I opened my mouth, realized, I had nothing to say, and quickly closed it.
No matter. Liz had apparently decided to do all the talking. “And now you’re pink. I guess you two know each other.”
Silently, I pulled off my yoga pants, folded them, and set them on the vanity before I pulled on the pants DeSean had given me. I hesitated for a moment, torn between leaving my shirt on and removing it. I eyed Liz, saw the gaps, and left my shirt on while I slid my arms into the uniform jacket. After I tied the inside strings, I held the white belt in both hands and stared at it a moment. Part of me wanted to run. Seeing him with his wife and daughter was too much, but I also needed to see what would happen next; even if it was bad, it couldn’t be worse than the pain of never knowing. Taking a deep breath, I looked at Liz. “Okay, so how do I do this?”
Minutes later we were out on the mats standing in lines based first on the color of our belt, and then height. I was in the very last row in between Liz and the girl I believed to be Necie. Though he stood at the front of the class, I’d swear the majority of D’s focus was on me.
“Time to warm up,” D began. “Ready stance!”
Everyone around me snapped into a position I knew nothing about. As he spoke, D made his way to me. “Feet shoulder width apart. Knees and arms slightly bent. Fists at the ready.”
I quickly moved my body into the position he described, modeled by those around me. I glanced at Liz and she silently nodded her approval. To my left, the girl was finding her footing in the stance. My brow furrowed, since I would’ve expected him to work with her more. She should be more advanced.
D nodded at me as he continued to wander closer. “Now fighting stance.”
I watched Liz, and quickly turned my body to the side, stepped back with my foot, and moved my left fist in front of me, the right near my cheek and ear. Again, D nodded at me and I could feel myself relaxing some.
“Jabs. Count of ten. Ready. Go.” Then he started counting in what I imagine was Korean.
By now he was behind me and it took everything in me to be able to concentrate. Breathing as I punched, I soon felt his hands on my waist, turning me slightly. His foot adjusted my foot, and then he was behind me, his chest pressed into my back.
“Breathe through the punches, Tegyn,” he murmured in my ear.
Tingles raced through my body and I wished everyone else would disappear already. This was going to be the longest hour of my life. “You’re not making it easy,” I grumbled.
His laugh tickled my ear. “Baby, you can do anything you put your mind to. Always could.” Then he winked at me and moved over to the girl.
“Hey, Necie. Never stick your thumb in your fist. Best way I know to break it.” He smiled at her.
“Thank you, Uncle DeSean,” she whispered loudly.
My eyes widened. My heart raced. When I glanced his way, I knew he’d seen my reaction from the smirk on his face. I scanned the room and found the woman in the chairs who’d come in with Necie. That would make Arionna his sister. And suddenly, I didn’t feel quite so sad.
In fact, I survived the class before I even realized it.
“I’ll see you next week, right?” Liz questioned. I could read the concern in her face.
“Sure.” I shrugged. “I won’t let you be the only adult,” I teased.
Liz grinned. “See you then!” And she made her way out of the building with the rest of the throng.
I wandered over to the cubby at the back of the gym where I’d left my clothes, wondering if I should change before I go, or just take off. I didn’t have to go anywhere but home. So, I made my way to the bench and sat to put on my socks and shoes.
D came over and sat beside me. The only people still around were his sister and her daughter. Again, Arionna’s brows rose when she saw him near me. “I’ll meet you in the car. I need to lock up.”
“Right.” She pursed her lips in disapproval. “Who’s this?”
I swallowed hard. And this was only his sister. I could only imagine how the rest of his family might react to me.
“This is Tegyn.” He stared at her evenly from beside me before finally caving and giving her an explanation. “She’s the travel agent who helped me with your tickets.”
Her head tilted. “Right. Just a travel agent.” Her nostrils flared. “We’ll be in the car. Come on, Necie.”
The girl smiled and gave me a slight wave as she exited the building.
When we were alone, D looked me over. “You haven’t changed a bit,” he noted.
I opened my mouth to protest. “I might look the same, but inside I’m nothing like the woman you used to know.” My chin jutted out proudly.