Chapter 254 There’s No Winning or Losing When It Comes to Feelings
“Apologize?!” Justin roared sullenly. “This is a boxing gym and he voluntarily asked for a match. I’m not responsible for the fact that he became injured and fell to the ground. Ask him whether he understands these rules!”
“Well, you were too ruthless! It’s not like you’re in a competition!” “How am I not in a competition?” he retorted self-righteously. “He lost, so he has to leave you alone from today onward!”
Rachel stared at him in shock. Even Hernandez, who was still in her arms, had to pause before he immediately changed tactics and moaned, “It hurts, Chris!”
“Where?” She came back to her senses and answered, “Let me take you to the hospital.”
“Okay.”
“Hold up!” An annoyed Justin stepped in front of them to block their way before he questioned Hernandez, “Have you forgotten what you said?”
Despite being a tall adult man, Hernandez continued to moan as he cowered in Rachel’s shadow.
As she stood protectively in front of him, she said sternly, “Let me repeat this, Justin. I’m a person, not an item. It’s childish and ridiculous that you’re using me as a wager for a competition in the first place. Also, there’s no winning or losing when it comes to feelings!” With that, she left while still supporting Hernandez’s weight.
Justin stood rooted to the spot and clenched his fists so hard that his knuckles cracked.
After an interminable amount of time, a young voice spoke up behind him. “I told you it would be hard to pursue my mom.”
A frowning Justin turned to glare at Samuel before asking impatiently, “Why are you still here?”
“To see how pathetic you look.”
“Excuse me?!”
As Samuel folded his arms across his chest, he disdainfully took measure of Justin before continuing, “Look at you—you’re handsome, but you don’t know how to use it to your advantage. You’re so silly. Hernandez is smarter than you—he only had to moan in pain a few times before my mom left with him.”
“He was faking it!”
“So? Aren’t you faking it?”
The wound on Justin’s back had cracked upon a long time ago, which colored his bandages red. Hernandez did not deliver a light punch either—the traces of blood on the corners of Justin’s mouth had yet to dry.
Yet, Justin had wanted to win the fight so badly that he was unwilling to show his weakness in front of outsiders.
“He’s faking an injury whereas you’re faking being fine!” Samuel spread his arms as he shook his head. “There’s no hope for you, you stupid oaf.”
“Samuel, where are you? Quickly get into the car!” Jolly hollered from outside.
“I’m coming!” he answered before he gave Justin a few parting sentences. “You have to be focused on the woman if you want to pursue her. Think about what you’re doing!”
Now that it was already nightfall, Rachel and Hernandez went straight to the hospital.
The moment Julian entered the ward upon receiving a call, he saw Hernandez moaning endlessly while holding onto Rachel.
“What are you doing, Hernandez?” Julian asked grouchily. “Let her go.”
“No,” Hernandez whined. “My head hurts, Chris.”
“What do you mean that your head hurts?” Julian asked skeptically. “Drop the act.”
“Julian.” A helpless Rachel glanced up at him. “Hernandez has been beaten up. He keeps having a nosebleed and he says that he’s dizzy and nauseated. Do you think he needs a CT scan?”
“Beaten up?” A startled Julian repeated after her before he recalled Hernandez’s character and suddenly understood the situation. “Well, you deserve it. I told you not to act like that here lest you are mistaken for a hooligan!”
Upon hearing that, Hernandez protested unhappily, “I wasn’t ‘beaten up’! We were having a fair boxing match. I didn’t lose; I allowed him to win.”
“Hello. What do you mean by allowing him to win’? I was there,” Jolly scoffed from her corner of the room. “I thought you could give him a good beating, but it turns out he’s made a fool of you. You’ve let all of us down!”
As Julian was now confused, he asked, “What happened? What boxing match? And why is everyone here?”
Although Rachel didn’t know how to reply, Jolly leaned toward him to gossip, “Justin was the one having a boxing match with Hernandez, Julian.”
Upon hearing these words, Julian gaped at Hernandez. “So, Justin was the one who beat you up?”
Hernandez was seemingly ashamed as he dodged Julian’s gaze. Then, he mumbled, “If it weren’t for the fact that I was fighting with one hand, I wouldn’t have lost. He was exceptionally brutal!”
Jolly unceremoniously sneered, “Sure, keep on bragging. It’s not like Samuel and I witnessed it. Justin is injured as well, but he didn’t say anything. Yet, you have the audacity to brag after he knocked you down with one blow!”
After being utterly humiliated and having no repartee to Jolly’s words, Hernandez changed the topic by gasping and distorting his facial features. “It hurts!”
“Where?” Rachel pulled him to face her so that she could give him a onceover. “Is your head injured?”
“Let me see.” Julian stepped forward before Hernandez could answer her and pulled her aside.
“Ow! I don’t need you to—”
Before Hernandez could finish speaking, Julian pressed on the man’s head. “Where does it hurt? Here?”
“Tsk… Can you be gentler?”
“So, not here. How about here then?”
“Ahhhh! It hurts!!!”
After a dramatic bout of yelling, Hernandez wrestled out of Julian’s grip and glared at him before saying through gritted teeth, “Are you treating me or trying to kill me?”
“You’re fine. Look at how hearty you sound. Your head doesn’t hurt anymore, does it? If it still does, we have therapists here. I can ask them to massage you and apply acupressure to stimulate the blood flow in your head.”
A livid Hernandez answered, “No.”
As she was a little worried, Rachel spoke, “Maybe you should get a CT scan or have Julian arrange an appointment for acupressure on your behalf.”
“No!” Hernandez quickly declined. “My head doesn’t hurt anymore. Really, I’m okay now. I’m perfectly fine. Look at me!” Upon saying that, he waved his limbs around in front of her, looking very much like an octopus who was being cooked alive with his silly dance.
Julian had once given Hernandez an acupressure treatment when they were both abroad.
At that time, Rachel had only just learned how to perform acupressure and she was looking for people to test her skills on. Since he was eager to be her test subject, he stepped up to the plate only to be interrupted by Julian. In the end, a single push from Julian had left him feeling like he was half-dead.
Now, she was exhaling in relief. “I’m glad you’re fine.”
“Don’t worry about me, Chris, but if you truly are worried about me…” Hernandez sidled up to her as he batted his eyelashes. “You can have dinner with me tonight to celebrate my wellbeing.”
“Take me along,” Julian insisted as he removed his gloves and tossed them into the bin. “I happen to be getting off work anyway.”
Hernandez glared hatefully at him as he protested, “I didn’t say I wanted to bring you along!”
Julian ignored what was said and immediately turned to Rachel. “You don’t mind, do you?”
With a magnanimous smile, she answered, “Of course not. Since Jolly and Samuel are both here, why don’t we all go together? We also haven’t had a get-together in a while. What does everyone want? My treat.”
Jolly shot Hernandez a sympathetic look and shrugged her shoulders, indicating that it wasn’t her intention to be in his way.
