CHAPTER 83

Marcos was nervous. That was the first feeling that coursed through his body as he reluctantly met his girlfriend's gaze. He knew that things were seriously wrong, and that what was about to happen was more than just an argument. Sarah was a ticking time bomb, shifted back and forth in her seat, unable to sit still. She was a few seconds away from completely erupting with rage.

Though Sarah still hadn't a clue about what was going on, watching Marcos lying beside her, gripped by an all-consuming nightmare, she now knew more than ever that he was still lying to her. That what he told her at the Cobra Kai dojo before they left for Japan, even if it had been true, was just a fraction of the whole story. And that massive omission of the truth… it was just as bad as lying. If not worse, because all it meant was Marcos didn't trust her enough to let her in about what was going on. He didn't care about the amount of concern and worry she felt about him, he still didn't think she was worth opening up to.

"Marcos…" Sarah took a deep breath. This was going to be one of the hardest things she had ever done, but she knew that it was necessary. Not only for her own sanity, but as a way of sending a message to Marcos. That she was done with the stubbornness and the bald-faced lies. "I'm done."

Marcos looked at her, confused.

"Done? Done with what exactly? Done with me? Done with Cobra Kai?"

"Done with everything." Sarah replied, looking him dead in the eye as she spoke. "Done with you not trusting me. Done with your lying straight to my face. Done with every time I ask you about what's going on, you say…"

"Sarah, I don't know what you're talking about." Marcos interrupted in a quiet murmur and if possible, Sarah's face got even darker with anger.

"Do you really think so little of me?" She said, in a quiet tone that was more terrifying than any yelling. "It's been more than 5 months, Marcos. More than 5 months we've been together. We've spent almost every day during that time in each other's company. Do you really still think so little of me that you don't trust me to know what's going on?"

"Sarah, nothing's going on." Marcos murmured. It was physically killing him to keep up this lie. He knew, especially with the threats his father had made before he had left for Japan, it was safer for Sarah to keep her in the dark. Who knew what she'd do if she found out and how her father would react? His lie certainly wasn't fooling anyone anymore though, and all it did was drive a wedge further and further between the couple.

"Marcos, stop! Just stop! Drop the Goddamn act!" Sarah shouted. "I know for a fact that something's going on! This isn't all in my head! So at least have the sack to look me in the eye and tell me that whatever it is, you just don't want to tell me!"

"Sarah, please just trust me! It's not that I don't want to. I physically can't!" Marcos shot back.

"Why not?! What's stopping you?!" Sarah exclaimed.

"I… I… can't tell you." Marcos' voice trailed off. He knew he had really stepped in it now. Sarah really looked like she was about to explode, and it took her a few moments to collect herself enough to reply. In that time, as Sarah took a few deep breaths, Marcos noticed a few tears rolling down her cheeks and his heart shattered. He was so close to just spilling about everything and it took all of his restraint to stop himself from doing so.

"Marcos, I can't do this anymore." Sarah murmured in a voice no louder than a whisper. "All the worrying, all the stress, all the concern… all to not even know about what the hell is going on with you."

"Sarah, you never have to worry about me. I can handle myself." Marcos tried to reassure her. Sarah raised an eyebrow.

"As can I. But if the roles were reversed, can you really tell me that you wouldn't still be worried?" Sarah asked, once again looking him right in the eye. Although Marcos didn't respond and merely stared down at his feet, his body language said it all.

"Sarah…" Marcos began but Sarah stopped him before he could say anything more.

"I can't take it anymore. I'm sorry." Sarah whispered, her tears falling thick and fast now. "You've made me feel more loved than I could've ever imagined. And I love you more than I thought it was even possible to love someone. But I wish… I wish I was more patient. I really wish I could be able to handle all of this but I just can't."

As the plane began its descent, tears were now falling from Marcos too now. This really was the end of their relationship. 5 months, The 5 best months of Marcos' entire life by far and it had all been because of her. After what had happened to his mom, he had almost begun to believe that he was incapable of getting close to someone and loving someone for the rest of his life. Sarah had completely disproved that fact, effortlessly waltzing into his life and making him feel things he never imagined he'd be blessed enough to feel about another person.

