Fighter

By Tebogo Leballo

This is a story about a 26-year-old man named Storm Aguado, who was an underground cage fighter. He had a very rough childhood: his father was an alcoholic and he would come home drunk every night and hit his mother. Storm hated his father for what he was doing to his mother. The night his father killed his mother, Storm just snapped. He attacked and strangled him to death with his bare hands. He grew up in an orphanage where he met his three best friends. All those ordeals left deep emotional scars in him and he grew up dealing with a lot of challenges. He even had anger issues. People in the neighbourhood he grew up in judged him and lashed out at him when they found out what he had done and that added to his anger. He unintentionally developed an on and off switch for his emotions. He didn't even regret killing his father because he had killed the most precious person in his life, his mother. His emotional pain made him a stronger person. It made him a great fighter and he was able to make a living out of that.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tebogo Leballo
• Release date: Jan 12, 2021
• ISBN: 9781005235574

Book preview

Fighter

Tebogo Leballo

Copyright © 2020 Tebogo Leballo

Published by Tebogo Leballo Publishing at Smashwords

First edition 2020

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or any information storage or retrieval system without permission from the copyright holder.

The Author has made every effort to trace and acknowledge sources/resources/individuals. In the event that any images/information have been incorrectly attributed or credited, the Author will be pleased to rectify these omissions at the earliest opportunity.

Published by Tebogo Leballo using Reach Publishers’ services,

Edited by Susan Hall for Reach Publishers

Cover designed by Reach Publishers

P O Box 1384, Wandsbeck, South Africa, 3631

Website: www.reachpublishers.co.za

E-mail: [e-mail]

Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

The End

CHAPTER ONE

It was evening and Storm was standing on the balcony outside his bedroom without a shirt on just staring into space. He was deep in thought, his long hair blowing gently in the night breeze. He pushed it back with his hand and sighed heavily.

His bedroom door opened and one of his friends, Aiden, entered, came over to the balcony and stood next to him. He placed his hand on Storm’s shoulder and squeezed it a little, breaking him out of his train of thought. Are you okay, bro? he asked.

I can’t answer that, Aiden, Storm responded, still staring into space.

Maybe you should talk to someone about your issues, Storm.

Like a shrink?

Yeah.

The orphanage took me there when I was a kid, remember? It didn’t work at all because I’m still the same inside.

They were trying to help you, Storm.

That’s the problem, Aiden...I can’t be helped.

You are dealing with a lot, man, and you need help.

I am used to it, Storm said, looking at him with the usual stoic look on his face.

Aiden removed his hand from Storm’s shoulder and shook his head with a sigh. You have nightmares every single night. You have a lot of anger in you and most of the time you feel nothing at all. That’s not a healthy way to live and you know it.

The stoic look on his friend’s face made it hard for Aiden to tell what he was feeling and even though they’d been friends for years, he and the other two in their group didn’t quite understand him. The four guys lived together in a nine-room double-storey house, which had five bedrooms, each one with its own bathroom. The house also had a kitchen, a lounge, a dining room and an indoor gym.

Aiden patted Storm’s shoulder and walked out of his room leaving him to his thoughts. Storm’s phone beeped, indicating that he had received a text message. He took it out of his jeans pocket and checked it. It was Mrs Dale, the principal of the high school he’d attended years ago. She wanted him to come to the school in the morning so they could discuss something. Storm placed his phone back in his pocket after reading the text and typing a quick response, then he went back inside and lay on his bed.

The following morning Storm got up early. He went into his bathroom and took a shower. He then put on his clothes and tied his long black hair into a ponytail. He looked at himself in the mirror. His dark grey eyes showed a lack of sleep, but he just pushed this thought aside. He grabbed his things and left his room. He walked downstairs and out through the front door. He went over to his car, which was a black SUV, and got in; he then pulled out of the yard and drove off in the direction of the school.

