Chap 21: A gentle advice

For the next few days, the Cliff twins and his gang tried their best to look for Adam, but they couldn't get a single clue. It was as if he had vanished into thin air.

" Why is he not showing up?" Brad said in frustration.

" Maybe he's scared?" Jeff suggested.

" Not at all. It's because we are quiet," Fred remarked.

" What do you mean?"

" He only shows up when that girl is in trouble. But we have not done anything to her for the past few months."

" This is an insult to us. We must do something about this bastard," Jeff growled.

" What can we do when we don't know who he is," Brad asked.

"Weren't you following that girl?" Jeff asked Austin. " Did you find something?"

" Nothing suspicious. Evelyn's busy with her swimming," Austin replied. " I don't think she has anything to do with Adam."

" Shut the f**k up," Jeff burst out. " Are you really keeping an eye on her for our sake, or did you get smitten by her?"

Austin looked flustered. " W-What are you saying? I-It's not like that."

" He surely likes her. Look at him blushing like a fool," Brad said, glaring at Austin.

Austin was fidgeting on his spot, avoiding looking at his friends.

" Stop it, guys, " Fred said, irritated. " That's not important, and I don't think the girl is working with Adam. If it were the case, we would have surely known it by now. Did you find out about Triston's Martial Arts class?" he asked Jake.

" He goes there every other day, but I don't think he is learning to fight," Jake said softly.

" How can you be so sure."

" I never saw him in the uniform, plus he doesn't look tired when he comes out."

" Are you sure? Did you see Triston doing an accounting job with your own eyes?" Fred enquired.

" N-No," Jake stuttered. " I wasn't allowed to enter the Academy, so I couldn't actually see him working."

" Why didn't they allow you to enter?"

" They said only students and staff are allowed."

" Damn!!!" Fred said, banging the table. " Why didn't you tell us earlier? This is too suspicious. I feel something's fishy."

" Do you think Triston lied to us?" Jeff asked.

" It can be. I need to check it with my eyes now," Fred said and got up.

Meanwhile, at the MA Academy, Triston practiced with Jose while Evelyn taught a few tricks to the small kids.

" You are utterly useless," Josh said, landing yet another punch on Triston which he failed to defend. " You have been learning for nearly a year, but you still can't seem to defend my attacks."

" I-I..." Triston was lost for words and looked down in shame.

" What's wrong, son?" James, the MA trainer, asked, approaching them.

" I can't teach him anymore," Josh said, pointing at Triston. " He's is good for nothing."

" But I have seen Triston's moves. His techniques are on point, and his stamina is too good. Even physically, he has grown so strong. Look at those muscles," James chirped, pointing towards Triston's biceps.

" What is the point of knowing the tricks and techniques when he can't use them in real combat?" Josh scoffed. "When practicing alone, he can do the moves very well, but he seems scared and reluctant whenever he has to fight with others. "

" I agree..." James said thoughtfully. He then turned toward Triston and spoke to him like a concerned father. " What is it that is bothering you? Why are you so scared of fighting? You know Josh won't actually harm you, right?"

" I-I tried to l-let go of the fear, but..."

" Excuses..." Josh suddenly interrupted. " That's all you can give. In fact, you are not made up for martial arts at all. "

" Stop it, Josh," James chastised. " You are being too harsh."

" I am being realistic. The World is not fair, especially to people who are weak. If he can't land a punch at me, how would he fight against the bullies? Evelyn has been wasting her time on you." Feeling frustrated, Josh left Triston and James alone. Though he didn't like Triston at the start, training with him for so long, he had come to appreciate the boy and truly cared for his wellbeing.

" Don't mind him, son; he's concerned for you," James said to Triston.

Triston just nodded, feeling ashamed of himself. He was not angry at Josh because whatever he said was true.

" This is all we can do for you, Triston," James said, patting Triston on his back. " Note that the person who can help you the most is you yourself. Josh, Evelyn, or I can help you when we are around, but we cannot always be with you. You must learn to protect yourself. "

" I-I am trying," Triston whispered.

