Everyone has some business to attend to, including Zadie Chen. Only her business is the act of searching within what remains of the compound. Search for what, though? No, not what. Whom. She has a pack of ice in her, so one could hazard a guess.
Chen: Sarah? Sarah, where are you?
She looks inside one container, then another, and another until she reaches the border of the compound, at which point she hears the unmistakable sounds of sobbing. They're coming from behind a fence, which is itself behind a container. She hops the fence and lands in the tall grass and sees the cherry-red hair peeking out and shaking with every sob.
Chen: Sarah?
A gasp is heard, and the shaking stops.
Chen (approaching while holding up the bag): Relax, it's me. Sharma says you bolted out of the medical tent without your ice bag. She said I should give it to you before the back of your head starts-
Esposito: Don't *snort*... come any closer.
Chen (stops and lowers her arms): ... Sarah-
Esposito: I said go away!
Chen: Actually, you sai-... Listen, she got me with similar trickery two weeks ago. It's what she does. You have nothing to be ashamed-
Esposito suddenly shoots up from within the grass. Her face is a mess of puffy cheeks, ruined mascara and bloodshot eyes.
Esposito: Are you kidding?! I LOST! I lost to some F****NG LOONEY TUNES B******T!
Chen: ... You lost to Jessie Moore, who's almost 20 years your senior-
Esposito: I DON'T CARE! I'm not supposed to lose!
Chen: Why? Because you're the number 1 pi-
Esposito: Because I'm ME! I. DON'T. LOSE! Not like that! ... (collapses back into the grass) Just... Just leave me alone.
Esposito: Because I'm ME! I. DON'T. LOSE! Not like that! ... (collapses back into the grass) Just... Just leave me alone.
Chen (walks around, but keeps her distance): I was... watching the broadcast on a monitor. The Empress had a lot of good things to say about you-
Esposito: She didn't even look in my direction. *sniff* I was an afterthought.
Chen: She now has a title match to prepare for against her most enduring rival. You shouldn't take it personally.
Esposito just buries her face in her hands, or at least appears to do so based on her head movement.
Chen (approaches slowly): Why does her approval mean so much to you? I admire her deeply, but you...
Esposito: ... She's the whole reason I'm doing this.
Chen (getting closer): How so?
Esposito: I didn't... grow up watching wrestling. Not this kind, anyway.
Chen (even closer): I find that hard to believe.
Esposito: Why, cause I'm Mexican? (shakes head) My coaches always told me it was garbage, so I stayed away from it. No lucha libre, nothing.
Chen (sitting down next to her): So what changed?
Esposito: I was studying Engineering at the Gold Medal Institute in Desi Daru-
Chen: Where you fought in that tournament?
Esposito: I don't want to talk about that.
Chen: Okay.
Esposito: My roommate happened to be watching it while I was doing homework. This other company in the States called- what was it? It was something stupid like Tits 'N Ass, or something like that.
Chen: I... don't think that's what it was called.
Esposito: Whatever. I guess I got curious and looked over, and there she was, the Empress in action. I saw her entrance, and I just became... entranced. I couldn't explain it. She was wrestling some Japanese chick; I think her name was Matsumoto. She was pretty tough and brought it, but I think she was still new because Ngozi eventually just... dismantled her. (looks up) The way she moved... It started off rough, like she was meeting her opponent in the heat of the fight, but then she became smooth as silk (chuckles) and just started having fun. Then the match ended and she just... stood in that ring, absolutely commanding it...
Chen: So you decided to become a wrestler then? This kind, at least.
Esposito: No, not yet. First, I had to know everything about her, so I bugged my roommate with question after question. Then I started watching the show to see her again, but that was a one-time appearance, so I went online and found a whole bunch of her matches from different companies, different years, I guess. (looks at Chen) Did you know she used to be a Pirate?
Chen (laughs): Yes! But don't mention that around her if you value your health.
Esposito: Then I checked her page on Veripedias, looked up her whole career, and I was blown away. Everything she had to overcome, the way she had to grow, the injuries, the wars, and she still won so many championships. It was just... inspirational. That's when I decided I wanted to do this. I want to be a pro wrestler.
Chen: But it's not what you expected?
