❝ just don't give up. ❞

―

DECHA WASN'T A GOOD PERSON.

At least, that's what he had been told most of his life. From his parents and his grandparents, from his so-called friends, and from the relationship partners he had in the past. They all said the same thing: that he was a terrible person who needed to treat people better.

He couldn't even deny that it was true. He knew that they were right. He hated that they were right.

Decha couldn't stop thinking about what Demetri said after the tournament. Decha had never liked anyone as much as he liked Demetri, and he certainly hadn't admitted to anyone that he liked them. He wasn't lying to him. He meant it when he said it.

He couldn't help but wonder if Demetri thought he was a terrible person too. Was that why he couldn't go out with him or at the very least give him a chance?

Decha didn't know what to do. He'd never been rejected by anyone. He'd never liked anyone. He didn't know that it could hurt so much. Did rejection always make your heart feel like it was broken in half?

He sat by himself at a table at Applebee's. Tonight was supposed to be a fun celebration of Cobra Kai's victory at the tournament, but instead Decha was moping by himself. It also didn't help that Demetri was there, acting like nothing happened.

Decha glanced over to the table where Demetri sat with Achara, Miguel, Hawk, Aisha, and Moon. They were all smiling and laughing and having a great time as Aisha filmed on her phone. Decha heard them cheering.

He noticed Achara and Aisha walking towards him.

Achara placed her hand on his shoulder. "Are you okay? You sure you don't want to come celebrate with us?"

Decha shook his head. "I'm sure. Especially not when Demetri's around. I don't think he wants anything to do with me."

"Huh?" Aisha asked. "Why do you say that?"

Decha sighed. "Because after the tournament, I tried to talk to him about our kiss at the Canyon—"

"Wait, back up," Achara blurted out. "You kissed? Why didn't you tell me?"

"You were kind of too busy crying your eyes out over what happened with Miguel," Decha told her. "Glad you two worked that out by the way."

"Right..." Achara responded. "Anyway, continue."

"I told him I liked him," Decha admitted to them. "I asked him if he wanted to go out with me and he said he couldn't."

"So, you're upset that he rejected you?" Aisha asked.

Decha shrugged. "I guess. I've just—I've never been rejected before. I've never liked someone so much to the point where...I don't even know. I think he just thinks I'm still messing with him."

"Of course he thinks you're just messing with him," Achara responded. "You've never been serious about anything or anyone."

"What should I do?" Decha asked. "How can I make him like me? How can I get him to go out with me?"

"You can't make people like you or make them go out with you," Aisha said. "That's not how that works."

"Then—then what should I do?" Decha asked.

"Just don't give up," Achara told him. "If you're really serious about him, don't give up."

Decha sighed.

"Now, will you stop moping and join us? This victory party is for all of us," Aisha said. "You can't let one rejection ruin your entire night."

Aisha patted him on the arm and walked away, joining the others at the table.

Achara linked her arm with Decha's. "Come on."

Decha looked over his shoulder and then at Achara before standing up. He walked with her to the table.

"Decha!" Moon smiled brightly. "I'm so glad you decided to join us. Here, sit!"

Moon patted the empty chair next to her. Decha smiled at her and took a seat.

He glanced at Demetri. The two made eye contact, but Demetri quickly turned his head, looking out the window instead.

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When Achara and Decha walked into Cobra Kai, they were surprised to see that the mirror was broken, and that part of the wall was burnt.

They looked around, trying to figure out what could have happened, but came up short.

"What the hell happened here?" Miguel asked as he walked in with Hawk.

"Looks like sensei threw a party," Aisha replied.

"Must have been pretty sick if fire got involved," Hawk said followed by a chuckle.

The twins, Miguel, and Hawk didn't have the chance to get change into their gis before sensei walked into the room yelling, "Quiet!"

The chatter stopped immediately. All eyes in the dojo—both current students and potential new students—were now on him.

"The dojo's closed to new students today."

"We just wanted to sign up after we saw the tournament," a boy said.

"Do I need to say it again?" Sensei shouted. "Get out!"

"Yes, sir...Sensei. Come on, let's go," another boy said.

The hopeful new recruits groaned as they walked out of the door. Sensei watched them leave. "Let's go, move it. Come back tomorrow and bring your checkbooks."

Sensei turned around. "Everyone, fall in!"

Achara and Decha placed their bags down and stepped on the mat, standing in rows.

"Must've been a rager, Sensei," Hawk said.

"Yeah, were you celebrating all weekend?" Miguel asked.

"Celebrating what?" Sensei asked. "That my students are a bunch of pussies?"

Miguel and Hawk's smiles faded.

"Diaz, Hawk, up front."

They both walked to stand next to Sensei. Achara stood completely still, hands down at her sides as she looked at Miguel.

"Hawk. Did you attack your opponent when his back was turned?" Sensei asked him.

"Yes, Sensei..." Hawk replied. It came out as more of a question than an answer.

"Diaz. Did you purposely attack your opponent's injury?"

Miguel nodded. "Yes, Sensei."

"You think that makes you badass?" Sensei asked them.

They glanced at each other with uncertainty as to how they should respond.

