Exiting the shop and stepping off the sidewalk, Eugene's heel caught the ledge—nearly making him stumble as the bag of groceries almost toppled out of his arms. Straining his back to catch himself, he let out a deep breath as he regained his balance. The sound of the bakeshop door opening and closing, resounded behind him.
Feeling a piercing gaze on his back, he could almost imagine those sharp grey eyes that glowed with an amethyst hue.
He didn't dare to turn and look, instead hurriedly made his way back to Second Street through a different route.
Walking into the alley, he felt the piercing gaze disappear along with the echoing sound of heels striking pavement. Only then did Eugene realize that his back was slick and his shirt was drenched with cold sweat. This entire afternoon had been too much for him to make heads or tails.
Recalling the events that had taken place he couldn't help but feel as though today was one unlucky encounter after the other. As soon as he exited the apartment, he had the misfortune of encountering the local hooligans, right after which he almost got side swept by a passing motorist, and then after that he just had an inexplainable interaction with what he can only describe as a 'magical creature'.
Frankly he still wasn't entirely sure if that cat was real, if that was even a cat, or if he just hallucinated in the kitchen floor of his Uncle Jun's bakeshop.
Shaking his head, Eugene took a deep breath to steady himself and clear his thoughts. His head still felt muddled. Taking out his phone and turning on the screen. He glanced at the time.
5:21 PM
It's still early, but I'm already tired...I really don't like going out for too long. Maybe that's why I'm hallucinating, I'm probably just exhausted from the lack of sleep. Yeah...I should get home and rest.
With a click, the phone's screen turned off and was put away. The sound of his footsteps began anew as he decided to make his way home.
This alley, like the previous one, was surprisingly very quiet today. Usually, on afternoons he would see students passing through on their way home. Now, not a sound could be heard. The silence was enough for Eugene to hear his own heartbeat. Not paying it too much attention, Eugene listened to the sound of his steps reverberating within the alley.
That's when he noticed that a second set of footsteps joined his own, then another, and then another. Until a handful footfalls began to follow him quietly.
Not stopping, Eugene felt the temperature in his surroundings seemingly drop as a tension began building up within his body. His heartbeat gradually slowed to a crawl, his breathing became deeper and more purposeful. Maintaining his pace as he walked, he took his phone out once more and swiped left and right a few times, to speed dial a certain number.
After doing so, he put away his phone once again, and a man wearing a stained tank top emerged from behind a large garbage bin a few meters ahead. In his hand was a piece of thick rebar which he smacked his empty hand with, in an intimidating way. Though Eugene thought that his face was already doing a good job at intimidation.
Seeing this, Eugene walked towards his far left and placed the bag of groceries against the wall.
As he did so, he turned to look behind him at the group of hooligans that to his surprise, had successfully tailed him while avoiding his notice. Breathing out of his nose, he realized that he had been so distracted with all the things that happened today, that he'd forgotten to stay aware of his surroundings.
Five...no Six, Six people against one person? The cowards—are they really fucking ganging up on one person?!?
Screaming internally, Eugene's eyebrow twitched with annoyance.
As the tension in the atmosphere continued to rise, one of the hooligans cracked a dirty smile while eyeing Eugene. This hooligan, the one who called him a freak just as he exited his apartment, was holding a bat with nails hammered into its body. Brandishing it as he spoke, he pointed it towards Eugene.
"You should be more respectful to your neighbours Eugene! I was talking to you earlier, but you didn't even bother paying attention to what I had to say! You really hurt my feelings kid...shouldn't you apologize?" That tallest hooligan took a step forward while cracking his knuckles. Slipping his hand into his pockets, he pulled out a pair of brass knuckles which he slid unto his fingers.
"I don't think I disrespected you in any way, if anything you could say that I was just returning the favor. What kind of respectful person would call another person 'a freak'? I mean...come on, I know you're uneducated, can barely keep a job, and have terrible hygiene but you at least have a brain to tell right from wrong, am I right?"
