Home alone the next morning.

Planning for the fight night.

I wake up earlier than I would have expected considering it was still quite late by the time I got home last night. Work and then a couple of drinks afterwards eating into the wee small hours of the morning. It’s neither lunch nor breakfast time so I give myself a little lay in before I get up.

I grab my phone from where its been charging on the nightstand beside my bed and go to call my two girlfriends. I have the MMA event on tonight and it would be nice to have someone to go with.

I give Yui a call first as she’s the more likely to have the night free. Piya and I couldn’t organise a time to go over her contract until Tuesday already. She picks up almost immediately. Her phone attached to her at all times nearly.

“Hey Honey,” she says when she answers.

I can make out a fair bit of noise in the background. Traffic, the wind, trees and birds all interpose themselves with the sound of Yui puffing.

“Hey, Yu. What are you up to? You sound like you’re in the middle of something.”

“Oh, I’m just out on a little morning run. If I’d known you would be up, I would have asked you to join me,” Yui offers.

“Perhaps next time,” I say. I really should work on my conditioning a little better. The fights on tonight reminding me that I have been lacking in my training of late.

“Ok well the offers always there.” Yui is a fitness machine and the thought of running with her, not just a few laps around the track sounds terrifying.

“I shouldn’t keep you then. You got much further to go?” I ask.

Yui gives me the name of a suburb that is nearly a dozen or more kilometres from where she lives. She must have been running for an hour already plus the return journey home. She still offers, “I could run past your place if you want?”

Adding the distance on to my apartment would be much too far but I don’t have a doubt that Yui could make the distance if I asked, “no just keep on running where you’re at. I’ll let you go but I was wondering if your free tonight?”

“I’ve got a tonne of marking and all the student reports to get through this weekend sorry. I won't be able to see you until Monday with my Dad.”

“That’s ok. Be safe and let me know you make it home alright.”

We exchange goodbyes and ‘I-love-you’s, Yui’s all breathless, before hanging up.

One girlfriend down, onto the next. I’ll give Piya a chance just in case she wants a break. Piya is likewise busy finishing up her course work as I already knew she would be but has a suggestion for me, “why don’t you ask Lawan to go with you? She hasn’t stopped asking about you since we got back. It would be nice for you two to spend some time together.”

Lawan is a sweet girl and I would really prefer having someone to hang out with.

“Sure that’s a good idea. Do I just call her or text her or what?” I say agreeing.

Piya gives a little chuckle. “Ask her in our group chat. It will drive Dawn nuts you asking Lala to go out with you.”

Piya evil idea gives me a good laugh and I readily agree to ask her that way. I’d enjoy getting one back at Dawn after her taunting stares and striptease last night.

“Don’t work too hard babe and I’ll see you on Tuesday. Love you,” I say before I go.

“Love you too hun. Go back Dawn suffer!” Piya saying hanging up laughing.

I bring up the group chat up on my phone. I don’t often say much in it leaving it to the girls to have their thing but I keep abreast of what’s being sent. I type out a message and hit send.

I know Piya is watching the chat as she is the first one to show up as having read the message.

Dawn <I’ll cum with u!>

I knew I’d get a reaction from Dawn.

Lawan <Shut up Dawn! You’ve got work and @Roo asked me not you>

Dawn <Stupid work!!>

Holly <We can just fire you if you like?>

Dawn <No I’m fine. Thanks @Holl. #Bestbossbitches>

Lawan <Hahaha @HornyDorny you're fired!>

Lawan <Wooo date night with @Roo oooo! #boomboom #suckitdawn>

Piya <Treat my sister right! Have her home by 6 am lolol>

I leave off sending any more messages but keep a closer eye on the group chat for the rest of the day. Lawan and Dawn fighting over cyberspace hilarious to read.

I spend the rest of the day keeping on top of all the work that goes into starting up a new business, taking over an existing business and managing Piya’s business. I need to find offices for AORsome Spirits International soon and then a delivery van of some sorts before our first shipment arrives. In the meantime, I consider converting my spare room into a home office at least until we can start generating cash flow. I’m going to have to look at hiring some sort of bookkeeper too when it all gets going too. At least I have a month before the ship is due to arrive with all our rum.

The contracts from the two **** manufacturers have been sent to my email account and I am just waiting for Piya’s offer of employment letters to come from the Japanese clinic as well as Candace's hospital. I want to make sure I am doing my job properly and have a lawyer look over the documents before Piya signs on the dotted line and makes everything official. I am thinking about asking Yui’s father if he can recommend a lawyer to me at our meeting on Monday. Thankfully The Loft buyout is the least time consuming of my interests at the moment. The majority of the details being worked out by Kiet Pat.

Eventually, I need to clear my head and I follow Yui’s lead and head out for a quick run. I’m unable to cover anywhere near the same distance at Yui but I do nearly 6 kilometres before I am completely winded. The climb back up the stairs to my apartment is not enjoyable on my jelly legs. The run has me sweating and needing a shower. Its time to start getting ready to go pick up Lawan anyway. I freshen up and put on a pair of jeans and a club shirt from my gym to show support. I throw on some Onitsuka Tigers and order up an Uber to my place so I can have a few drinks tonight.