"What's the matter, too tough a question?" Sensei questioned. "Maybe you need some help. Miss Robinson!"

Aisha jumped. "Yes, Sensei."

"Two cobras in the jungle," he began. "One kills the strongest lion, the other kills a crippled monkey. Which cobra do you wanna be?"

Aisha thought for a second. "The one that kills the lion, Sensei."

"And why is that?" Sensei asked. "Miss Tiredsarat?"

"Because it killed a stronger animal," Achara answered.

"Correct!" Sensei shouted. "Cobra Kai is about being badass. And the baddest badass is the one who beats his opponent when he's at his strongest. Not when his back is turned. Not when he's injured! Is that understood?"

"Yes, Sensei," Achara and Decha replied along with the rest of the members of Cobra Kai.

"That means no more cheating. No more fighting dirty. From here on out, those are pussy moves, and you don't wanna be pussies, do you?"

"No, Sensei."

"Good. It's why I had you wear your white belts. We're starting over. Diaz, Hawk, fifty push-ups on your knuckles. Miss Robinson, warm them up."

As Aisha warned them up, Achara glanced down at Miguel as he did his push-ups. She turned to look at Decha, the two of them sharing a knowing look. They knew exactly why Sensei had given that speech and why he had lectured them. He was defending Robby.

If it had been anyone else, they doubted that he would care. But Robby was his son of course he took pity on him. Why wouldn't he?

When practice was over, Sensei gave them a homework assignment. They had to watch a movie called Over the Top. The plan was for Miguel, Decha, Achara, and Aisha to go to Hawk's house to watch it.

Achara walked on the dojo with Aisha. Achara heard a honk. Sam sat in the parking lot in her car. Aisha looked at Achara as if she were asking for approval. Achara nodded. Aisha had told her that they spoke at the tournament. Achara may not have liked Sam for pushing Aisha to the side and because of her crush on Miguel, but she wasn't going to tell Aisha who she could and couldn't be friends with. She didn't think it was her place.

Achara walked towards Miguel back as Aisha walked up to Sam's car.

"Are you okay?" Miguel asked as he grabbed her hand.

Achara nodded. "Yeah."

"Are we still on for dinner at my place tonight?" Miguel asked her. "My mom and Yaya are really excited."

"Of course we are," Achara smiled. "I can't wait."

Aisha came towards them. "Ready to go?"

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Decha wasn't paying attention to the movie at all. He zoned out about ten minutes into it, his mind drifting off to Demetri. He wanted nothing more than to talk to him again, but he couldn't. He didn't have any way to contact him. Without school in session, he didn't see him every day.

Decha stood up and walked into the kitchen. He leaned against the counter and sighed.

"Hey, what's wrong?" Hawk asked as he came in and stood next to Decha.

"I can't get my mind off of someone," Decha told him.

"Demetri?" Hawk asked.

Decha nodded. "Yeah."

"He told me what happened at the Canyon party," Hawk said.

"He hates me, doesn't he?" Decha asked.

Hawk shook his head. "He doesn't hate you. He's just trying to make sense of it all. You know, until he met you he thought he was straight. Having you flirt with him constantly and then kissing him has sent him into a spiral."

"Oh?" Decha asked. "Does he know that you're telling me all of this?"

Hawk shook his head. "No. I just...I can't stand to see you all depressed and shit. It's kind of sad."

"So, what? You want me to talk to him?" Decha asked. "Do you want me to not give up just like Achara and Aisha?"

"No," Hawk replied. "He said he doesn't want anything to do with you. I don't want to see you get hurt."

"What are you saying?" Decha asked, confused.

"I'm saying that you need to get over him," Hawk responded. "He'll never like you as much as you like him."

Decha didn't say anything. He just stared straight ahead at a cabinet as Hawk walked out of the kitchen.

Hawk's words echoed in his head. He said he wants nothing to do with you. Demetri wanted nothing to do with him. Decha inhaled a deep breath and then slowly exhaled as he walked back into the living room. He couldn't focus on the movie at all.

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Later that night after she had showered, Achara was trying to pick out what to wear to Miguel's. Her entire bed was covered in clothes that she decided weren't good enough. She wanted to look her best and impress Miguel's mom and grandma.

Every single outfit she tried on had something she found wrong with it. The dress was too short. The color didn't look good on her. The shirt was too casual.

Achara discovered that she didn't have a lot of fancy or nice clothes. The majority of her closet and dresser were full of tattered old t-shirts and ripped jeans or black and dark green cargo pants that were stained with spray paint. The nicest thing she had was a dress that was too small for her and hadn't fit since the sixth grade. She quite literally had nothing to wear.

"Mae!" Achara called out.

She came rushing into her room, thinking that something was wrong with her or that she was injured. But then she saw the clothes that were thrown all over the room.

"I have nothing to wear," Achara told her.

"Chan hen," her mother responded. "Ptibati tam chan."

Achara followed her out into the hallway and into her parents' room. She watched as her mother opened the closet and searched through it before she pulled out a dress.

