*Amy's P.O.V*
The celebration was a go. After the dojo has defeated Cobra Kai and they won't be in the finals for the tournament, we are doing what we have planned and that's going to get some drinks and even get some food because we all haven't eaten that much today. So everyone is having a drink, well if anything everyone is drinking a different kind of soda and I'm having water. I want soda really, really bad but because I'm with child now, I just thought it'd be nice if I started drinking water. It's not like I don't already but I shouldn't drink soda in the beginning stages of the pregnancy.
"Here's to Miyagi-Do.." Robby held up his cup of coke, "And for us defeating Cobra Kai."
"Miyagi-Do!" We all chanted as we then took a sip of our drinks and then we'll let chatter take over.
The whole gang is here. Sam, Miguel, Robby, Demetri, Kenny, Eli, and myself. We're all having a great time so far.
"The finals are literally coming up.." Sam started to say, "I can only hope our senseis have some type of idea about the training."
"I'm sure they have something planned." Miguel assured her as his hand was on her shoulder.
"I bet they're talking about it right now." I said as I leaned more into Eli's chest. He had his arm wrapped around me and I was getting comfortable. The tiredness of the pregnancy is already starting.
"My dad was with Johnny and Chozen.." Sam said, feeling unsure. "My dad had something in his hands."
"Like what?" Robby asked.
Sam shrugged. "I have no idea. I didn't ask him about it."
"I wouldn't worry too much about it." Miguel tells Sam but also Robby.
I said nothing as I closed my eyes for a bit to try and relax. I already feel like going to the hotel room because even when I'm not fighting, the pregnancy is already taking a toll on me.
"Are you okay?" Eli whispered to me.
"I'm just tired." I tell him.
"We can go to the hotel if you want."
"But we haven't been here that long."
"I'm sure the team would understand. They know you're pregnant and they would say that you need your rest."
"I don't want to be the party pooper." I pouted.
"You won't be a party pooper." He rubbed my arm, getting me to relax a bit more.
"Is everything okay?" Miguel asked as he took a look at Eli and I.
"The pregnancy is already taking a toll on her.." Eli explained.
"I feel okay if it's not too much. I just need to relax."
"You can go to the hotel room if you need to, Amy. It's important if you get rest, especially in the beginning of the pregnancy." Sam tells me, joining in the conversation.
I hate how my cousin is right. But we've only been here for almost an hour and it's crazy to me that I'm already getting tired. But it's not my fault.
"Okay, I'll get some rest." I said, "But I'm going to the bathroom first."
Sam insisted on coming with me because I'm starting to guess that she needed to go to the bathroom as well. But I also won't be surprised if this is her way of wanting to tell me something.
As soon as I entered and thankfully, it was just Sam and I, she suddenly said, "Axel is here."
"If he's here then where at?"
"The bar." Sam sighed, "He looks deep in thought."
"That honestly won't surprise me." I said as I would cup my hands under the faucet in the sink and then splash my face with the water. I wanna be able to wake myself up a little bit even though I'll probably be sleeping when I get to the hotel.
"He's a semifinalist too. His sensei must be pushing him hard."
When I talked to Axel, he didn't give me much of a backstory about his sensei. What he's going through, it wasn't mentioned. But maybe he did open up more to Sam.
I turned to my cousin. "How long did you talk to him for?"
"It could've been thirty minutes." She tried to think. "It feels like it was longer but he joined me on my walk back to the hotel. Amy, he has marks on his back and he tried to play it off like it was a competition from the tournament but we both saw what happened with his sensei."
I let her words sink into me as I listened carefully. I knew he had a story but I didn't know it ran so deep.
"Damn.." I let out a breath, "I feel bad for him."
"I felt bad for him too. He probably just endures it and not say anything about it. Until recently when I discovered the marks."
"I'll probably talk to him before I head back to the hotel."
"Yeah, go for it. Maybe it'll be good."
Axel enjoyed our last talk so perhaps my cousin is right, I can talk to him for a little bit before I head back to the hotel. Sam and I left the bathroom and I looked in the direction of the bar. I can see him sitting there, twirling a straw in his drink as his eyes were only being pointed to what's in front of him. He's not paying attention to any other surroundings.
"See you back at the hotel." Sam patted my back before she joined the rest of the dojo.
I walked up to the bar and stood next to Axel. "Hey, stranger."
He turned to look who the voice belonged to and then he went back to looking at his drink. He really seemed out of it.
"Are you not going to talk to me?" I suddenly asked.
"Amy, now isn't the right time."
"What are you talking about?"
"You don't need to talk to me. You don't have to keep looking at me like I'm a crippled monkey. I'm a big boy, I can handle myself."
"I don't think you're a crippled monkey." I said back to him.
"If you don't think that then why are you talking to me?"
I feel like a conversation won't go anywhere between us. He's struggling with his own world that he can't even give reasons for letting me talk to him.
He stood up from the chair he was sitting in, "I know you're concerned for me but I promise I'll be okay. You don't need to worry."
"Axel.." I started to say but he was already starting to walk away and leave the bar.
Well, that fucking sucked.
And when watching him leave, I didn't even notice Eli approach me.
"Are you alright?" He asked me once more.
"The conversation didn't end well." I started to explain, "He's not really opening up to me and I thought he would. It's my mistake for thinking that maybe he would tell me what's going on."
"It's not your fault. Don't blame yourself."
I sighed before shaking my head, "Can we just go back to the hotel? I'm tired."