" Why is it that you can't let go of the fear? What is stopping you?" James already knew about Triston's past. When he started training Triston, he was initially getting frustrated with his lack of response. Evelyn had then urged Triston to share everything about himself so they could get to know him better. After much pestering, he opened up to James's family. James's wife, Rachel, literally had tears in her eyes when she heard how Triston was treated at his home. James was on the verge of lodging a police complaint against Triston's uncle but stopped when Evelyn convinced him that they were rich people and would easily escape the law, and doing so would only worsen the situation for Triston.

" Whenever someone tries to hit me, my mind is filled with images of my uncle punishing me. I-I can't seem to let it go," Triston whispered.

"I suggest you go to a psychiatrist for counseling," James said.

"Psychiatrist?" Triston was dumbfounded. " T-There's nothing wrong with m-me..."

" I know, son," James assured him. " Going to a psychiatrist doesn't mean there's something wrong with you. Come out of that notion that only people with mental issues need a psychiatrist. Even a normal person like you and me might need counseling at some point of time in life. Rachel and I attended counseling sessions when we were finding it too hard to deal with Josh's autism. It helped us a lot to get stronger and support our son properly."

" But..."

" Try it, Triston. I am sure you will feel better."

" I-I am not comfortable talking to a stranger."

" Oh, Okay... that's a problem," James said, thinking about it. " But I have a solution for that."

" What?"

" Evelyn's friend Ava is a psychiatrist. Maybe you can talk to her."

" ....."

" You don't have to be alone. Evelyn will be with you."

At the mention of Evelyn being with him, Triston felt a bit relieved. If she were with him, he would have the strength to open up. " Okay. I will think about it."

" I am glad," James smiled at Triston.

" What are you doing?" Rachel called out. She was suddenly beside Triston and checking him out. " Are you stressing him out too much?" Rachel looked at James accusingly. She was too protective of Triston.

"I didn't do anything, honey," James said urgently. " Ask him."

" He's right, Mam. James was only advising me," Triston added.

" Mam?" Rachel looked hurt. " You should call me Rachel. Even Mom would do."

" Yes... M-Mom," Triston smiled at her. He was grateful for having such caring people in his life. All his life, he only had Reese and Samantha, who cared for him, but after meeting Evelyn, he found another family who treated him as their own.

" Come on. I have bought the pastries you like," Rachel held Triston's arm.

" What about me?" James pouted.

" Do I need to tell? You would come anyways," Rachel shrugged.

Rachel led Triston to the back room, and James followed. Josh was already sitting there, his mouth stuffed.

" Where's Evelyn?" Rachel enquired.

" She's teaching the kids," Triston replied.

" Fine. I will get her." Rachel said and went out of the back room.

Evelyn had just finished training the kids and was waiting at the entrance of the Academy to hand over the kids to their guardians. Rachel approached her and asked her to come to the backroom.

" I will join you once Susan's Mom picks her up," Evelyn said, pointing at the 7-year-old kid standing with her.

Rachel nodded and left. Right then, Susan's mom arrived and took her home. As Evelyn was about to go inside, she noticed the Cliff twins get down from the car parked at the corner of the road.

Why the hell were they here? Did they come to check on Triston? Evelyn wondered. She suddenly turned around and ran toward the backroom.

" Triston... your cousins are headed over here," Evelyn said, out of breath.

" What?" Triston suddenly got up from his seat, looking tense. " W-Why are they here?"

" Maybe to check what you do," Evelyn remarked.

" But I already told them you are an accountant here," James said.

" I don't think they trust you," Triston guessed.

" What will you do then?" Rachel asked, worried.

" Let me handle them. Anyways I wanted to smash their faces for a long time now," Josh said, flexing his muscles.

" No, Josh. We need to handle this matter carefully," Evelyn said. " Triston is not ready for them yet." She then turned toward Triston and said, " Get changed quickly and go home. Leave from the back entrance."

Triston nodded and went to the dressing room to get changed.

" I will talk to those shitbags," James said, leaving the backroom looking pissed as hell.