Esposito (looks down): No... I mean, I've fought freaks before, but athletic freaks. I've never encountered anything like... Queen Cobra before. Like I thought it was a gimmick, that she was some skinny contortionist who knew how to throw kicks, but then she bit me. They kept telling me her venom isn't fatal, but I thought I was gonna die. Getting pinned by that fat-assed, big-mouthed, no-talent bitch, Maharaj, was only the cherry on top of the shit cake.
Chen: At least you got the win back, though.
Esposito: Yeah, but it was Ngozi who booked that match. Just like she booked this one. Only this time, there was a title shot on the line, and I CHOKED! (starts grabbing her hair) F****ng Shabani, why did she have to pick me first?!
Chen: You're probably the only wrestler I've ever met who doesn't enjoy being picked first.
Esposito: It's the opposite! I LIVE FOR THIS! Since I was 6 years old, all I've ever done is make sure that I was number 1. Number 1 in all my classes from Grade School to Varsity; the only student at GMI with a perfect GPA when I got my Engineering degree; number 1 in every competition I ever took part in; the number 1 amateur wrestler in all of Michoacán. That's a fact; you can look it up!
Chen (holds up hands): I believe you.
Esposito: If I were drafted first anywhere else, I'd revel in it! Those people booing me out there? The people booing me at the draft? I wouldn't give a damn. But it had to be here in the same company as her, and I don't know if she hates me for it or not.
Chen: I remember at the draft when she told you it didn't concern her.
Esposito: Yeah, she says that, but I rewatched. When Shabani named her as her next pick AFTER me, she came out and looked right through her. There's no way she wasn't insulted. I mean, she's a legend in this business, and who the hell am I? Tonight was my chance to finally make her notice me, really see me, and I BLEW IT!
Chen: ... Well, maybe it was a good thing.
Esposito (narrows her eyes): What?
Chen: You said it yourself. You're used to dominating whatever environment you find yourself in, but you're out of your element here, and all the hype around being the number 1 draft pick and orbiting the Jewell's Championship has put you under a microscope.
Esposito: So?
Chen: So, now you've been knocked out of that orbit. Everyone's eyes are on Moore and Ngozi at the Valentine's Brawl, and whatever comes of that. You now have a chance to build yourself up and get more comfortable in this environment.
Esposito's brows raise.
Chen: I'm not saying the scrutiny is going to go away, but... at least some of the pressure should be released.
The young Mestizo of Italian heritage looks ahead and frowns so deeply that her eyes almost disappear in shadow as her fists clench and shake. And then she stops and breathes.
Esposito: You're right... I guess it isn't all bad.
Chen (hands her the ice): Come on. Let's go get something to eat. Or we can just spar to blow of steam.
Esposito (takes it and applies it to the back of her head): Exnay on the sparring. I don't want to hospitalise you in the mood I'm in.
Chen (chuffs): You wish.
Esposito: What'd you say?
Chen (stands up and dusts herself off): I said, you wish.
Chen (stands up and dusts herself off): I said, you wish.
Now it's Esposito's turn to stand up to her full frame, towering 8 inches over the Indian-Chinese woman and outweighing her by a clean 100 pounds.
Esposito: You saying you could take me in a real fight?
Chen (looking up, hands on hips): You said it, not me.
Esposito (lowers the ice bag): Dude, I would f****ng kill you. What are we doing?
The domino-masked striker from Singapore suddenly shrinks, turning away slightly, holding her hands near her face and knocking her knees together.
Chen: Ooh, I'm shaking in my boots. (looks down and gasps) Oh no! I'd better tighten my laces so that they don't come off.
Esposito (frowns again, then laughs): Whatever. (puts bag back on head) Let's get out of here. Since you offered, you're paying, and just so you know, I eat a lot. Especially when I'm sad.
Chen laughs and follows her over the fence.
Esposito: By the way, what were you talking to Shabani about? What's the big opportunity?
Chen: Can't tell you.
Esposito: Oh, come on. Why not?
Chen: Shabani told me to keep it a secret.
Esposito (looks around): I don't see her. Do you?
Chen: I don't see the O.R.D.R.L.I.s either, but they can see us.
Esposito (eyes wide): Wait, what? (looks around) Oh no... (looks at Chen) You mean I was crying on camera just now?!
Chen (walks past): Probably.
Esposito (lets out a loud groan): I HATE THIS COMPANY!
No comments:
Post a Comment