The Alex Box: A Tale of Loss and Legacy

The Brawl

Suppose someone seems to care, and always showed up to lend you a hand, rescue you by any means possible, and understood your plights are worth being your friend, best friend even.

As much as Ryker needed a friend irrespective of gender,

since he had been mending his heart for better sane stability, and repressing the weaknesses of his temperaments to enhance his tolerance to fit in with the society's standards,

He knew making friends would be necessary because leaving his past life behind had encapsulated him with a detestable life of boredom: not like when someone is feared and respected like the king of slave-masters.

And talking of keeping friends, only a space for one he's got and it has been confiscated. Thereafter, no longer cared to create another for a myriad of reasons.

Considering this inexplicable friendship aspect,

Ryker's take on it was making it a medium of expressing his gratitude and reciprocating Jude's altruism. The thing is, but he never thought he would be immersed in it so extensively that he had to make a fool of himself.

Though he would pretend to be less concerned, he knows and detest much of their activities that he always excuses himself whenever they try to talk him into a member of the pack.

"These expensive tricksters? Think I'd become one who steals into people's homes to steal other people's possessions?" He'd ask himself as he walked away with disdain.

As a juvenile contemporary, you don't fight one of their men and go scot-free. You've got to prepare for a sequel!

But then, Ryker might prove a well-trained child, but he is an acute mischief-maker for troubles is his niche, fighting amuses, and held his interest that he could stop on an important mission to watch a fight or get into one at the slightest provocation.

He always wondered why he's tagged a rascal, he is a good boy if you ask him.

Few times after being been apprehended,

(Why me? I am a good boy, fight should not define me as an eccentric, who else doesn't feel entertained by the physical power display, moreover those annoying maniacs are skilled at provocation) he would ruminate.

But those bad boys, rarely get caught after constituting nuisances, most of the time they would get away with their god awful plans.

Putting his best into abstaining from him and his transgressing squad most of the time, yet, Jude knew how to get to him.

The immense pressure of measuring up to today's living standard and the thoughts of building a social value is becoming more and more unfeasible diurnally, whilst from dusk to the very middle of the night he'd possessed an undisturbed freedom of fantasizing about living the most extravagant life even the most privileged are yet to.

Poor him, bereft of privileges. What could he have done, can't help but get into trouble, he is dubbed the town rascal.

But despite his frequent attempts to be logical and exhibit ethical principles, it mystifies him, how incongruous his individuality proved in the society.

"Wait, what is it that you are eating? "

He asked, a bit surprised.

At Jude's feet lies a bulky sack of. . . who knows if it's more than oranges in there? (Hmph!

How on earth can someone with such vehemence to escape posthaste, from his crime scene without forethought of his scandalous confederates, possibly possessed the balls to haul along a big bulky sack, packed full of stolen fruits).

He mused before opening his mouth to continue with his inquisition.

"And-- how?" Tilting his head while stirring his sclera in the opposite direction, as curiosity breaks his speech.

"I mean how did you get to flee the garden with that?" He asked with total curiosity pointing towards the sack.

But instead of answering his questions, he threw up a cherry, right into the air above his head, grabbed it, bit into it, and started to chew.

"Seems like my words are wasting out here in the void of nature." He said to no one in particular,

Whilst his silent chewing of the fruit persists, Ryker could sense mockery in the air as some of the boys are pointing towards his direction chatting sordidly and laughing hysterically…

He is quick to anger, sometimes, depending on his mood at the moment, but most times, very little provocative advances are needed to tap the belligerent soul in Ryker Hartley.

He was totally pissed off by Jude's reaction to what was apparently annoying to me, he felt a burning rage surge through his head, his hands were shaking nervously in response to the anger building inside of him.

He tightened his finger into a fist and with two strides he was near enough, giving a powerful kick enough to send the contents in the sack spilling about.

For a moment, he'd thought he kicked a cornucopia. If it wasn't for the fact he was very aware he had actually kicked a 'sack' containing fruits of sorts.

Alerted! The boys reassemble with a stance that spelled violence, but it is what he is used to,

He is not bothered!

Still unmoved by his actions, Jude rested his back against the Teak he sat by, Ryker pulled him up by his collar, and barked at him "are you gonna give me an answer now?"

Jude gave a smirked for an answer, as the murmur from amongst the boys grew into a pandemonium, because most of them are wondering, are these two friends gonna fight today?

Jude is the bigger man, while Ryker is also a respected rascal.

Though, some of the boys just did not give a damn if they were friends or enemies, they would not allow it for some dumb dude to rough their leader in their presence.

Those types of fellas move forward to interfere, but Jude holds them back, with his right hand stretched forward to signify for them to stop.

Ryker, who still held on to Jude's collar like he'd choke him, turned deaf ears to all the comments from the scallywags.

"Hey man, don't be so stupid, what's the big deal now huh?" Someone said from the boys surrounding already,

"Are you nuts?!" another boy said in an upset tone.

