Too late for warnings.

As I turn towards the hand, it is quickly followed up by a fist. I stumble back from the fist knocking into Piya. I’m dimly aware enough to hope that she’s ok before a second punch strikes me. I get my wits about me quick and cover up blocking the third.

My head is in the game enough to recognise the guy attacking me as Piya’s boyfriend. That shit is not going to stand with me at all!

I strike back with a hard left jab that staggers him before giving him a quick 1-2 combo. I try for a left hook hoping to drop him completely but he is saved by the sudden arrival of The Loft’s security to look after one of their own. Two of my co-workers grab his arms and shoulders wrapping him up so that he can no longer punch me. I could very easily get an unrestrained cheap shot in on him now, just like he’d done to me to start but Piya screaming, “Stop it! Stop it! No fighting!” holds me back.

She has positioned herself between the two of us and is trying to calm her boyfriend down. He isn’t ready to calm down just yet though as he lunges at me again even with two bouncers holding him. It knocks Piya backwards again so that she has to be caught by her smaller friend with the shorter-cropped hair. She manages to keep Piya on her feet by holding her under the armpits so that she doesn’t fall over.

Security has had enough of Piya’s boyfriend by this point and drags his arse backwards to the front door where he will be thrown out onto the street. Piya and her friend follow her boyfriend as she tries to plead with him to calm down and for security not to hurt him. He deserves to get his ass kicked if you ask me.

Aaron the head of security checks on me now that the incident is over.

“Ouch. That’s going to leave a mark tomorrow,” he says looking at where I’ve been punched.

I’m probably going to have a pretty good black eye and my nose had started bleeding at some point.

“Go and get some ice on it and take the rest of the night off. We’re going to be closing soon anyway.”

I do as Aaron says pulling a swipe card from my belt that lets me into the back of house staff areas. Touching my eye makes me wince so I grab a tea towel for the kitchen and fill it with ice from the ice machine. Placing it against the bridge of my nose and over my eye helps to take the pain away as the numbness of the cold takes over.

I stay out back for half an hour until I’m certain the bleeding has long stopped and I’ve taken the majority of the swelling away. I get changed out of my work shirt, throw a jacket on ready to leave and head through the security door to the club proper again. The crowd has died off considerably with less than a quarter of the people remaining.

As I make my way back into the crowd a petite girl comes straight up to me. “That was crazy what happened before. Are you alright?”

She is Asian. Short, an inch or two over 5 feet and had long black hair that goes a small way past her shoulders. For a second, I thought it was Piya’s friend that kept her upright in the fight but she had shorter hair that was a lighter colour. Still, she has a familiar look to her so I guess she must be one of the group of Thai girls that came out with Piya.

“I’m fine. He caught me by surprise is all,” I say.

“Is your eye, ok?” The small girl reaches up to touch it which makes me flinch and grunt.

“I can see an angel in front of me so I guess it still works.” It’s a line but she’s cute.

It seems to work though as she blushes furiously making her lightly tanned complexion go darker.

“Where? Oh, me! Ah ha har.” She laughs adorably with even a little snort.

“What’s your name?” I ask.

“It’s Lawan.”