But that was gone now. Their relationship had officially died, time of death evening of January 11th. A mere single Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years they had spent together and by the looks of it, they weren't going to be adding anything else to that tally. Neither said another word as the plane landed, both sitting in complete silence, processing what had just happened. But as soon as the plane landed, both practically shot off the aircraft, immediately going their separate ways, neither wanting to be around the other right now, both officially single for the first time in almost half a year.

However, unfortunately, they'd have to be around each other sooner than they thought. Because as soon as they made it back to L.A, even though the time was almost 10 pm in the evening, Kreese had still summoned them both for a quick debrief of the trip. So the teenagers didn't have much choice but to go to the Cobra Kai dojo, even if they got into separate taxis on the way. Making it to the dojo at around the same time, as they walked inside, a blast of cold air and tension entered with them, noticeable by literally everyone who was around them, in this case that was only Kreese himself.

From the moment Kreese stepped out of his office and into the main dojo to face them, he could tell something was wrong between his two champions. He could slice the tension in the dojo with a knife, and he knew that more likely than not, that tension had nothing to do with Karate at all and more to do with their Karate relationship.

"Ah, you're back!" He exclaimed, almost delighted to see his champions back after 2 weeks of being forced to train students very much out of the picture of winning the Taikai. "How was Japan?"

"Very interesting. We learned a lot from them. It started off kind of rocky as we weren't allowed into the Miyagi-Do dojo to train with them, but we ended up managing to train with Chozen Toguchi's uncle himself, who taught the man everything he knows." Marcos told him. Kreese's eyes widened with surprise, nodding thoughtfully as he processed this, before smiling faintly at them.

"That sounds like a very productive trip indeed." He responded. "Look, I know you both have school tomorrow so I'm not going to keep you any longer. But I do feel the need to remind you both that our priority is winning the Taikai. I can tell something happened between you, and it's none of my business as to what, but I need to know that neither of you aren't going to get distracted because of it. You two are the leaders of this dojo. We need you giving it everything if we want to win the Taikai, at least while you're on the mat. When you're off the mat, you can do whatever you want. Understand?"

"Yes, sensei." Both Sarah and Marcos replied and a few seconds later, they were dismissed. Marcos almost immediately made his way to the exit, both dreading and wanting desperately to go home after what had been one of the worst days of his life. He practically kicked his way out the door, for the first time in a long time, completely untethered to anything in the world. He was all-in Cobra Kai now, all-in on any of its teachings, not a shred of remorse or regret left in him. It was like all feeling had burnt away inside him, leaving him just a husk of himself, a hollow mold ready to be filled with anger, pain and sorrow.

Sarah, on the other hand, remained in the dojo for a little longer to talk to her Sensei. Once she was certain Marcos was gone and out of earshot, she turned to Kreese, masking her devastation about the breakup with a look of concern.

"Something's not right with him." Sarah remarked to Kreese, who understood immediately. It wasn't a secret that Marcos had been slightly off in the leadup to the Japan trip, but he figured whatever it was would be sorted out while they were away. And besides, Marcos hid it so well that the few signs Kreese had seen, he figured it was just a minor issue that would soon be resolved on its own.

"He told you this?" Kreese asked, genuinely concerned about Marcos, not just as his champion student, but also as his mentee that he had grown to really care about.

"Basically. He hasn't said what but whatever it is, it's definitely something big." Sarah replied. Big enough for him to rather ending their relationship than telling her at least. Although she didn't say this explicitly to her sensei, Kreese sensed as much from the tone and he nodded.

"I'll keep an eye out for him."

Meanwhile, Marcos had just arrived at his apartment, very late that night. He knew that his father was bound to be home from work by now, and unless a miracle had occurred in the past 2 weeks, Marcos was bound to be on the receiving end of some brutal fists and kicks as soon as he walked inside. But a funny thing happened as he placed one hand on the doorknob…

The past few weeks, since this horrific cycle of abuse had started, Marcos had dreaded and feared going home. His hand always trembled violently as he turned the doorknob but tonight… tonight, his hand was dead steady. He wasn't scared of what was about to come but instead he was ready for it. He was ready to relish the pain, the suffering. By now, he deserved it all for what he had done to Sarah, and he wanted nothing less than the most powerful blows his father had to offer. And as he stepped inside his apartment, that was exactly what he got…