Spitting out a foul insult, Eugene sneered as he stood there. Severely outnumbered, he knew that running and trying to escape wouldn't make things any better for him. The one blocking his path was going to be problem if he tried to bolt.
Fighting was the only choice. Well, not that it was much of a choice. Feeling the stinging sensation on his skinned knuckles, he regretted the irrational outburst that he had earlier. If his fists weren't injured as they were, Eugene would've felt a bit more confident attempting to defend himself.
I can't complain now...shit I really wish I had more sleep earlier...
"This cheeky fucker...what are you all waiting for?!? Get his ass!!" The head hooligan waved his bat in the air, and his goons swarmed towards Eugene.
Eugene's thoughts slowed down as the tension in the air finally snapped. He felt his heart pounding in his chest, the sound of rushing blood filled his ears. Meeting his first attacker head on, Eugene side stepped, and a metal pipe descended from above.
Planting his feet firmly in the ground, he delivered a swift kidney shot from the hip that connected cleanly, making the man curl up in pain and fell to one knee. Before he could celebrate however, a rush of air resounded as a wooden stick struck Eugene in the shoulder, inflicting a throbbing injury.
Fuck! From the back?! Really, you fucking—
Gritting his teeth, Eugene whirled around to catch the second swing with his hand. The force behind the stick transferred into his palms, and stretched the skin of his knuckles sent sharp stinging pain to his wounds. Seeing his hands falter, the goon successfully retrieved his weapon and aimed for another overhead strike.
This time, opting to dodge the strike. Eugene lunged forward closing the distance, twisting his body from the waist up. Eat this! You filthy fucking casual! an uppercut that connected cleanly with the mans jaw sent the goon reeling backwards and falling to a heap on the floor. Knocked out cold, his hands lost grip of the wooden stick, sending it flying through the air.
Stepping back, Eugene caught the wooden stick in his right hand and delivered a swift but heavy strike to the man on his knees, completely knocking him down.
Once more, another blow connected. Only that it was Eugene on the receiving end.
Feeling a dull pain in his lower back, he was forced to stumble forward. The pain momentarily incapacitating him as he struggled to endure the pain. Straining himself, Eugene straightened his back as turned around, with the wooden baton in hand.
With two of the goons out of commission. He now had a better fighting chance. However there was one problem. As Eugene raised his arms, he felt his knees buckle.
S—shit...I can't keep this up..my body feels heavier!
Feeling the strain as his muscles began to throb. His lungs burning from the exertion. Eugene leaned back against the wall. Trying his best to keep himself upright.
With three of the men surrounding him from all sides, the leader now stood in the back, his bat held over his shoulder. A disgusting sneer plastered on his face.
"Hey there, Gege...you seem to be having, eehh, some performance issues if you know what I mean? Getting tired? Need a break? No bell to end the round unfortunately..."
Another round of snickers erupted. Tapping the bat against the ground. The ring leading hooligan chuckled. He watched as Eugene's legs trembled every so often as he tried to remain standing, but ultimately having to lean back against the wall. He struggled to keep his mouth from grinning that disgusting grin, but immediately stopped when he heard the sound of Eugene's laughter.
"HAHAHAHAHAHA-Ahhh, shit...I didn't think you'd be smart enough to gang up on me...considering, your brain isn't really built for thinking. Or was it not your idea in the first place? Either way, you're real fucking unlucky you know? and you wanna know why?"
A grin stretched across his face as Eugene spoke to the goons surrounding him.
"Maybe it's because...I haven't been around as often as I used to be, but I think you fuckers are forgetting something that's a bit important about me you know?" Eugene stopped himself from speaking too much, as a pain erupted in his shoulder.
"Fuck, my shoulder—I'll tell you what, you really got me good earlier, but let's finish this already. I'm tired and...I still have class tomorrow"
Stretching his shoulder and pushing back against the wall. He stood up and puffed his chest out. Holding the wooden stick/baton in his right hand, he raised it level to his ear.
