"I suppose you charge your students monthly, so how much would it cost me if I want to pay you for a year?" Jackson didn't want to train here just to keep his body in shape, but also to give his uncle Terry a surprise, who should know Johnny.
"Ah, that, yes, well, considering you're new students of this Dojo, I'll give both of you a small discount." Johnny didn't know how much to charge for a year; he didn't even know if this would last a year.
"Is this amount okay for me and Devon?" Jackson handed him a check that his uncle had given him to use however he wanted. These were simple gifts he usually gave him, which he always used to spend on special things.
After many birthdays, celebrations, and holidays, Jackson had accumulated a small fortune.
"Are you sure?" Johnny didn't think he could gather so much money at once. He had been too worried about the bills he had to pay and because he didn't have any students. But now, thanks to this millionaire student, his worries would ease for a while.
If it weren't for this, Johnny would be asking for help from people he never thought he would speak to again.
"I'll put you to the test. If you manage to be competent enough, you'll become the captain of my students." Johnny began boasting about what he wanted to achieve later on.
Jackson, of course, didn't care about this. That was a position he even had at his previous martial arts school and he didn't feel it was worth that much.
But since Johnny pointed it out, Jackson left after knowing the official opening date.
"By the way, who taught you how to fight?" Johnny was still curious about who Jackson's father was or who had taught him martial arts.
But Jackson simply smiled and said: "I've had two teachers, you might meet one later, it would be a nice surprise."
"I don't like surprises."
Jackson smiled a little, and after knowing when classes would start, he left with Devon, leaving Johnny relieved. With the money in his hands he could make many renovations and pay the bills, which would ease all his stress.
"Will he also teach girls?" Devon wondered if maybe she wouldn't be able to train here.
"He didn't mention anything about no girls, so you're in." Jackson said while walking toward the mini-market to buy some drinks.
…
In the Jeep, Jackson checked the time and asked: "Would you mind if we go to a friend's gym to greet him? But if you have something to do, I can take you wherever you want."
Devon didn't think much about it and said: "We can go. I'd like to know what kind of friends you have."
"Don't get your hopes up, I haven't talked to that friend in a long time…" Jackson thought about Ryan and couldn't help sweating cold.
If Jackson was reckless in fights, Ryan was reckless in life in general. He loved being the bad boy for everyone else, the kind of guy who uses his power to get everything he wants.
But as people say, having power sometimes brings serious consequences.
Jackson learned from Ryan that his family life was very complicated. Sometimes it was so bad that he was beaten.
"Don't fall for his jokes, he can be an idiot sometimes, but deep down he's a good person." Jackson knew that everyone had their problems, even someone like him.
That's why during these last few years he didn't stop to judge the people around him and only befriended those who could put up with him.
"Does he also fight?" Devon thought all of Jackson's friends were fighters.
Jackson nodded, looked in the rearview mirror to turn right, and said: "He mostly fights in illegal mixed martial arts tournaments, the best contact sport in our country."
"Have you fought?" Devon was quite interested in real-life contact sports. She loved movies, of course, but until now she hadn't had the chance to get this close to what really wasn't fiction.
"I've done it several times, but I'm in the process of quitting." Jackson parked the vehicle not far from the gym where Ryan trained.
When he got out, he didn't forget to send Ryan a message saying he was outside his gym.
Devon followed Jackson, quite curious; she had never been in a place like this, so she felt intrigued.
"Are you looking for Ryan?" A very tall man greeted Jackson, who knew him only by sight.
"He's waiting for me."
"He's not in a good mood."
Jackson knew his friend better, so he said: "He's always in a bad mood."