"What's going on here?" He heard an approaching voice, and with instantaneous recognition, I replied,

"The saved question has to be asked, but a bit dramatic."

"Are you done?" Kyle replied...

"Am I done?" He repeated.

"Huh!"

"Yeah, you heard me loud and clear. Shithead!"

Kyle snapped back, coming through to the scenery like some projected robot.

Releasing Jude's clothes, he approached him menacingly, "trying to interfere now, huh? Thought you were unconcerned, so why the sudden change now?" He queried.

"Interfere, you said? Why should I?"

"I mean, it's your problem, you're blinded by densely ludicrous emotions, You need to be more logical." He retorted.

That had justified his next action,

"Maybe you're right, work on yourself. Jerk!"

He was triggered, whilst the furious furrows deepen his brows, he tightened his fingers into a readymade tool for a weaponless clash.

Feeling the need to take out his anger on anybody else but Jude, even though he was the one who brought about all the tension and animosity in the air,

But those boys verbally assaulting is more infuriating, without further hesitation; he longed no cap but revealed his hair, he attempted bashing his face in with a straight fierce jab, Kyle was sharp and flexible enough duck the move, he was more of a wrestler, perhaps he feared punches, instantly he grabbed Ryker by the waist and attempted to throw him off balance, but he stood on his pivot and swung him around.

Proud of his little wrestling experiences and tricks under his belt, Kyle was no match, so he pushed forward holding tight unto his arm, then feinted a tired movement without releasing his grip, he retreated backward like he was losing balance,

But suddenly he pushed with the force from his torso, Kyle was confused, he lost guard and Ryker stamped his left foot behind Kyle's right heel. . . .

With a little energetic push again Kyle was spread on the ground, he pinned him down right beneath him and furiously deposited swift few punches on his face, before feeling multiple holds on him.

Breathing slowly and quite exhausted he got grabbed up now and already separated from Kyle.

"You've gotta get your ass out there fetch yourself a better living, and not impulsively pouncing on everyone like an ill-nurtured wretched being." Clears throat and continued as he pocketed his fists striding towards Ryker.

"I would convince myself, you ain't nursing the thoughts of taking me on next anyway," He said in a majestic tone, like he was searching Ryker's face for an answer pacing like an oppressed emperor (as he had claimed and preferred to be referred to, only Ryker doesn't fancy the idea of pronouncing him an emperor) in his archaic tower whilst the neighboring empires are all metropolitan adapted.

His longest sentences to be uttered since Ryker's arrival are still not satisfying his displeased and angered spirit.

" Jude!" He fired in a stern voice "don't even think about it!"

He continued, finessing the proximity, "engaging a bout isn't my motive for heading out here but because you've got some explaining to do..." Takes a deep breath, as he raised his right hand to meet his columella with his thumb and scraped the tip of his nose with his forefinger.

And he continued,

"You should know it won't faze me to whack your arrogant ass, but for the fact that I do not want to. Trust me, I won't forgive you for this if you won't apologize for jeopardizing my dignity for your selfish interest with your persuasive smooth lies..." He concluded.

Feelings of mixed emotions subsisting, anger, betrayal, and frustration.

Now at the level of the eyeball to eyeball. He clenched his teeth and breathed.

Slowly, Jude took a few steps backward, resuming his apathetic pacing and waltzed around the arena like some promising god.

With a creased brow "Look, a scumbag barking for dignity..."

He had emphasized the word 'Dignity' disgustingly with total disapproval written all over his face.

"Wait, tell me. Do you think you're any more special than anyone here?"

"Oh well!"

"Guess you need a reminder of the state of your dignity in that community. Who's spent the most time here gawking and cursing behind bars?"

Like Ryker would have an answer to that,

Jude held up a hand in the air,

"No, you should think, by your standards we are the worst, but you lodge more often in our enemies' cells. Broke rascal" now louder and aggressively.

Prompting some jeering reactions from the group of boys.

He looked away still clenching his jaws like he would worn them out,

He took a calming breath suppressing the urge to pounce on him,

"Hey man, you know wha---"

"Yes..." he interrupted contemptuously, what else do you think it is I don't know? Wait, to be honest, I am amazed that you've gathered some balls to question the acts of your savior.

Or you try to sell it to me now that you no longer acknowledge me saving your ass these past weeks?" He questioned.

"Have you forgotten how glad you were when I aided in the debt clearance you incurred by getting into trouble with the courier service firm you quit working with after several disputes with customers and a number of mixed-up deliveries? And unaccounted lost goods entrusted to you in barely two weeks…"

"Was it not two days ago I had to challenge the Vectors gang at the provocation of ambushing you anywhere they got the chance since your foray into their den, and escape from the gambling upheaval. That aside, you know how much you've put into gambling that you owed to me."

"Don't You?" With his head tilted and his eyebrows raised, he glared at Ryker inquisitively.