ALL NOVEL Chapter 73: Respect
"Do you want to be next?" Max looked at Joey, who was staring at him from afar. Joey simply smiled.
The tension in the air grew, but Joey wasn't going to fall into Max's games so easily. What he had just witnessed was something rare, the kind of event that only happens a few times a year. Max was in a league of his own, and Joey could see that clearly.
"For anyone who wants to challenge me, I'll always be at Cobra Kai, which will soon become the best martial arts school in the country." Max was also here to promote the martial arts school where he trained.
When Max said these words, his eyes locked onto Terry's, as if saying, "Look, uncle, I'll make that dream you never achieved a reality."
Max had a dream of his own, and that was to accomplish what his uncle couldn't: taking Cobra Kai to the next level. He wanted to be the star that represented the very best of it all.
While dealing with his personal struggles, Max focused on this shared dream that his uncle had abandoned long ago.
But now, as Terry saw the immense potential Max had been honing, something deep inside him stirred, an insatiable hunger awakened.
"Look at that. We're back where we started," Terry murmured, realizing that neither he nor Max could escape their true nature.
When Max stepped down from the combat arena, he put on his shirt and walked over to his uncle, giving him a hug. "I didn't think you'd come back so soon."
"Well, I heard from your friend that you've been having a lot of fun at Cobra Kai. Quite unexpected, if you ask me," Terry said as he walked with Max to a quieter spot.
"Did you hear about my neighbor?"
"What neighbor?" Terry asked, confused.
"Forget it. Are you planning to return to Cobra Kai? The school could use someone with your skills. You'd make a great teacher for the newcomers."
"I'm not sure…"
Max knew how Terry felt about it, so he said, "If there's something holding you back, let me tell you this: I'll never abandon the goal of making Cobra Kai great."
"But that dream isn't genuine, Max. Why are you so interested in my old dreams? You should focus on what you really want, not on what I once wished for," Terry said, sensing that Max might be clinging to something because something else was bothering him.
Max's way of dealing with problems was all too familiar to Terry. He didn't just focus on things that made him feel good; he also poured himself into fulfilling others' wishes.
Perhaps Max's behavior was a way of seeking validation, a way for others to come to his aid and save him from whatever was troubling him.
When Terry realized how invested Max was in Cobra Kai, part of him felt proud, but another part worried about what this might mean for his nephew's life.
"I'll be fine. I promise," Max said, determined to grow, to be different around his friends, and to overcome his problems on his own.
Terry wanted to continue the conversation, but he noticed a girl looking at Max and said, "Looks like you've got admirers. I'll wait for you at the hotel."
Max, surprised, turned to see Zara waving at him from a distance. He wanted to talk more with his uncle, but Terry walked away as soon as he spoke.
As Zara approached, she said to Max, "You made me a lot of money."
"I didn't think you were the betting type, especially on someone you barely know," Max replied, feeling that Zara was very interested in him. The truth was, he didn't understand why, not because he was clueless about relationships, but this felt different.
"I don't usually bet."
Max smirked slightly and asked, "Are you staying here longer?"
"I guess for a few more weeks. Why? Are you planning to ask me out?"
"Do you want to visit the martial arts school where I train?"
"Now that sounds interesting," Zara said with a wide smile. She was drawn to strong men, and she didn't know anyone stronger than Max—she could feel it.