After an hour or so of driving through the winding roads of Bedfordshire, I noticed the same Mercedes SLK trailing a couple of cars behind me. As the minutes passed, the roads became empty until I was left with only the Mercedes. The roads were deserted so I put on some speed, watching the speedometer rise, responding to my foot. The Mercedes, mimicking my actions, also increased its speed. Curious, I suddenly took a sharp left without indicating. Like I assumed, the SLK did the same. I was being followed.
I looked desperately at the petrol gauge. Another 3 miles and I’d have to refuel. I knew those roads well and was driving without hesitation, towards the closest petrol station. I turned into the garage, smoothly made my way to the far end and came to a halt. The Mercedes pulled up at the other side, the anonymous driver hidden by the tinted windows. I jumped out the car and started refuelling, the strong smell of petrol lingering in the air. After finishing, I walked across to the kiosk to pay my bill. When I turned around to return to my waiting car, I saw the door of the SLK open slowly and a figure clad in black confidently climbed out and faced me. Recognition dawned across my face as I realised that my stalker was also my rival; Cheung Sum.
“What the hell do you want?” I said in disgust as he swaggered towards me, his gait like that of a winner, not a loser. His confidence irritated me and the look of contempt on his small face grated my nerves and my fists automatically clenched.
“Do not be so rude, oh one with the pale skin. I merely want to talk with you. But it is inappropriate here. A mile down the road is a deserted warehouse. I will be waiting for you.” He turned and returned to his car, climbed in and softly closed the door. His leisurely manner slightly unnerved me, but I didn’t hesitate to run to my car and follow his directions. I sped down the narrow road frustrated and angry, but also curious. Like he promised, Cheung was waiting where he said he would be. I parked my car fifty metres away from his and took my time climbing out, imitating his earlier behaviour. I swaggered over to him, my hands in the pockets of my cream coloured chino’s, smirking slightly.
“Well? I’m here as you can see. Now what the hell do you want?” I stood opposite him and realised that I was only an inch or so taller than him. We were of the same weight range which is why we had to compete with each other at the tournament.
“Well, Daniel-San. I want a re-match.”
“What, one humiliation wasn’t enough for you?” I asked, smiling with pity.
* * *
Half an hour later, the “re-match” was over and Cheung was lying bruised on the gravel. I knew the following day would show the battering I received myself and my face was already beginning to swell. I limped over to my car and with difficulty, drove home. The roads were deserted as the hour was late, and I was in my small semi-detached house in Luton within twenty minutes. The house was quiet and I stealthily ran myself a hot bath and nursed my many bruises. Cheung was an excellent martial artist and had put up a good fight. However, I had been preparing for this tournament for a year and had trained unrelentingly every day, hours at a time. Natalie, my wife, was growing increasingly impatient with my dedication and we had many arguments about the amount of time I spent training. She felt that she came second to Win Chun and no matter how many times I tried to reassure her, my comforting words were to no avail. I lay in the heated water for hours after the water turned cold, contemplating on many things; Natalie…fighting…Cheung…life. I understood why Cheung had come after me. Although nobody witnessed our “re-match”, Cheung didn’t care about his reputation as the worst kind of loss was the lack of belief in oneself. If he had beaten me, he would have been able to live with his conscience, despite the fact that the Golden Dragon trophy had my name engraved on it and was sitting with its relatives in my trophy case. He had lost once again, his little revenge tactic backfiring and was no doubt feeling worse than he had after the tournament.
Natalie was acting more distant than ever that morning. Her eyes were bloodshot and her voice was clipped when she spoke to me. I noticed that she avoided my gaze and would look elsewhere when talking to me. After an icy breakfast, I tried talking to her but she ignored me and it wasn’t until I took her by the shoulders with my strong grip and made her face me she began to talk.
“Daniel, I can’t bear living like this anymore. All this is driving me crazy, you coming home at all hours, training as if it’s the only important thing in your life…” She stopped then and looked into my brown eyes, her own large, blue eyes filled with unshed tears.
“Honey, I’m sorry but I swear I’ll make it up to you. The tournament’s over now, and I’ll have more time…”
“How much more time, Daniel? What, a few weeks until you start training for the next event? God dammit Daniel, I can’t take it. I’m leaving.” I let go of her slight shoulders, shocked. She ran upstairs and in an hour, had packed. I remained standing in that same spot I had been standing when I tried to talk to her. My mind had gone blank and I felt all the blood drain out of my face. I looked down at my hands and saw them shaking, and they carried on even after I clenched my fists in a feeble attempt to make them stop. Without even saying goodbye, she left.
I can’t clearly remember what happened after that. All I remember is falling to the floor and crying until no more tears were left. I fell asleep on the kitchen floor.
A week passed in this manner. I never left the house. Instead, I lay in bed most of the day, thinking of Natalie and the three years we spent together. I finally ventured out the house in a bedraggled manner when I realised that I had no tinned food left. I went to the local Sainsbury’s in my creased jeans and an old, faded t-shirt I hadn’t worn since my university days. I was greeted by the sight of Cheung….and Natalie, holding hands as they giggled like teenagers and chose what to put in the trolley they were pushing. My head spinning, I staggered out the supermarket and almost fell into my car. I felt as though my legs could no longer support me and my head spun rapidly, making me dizzy. My only enemy with my only love.
When I managed to return home, all I could think about was the happiness in Natalie’s eyes as she stared into Cheung’s barely visible ones. It took months for the feeling of disorientation to wear off. I began training again, more than ever, as I had nothing left in my life to focus on. Various complex revenge ideas began to swirl around in my mind until I concocted the perfect plan.
One humid Saturday afternoon, I waited in Sensei Li Mu Bai’s academy, the heat causing little beads of sweat to form on my forehead. Saturdays were the most crowded and many people of all ages came for their lessons. Like I knew he would, I saw Cheung enter through the side entrance of the large building and make his way to the busiest class. Sensei Han was infamous for his tardiness and I knew he wouldn’t attend the class he was supposed to teach for at least another fifteen minutes. I ran nimbly to the large hall where many students had gathered on the straw mats. I spotted Cheung where I knew he would be, in the centre of the mass of eager faces. He saw me, but too late, for by the time he recognised me, my heel had made a sharp connection with his right temple. He was thrown off guard for only a second and he leapt back on his feet. The fight began. Adrenaline mixed with unrestrained rage pumped through my veins and I fought far harder than I had done in any tournament. I knew that the ultimate humiliation for Cheung would be losing to me for a third time, and this time in front of people whose opinions mattered to him. At one point, I miscalculated a kick and I ended up directing my energy at air. This was all Cheung needed and he ran at me, delivering a combination of well timed kicks. I was down on the straw mat and lay there, my head throbbing. Instead of embarrassment, he received glory. It was then I realised that some things in life are meant to be. Only God has the ability to hand out punishment. I was foolish and childish to attempt revenge.
