ACQUAINTED

I charge at him and throw a heavy punch at his already bleeding nose. I told him I like to break bones. I had to use the advantage of kneeing him to the balls with my good leg after taking a couple of blows to the head myself. I could feel my busted lip and throbbing jaws.

I guess we were both too angry to remember the most basic rule of combat which is, shield your face. Both our faces are bloody. I feel so hot with the scorching sun and sauna feel from the ocean. I see he is covered in both blood and sweat and I know so am I.

I place my hands on my knees and bend over catching my breath as my opponent is too in a crouched position trying to recover. His boys maybe crappy at fighting but himself, he's got some skills on him. I look at the boys around and they look agitated.

If their boss gives the order to attack me, they will all at once charge at me. Right now the fight I've had and one after months has drained me. I should throw in my gunshot wound but then I'll look like I'm all for excuses so I'd rather we don't talk about that other thing. But one thing for sure is I'm sluggish now.

"Wow, I've never seen a lady take the swigs you do. You really could throw a punch. I like that. Most ladies your age all they know is to pose for photos for social media. " He complements catching his breath every now and then.

"How would you know how old I am? " I ask rudely still panting.

He chuckles.

"I wouldn't, but my guess is you couldn't be that far from twenty? " He says it in a questioning manner.

I don't answer. Instead I start to straighten out my clothes.

"You are in a gang, aren't you? " He asks almost excited to discover that.

"No. " I dismiss him quickly.

I'm way bigger and better.

"You must be, girls don't go around learning to have a guy taller than them in a headlock that quick. " He points out stepping closer and I take a step back.

"Some decent space, if you don't mind I've had enough intake of your dead cells. "I hiss throw gritted teeth while holding a hand in front of me to emphasize.

He looks at me in confusion. I could almost see the wheels in his head turning as he tried to figure that out. And then it stops abruptly. But I don't see the light bulb switch indicating he got it. Idiot!

"The name is Livo. Oliver in full. " He says putting out his hand for me to shake.

I pull him by his outstretched hand and in seconds have him too in a headlock.

"As soon as I get my bag I'll be out of here. I'm never one to overstay my welcome. I didn't come here to go on a date with you. " I say through gritted teeth.

I'm so about done with him and his mediocrity. What next, we go to sleep over at each other's houses?

"Now call off your dogs because I can easily twist your neck in the way it's post to not go. " I add just as pissed.

He tries to laugh so I choke him and it comes out something like coughing or wincing. I pick movement at the corner of my eye and it's one of the boys coming at me with a knife.

So very quickly, I let go of their boss and get my gun from the straps on my thigh. Once he sees the gun, he freezes. I take it he hasn't seen one up close. I want to smack his head against the pavement so bad. How is he in a gang? He should go home and sweep his mother's compound, one hand on some broom and another behind his back. Whistling. Not be in the streets.

"Calm down girl. Here is your bag. No need for bullets to fly around here. See, these boys have never before you seen a real gun. And myself I don't have a gun. Now that would be unfair, don't you think so? " Livo bargains.

This time as he gets closer, he remembers to leave a decent distance between us. He hands me my bag that I eagerly snatch out of his hands. He raises his hands up in mock surrender. With my eyes trained on his, I carefully secured my gun back in its position.

I almost want to laugh when I remember it's not even loaded but it scared people to almost shitting their pants. I take a quick glance around my stuff in my bag to confirm everything is in.

"If you guys are that hungry you should have asked me nicely and I would have bought you a whole farm of food. There was no need to be rude you know. " I scold mockingly.

Livo chuckles and slowly nods his head to say I can be funny if I wanted to but I'm touching on a sensitive matter.

"So, brunch on me. What do you guys say? I would love to know more about your occupation. " I tell them with a small forced smile.

I can feel it they are a real hassle to bring into civilization. I know it's going to be difficult but maybe they are worth a shot. I buy them food and learn more about them. Sometimes hunger makes people do stupid things. I will give them the benefit of the doubt that it was all hunger issues.