Art by Ono Mono
1.
A single tear hit the vibrant green earth, moistening the dry soil underneath the grass. Bruised knees followed suit and a bouquet of fresh flowers were gently placed on a grave by large, callused hands.
“Happy birthday Grandma,” Hanini said.
The wind swelled and Hanini could taste the saltwater on his tongue and smell the scent of plumeria in the air.
The ancestors are calling again. He wiped a few more tears away, sniffing away the pain coiled in his chest like an anaconda.
Hanini’s phone beeped. His nostrils flared and he ignored it. More important matters were at hand.
Wonder if they approve or not? Did I not get enough flowers? I mean they’re fresh. Blue gingers and Hawaiian Hibiscus were always Grandma’s favorite. They have to be—
“Hanini.”
Hanini turned around, expecting his Grandma to appear hunched over and ready to scold him for some traditional mishap he overlooked.
Instead, it was Brian Ching in his Tom Ford sunglasses and a blue tailored suit despite the swelteringly hot sun. He seemed unbothered by the heat and stood there like a lanky mirage.
“Long time, no see huh?”
Hanini said nothing as he stood up and shoved Brian aside.
Brian nearly stumbled over an adjacent grave, but managed to find his footing again.
“Hey you fucker! Almost ruined my suit. This costs more than your existence. You hear me?” He yelled.
Hanini kept on walking through the graveyard, wishing and praying to the gods that a hand would shoot out of the ground and drag Brian down into the raw earth.
Hanini’s thoughts were once again interrupted by the Triad dumbass.
“I gotta quit vaping man. My lungs can’t take this shit.” Brian said, huffing and puffing. “Sorry for yelling at you and minimizing your…existence.”
“Your D-N-A is composed of asshole and greed. Common knowledge. And you need to get off those cigarettes. It’s probably eating away at your lungs as we speak.”
Brian grinned. “You’d be proud of me. I quit a year and half ago. Around the same time you started making a name for yourself in the M-M-A world and you went completely ghost on me.”
“I was a bouncer. Nothing special. And I had a career. An actual career.”
“You were one of the best bouncers in my camp. You’ve really made something of yourself. I remember betting 5k on that fight you had with Kavanagh. You beat that Irish fucker’s face in. The way you kneed him in the gut over and over again. It was a thing of beauty. I don’t know much about art, but that was really something else.”
Hanini’s vision went blurry and the graveyard swallowed him whole, spitting him back out into the Octagon. He was on his side, the crowd’s cheers vibrating through his jaw, his whole body aching with pain, and his opponent in side control. Right arm cranked at a ridiculous angle. Kavanagh continued to apply pressure and Hanini’s vision began to dim.
A cooling sensation swirled inside his back and he could hear the comforting whispers of his ancestors. They gave him the strength to break free from the submission attempt.
Hanini scrambled out of the armbar, curling into a shrimp. pushing Kavanagh away from him. Kavanagh’s eyes looked astonished and weary.
“Pussy,” Kavanagh taunted him through his bloody lips.
Hanini got back to his feet, found his stance, and rushed Kavanagh with a jab and a right hook that caught him on the temple. Kavanagh staggered backward, thoroughly stunned by the strikes.
Lunging forward, Hanini caught him with a knee to the chin. And then he wrapped his arms around his neck. Kavanagh flailed like a fish, trying to escape the hold, but he couldn’t. Hanini threw a knee to the gut, then he threw another knee to the liver over and over again, hoping it would rupture. The Octagon began to melt into a syrupy mess of shapes and colors.
“Earth to Hanini. Come back to me.”
Hanini shook his head and the vibrant colors surrounding him filled his vision and the roaring din of fans began to fade. Brian was waving his hand in front of his face.
Hanini smacked it away. “I’m fine.”
“I don’t know man. You went blank on me back there. You sure you shouldn’t get your head checked out. You know C-T-E is—”
“—I said I’m fine.”
Brian threw his hands out in defense. “Okay, okay. You’re fine. I got it.”
Hanini bent down to undo the chain on his bike. He kept telling himself he was going to give it a new coat of paint any day now. He just felt so busy…
“Listen Han, I just want to talk and then I’ll be out of your hair.”
“We’ve been talking and you know it’s my Grandma’s birthday. Had the nerve to interrupt me and my ancestors. You really have no shame do you?”
“Give your Grandma my condolences and tell your ancestors I said hi. Either way, there’s money to be made and I’m in need of your services.”
“I fight. I train. I eat and I shit. That’s it.”
“Well you haven’t fought in 10 months because of that nasty drug suspension.”
“You know it’s bullshit. Protein powder from Vitamin Shoppe of all things.”
“I know. I know. You don’t have to defend your case. I’m on your side. Tainted supplements.”
“It still pisses me off to this day. They could’ve cancelled that shit and reinstated me, but they didn’t.”
“You see we still have things in common, but don’t you want to hear this proposition?”
Hanini finally undid the bike chain and tossed it in the duffle bag hanging around his massive shoulders.
“You have one minute.”
“Look, I’ll keep it short and simple bruh. The Yakuza are trying to make moves and I need a strong body like you in case things hit the fan.”
“What the hell does that mean?”
“A few odd jobs here and there. You slap around some people and you go home. Easy money.”
“I’m not getting caught up in this mafia shit again.”
Brian spit on the ground. “You don’t have to be caught up in anything. And please refrain from comparing our organization to some guido fucks.”
“Listen, I’m not playing your manipulative games. Once I left, I was done. I can’t live that lifestyle anymore.”
“Manipulative? You don’t have to be indoctrinated or anything. This is one of those one-and-done type of situations. Scouts honor.”
Hanini swung his body on top of his bike and rode off, waving his middle finger as he picked up speed.
“I’ll be in touch bruh.”
“Babooz.”
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