The remaining bullies shifted nervously as Arvin took his first measured step forward. Their earlier mockery had vanished, replaced by the uncertain movements of those facing something they didn't understand. The unconscious giant's steady breathing cut through the quiet alley.
Two of them drew closer, until their shoulders connected. Tery's foot remained pressed against Jeremy's back, but Arvin noticed the signs of fear and rage in his face.
(Now), Arvin thought, his muscles responding to years of training. (Two percent. No more, no less.)
Whoosh
Cool evening air brushed past as Arvin moved. His first strike was gentle, barely touching the nearest bully shoulder. The contact point was exact - a spot his master had taught him would disable without harm.
Thump
The bully eyes widened in surprise before rolling back, his body crumpling before he could make a sound. His loss seemed to trigger something in his companion, who charged forward with a wild yell.
(I need to hit it precisely so that this will end faster), Arvin thought, stepping aside smoothly. His palm brushed the attacker's chest with less force, yet the other bully collapsed instantly.
ThudThud
Two bodies hit the ground in quick succession, their falls cushioned by their own clothes. Arvin checked their breathing - steady and strong. His careful strikes had worked as intended.
Only Tery remained standing, his face twisted between fear and rage. His foot pressed harder against Jeremy's back, drawing a pained grunt from Jeremy.
"Stay back!" Tery's shouted. His voice cracked, the threat in his words was laced with fear. "I'll... I'll really hurt him!"
Though Arvin couldn't understand the words, the situation was obvious.
(Master was right - a cornered opponent was indeed the most dangerous), Arvin reminded himself, watching Tery's increasing the pressure on Jeremy's back, making Jeremy curl tighter in pain.
The alley had grown darker, shadows making Tery's frightened expression look almost wild.
ScrapeShuffle
Tery's shoe scraped against Jeremy's uniform as he shifted his weight, trying to look threatening while keeping his distance from Arvin. Sweat rolled down his temple despite the cool air.
(Chinese) "I see, you won't listen to reason. I know that you understand my gesture, why keep doing this?" Arvin said quietly, his tone carrying the same warning his master used before a serious lesson.
Tery who didn't know what Arvin said, shouted back, his voice was cracking.
Though Arvin couldn't understand the words, the tone in which Tery said them, was not good.
(He's getting more desperate), Arvin thought, noting how Tery's stance had changed.
Tery's weight keep shifting like he couldn't decide whether to run or fight. His eyes kept looking toward the alley's entrance, but something kept him rooted in place.
Tery's voice broke as he shouted again. His free foot suddenly kicked an empty can toward Arvin.
Clang
Arvin stepped aside, letting the can clatter past. This simple dodge seemed to push Tery over the edge. His face twisted with fury, and he lifted his foot from Jeremy's back, preparing to stomp down with full force.
(Now!)
Whoosh
Using a bit of the inner energy he had left, Arvin boosted his feet. He moved like ghost, crossing the distance before Tery's foot could stomp Jeremy. Those countless hours of mountain training showed in the silent step he done. Tery's eyes widened - one moment Arvin had been several meters away, yet the next moment, Arvin stood within his arm's reach.
Time seemed to slow as Arvin's hand moved forward. His strike flowed with perfect precision, finding the exact point his training had mapped out countless times.
Tery's expression shifted from rage to surprise, then confusion, as his consciousness fled. His threatening posture crumbled as his consciousness goes out.
Thump
Arvin caught Tery's body before it could crash onto Jeremy, carefully laying it aside.
(Four opponents, no lasting damage), he thought, quickly checking Tery's two vital points.
The alley fell quiet except for the steady breathing of the unconscious bullies and Jeremy's pained groan. Evening shadows had deepened during their confrontation, but there was still enough light for what needed to be done next.
Arvin turned his attention to Jeremy, knowing the real challenge was just beginning. Helping an injured person required even more careful control than defeating opponents.
Grunt
Arvin knelt beside Jeremy, who still lay face-down on the asphalt. With practiced care, he placed one hand under Jeremy's shoulder and the other supporting his head.
(Chinese) "Sorry, this might hurt a little. Please bear with it for a moment," Arvin said softly, though he knew Jeremy probably couldn't understand what he said. He gently turned Jeremy onto his back, noting the cut lip and bruised forehead that had been hidden from his view before.
Hiss
Arvin lightly touch Jeremy chest. Jeremy's sharp intake of breath told Arvin all he needed to know about the damaged that Jeremy had suffer. His trained hands continues to move with professional precision, checking pressure points and assessing the damage. (Bruised ribs, possible internal bruising, and yes - definitely some broken ones. Though his body seems surprisingly resilient for someone who was quite thin.)
Jeremy tensed at first under the sudden examination but relaxed as he recognized the touch was helping, not harming him. His eyes squinted uselessly at the blur above him, trying to make out his savior's looks.
With a strained grunt, Jeremy tried to push himself up. His arms shook from the effort, his muscles aching after the beating. Just as he was about to fall back, Arvin caught him under the shoulders with firm hands.
(Chinese) "Easy," Arvin murmured, his movements careful and deliberate as he helped Jeremy into a sitting position. Supporting most of Jeremy's weight, he helped him lean back against the dumpster. The cold metal pressed against Jeremy's squished backpack, giving him something solid to lean on.
WheezePant
Jeremy took shallow, measured breaths as he tried to handle the pain. Arvin watched as he squinted and looked around the ground. Following Jeremy's gaze, Arvin spotted the broken glasses lying nearby. He quickly retrieved them, noting the web-like cracks spreading across one lens and handed them to Jeremy.
"Thank you," Jeremy mumbled in English as he took them with trembling hands.
