Traffic Lights {10}

Sweat droplets trickling down my chest, to my tummy, my arms rolling up into fists, clinging stronger… my body hits it harder, every time I scream louder… I kept punching and kicking the punching bag, releasing all the stress, all the anger, and all the fear, everything within me. I wiped my face with my towel, drank water like a beast then continued the next 3 hours of my day in the gym with Jo, my trainer. Lets rewind it back a few hours earlier, shall we?

Flashback

Jawaher darling, Jo is here!

Coming! I said, as I quickly got into my shorts and tied the strings together then put on my workout bra top.

Jay!

Hello. I kissed his cheeks and we walked into the gym. 

Firstly we started by warming up which consisted of 30 minutes boxing, then 3 sets of pushups 30 reps, sit ups 3 sets as well, bicycle crunch 3 sets and finally reverse crunch 3 sets. And then we officially began boxing and wrestling against each other in the ring; with boxing mouth-guards in our mouths and helmets on we began! Aibileen was in the back jogging on the treadmill listening to music while we unleashed our power and energy against each other.

The first few punches and kicks were all right, but then I knew I had to pin him down, all this work out isn’t going to waste. I punched his tummy, I kicked his arms and it went on. I ducked my face, avoiding his power punches; his arms flying in from all sides. I ducked, I guarded my face, I am not going to fall, and I won't let him knock me down. He was opened, he bounces left to right getting his balance back and I jumped in, serving him fast punches adding a few kicks here and there as a sprinkle on top then knocked him down. He got back up, pushing and punching, trying to throw me down. And he managed to knock me down with a kick on my knee, I fell, as I was about to get myself up he sat on top of me pinning me, I struggled to move. I had a few seconds left until I was officially going to lose against him, so locked my legs around him and rolled him over to the other side, forcing my body to be on top of his; pinning him to the ground. I pushed his face to the floor, and grabbed his arms tightly, securing them in place so he doesn’t move. He tapped his feet 3 times assuring me he gave up.

I removed my mouth guard. I let go of his hands, and he removed his mouth guard.

Damn Jay, that was amazing! You really did improve! These 3 hours highlighted my month. And your punches and kicks are much stronger, you're somehow more focused. 

Bravo! He said, whilst walking slowly towards us, clapping with a smile on his face. I got off of Jo and sat beside him. Blushing because I was sitting on top of Jo and because Yousef caught me off-guard. I wasn’t sure if he was being sarcastic or if he was really happy, it felt more of a sarcastic compliment.

Things were getting more and more awkward, and Jo felt the tension building up in the room so he excused himself and got into the bathroom and showered.

And that’s how things ended up, I said hello then went into my room and had a shower. I got dressed then sat down on the dining table beside Aibileen; Jo sat beside Yousef (double awkward, note to self: Work out earlier)

Jo this is Vladimir, Vladimir this is Jo. Vladimir, Jo is my trainer. I met him at the health and rehabilitation center here in Japan, he was my gym instructor and then we became really good friends.

Nice to meet you, I’m Jawaher’s friend.

Lunch passed by swiftly.

Thank you for the lunch, and Jawaher we should do it more often I really had fun today. Ps. I have to beat you up, I won’t let you win on me next time. He winked then got up and walked out.

Aibileen prepared some desserts and tea and we sat down together. Yousef sat down beside me and held a hand, Aibileen gave me a weird look and straightaway I knew she was going to lecture me about it, but I couldn’t control it. I can’t control my feelings towards Yousef and naturally whatever he does suddenly changes my mood; I feel calm and secure which is something I haven’t felt in a very long time…