Chapter 18: Lost In Her Eyes
The day has come for Ma Ri’s ultimate test- the challenge that will decide whether she’ll join the undercover task or not. Everything is taken care of by Detective Pyo and his men, the fighting hall in a local martial arts club was reserved and on my way inside the two-storey building, I haven’t seen any soul wandering inside as I proceed to the dojo. It’s nine in the morning.
A dojo tatami mats are already spread on the floor in the center of the room. Yeong Ho is lifting a water dispenser which he stations at the right corner, while Jun Ki is placing cushions on the sides. Detective Pyo is in his usual commanding stance, with his hands crossed in front of him.
They all saluted when they see me and I return the favor. In contrast to my black men's workout clothes over quick-dry running training sports fitness pants suit, they are all wearing their usual casual wear. A clear message that they don’t have any intention to join the challenge.
Just like what Detective Pyo insinuated in our call yesterday.....
“Hello, yes, Detective Ri,” Ji Soo’s unusual North Korean accent greeted me on the other line.
“Sorry to disturb you at this time, Detective, but I want you to prepare a place for Ma Ri’s test tomorrow. A gym or a dojo.”
“Test? Wait... you’re allowing Ma Ri to join the undercover? Oh, ye-”
“I did not say that...” I interrupted, not allowing him to make conclusions.
“Oh... well, but what is the test for?”
The ecstatic tone of his voice disappeared, I continued: “-well... it depends on her performance tomorrow. So prepare your men.”
A gasp on the other line confirmed what Ma Ri had said, “Detective Ri, the truth is... we have already put Ma Ri under a test. My men are injured. If you are going to proceed with the plan, I guess you have to fight Ma Ri yourself.”
No guessing, seeing them nonchalant today, it's clear as the day...
Sighing from the inevitability of the moment, my eyes wander around to find Ma Ri. She is still not around though.
“Where is Ma Ri?” I ask, putting my hands on my hips. She left early once again, leaving a note that she went for an early morning exercise and will meet me here.
“She’s in the lockers,” Yeong Ho answers, then his eyes lit up suddenly, “Oh, she’s here!”
His gaze is transfixed to the glass door. I turn my body in its direction and at that moment, the door opens, Ji Sook walks in while spreading the doors wide. Following him, a few paces behind is Ma Ri.
I don’t know if it’s the trick of light coming from the long windows or of the opened door, that when Ma Ri comes in, she is covered by an indistinguishable glow. Like as if a theatrical technician put her under the spotlight. The beam of light following her as she walks inside.
And, did the world grow still? From raising her arms to tighten her hair to bringing it down to her sides, her movements seem to me in slow motion. So slow that I can see her hair stops mid-air until it fell down, her hair swaying as she walks, so slow that the blink of her eyes was like soft flutters; so slow that her body moves in a so delicate way in her gray sports tank top and high waist leggings.
My hands fall down to my sides at once from the sight, and I realize that it’s not the world that stopped still, it turns out that it is me.
“Detective Ri... Detective Ri?”
The voice breaks my trance and brings me back to my senses. ‘Ma Ri did not go for a morning exercise today, I’m sure she went to a shaman to enchant me!’ I clear my throat and turn to Detective Pyo.
“Ma Ri’s here, Detective Ri. Shall we start now?” he asks. I hope he did not see the change in my eyes the moment Ma Ri entered the room.
I simply nod, still recovering from my unexpected reaction. With Detective Pyo’s signal, Ma Ri walks inside the tatami mats looking so ready and confident. The smirk on her face and the arrogant expression on her face gives me the motivation to subdue her today... as quickly as possible!
She puts on a black wrist support gloves as she inches closer to the center. I walk inside and stop paces in front of her. Towering her, she pushes her chest out, chin up, and, shoulders back to look unfazed. She replies to my gaze with a domineering stare and waits.
“Ano magtititigan na lang ba tayo dito?”* she suddenly mutters, looking impatient from my silence.
“The rule is you have to bring me down,” I manage to say.
I hear the other detectives gasp in their place, glancing at each other.
“Oh-uh,” Detective Pyo mouths.
