And Jason gets to hear something about his student that he has no idea about.
Chapter 17: Reminder
As Musaki, Max, Jason and Arizona walked down the palace steps, they were completely overwhelmed by the results that had occured on that visit and it was not what they expected, yet at the same time when it involved Max and Tigress, it was unsurprising for Musaki, Arizona and Max...but very surprising for Jason who witnessed that.
"I have no idea she would do things like that. I mean, I knew she had some sorts of anger tendencies, but I never knew that one was severe." Jason said.
Musaki knew Tigress' anger very well and how explosive she can be if her anger took control of herself and said, "Trust me, you don't know the half of it. Tigress has gotten to it with Max since he was eight or nine and most of the Jade Palace masters and the Hazards took notice of him and spent a little time with them individually and Tigress' growing jealousy of Max started when he was spending a little time with Takami, Layla and Po. She started thinking that they like him better than her and that he was taking over all of their attention instead of her."
"But we found out later that there was more to the story than that...a little deeper, I guess you could say." Arizona added.
"How deep are we saying?" asked Jason.
"Tigress' jealousy of Max turns to bitter resentment because of all the things he went through in his early life; from being emotionally and physically abused by his birth parents, his mother molesting him, being abandoned by his own mother, getting tortured by savage wolves and picked on at the orphanage. You'd think after all of that, he would've hardened his heart and be an angry person out of it, but Max went the other way. He took all of those hardships he suffered and turned it into positives. He's grateful, happy and he's a survivor. It's amazing on how much a young person can get through all of that and end up being a happy guy." Musaki said.
"And that's the issue between him and Tigress; because of what he's gone through and compared to what she went through at the orphanage, Tigress never fully recovered from those horrific memories she endured. They're at the same orphanage, but never met together...in case you were wondering. Tigress was called the 'M' word thousands of times and got made fun of because she was a tiger and never seemed to get through that or got over it. Max, on the other hand...did get over it and has been very happy and easily forgivable about it. He told me that he looks at those as funny stories one time. I'm constantly blown away by how strong he's become. And that's the problem...Tigress never got over it and Max did and she wished that it was the other way around and that she can be forgivable like Max is and not treat people badly because of her attitude." Arizona added.
Jason was almost speechless for a minute there and he turned to Max for a second and said, "Wow...you're like the real deal, man."
"Oh, stop it. I'm not that special." Max said, as humbly as possible.
"Yeah, you are. You have a very pure heart, Max. You see the good in people who can be sometimes a bit of a nuisance themselves and always see the best in people instead of the worst." Jason added.
"That's because I spend time with them and at least try to get to know them a little better." Max answered.
Jason nods his head and has a much better understanding with Max now than ever before and it made him felt like he's made a difference within himself and it's like Max is the teacher instead of the student...in some sort of weird yet spiritual way that would benefit his own personal life and realized that Max is one of those special students.
"Which reminds me...Jason, would you like to meet my family for dinner sometime? My adopted parents want to meet you." Max said.
That was a first that Jason never expected to hear...being invited by his own student to have dinner with them with his family and he was a little speechless and Max was waiting for his answer and it took a few seconds for Jason to have his response and said, "Of course."
"Sweet." Max said.
"Cool with me. So...I guess I'll see you at training tomorrow." Jason said.
"Of course." Max said, with a smile.
All four of them walked in separate ways back to their homes and Arizona wanted to do more than he can to kibosh Tigress' rivalry with Max because at some point, Max will grow tired of this when he gets older and it'll get old fast and he kept his eye out for both tigers, but mostly Max for protection and well-being.
Jason and Max's relationship has started to grow more outside of MMA training. Stick around for more!