Chapter 19

The pumped-up sound of 90's disco music originated from Tina's house tore through the stillness of the night. One could hear it from a mile away. The air was dry and the stars littered the sky like tiny dots on a blank canvass. I parked my bike outside and walked my way to Tina's house.

A familiar figure was standing at the gate like a raging bull ready to charge. It was Leroy. His hair was fixed into a single heap above his head resembling a shark's fin which I thought was funny.

"What are you smiling at weirdo?" He looked drunk.

"You're in my way. Move or you will be moved." I said coldly.

"And what will you do if I don't move weirdo? Hit me with the wisdom you get from your stupid books?" He grinned devilishly.

"Fuck around and you'll find out," we sized each other up. I felt a couple of eyes staring at us. He inched close so our foreheads touched. I traced a strong scent of alcohol in his breath.

"Look, weirdo. Tina and I aren't done. And I will not allow anyone to go after her. Not the likes of you. She's mine, you hear me?" He stared at me intensely. I did not flinch.

"I did not take you for a romantic." I pestered.

"You better get outta here before I kick your sorry ass all the way back to the hills," he warned.

"Be my guest fin-head." I retorted. The crowd started to gather around us in circle. They laughed at my remark which further shortened the fuse of Leroy's anger that traced back to the time when I blew his lights out with a single jab that broke his nose. He gritted his teeth in contempt. I can picture smokes coming out of his nostrils but it only made him appear more like the joke that he already was.

"Don't fuck with me Florante! I can easily reap you a new asshole if I want to." He threatened.

"Like what I did with your nose? Heard the doctor made you a new one."

What I said made his blood boil. His shoulders quivered as he attempted to connect a left hook. But his jerky foot was far too slow so I just waved my body a little over to the side and tipped him with my right foot sending him biting the dust on the ground.

"So much for you kicking my ass all the way back to the hills." God, I was on the mood.

The crowd yelled, 'Fight! Fight! Fight!" His feet wobbled as he tried to stand up. Poor guy was far too drunk for a decent fight.

Tina broke through the crowd and grabbed my hand. "I can't believe you!" she dragged me away from the disappointed mob.

"Isn't that what you want?" I replied, to this, she smiled.

"Watch your back Florante. One day I'll break you so fuckin' bad no doctor in the world could ever hope to put you back," Leroy screamed at my back and laughed like a lunatic. I flipped the bird at him and went inside Tina's house.