Hit & run

If he went through with this, he would only create more problems for himself. Yet, at the same time Míngzé did not want to keep working there any longer. His head was throbbing ever since he left the building. If there was one thing he could not lose right now, it was his job which placed him in quite the predicament.

Míngzé kept a steady pace as he walked over the streets on his way home, his cane in hand. By using rather rough motions he made sure people moved aside. Right now he simply wanted to be at home. Nothing more. He’d think things through once he was there.

Without realizing, his pace slowed down until he came to a standstill. There was something. A soft pull of some sorts. For a moment it almost felt as if the whole world slowed down around him as he tried to make sense of it. Míngzé did not know what it was, but when someone walked past him, he grabbed the man by his shoulder. “Wait.” His grip was hopefully strong enough to force him to a stop and maybe pull him back a little.

Not a moment later someone on an electrical bike drove past, missing the man by a hair. Míngzé did not let go immediately as his mind was racing to make sense of it.

Míngzé didn’t immediately let go of the man’s shoulder. Confused, he looked in the direction that bike had just sped off. Even he could feel the slight wind ruffling through his hair as it passed, a clear indication of how close it had gotten. He was too occupied with what actually happened, to notice that the man he’d hold back was not happy with him.

His hand dropped off his shoulder when the other turned around and Míngzé turned his gaze towards him. Before he had the time to explain himself — not that he had an explanation — the other started talking and his words clouded Míngzé’s face.

“Even if I wanted one before, I definitely don’t want one now, asshole.” Míngzé rolled his eyes and shook his head. “It was just your shoulder,” Míngzé started as he held his hands in the air for a moment, the cane dangling from his left arm. “So how about you take a deep breath and relax a bit?” He cocked an eyebrow while taking a step back with his hands still up.

It was still a mystery to him why he had done what he had. The strange feeling that had gone through him was unfamiliar. Sadly enough he was not capable of exploring it any further. Someone was in a mood and somehow this little affair had made it worse. Míngzé was not here looking for problems, he just wanted to continue his day.

The moment he felt the slap against his hand he blinked a few times both in surprise and confusion. Not that he was given the time to process what happened. Roughly he got pulled closer to this stranger by his collar. Míngzé moved all his weight back, wanting to take a step away but it was no use. With widened eyes he looked at the other in shock. His hands automatically grabbed the ones that were holding him. “Get off me,” he growled although a bit of panic slipped into his voice.

Míngzé used both his hands in an attempt to get this man off of him, by pushing against the other’s chest. It was pointless, it became instantly clear that this man was stronger than him. “What the fuck is your problem?” In a desperate attempt to have the other let him go he took a better hold of his cane, only to stab the other in his side with the back of the handle. Being this close to each other, it was easier to determine where to stab.  

Míngzé absolutely despised situations like these because they — more than others — gave him a feeling of desperation. There was only so much he could do when someone was in his face. Although, this was the first time it got this much out of hand. All he wanted was to create distance between him and the stranger he had managed to anger, that was all. How he did it might not have been the smartest idea, but what else was he supposed to do? Thinking clearly with someone angrily breathing in your face was extremely difficult.

Around him Míngzé could hear the faint muttering of people, but that was it. They were watching instead of doing anything to prevent this from escalating further. His step had done nothing and he could feel all color drain from his face as the other started talking. Should he’ve hit harder? It was too late now. A burning smell reached his nose, one he could not place but awoke a fear that was buried within. “Wait I—” but the words got lost when the air got forcefully pushed out of his lungs. A piercing pain shot through his side and Míngzé doubled over.

He let go of the man’s hand, to place it over the spot where he was just hit. All while he’d placed his other hand unconsciously against the man as support, preventing him from hitting the ground. “Listen—” he started breathlessly. “I’m sorry, okay? You don’t— fuck.” The pain coming from his side made him grimace as he tried to straighten his back. This was not going too well.