It was light blue with white polka dots. A small bow tied in the back. Achara grabbed it from her mother and tried it on. She turned around to let her mother zip it up for her and tie the bow again so that it was neat.

Achara admired herself in the dress. It went just below her knees and fit her frame perfectly. She smoothed it out with her hands.

"Suay, angel," her mother complimented her. "Suay mak."

"Khob khun na ka, mae," Achara hugged her. "It's perfect."

She hugged her back. Achara pulled back from the hug and thanked her mother one last time before she walked back into her room to out her shoes on. She just wore a pair of black flats.

Achara said goodbye to her mother and made her way to her car to drive to Miguel's. The entire drive there, she rehearsed answers to the questions she thought his mom and Yaya might ask. She wanted to be as prepared as possible.

When she pulled up in front of the apartment complex and parked, Achara took a few deep breaths before she walked up to Miguel's apartment door. She raised her fist and knocked on the door. Miguel answered.

"Hi," he greeted with a smile.

Achara returned it. "Hi."

"Come in," Miguel said as he opened the door wider for her to walk in. "You look beautiful. I mean, you always look beautiful, but you look even more beautiful."

Achara couldn't help but let out a small laugh. "Thank you."

"We meet again," Miguel's mom said from the kitchen.

"Sawasdee ka," Achara greeted her. "It's nice to see you again." She turned to the woman standing next to her. "It's nice to see you again as well. Sawasdee ka."

"You've met my Yaya?" Miguel asked. "When was that? You didn't meet her at the tournament..."

"I met her that day I found you in the park," Achara told him. "I came by, and she answered."

"Oh..." Miguel replied.

"Sawasdee ka? What's that mean? It's Thai, yes?" Miguel's mom asked.

Achaea nodded. "Yes, ma'am. It's just a greeting, a way of saying hello."

"Please, call me Carmen," she replied. "Miguel tells us you've been teaching him some Thai words."

"I have," Achara responded. "He's a very quick learner."

"He sure is," Carmen said with a smile as she finished with dinner. "Let's sit."

Achara took a seat at the table next to Miguel as Carmen carried the pot that was on the stove to the table.

"That smells amazing," Achara said.

Carmen smiled. "Thank you."

Miguel served Achara her food before serving himself. Achara took a bite of the food. Her eyes widened.

"Oh my gosh," Achara said after she had swallowed the food. "It's so delicious."

"I'm glad you like it," Carmen said with a smile.

Yaya said something in Spanish. Achara turned to Miguel. While she was teaching him Thai, he was tensing her Spanish. But there was still a lot that she didn't understand.

"She asked if you thought it was spicy," Miguel translated. "A lot of my other friends say that it's too hot."

Achara shook her head. "Oh, no. Not at all. I'm used to eating spicy foods. A lot of Thai dishes have quite a bit of spice."

Yaya spoke again.

"She just said she likes you already," Miguel told her.

"Thank you, Yaya," Achara responded to her.

"So, Achara, you're in Cobra Kai with Miguel?" Carmen said. "You were great in the tournament."

"Thank you," Achara replied.

"¿Cómo conociste a Miguel?" Yaya asked.

"She's asking you how we met," Miguel said.

"Oh, we actually met in biology class," Achara told her. "We were assigned to be lab partners."

"When did you join Cobra Kai?" Carmen asked.

"I joined with my friend, Aisha," Achara stated. "She was getting bullied and wanted to learn to defend herself. She managed to convince me to go with her."

"That was nice of you to go with her," Carmen replied. "Do you like it? Karate?"

Achara nodded. "Yes, ma'am—Carmen."

Carmen chuckled. "And Johnny? Your sensei. He's a good teacher, no?"

"Ma..." Miguel sighed.

"He's a little extra at times," Achara admitted. "But he's great. You can tell karate is his passion."

As they continued to eat, Carmen and Yaya continued to ask Achara more questions to get to know her. When dinner was over, Achara helped was the dishes.

"You don't have to do that," Carmen said to her. "You've made a fantastic impression already."

Achara smiled. "I don't mind."

When the dishes were rinsed and dried, Miguel walked Achara out to her car.

"That went well," Achara said.

"Are you kidding? It went perfectly," Miguel responded. They absolutely adore you."

Achara smiled and leaned in to give Miguel a kiss. He kissed her back instantly.

Achara pulled away. "See you tomorrow at practice?"

Miguel nodded. "Yup."

Achara gave Miguel another quick peck before she opened her car door and got inside. Miguel waved to her as she pulled out of the parking lot.

Achara had never felt happier.

Decha wished he could say the same.

— EMILIA'S NOTES + TRANSLATIONS

and season 2 begins!! the drama i have in store for this season is going to be absolutely wild! so prepare yourself...

also just wanna say thank you all so much for the love and support. i appreciate your reads, votes, and comments so much!! <3

alternative chapter title: how to handle rejection for dummies was added to decha thirasawat's cart.

TRANSLATIONS:
- chan hen
chan hen means i see.

- ptibati tam chan
ptibati tam chan means follow me.

-suay/suay mak
suay means beautiful. suay mak means very beautiful.

- knob khun na ka
khob khun means thank you. adding na ka makes it sound more polite.