"Oh, and one last thing...what's that?" Eugene pointed to his right.
Turning to his left to look, one of the goons glanced to follow Eugene's finger...before being covered by a huge shadow and being punched in the back of the head with a fist half the size of his skull.
The leader not having turned his head to follow Eugene's finger, watched as a six-foot tall man came dashing in from the opposite end of the alley, and knocking one of the goons down with a single punch to the back of the head.
Moving incredibly swiftly for his size, the man turned to the next closest goon and assumed a stance with his arms held up vertically while his palms were pointing down. Taking a long stride forward.
The man paused for a beat, before raising his back foot and pulling it forward in a whipping motion that struck the goon in front, in the chest. The sound of shattering bone, that was likely a fractured rib reverberated in the air. Dashing past the towering man. Eugene ignored the last goon and came straight for the ringleader.
Seeing him approach, the leaders face contorted as his eyes became bloodshot and he roared out.
"You fucking bastard...take this!!" Swinging his bat in a wide horizontal angle, his arms extended forward and his bat followed.
Somewhat taken by surprise, Eugene firmly planted his lead foot to stop himself and pivoted. His right hand raising the wooden stick diagonally in front of him, while his left hand supported it. The sound of wood against wood rang out, as he successfully blocked the strike. Feeling the force push his arms back, Eugene gasped as he felt his arm briefly buckle.
Seeing this, the boss pulled back the nail covered bat. Attempting to make another big swing, eager to capitalize on Eugene's moment of weakness.
Sadly there was truly something wrong with this hooligans head, and if not—something was going to be.
With a whoosh—a wooden stick split the air and landed on the right side of his skull. A dull thunk echoing with it, like the sound of an empty coconut being smacked.
Dazed, the hooligan wobbled and took a step back.
Feeling vindicated, but still quite petty. Eugene, walked forward towards the dizzy man and pulled his leg back in an attempt to kick the mans balls—
—Only to be stopped by a giant hand on his foot as he stretched it back.
"Brother...you don't have to go that far" A calm deep voice filled with barely restrained laughter—humorously rang out.
"...Are you serious man? This guy tried to gang up on me!! With six people! If anything I should be kicking all of them in the nuts!"
Chuckling out loud, the tall man—Eugene's brother smiled and let go of his foot.
"Alright...you do have a point, but before you do anything rash-"
Before he could finish, Eugene swung his foot forward and kicked the man in the nuts. Immediately losing consciousness—the leader leaned back and fell over as his eyes rolled backwards into his head.
With a vindicated grin on his face, Eugene looked down at the unconscious—now foaming at the mouth, deadbeats. A gleeful light reflected off of his eyes as he chuckled and turned to his brother who's face was perfectly neutral, except for the subtle twitching in his brow.
"What? I did say I was gonna do it...you did hear me right? You have a big head, not a thick skull...technically it's thick—y-you get my point" Eugene sighed and shook his head before turning to look at the group of hooligans once more. His brother could only shake his head and turn to look as well.
"So what do we do with them?"
"Why're you asking me? You just texted me for 'backup'...you didn't mention anything about a cleanup afterwards. Honestly I think we should just leave them here" With a shrug, Eugene's brother cracked his neck before pointing out with wide eyes.
"Looks like we missed one, I almost didn't notice him...hey! You! Come here." Calling out to the last standing goon, the towering man gestured to come closer.
"M-me?" Flinching as he turned, the last goon gestured to himself and tentatively approached Eugene and his brother. He didn't even thought of escaping as he recalled how fast Eugene's brother moved.
"I-I...look, I'm just a Tricycle driver. I didn't even want to come with them—y-yeah! I didn't want to come with them at all!" he denied while shaking his head and his hands.
Looking at this man, Eugene stroked his chin and crossed his arms as if in thought. Soon an idea crossed his mind, a dangerous glint in his eyes as he looked at the goon, who was turning paler and paler.
