THE MATCH

I braced myself and looked into my opponent's murderous eyes. He swift his head from side to side and from his stance, it showed he will break me into half. He was twice huge, I barely reach on his shoulder. If you remember the story of David and Goliath, that's exactly what we looked like. I looked like an ant compared to him. People surrending us looked at me with pity eyes, I know what must be going on in their heads.

They would be probably asking or wondering how I would survive this match. Remind me again, how did I get myself into this mess? It started when Tae Joon signed me up into wrestling contests, been wondering why.

During my childhood days...yes I'm now a grown up. I have grown into a man but I don't feel like that. I don't feel that way. At the age of 22, I still don't understand the rules of life and what it wants from me. Also I have been having this strange dreams of me in a different body. Sometimes it does feel real and most times I do find myself in the woods covered in blood.

One day Tae Joon found me in the woods in the middle of the night. I was lying half conscious on the ground, didn't know how I got there but I didn't care. I was covered in blood and he thought I was dead. He saw a dead antelope beside me, blood oozing out of its not neck and belly. And it was half eaten too.

"Jin, Jin," I heard someone call me. With half closed eyes, I stared at the half shaped moon and the stars twinkling in the skies. I laid almost lifeless on the ground, it felt as though something took over my body. I couldn't feel myself anymore, my real being. I know the Jin lying on the grasses wasn't the Jin I used to be. I have never eaten an animal alive, I have always cook or roast them but here beside me was a dead antelope.

I'm yet to understand how I killed that antelope without any arrow or catapult. I don't know but I feel some changes manifesting in me. One will think I'm crazy if they happened to see me here in the middle of the night. Every night I feel the woods calling out for me, I feel a strange being is wanting me out there. I have always tried to restrict myself for I know what would happen if I take a step towards that direction but the pressure was too much. I couldn't withstand it.

I know something is taking over my body but don't know what it is. It all started when I was eight years old. I can't seem to control myself at the sight of blood or an exposed skin. All I wanted was to dig into these skins and satisfy myself. At most times I was afraid of my being, I was afraid of what was taking possession in me. I tried to take my life in most cases cause I was afraid of the danger I might cause to humanity but all was in vain and most times Tae Joon do stop me.

But I couldn't bring myself to tell him what was going on with me, I was afraid to loose the only one who cared for me, who saw me for me. Who never gave up on me, who would give up his life to save mine. Sometimes I do feel there's a deity out there watching my whole existence.

I closed my eyes, listening to Tae Joon's footsteps approach me. I had to pretend and if he asks, I'm going tell him I was attacked by this antelope. But antelope are harmless.

"Jin, Jin." He called and rushed towards me, he knelt beside me and shook me several times until it feels as though my soul was leaving my body. "What happened to you bro?" I heard the worry in his voice and I was moved by it.

I groaned lowly and gently sat up. I opened my eyes and met his worried gaze but curious eyes. "What happened to you? Why are you out here in the middle of the night? And why are...…" his eyes descended to my blood soaked clothes. "Why are you soaked in blood?"

I feel the agitation building up in him, I had to cook up some some lies and feed him. I scratched my neck. "I.…I.…." I tried to fabricate some lies to tell him but nothing was coming to my head. I myself couldn't understand myself anymore. "I decided to take a walk in the woods."

"In the middle of the night?" He peered closely at me, his eyes filled with doubts. "You could have gone in the day time."

"I miss grandma and I find peace of mind when I'm in the woods." I explained and laid back on the ground, gazing at the stars.

Tae Joon's eyes descended on my blood soaked clothes and I already knew what was going on in his head. "You're covered in blood, what happened to you?"

"I was attacked by some wild animal which was after this antelope," I raised my hand and pointed at the antelope.

I turned my head to look at him and his eyes were already ten times big, pupils bulging out of their sockets. I could see the fear and worry in those eyes of him and in some way they comforted me. For the last two years since grandma passed on, no one has ever looked at me with those eyes.

"Are you okay?" He jerked me up, checking my body to know if I sustained any injury. "Jin, you shouldn't be out by this time of the night!" He scolded me like grandma. "You're a kid for heaven's sake, what if something happened to you?"

"Do you want to give me a heart attack?" I shook my head as a little smile appeared on my lips. "You're the only family I have and I can't afford to loose you."

"You won't loose me," I patted his shoulder. "I can always look out for myself."

