Chapter 8: Ozzy's hospitality
It has been 3 months already. After my fight, my name caught the attention of the audience so I started raking in more cash.
But I cannot stay like this forever, I need to find a way to have steadier source of income.
With little amount on my hand I wouldn't even be able to afford the travel to ICARUS, that place is pretty far from the country I am presently at.
I am currently staying with Ozzy in his humble house, I never thought I'd find someone so sincere and sweet like Ozzy in this shit hole of a place called Farendale town.
Ozzy showed me around the town and introduced me to some of his peers. Staying with him for months, I learned that he was known as the Australian menace back in the day when the Bob Koi cockpit was still an upstart illegal fighting arena.
As soon as I've settled down, Ozzy took me to a known expert at forgery. This man is called Phillip, and with the help of Ozzy, Phillip made me a fake governmental ID and VISA, as well as my own birth certificate.
What irked me was my name in my identifications. But I did not dare complain as Ozzy was doing it out of goodwill.
And now I'm officially and legally known as Amaru C. Sta.Maria.
Ozzy said it was because I looked like a Japanese-Mexican mix. So I explained to him and our conversation 3 months ago went like this.
"Amaru? Sta.Maria?
"Pretty cool right? It matches your appearance. Tell me Ocho, from what country are you actually from? Cause I'm pretty sure you're a mix of Japanese and Mexican."
'You should've asked me first before assuming my race and naming me'
"That's because I'm fucken' Filipino!"
"....you, you have a Filipino? What's your disease got to do with your nationality?"
"It's not a disease for fuck sake!
I. Am. A. Filipino. From. The Philippines."
"Yeah sure. You're name's cool though right?"
"Yeah I appreciate it, you shit stain."
Fast forward to the present. I've been studying bartending from the local bar, the bartender there were more than glad to teach about different mixes, after I negotiated with him with a little bit of unique threats here and there.
The reason for this was because I heard from Ozzy that ICARUS has 3 different entertainment districts with one whole city specially centered on entertainment.
This gave me the idea of easily finding job once I get there.
Add to that the opportunity to collect information from the customer and surrounding people, as well as the advantage of freely moving at night.
Because ICARUS is filled with so many law enforcement agencies and police. I could simply reason my night job if I were to be put on suspicion by the authorities.
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One thing I really like about Ozzy is that he cooks, so damn, great.
Even now, I'm eating a bunch of his home cooked dish like theres no tomorrow.
"Ocho. Hey, eat slowly you pig, and listen to me for a sec will ya...Ocho! You bastard I said listen to me."
"What? Chill out old man. I already know what you wanna say."
At first glance, it may look like we're arguing but believe me, this situation is pretty common and normal for us.
Ozzy smiled and chuckled when he heard my reply, but I knew that what he's feeling right now is far from delight.
"...Kid...I have cancer....stage 3."
I stopped eating and put down my fork and spoon. I always thought of why Ozzy, a great fighter, would suddenly quit being the menace of the cockpit, and instead became a staff of the Bob Koi cockpit.
And I always called him baldy whenever we banter.
That is until a week ago. As I was looking through Ozzy's stuff trying to find his stash of cigarettes. A paper fell down from one of his bag. It was the result of a lab test.
When I saw the diagnosis of his, I was surprised. Realizing that he had cancer, I did not feel sad or grief, but a huge part of me wanted to destroy everything around me at that moment. And I did.
When Ozzy got home that night, everything was broken but he did not get angry at me. Instead, he ordered me to prepare for a meal and said, "I'm sorry."
And now presently, silence prevailed in the surroundings as we stared at each others eyes.
I replied to him "I knew. Since last week."
"Yeah, that's why you broke the TV right? You didn't have to go that far you wanker."
"Sorry 'bout that"
"It's a'ight..... You said you're going to ICARUS right?"
I nodded at him, he then smiled at me and went to get something in his own cabinet and told me
"You're a bright kid, I don't know what turned you into a hell of a fighter but, I do know 'bout your soft side. Here take this."
He handed me a backpack. I looked inside and saw a credit card, spare clothes, and some notes, there's even a pouch that contains my fake ID, Birth certificate, and my other forged Identification papers.
"The credit card is named after you, and before you reject the money inside, think about your future first."
"....You..."
"What was that?"
"I said thank you...deaf bitch."
"Don't mind it. I've already contacted an acquaintance of mine. Says he can hook you up a ride to ICARUS through cargo ship. The ship leaves tomorrow night at 10pm, I'll give you the address later."
".....what about you?"
"The doctor gave me 2 months...."
"Then I'll-"
"Don't you dare tell me you'll stay. I have my pride kid. Our time together might be short, and I know you want to thank me. But, seriously, don't mind it kid, just follow your shit and be safe out there. I know full well you could survive out there on your own."
We have alway been conversing and talking shit about each other ever since I started living with Ozzy. But this is the first time that my genetically modified perfect brain could not utter a single reply back to Ozzy.
It felt like I was short circuiting as I cannot sense even an ounce of lie nor hidden meanings behind his actions.
Just pure sincerity from a stranger turned friend over a common ground.
Ozzy continued "After all, you are Ocho the next fucking menace...But if you want to thank me that much, then do it through your actions..."
I expected this, as it is only human to want something. And I know for myself that what ever it is that he'd request, I will gladly do it.
For my first friend.
"You see Ocho, I have a kid. About the same age as you. I never got to see the little one grow up because of.... You know...my wife."
Apparently, the parents of Ozzy's wife rejects the idea of him being with their daughter.
Almost to the point of murdering him when they found out they had a child.
"What's your brat got to do with your dying wish?" I said that emphatically while trying my best not to shed a tear, as doing so would only break Ozzy's heart some more.
"Well the brat's probably studying at ICARUS academy now, so, I went ahead and processed your enrollment, you're going to attend school kiddo, bet you didn't expect that didn't you?..."
There was a long pause before Ozzy continued.
"Please take care of my little one. ICARUS is not that big but I know the danger it possess....just keep an eye on the brat a'ight?"
I stood up from the table and approached the man who took care of me and cared for me all these times.
I know that the time we spent together was not that long, but he made me feel something I never knew I've always craved.
I stood before him and embraced him tightly. He reciprocated my gesture and now we're hugging it out with each other.
I thought to myself 'so this is what they mean about fatherly presence.'
After a few seconds I separated from him and told him
"Screw you. I'm taking your little one in front of you if we ever meet at school. Oh, and by the way, he's gonna piss through his mouth if he annoys me."
"Sure go ahead. I doubt that though. "He's"named Nicole by the way."
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