"Hmm, what's your name?" Eugene, not taking his eyes off him, then took out his phone while flinching a bit from his skinned knuckles. He dialed something on the phone as the goon spoke.
"M-miguel, my name is Miguel. My friends call me Migoy, Goy for short" Stuttering, the goon didn't let his guard down as he watched Eugene busily tapping away on his smartphone. While waiting for him to pick up, Miguel felt as though he'd found himself in a really deep and shitty hole.
Frustrated, he could only lament internally as he recalled how quickly he and his mates were dealt with by just two people. Granted one of them was a 6 foot giant of considerable muscle who moved like they weighted nothing. What scared him the most was the fact that Eugene was relatively unscathed save for his knuckles which, were not even the work of his mates.
Brought out of his thoughts by the sound of a call being picked up. Miguel looked up as Eugene spoke on the phone.
"Hey there Captain...it's me Eugene. Got a minute?"
"Gege...please don't say anything that's going to ruin my afternoon. My wife just cooked the best dinner I'm going to have in a while and I'll be damned if I have to deal with any of your shi—!"
Recognizing the voice on the other end of the line, Miguel felt the blood draining from his face as he went pale. The fear he felt from watching Eugene beat the shit out of his mates not only doubled, but rather tripled then and there after realizing something. That was the fact that Eugene was from a very big family. Said family was involved in a lot of important sectors, some of whom even have connections to people in high places.
Basically, Eugene was something akin to a mafioso.
Of course he was only somewhat similar to one. He wasn't part of the dirty stuff, at least as far as Miguel knew. Although given the way he acted, he wouldn't doubt for a second that Eugene had secrets involving shadier business.
"Hey hey, come on now Captain there's no need to yap. I just need to cash in a favor. You know me, I don't go back on those. Just a little bit of a problem with some local numbskulls...do you know someone called err—Hey. Goy, what's that guys name?" pointing to the leader, Eugene asked the name of the man who was lying unconscious.
"Bert! His name is Bert, he's also a Tricycle driver but he's not exactly from around here. I think he lives in the next subdivision, but I can't be sure. That's all I know about him..." Miguel, eager to save his own skin—spilled the beans as soon as he was asked and shared the name, address, and what little information he had about Bert and his goons.
"We don't know much about each other...and I've told you all I know...can I please go?"
"Ah-Ah, You wait your turn...we still need you for something. Now then—did you get all of that Captain?" Turning to the phone once more, Eugene held his finger up gesturing Miguel to wait.
"Yeah I heard it...what do you need me to do? Christ, I hope you didn't kill anyone—I told you to be careful with who you mess with kid!"
Leaning away from the speaker, Eugene sighed as he picked his ear.
"No, nothing like that at all. I just need you to pick up these guys and detain them for disorderly conduct. They did try to gang up on me...honestly I barely got out with a few bruises you know. I even had to risk getting my brother involved just to get a fighting chance..."
"Your brother? Risk? Heh! Like I'd believe that for a second...do you even know your brother at all. Christ he's the size of a—" The captain expressing his utmost doubt, was cut off by a deep voice clearing their throat.
"Captain, I am still present at the moment. Please be gentler with your words..."
"S-shit...I'm sorry kid. I didn't mean anything bad by it. Anyway, you just need a cleanup...haaaah. Fine, I'll send someone to pick them up. Where are you?"
Grinning, Eugene flashed his brother a thumbs up and picked up the bag of groceries he'd set aside before the fight.
"We're at the alley in front of Uncle Jun's bakeshop...you know the one. Thanks, Captain I owe you one."
A loud scoff followed by a frustrated came from the other end of the call as the Captain spoke: "Kid, you owe me more than one...just—try to steer away from trouble okey? I can't protect you all the time. Keep your head screwed tight...otherwise—you might lose it."
"Alright...I will, Grandpa" Ending the call, Eugene turned to face his towering brother and Miguel.
"Now then...here's what you need to do for us Miguel" Smiling deviously, Eugene watched Miguel stiffen as his name was mentioned.