"Then don't leave for anywhere without informing me."

"But how did you I will be here?"

"This place is like your safe zone, your secret hideout so of course I know you would be here." I smiled. "We need to go home and you need to change your clothes."

Back to the present, the match was taking place along the Hyeongsan river. People gathered round waiting for the one who win the money. Kinda a gamble but with human beings. It's kinda a livelihood for me, the only way I can survive this cruel world.

My opponent and I circled each other, waiting or kind of aiming for the right time to strike. My opponent scowled at me, killing me ten times with his burning gaze. He did some gestures and said whatever he wanted to say...on how to break me into half.

Okay I get it, I look little with a tiny body but how sure is he he was gonna defeat me? I mean they should never underestimate me.

Tae Joon signed me up for this, cause according to him he said I possess extraordinary powers. He said I can use my strength for a good cause, I didn't get where he was going to with his words but I'm sure I myself I am startled at the kind of strength I possess.

The referee or more like the organiser of this match signaled for the match to begin. I stared at my opponent bloodshot eyes, trying to figure his weak point. I wasn't going to throw the first punch either. My opponent advanced towards me and threw a punch my way but I dodged it.

He threw another one, I dodged it too. The crowd were cheering him completely ignoring me. Tae Joon and a few people cheered me up.

"I don't think he can make it," I heard someone said in the crowd.

"I feel this match is going be so fun and bloody." I heard another voice say in the crowd. "He might probably end up like his grandmother."

"Let's watch, the show is getting interesting." I heard them laugh.

My heart ached at those words. Why do people of this village always belittle me? Why do they feel the need to rub my cursed existence on my face? I was so lost in my thoughts that I didn't notice the punch coming my way.

Before I could retaliate, it was already too late. My opponent's fist landed on my left cheek, I stumbled backwards. I heard an o from the crowd, though I can't make out Tae Joon's face now but I know he's worried.

I saw the triumphant smirk on my opponent's face. He made an advance to grab me, kinda pick me up like I'm some trash. I flipped away from him to the astonishment of the crowd. This is one of the best wrestlers Yangdong village ever had or more like the only best Yangdong village ever had. Anyone who tries to challenge him goes home half dead.

Remind me again, how and why did I sign up for this? I'm only doing this for the money not because I enjoy doing it.

I threw a fist at him and knocked out blood from his nose. I was stunned even the crowd were stunned too. I mean how could a little punch of mine have so much effect? I didn't care but I was happy at that sight.

My opponent touched his nose and noticed the blood oozing out. He riled up the more and charge towards me. This time he succeeded in picking me up ready to drop me with full force but I grabbed his leg too and gave him a bite of his life on his arm.

He wailed and dropped me. I could sense the anger in him multiplying. He lurched forward to grab me but I slide under his parted legs, knocking him off the ground.

But first he succeeded in knocking out blood from the corner of my mouth before he reached the ground. At the sight of the blood coming out of his nose, my breath quickened. I felt my insides burning, whatever that's taking possession of me is doing it again. I tried to suppress the hunger rising in me at that sight.

I stared at the blood and skin of my opponent, willing myself to refrain from the temptation when Tae Joon's victory voice brought me out of my turmoil. He rushed to me and gave me a hearty hug, he even tried to lift me but I guess I was heavy for him.

"Yes!!!" He hugged me so tight. "I know you will never disappoint me. I'm so so proud of you."

He released me and stared at me, I smiled at him. "This calls for celebration.…. defeating Yangdong best wrestler."

He twirled me so much I can't seem to feel my body anymore.

"Enjoy it while you can, this isn't the last." Some guy said approaching us.

He's the kid who named me bunny ears, I wonder what he has against me. What wrong have I ever done to him?

"Don't give ear to his words, he's jealous. Tae Joon prompted. You did a good job." I watch him and his crew leave.

We should go have some drinks to celebrate your victory, Tae Joon added. I followed him out to a popular cavern. We took our seats on vacant table near the window.

The place was bustling with people doing their businesses. Some were gambling, others were chatting away their time and other social activities. Tae Joon ordered some drinks for us, I faced my table waiting for our orders to arrive.

There were a bunch of gamblers near us, enclosing a table. They were playing Jenga game where a tower is built with bricks and each player takes turn to remove the bricks with the bricks crumbling down.