"Good evening, Mrs. Klien," I greeted.

"Oh, hi, Dave! Please come in!" she welcomed me with a radiant smile. I stepped into the house, a charming duplex nestled in a warm and inviting neighborhood. I found myself drawn to its peaceful ambiance. Unlike the bustling and noisy cities where I grew up, in a small condo, this place exuded a sense of serenity.

As I entered the house, adorned with delightful and tasteful decorations, I couldn't help but admire its pristine condition. It was a testament to the girl who called it home. Just before reaching the kitchen, my eyes were captivated by a grand display case filled with numerous medals.

"Who won all of these?" I inquired.

"Oh, mostly they belong to Jane. And the rest are Jack's," Mrs. Klien replied. I peered into the glass, marveling at the medals earned in judo matches and basketball tournaments.

"Who takes judo classes?" I asked, genuinely intrigued.

Before Mrs. Klien could respond, we entered the kitchen, where the lively sounds of laughter and conversation filled the air. I could hear a soothing voice amidst the commotion.

"Alright, we have a guest today," Mrs. Klien announced, introducing me to the occupants of the room. Seated on the right side of the table was a kind-looking man, who greeted me with a warm smile. Next to him sat a boy, likely Jack.

"And here comes the best part!" a voice chimed in from the kitchen. A gentle footstep, and...

"Jane, look who's here!" Mrs. Klien nudged me forward slightly. I locked eyes with a startled face, momentarily freezing time. The pudding nearly slipped from her hands, but she managed to catch it just in time.

"What are you doing here?" Jane's discomfort was evident in her voice.

"It's alright. I'm their guest," I reassured.

"You didn't say anything. Well, there's only enough dessert for us," she retorted.

"It's alright, sweetheart. I'm almost full," Mr. Klien interjected, rising from his seat and approaching me. He was an imposing figure, tall and robust. I couldn't help but wonder if the basketball medals belonged to him.

"Hello, young man. I'm Jane's dad," he greeted, extending his hand. I felt a tremor of nerves as I shook his hand. It was akin to meeting the president for the first time, an honor tinged with apprehension. He then walked over to his daughter, who remained rooted in place like a statue, still in shock.

"That looks delicious," I exclaimed, pointing at the tempting pudding. Jane stood there, nibbling on her lip, a blend of cuteness and allure. I pulled out a chair and settled into the dining room, holding a dessert spoon and a plate.

"Would you care to serve me some pudding, Miss Jane Klien?" I playfully winked, causing her to be taken aback. However, she eventually gathered herself and graciously served me a portion.

That's how my connection with Jane began.

Yet, despite our growing bond, I realized that I still had much to learn about her. We spent countless hours together, especially on Saturdays, as her family hosted movie nights and never failed to extend an invitation to me. Initially, she seemed uneasy, but as time elapsed, she became my friend.

I frequently occupied my free time at her place, inviting her to watch my games and hanging out with her. Even my teammates started complaining, noting that I was spending less and less time with them. But I couldn't bear to miss those moments with her. I found myself longing for her company.

However, despite all the time we spent together, there was still so much I didn't know about her.

***

It was a PT session, and the entire class assembled at the gym to continue our martial arts training, focusing on judo that day.

"Hey, did you see Jane?" I asked my friend.

"Nope. Maybe she's still stuck in the locker," she replied.

I feel a bit uneasy. Jane was never late. Never. She was the epitome of punctuality.

"I should probably go check on her," I suggested.

"Don't you dare!" Krissy pointed her finger at my eyes. I couldn't help but chuckle. Suddenly, I spotted Jane emerging from the locker room. She looked utterly miserable, clutching her judo uniform as if her life depended on it, and her eyes seemed filled with caution.

"What's wrong?" I inquired, concerned. She remained silent, completely ignoring me. She slowly made her way toward Krissy and Luna, engaging in a conversation. Luna offered her a warm embrace, while Krissy said something before they settled down together. I took my place next to Jane, but she swiftly exchanged seats with Luna.

"What's wrong?" I tried asking Luna, but she only responded with silence. The class began, and everyone took their seats. The coach provided a simple briefing before the sparring session commenced.