He soon arrived at the school and parked his car in the parking lot. He then got out and headed to the school building. He received a lot of stares from the students, mostly from the girls who were standing around outside in groups. He entered the building and walked through the hallway, heading to the principal’s office. He still remembered where it was and soon found himself at the door, which he knocked on even though the door was open. Mrs Dale was seated on her chair working on some papers. On hearing the knock, she looked up at the door and smiled a little when she saw Storm. She motioned with her hand for him to enter, then she got up from her chair and went over to him. Hello, Storm, she said as she hugged him. You have grown into a fine young man.

Hello, Mrs Dale, Storm hugged her back and they pulled apart and stood back looking at each other appreciatively.

Mrs Dale went back to her chair and Storm sat down on the other one.

How are you, son? Mrs Dale smiled at him.

I’m good, Storm smiled back but his smile was a small one.

Let me get to the point, Storm, Mrs Dale said, taking off her glasses and placing them on her desk. I called you here today because I need you to be the new gym teacher.

Storm was stunned but he didn’t show it on his face. Instead, he just stared at his old principal in silence. Mrs Dale knew that Storm wasn’t good at expressing his feelings, but she could tell by his silence that he was stunned. I know it’s sudden, Storm, she said, but we need you.

Why me? Storm asked in his usual calm tone. I mean there has to be someone else.

No, Storm. I just thought of you.

I don’t think I can do it, Mrs Dale.

Yes you can, Storm. I know you are dealing with a lot but maybe this will be good for you.

Storm thought about it for a few minutes, then he nodded his head. Okay, Mrs Dale...I’ll do it.

Thank you, Mrs Dale smiled. When can you start?

Any time.

Today is a good day, Mrs Dale said and nodded decisively as put her glasses back on. She got up from her chair and reached out her hand towards Storm. Storm stood up too and took her outstretched hand.

Mrs Dale then took Storm to every classroom and introduced him to the students and the other teachers. She escorted him to his new office, where she left him and went back to hers. The office had a desk, several chairs and a few cabinets. It was clean and everything was in good condition. Storm sat down on his chair and looked at the timetable that Mrs Dale had given him.

Several hours later the lunch bell rang. Storm left his office and headed to the cafeteria, which he entered, going over to the tuck shop. He wasn’t really hungry, so he bought himself only a small bottle of juice. He turned around and looked for an empty table but found they were all full except for one, where only a single student was seated, a girl with long black hair. Storm stared at the teenager for a few moments. There was something about her that reminded Storm of his little sister Cassidy, who had been adopted 12 years ago. He went over to the girl’s table and took a seat on the empty chair opposite her. The girl was looking down at her food but she lifted her face when she heard the noise Storm made as he scraped back the chair and sat down. She took one look at him and then looked around the cafeteria. A lot of students were looking her way. She then looked back at Storm and found him staring at her. Storm couldn’t believe it: the girl’s eyes were brown just like his little sister’s. He snapped out of his train of thought a few seconds later and sighed.

You can’t sit here, said the girl urgently. Look around...they are staring.

All the tables are full, kid...that’s why I am sitting here.

The girl shook her head, with a very nervous look on her face. Then I’ll go.

No, Storm took a sip of his juice. There is no problem with us sharing this table.

They seem to think it’s a problem, the girl said, looking at the students and then back at Storm. I should go.

Kid, just relax and stop worrying about them, Storm said. He closed his juice and placed the bottle on the table.

The girl didn’t move from her seat; she just stared at the table and she sighed. Storm took out his phone from his jeans pocket and checked if he had any messages. After reading his messages, he placed the phone back in his pocket. He looked at the girl and he noticed that she wasn’t eating at all. Hey...why aren’t you eating? he asked.

I’m not hungry, the girl responded without even looking at him.

Storm looked at her arms and he saw cuts. They were still red, which meant they were fresh. He gently took the girl’s arm and closely examined the cuts; he then looked at her. The girl pulled her arm away from him and stared at him with tears in her eyes.

Are you cutting yourself, kid? Storm asked her.

The girl just stood up from her chair and ran out of the cafeteria in tears. Storm couldn’t believe that the kid was actually cutting herself. Someone tapped him on his shoulder, breaking his train of thought. Three girls sat down on the chairs in front of him and stared at him. Storm was puzzled but he didn’t show it on his face as he looked at the three girls. Can I help you three?