As Jeremy slid the glasses onto his face, Arvin was startled by what he saw. Through the cracked lenses, a pair of striking blue eyes met his gaze—a color Arvin had never seen in person before. The deep azure stood out in stark contrast against Jeremy's features, which Arvin now observed more carefully.
(He looks... different), Arvin thought, studying Jeremy's face with curiosity. Jeremy's black hair fell across his forehead in disarray, but what caught Arvin's attention was the unique blending of features. His face showed clear Asian characteristics, but there was something else there too—his nose was slightly more pronounced, his jaw more defined than what Arvin was used to seeing. His skin, though reddened from the fight, was fairer than Arvin's own light yellow-brownish complexion.
Having his glasses back helped Jeremy focus on his mysterious savior even if one of the lens cracked. Through the cracked glasses, he could finally make out the looks of the person who helped him. The person was younger than he'd expected.
He was definitely an Asian but not fully Chinese like his father's and his grandparents. Despite being covered in dirt and wearing torn clothes, the boy carried himself with unusual confidence.
His gaze drifted past Arvin, widening as he took in the scene - Tery and his three followers sprawled unconscious on the ground. The sight seemed impossible - these were the guys even the seniors of the martial arts club avoided, yet they'd been taken down by someone who looked barely old enough to be a freshman in a high school.
(Wait a sec... he looks like a kid- nah, that can't be right. No way some freshman middle school kid could take down Tery's gang like that. Prob'ly just two or three years younger than me. Still, how'd someone his size manage to...), he thought.
Satisfied with his assessment, Arvin stood and turned to leave. (Chinese) "Rest here. They won't wake soon, but you shouldn't stay too long."
He need to quickly find where he was and hopefully, someone could speak Chinese too. (Maybe I'll look for a police station to ask for help?)
"Wait!" Jeremy called out in English, but Arvin still keep walking and ignoring him. His grandmother's lessons came flooding back, and he struggled to remember the words then her corrected himself.
(Chinese) "Please... wait," he managed to say a few word with broken Chinese, but it was clear enough for Arvin.
Arvin froze mid-step. He spun around, eyes wide. (Chinese) "You understand Chinese?"
(Chinese) "Little... bit," Jeremy replied slowly. (Chinese) "Grandmother... taught me."
Arvin's eyes lit up with excitement. (Chinese) "Thank goodness! I thought I'd never find someone who could speak Chinese since I arrived last night! Could you tell me where the nearest police station is? Where am I right now? What is today's date? What-"
CoughCough
Jeremy's sudden coughing fit cut through Arvin's stream of questions, his hand pressed against his ribs as he doubled over in pain.
Heat rose to Arvin's cheeks as he quickly moved back to Jeremy's side, his excitement instantly replaced with concern. (Chinese) "Ah, how unsightly of me." He took a steadying breath, remembering his master's lessons about composure. (Chinese) "I'm sorry. I lost control for a moment. It's just that since I arrived last night in this unknown place, I haven't found anyone who speaks Chinese. I can't even ask for help."
Wheeze
Jeremy caught his breath, though his face remained tight with pain. (Chinese) "Er...sor-ry but my Chinese, no good. I don't under-stand what you saying. Maybe you sp-eak slower?"
Understanding dawned on Arvin's face. (Chinese) "I arrived here last night," he began slowly, careful to enunciate each word clearly. "Since then, I haven't found anyone who speaks Chinese. I can't even ask for help."
(Chinese) "So, If I under-stand right," Jeremy said slowly, "you arrived here last night?"
Nod
(Chinese) "And you don't find people that speak Chinese so you cannot get helps?"
(Chinese) "Yes," Arvin replied, matching Jeremy's slower pace. "But to be exact, I want to ask the direction for the police station because perhaps they can give some help."
(Chinese) "Hmm. There was one near my school," Jeremy started, watching hope light up in Arvin's eyes, but then had to add, "But if I reme-mber right, there was no one who can speak Chinese in that place."
Arvin's expression fell instantly.
(Chinese) "Uh... I know someone better speaking Chinese," Jeremy offered, trying to sit up straighter but wincing at the movement.
(Chinese) "You know some?"
(Chinese) "Yea-, coughcough" The words triggered another coughing fit that had Jeremy clutching his chest in pain.
(Chinese) "Oh my, how insensitive of me. All these things make me forget about your condition. Where is the nearest hospital or clinic around here?"
(Chinese) "No... no hospital," Jeremy managed between breaths, shaking his head. "Just... home. I will be fine."
(Chinese) "But your injuries-" Arvin started to protest.
(Chinese) "Ha-ha," Jeremy managed a weak chuckle, "It's al-right. I go home and rest. It's just a few ribs broken. They will heal speedily."
Arvin's eyebrows rose slightly at his answer. (He knows his injuries, and did I hear wrong? It will recover quickly?), Arvin thought, (But, wait. It is strange how he can stand after taking that level of beating. Hmm, forget it. Let's just help him and think about it later.)
Without hesitation, Arvin offered his support. After all, helping Jeremy meant helping himself - here was someone who not only understood Chinese, however brokenly, but knew others who spoke it better. For Jeremy, accepting help was an easy choice, his body's condition made that decision for him.
Together, they made their way out of the alley, leaving Tery and his gang behind.
The city's evening sounds surrounded them as they emerged from the alley, somehow different now that they weren't alone in their respective struggles. The setting sun painted the sky in shades of orange and purple, marking the end of the day's coming.
Neither boy knew it yet, but this unlikely partnership, born of necessity and cemented by their shared language barrier, would prove far more significant than either could imagine.