“Why, Sir?” Yeong Ho asks.
“Detective Ri is called the ‘unbeatable’ back in Seoul.”
“Huh?” Ji Sook asks in a worried voice.
“That means... no one has ever beaten him.”
I nod inside in agreement, why of course! I will not suggest this idea if I have the chance to get defeated. The main point here is not allowing Ma Ri to join the undercover in a way she will acknowledge. And, this is the only way.
“You have 20 minutes to bring me down. If you can do that, you’re in, if not, forget that this even happened,” I say strictly.
“Why? Can’t you fight all day? Ah, such a weakling.” She pushes her shoulders back outward mockingly.
“And- Since you are a woman, I will just let you attack me and I’ll defend,” I continue, ignoring her insulting remark.
“Tch! Not just a weakling but a scared cat too,” she murmurs mockingly. If this is an argument, she could have won already with her sassiness.
“Now, do you have anything to say or any rule to add?”
She gazes at me and I can see a strong resolve inside her, “Don’t go easy on me.”
Even though I cannot assure that, I nod to appease her.
“Sure,” I reply, and just right after that the timer beeps and without much further ado, Ma Ri runs to me and delivers a kick straight away. Her kick is indeed powerful, I can feel the force in the hands that I used to block it. She steps back after her unsuccessful attack, sizing me.
Scoffing shortly, she launches forward again to land an attack. I block her first swing and duck under the second. We move across the middle of the room, her attacking while I defend. I stand rooted in my position, moving in my place if necessary to avoid her hits. I have to admit that Ma Ri is really good, she delivers clean punches and kicks. Now I understand what Detective Pyo and his men mean.
To an observer, our movements would appear like a rhythmic dance, both not losing each balance, nor even close to tumbling. She wastes no motion, her swings and turns are all designed to roll naturally into the next. My body jerks befittingly from one direction to the other, in response to the curves and lines of each attack.
After a long action, she distances herself to catch her breath momentarily. I have to admit that it gives me relief as I can rest as well. Sweat formed in our faces and neck. But the time is ticking, she glances at the clock, her brows narrowing.
“Last three minutes!” Detective Pyo yells.
She lunges forward instantly, she throws a fist and I dodge them one by one. Seeing the futility of her attack, she counters by delivering a blow against my abdomen which I easily evade. She strikes me again, only for me to catch her fist, and turning her around in a quick grip. Her back presses against my chest, while I imprison her in my arms.
“Surrender now,” I whisper to her.
“You wish!” she snarls.
She lands a sharp elbow on my left rib and as I duck from the hit, she turns around trying to escape from my grasp. But I’ve held her tightly enough, slamming her back to me one more time.
‘One minute.’
Not missing an opportunity, she puts her right leg under my thighs and curls it to my right leg. Planning to twist it and shift our stance. But I am no amateur to not know this, I have immediately raised my leg, making her push to nothing. She must have put a lot of pressure on it that she loses her balance and slides.
I quickly catch her before she falls down. My arm supports her under her back while one clutching her waist. It’s like an ending pose for a couple dance and I am hypnotized by her eyes.
Her eye smile.
When her expression softens from a female warrior to a damsel in distress in my eyes.
Pounding hard, my heart suddenly races at a speed I cannot catch. Transfixed on her beautiful face, a strange feeling engulfs me. And then the world seems to grow still again, her face slowly lifts closer to mine and when it has about to reach a certain proximity that is dangerous enough, she suddenly kicks upwards, her knee hitting my jaw. Waking me up from my delusion.
Ma Ri takes the opportunity to jump on me with all her strength, knocking me flat on the ground. My back slams on the mat, a surprising thud that makes the woman below me smiles in triumph.
“Unbeatable? Heh, then I’m invincible,” she remarks with a smirk. Her face is so close to mine, that her erratic breathing sounds no where like insulting but sexy.
Then she slowly gets up away from me with a smug expression on her face.
“Now... when am I going to start?”
Author's note:
“Ano magtititigan na lang ba tayo dito?” - "So, are we just going to stare at each other?"
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone