I deflated when I saw he had grown—and to make it worse, he belittled me, saying I'm ugly.
Ugly is him with that hair. . .
While I tried to move my opponent's arm, Cement announced:
"We already have the betting result."
"Out of fifty-nine people, forty-nine bet on Seraphine and one on Mini Brick."
Why did forty-nine people bet on me? If I lose, I'll get lynched.
"Please, I request you bring back the other announcer, because this one is making my situation worse."
Nobody cared about me at all.
"My pocket is already full."
Cement let that phrase slip into the microphone.
I'll pretend I didn't hear that.
In a matter of seconds, after hearing Cement announce it, my arm was ten centimeters from touching the table. I couldn't react—it was as if my challenger had planned it.
Sorry, Brick, but I won't win this one. I imagined that… and Brick beside me with his hands on his head, already picturing my defeat.
"CRACK!"
"Where is he?!"
A woman had just arrived, kicking the nightclub door open. Everyone got scared. Cement went to demand an explanation.
"Who do you think you are, coming in here and destroying everything?!"
He pressed his face up to hers.
The woman slapped him so hard it cost him a tooth. Cement fell to the floor. Brick ran to help his father, but he received the same punishment.
Who is this woman? When I was going to ask my opponent, he disappeared.
The other men didn't say anything.
It's going to fall on me.
She started coming toward me. I lowered my head and started drinking a beverage that was on the table.
The air in the place got colder when she stopped by my side. I heard my heart speed up.
"Where did he go?"
She stomped her right foot on the floor, and my heart followed the rhythm.
"It's… I… I don't know."
I whispered, because my mouth was full of alcohol. I can't swallow—I never drank.
I didn't realize it was alcohol in that cup.
Oh, oh… I can't scream, because…
She pulled my left ear.
"What did you say, girl? Didn't anyone teach you it's rude to answer elders with your mouth full?"
She pulled my ear so hard that I swallowed the alcohol—not because I wanted to, but because of the pain. The alcohol went down my throat like someone poured ten liters of pepper at once. It might be an exaggeration, but for me, who never drank, my soul almost transcended.
I tried to find air and, at the same time, made ugly faces—which caused more problems, because the woman thought I was mocking her.
"You're laughing at me, girl."
She raised her hand to slap me, and before it even happened, I saw my body thrown and my teeth on the table.
I just closed my eyes and waited for the slap.
"Mom, I'm here."
Mom? I opened my eyes.
Mini Brick is her son.
I just put my head on the table and looked at Brick, who was next to his father on the floor.
I won't do anything else. I want to leave. It's my only thought.
"Ow, ow, ow, Mom!"
Mini Brick's mother dragged him away by the ear, and the men in the nightclub started laughing.
I closed my eyes again and thought: Cement is down, and the announcer too, because of the alcohol—meaning it's over.
I started smiling, seeing paradise ahead…
"1, 2, 3, testing."
Bunch of lunatics.
"Ladies and gentlemen, we had a setback—nothing that will overshadow our championship!"
He screams whenever he talks.
"Look at Brick's mother! You're not going to leave her alone tonight, are you?"
The announcer kissed the mannequin after offering it again.
Something appeared inside me that I had never felt: a desire to win more than ever.
"Come on, hic… hic… next."
I'm drunk after one cup.
When he heard what I said, the announcer raised my right arm and said:
"That's the competitive spirit I like!"
Do whatever you want. I don't care about anything anymore. My mind is spinning.
"Ladies and gentlemen, we will begin the championship final! DJ, drop the sound!"
The song from the movie started playing: The Rock 3, Eye of the Tiger.
I don't know if I cry, smile, or tell everyone to go to hell.
If a talking donkey shows up and challenges me, I'll believe it.
"Ladies and gentlemen, our best arm-breaker has just arrived, since the last one ran away scared of the woman!"
No way! I'm hallucinating because of the alcohol.
It's a donkey—ah, but he won't talk.
"Sorry I'm late, guys. I was running away from Altus Pervertus."