Beneath the Surface

Chapter Two

Chapter Two

Matthew

I wake up with a headache, the kind that’s all too familiar. My head is pounding like a drum, and I can barely remember how I ended up in my own bed. Last night’s blur is scattered with moments—mostly the faces of people I don't care about, music I barely heard, and drinks that didn’t hit fast enough.

I squinted at the clock. 10:45 AM. Damn it, I was supposed to meet Liam and Josh in an hour for our morning workout.

I sat up, the covers tangled around my legs. I look around my room, noticing the chaos I’ve come to expect from my life: empty bottles on the floor, clothes thrown carelessly across the chair, and an unfamiliar scent in the air.

Shaking my head, I glanced over at the girl still asleep beside me. She’s wearing one of my old T-shirts, the one I’m pretty sure I never let anyone borrow. Her hair is messy, spread across the pillow like a tangled halo. I have no idea who she is. She was probably at the party last night, one of the girls I ended up chatting with for a few minutes before she followed me back to my place. That’s how these things go.

I slide out of bed, careful not to wake her. I’m not a jerk, but I know exactly what happens when they wake up and realize what they’ve gotten into. It’s a waste of time pretending I’m anything else but a temporary fix. They usually get the hint and leave. And I’m fine with that.

The shower does nothing to fix the ache in my skull, but it’s a small distraction. By the time I step out of the bathroom, I’m ready to put the morning behind me. The girl is still asleep, but I don’t bother looking for her name. I know she won’t be around when I get back, just like all the others. I grab my gym bag and throw on a pair of shorts and a tank top, making my way out the door.

As I passed the living room, I caught a glimpse of myself in the hallway mirror. I don’t recognize this guy sometimes—the guy with the designer clothes and perfect jawline, the one who’s living in a mansion and still finds a way to hate every minute of it. People see me as lucky. Privileged. But they don’t know the pressure I’m under. They don’t know that my parents are just waiting for me to take over the family business. They’ve had me studying business administration since I was 16. The problem is, I’m not interested in running some boardroom full of rich assholes.

I want to box. The gym is the only place I can breathe. The only place I feel like I’m actually in control of something in my life.

When I arrive at the gym, Liam and Josh are already there, both of them messing around, trying to lift more than they should. Liam’s a bit of a show-off, always trying to impress people, while Josh is more laid-back, his focus always on form. They’ve been my friends since high school, and despite everything, I trust them. They’re the only ones who’ve never tried to get me to conform, to fit into the life my parents laid out for me.

“About time,” Liam says, grinning as I walked in. “Didn’t think you’d make it out after last night.”

I shrugged, tossing my bag onto the bench. “You know how it is. A few drinks and I’m good as new.”

Josh gave me a knowing look. “You’re going to burn out eventually, Matt. This lifestyle isn’t sustainable.”

“Don’t remind me,” I mutter, already lacing up my sneakers. I don’t need the lecture right now. “Let’s just hit the bag.”

The next few hours passed in a blur of sweat and punches. The heavy bag is my therapy, my outlet for everything I can’t deal with in my head. With every hit, I push away thoughts of my parents’ constant expectations, of the life they want me to live. I push away the reminder that every decision I make is one they’ve already planned out. They want me to be a business person, to wear a suit and tie every day, to take over the family empire. But boxing? Boxing is mine. No one can take that from me.

Liam and Josh spot me as I push through round after round, my fists flying until my arms feel like they’ll fall off. Every punch feels like freedom, even if it’s only temporary.

As I finish my last round, Liam claps me on the back. “Man, you’re a beast today. You getting in the ring soon?”

I wipe the sweat from my forehead, trying to catch my breath. “I hope so. I’ve got a fight lined up in a few weeks, but we’ll see.”

Josh raises an eyebrow. “Your dad still trying to talk you out of it?”

“Every damn day,” I grunt, grabbing a towel. “He says I’m wasting my time. Wants me to focus on business. Whatever.”

Liam shakes his head. “You’ve got to stop letting them run your life. You know that, right?”

I nod but don’t answer. I’ve heard it all before. Sometimes, I think maybe they’re right, but then I remember the ring. The sound of gloves hitting skin. The rush of adrenaline. There’s nothing like it.

We spend the next hour cooling down, talking s**t about the people who annoy us and laughing at stupid things that don’t matter. But all I can think about is the girl from last night. She was pretty, I guess, but I don’t need any more complications in my life.

Liam must sense I’m distracted because he elbows me. “So, what happened with the girl? You have made her leave yet?”

I didn’t answer right away. “Not yet.”

“Wait, you’re actually going to keep her around for a bit?” Josh asks, clearly amused.

I shrugged again, trying to shake the thought of her. “She’ll leave when I tell her to.”

But the more I think about it, the less sure I am. I don’t want to hurt anyone, even if I’m not looking for anything serious. Maybe I’ll just tell her to go when I get back. Or maybe I’ll let her stick around for a little longer.