscope. I hear you're their new sponsor, congratulations." He says making me chuckle. He places his shirt on as he glances toward me.

"Thanks, you weren't so bad yourself. I hear you just signed a new deal with some big shots in Halloway enterprises as well. Congrats to you too man!" I say making him chuckle. "Yeah. I have a meeting to sign with them in a few days. Wish me luck, kid. See yah."

I smile, lifting my jeans and buckling my belt, I fist bump him as he grabs his duffle bag, swings it over his shoulder, and leaves.

"Good luck man," I say as he waves me off making me chuckle. I finish dressing and make my way out of the locker room.

It's dark out as I make my way out. I was walking towards my bike when I hear a faint noise, almost like a cat's meow.

I raise an eyebrow and stop for a second listening diligently, but nothing.

I brush it off and decide to go on my way. I turn and raise my foot over my bike and sit on the seat, tilt my head back as I sigh from how tired and sore I feel. Just as I'm ready to place my helmet on, I hear it again.

A low, barely noticeable "Meow."

I stop and narrow my eyebrows again, tilting my head to the side. "meow, meow, meow." A low, almost audible meow of a kitten is heard in the direction of the alley between the gym and the beauty salon.

I place the helmet on top of the seat and get off the bike again, walking towards the alley.

Right at the entrance to the alley, I find a box, sealed with red duct tape and covered with an old tiny blanket.

"It can't be...right?" I ask myself. I quickly bend down, taking the blanket off the box and ripping open the tape.

The kitten begins to meow louder, realizing someone has finally come to his aid. Inside, I find a tiny black kitten, with little white paws and a white spot that runs from his tiny nose, all along through his belly and to half of his tail, and white fur on the inside of his ears.

I carefully hold him, and the kitten grips hard onto my hoodie, unwilling to be placed down and back inside the box.

"Hey, buddy! It's ok, I won't hurt you. Are you alright?" I turn him over and turn him in all directions making sure he is unharmed. "Yup, you are definitely ok and...a male kitten."

The kitten continues to grasp hard on my sleeve while I turn him in all directions, making sure he has no scrapes or signs of mistreatment. "Well, looks like you were well taken care of. But, why'd they leave you here?" I look around, and then grab the box, hoping there'd be a note, but nothing. He's tiny but doesn't look too small where he'd need feeding from the momma.

I sigh and get up, holding the kitten between my hands, allowing the kitten to rest comfortably between my palms. "Well, I'm gonna have to take you down to the shelter. I'd love to take you home with me, but, our building administrator would definitely not allow that. Sorry, buddy." I place the kitten inside between my hoodie and my shirt, letting him cling to my shirt.

"How the hell do I do this?" I think as I review the situation and wonder how the hell to ride my bike with this little one along with me. I mean, it's not like Sam where I can just have him ride in the back of me and have him hold on to my back, he'll definitely fall off. "Oh well, inside the hoodie it is," I say as I look into his tiny blue eyes.

Tucking his little body inside my hoodie, he begins to crawl up and lifts his tiny head out from the v-shape of my shirt making me chuckle.

"You can't ride next to my neck buddy, get back down, you'll be ok, I promise," I say as I feel his soft fur grazing my neck. He slowly tucks his head back inside.

I drive in the direction of the nearest pet shelter hoping to find it open. Unfortunately, by the time I get there, the parking lot is empty. Everything inside is dark, except a few dimmed lights left on by the security guards who are nowhere in sight.

I sigh and look down inside my hoodie, the kitten rests comfortably inside, falling asleep as I hold him near my waist.

I walk back to my bike and restart it, sighing as I see no other option but to drive back to the university. "Well, I guess you'll have to go home with me for tonight. Tomorrow, I'll have to skip a class and bring you to the shelter. Hopefully, you'll find a good home. For now, let's go home, buddy."

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~