My name is Stacy, said one of them. I came here to give you some friendly advice.

Advice on what?

Advice about that girl.

I don’t need your advice.

That girl is trouble and most students here avoid her.

Listen here..., Storm said, beginning to feel irritated. You cannot come here and tell me what to do.

That girl is messed up, said Stacy. Her sister is a drug addict and her sister’s boyfriend is a known criminal and murderer.

So, you judge her based on the people she lives with?

Yes. If she lives with them, she is like them.

Are you listening to yourself? This is crazy. I am not going to sit here and listen to this nonsense.

Please listen to me, begged Stacy.

Storm stood up from the chair and walked out of the cafeteria.

Man, he is so gorgeous, said Camille looking at his receding back. I like his long hair.

Yeah, said Laura.

I want him, said Stacy, staring into space. He looks like one of those models you find in magazines. I could just stare into those dark grey eyes of his forever.

Storm was sitting in his office thinking about the girl in the cafeteria, the one who reminded him of his little sister. He was worried about her and he wanted to help. He pulled out his wallet and opened it. From it he pulled out a picture of his little sister Cassidy. She was four at the time the picture was taken. Storm had spent years searching for her after leaving the orphanage with his three friends at the age of 17. He looked for the family that had adopted her, but he found nothing. He was starting to think that he would never find her but seeing the girl in the cafeteria brought back memories and the urge to carry on looking for her.

The day went on more quickly than he’d expected and soon the final bell rang. Storm grabbed his things and left his office. He walked through the hallway out on his way to his car, but he stopped in his tracks when he heard a whimpering sound coming from the restrooms. The sound came from the girls’ restroom. He knocked first but there was no response and so he slowly opened the door. He rushed in when he saw the girl from the cafeteria lying on the floor crying. Storm knelt down beside her and placed his hand on her arm.

Hey kid...what happened? he asked gently.

The girl wiped away her tears and looked up at him. She began panting as she struggled to get up. Storm stood up and tried to help her get to her feet, but the girl shook her head, saying: No, I’m fine.

Who did this to you, kid? Storm asked her.

The girl just kept quiet as she limped out of the restroom door with her hand on her stomach. Storm followed her out and stood in front of her. Placing his hand on her shoulder, he stopped her in her tracks. He examined her and saw that she had a bruise on her hand and a small cut on her bottom lip. Storm was worried so he decided to help her.

Kid, let me take you to the school nurse, he suggested.

No, I’ll be fine, she answered.

Kid, you are going to the school nurse, okay? Don’t make me carry you there.

The girl nodded her head with a sigh and allowed Storm to help her to the school nurse’s office. The nurse let them in, and Storm helped the girl onto the bed. He then sat on the chair and watched as the nurse examined her. The nurse examined her lip and she shook her head with a sigh.

I want to look at your stomach, sweetheart, she said. Can I?

The girl looked to the side for a few seconds. She did want the nurse to examine her stomach, but she didn’t want Storm to see her bruises and she also didn’t want to seem rude by telling him to go outside. She looked back at the nurse and nodded her head. The nurse unbuttoned her school shirt and she slipped it off leaving her in her bra. The girl felt self-conscious so she looked down. Storm stared at the dark bruises on her stomach and he could see that someone was hitting her. The nurse stared at her in concern.

Who is doing this to you, Cassidy? she asked.

The girl’s name made Storm gasp in shock. Your name is Cassidy?

The girl looked at him and nodded her head. Storm couldn’t believe it. He closed his eyes for a minute as the information sank in; he then opened them and looked at the girl once again.

If you don’t mind me asking...when is your birth date? he asked her.

Cassidy stared at him in confusion. She didn’t understand why Storm was suddenly interested in knowing about her.

Please tell me, Cassidy.

Fine, Cassidy sighed. It’s on the 19th of July.

Storm felt as if his head was spinning as he took in what Cassidy had just said. The nurse and Cassidy were surprised by his reaction. The nurse went up to him and placed her hand on his shoulder.

What’s wrong, son? she asked.

Storm looked at her and sighed. Excuse me, he said, standing up from the chair. "I need some air.

Cassidy, I will be waiting by my car so