I couldn't help but notice Jane's timidity, as she tried to avoid any physical contact during the sparring. She clung tightly to her judo uniform, which struck me as rather peculiar. After all, she was usually so active during PT.

"Okay, let's move on to one-on-one sparring," the coach announced, and the entire class gathered around. He scanned each one of us with a scrutinizing gaze.

"Alright, we'll start with Miss Matthew," he declared, pointing to Ginny, one of Julia's friends. The choice was quite interesting, given their dynamic. They exchanged a few words and giggles before Ginny was pushed towards the judo mat.

"Alright, you can choose your opponent," the coach announced.

"I choose Jane!" she exclaimed, her voice cheerful and full of brightness. Krissy and Luna glanced at Jane, and it was clear that something was amiss. Their giggles hinted at some hidden knowledge. The situation became evident, and they attempted to lift her spirits. It seemed like trouble was brewing.

"Sorry, coach, but she's not feeling well today," Krissy offered as an excuse for her dismissal.

"Whoa, that's sudden! Are you sick or scared?" the coach quipped.

"Chicken!" the entire class booed in unison, catching Jane off guard. She simply looked down, and I couldn't help but feel sympathy for her.

"Let me take her place, coach!" Luna volunteered.

"What? You?! Oh my gosh, forget it! With your weak leg, you're not even in my league!" Ginny smirked, underestimating Luna. However, Luna brushed off the comment, standing up and entering the ring.

"I don't care! Let's get this started!"

"Okay, if that's what you wish for!" Ginny swung a powerful punch, sending Luna tumbling to the ground. I could hear her cries of pain, but she continued to rise, refusing to give up.

"Take this!" Ginny grabbed Luna's collar and threw her down with force. The sound of a bone cracking echoed through the air, and Luna cried out in agony.

"That's enough!" Jane suddenly stood up, shocking everyone present. Her eyes were filled with determination as she glared at Ginny.

"I'll fight you," she declared, her voice slow but carrying an intense sharpness. Ginny smirked, accepting the challenge and stepping into the ring. Their eyes locked, each filled with fierce determination.

"Ready, fight!" the command was given, and within seconds, Ginny was sent flying through the air, crashing down like a heavy rock. Everyone's jaws dropped in astonishment. I was utterly convinced that it would be Ginny who would soar through the air, not Jane.

Jane stood up, assuming a solid stance. Ginny swung her leg, attempting to take her down, but Jane swiftly evaded the attack and rolled aside. With a calm expression, Jane remained composed.

"I'll fight her!" Judy volunteered, entering the ring. However, Ginny had already retreated from the "war zone," leaving Judy to face Jane alone. They locked eyes, ready for the next showdown.

Judy made her move, but Jane calmly pushed her away. Judy tried to execute a lock, but instead, she ended up falling on her own. Everyone was astounded by Jane's incredible speed and ability. She looked like a professional, her face radiating a sense of tranquility.

"I thought she was weak!" Frank whispered in my ear. "Me too, Frank! This is a whole new experience for me as well!" I replied, equally amazed.

Judy appeared exhausted and on the verge of passing out. Now, it was Julia's turn. She strode into the ring with confidence. It was widely known that she was a skilled judoka, boasting a black belt.

They stared at each other intently. Despite her fatigue, Jane maintained her composure. Julia approached her, speaking softly. I could see Jane's face darken, but suddenly, she broke into a mischievous smirk.

The "fight" began, escalating into a fierce and serious battle. Both of them seemed determined to annihilate each other. However, overconfidence proved to be their downfall. Jane secured a tight lock on Julia's hand, causing her to wince in pain but eventually break free.

Out of the blue, Julia grabbed Jane's belt and untied it. Everyone gasped as her uniform was revealed. It turned out to be a camisole, a white lace camisole that was undeniably provocative. Jane was shocked, hastily wrapping herself up. The boys erupted with excitement, unable to contain their reactions. Meanwhile, Julia wore a smug expression.

In a sudden burst of energy, Jane lunged at Julia, gripping her collar, taking down her leg, and forcefully throwing her onto the mat. Julia struggled for a moment, but then Jane reached into her trouser pocket, producing something unknown. She swiftly applied a headlock on Julia, causing her to cry out in pain.

"That's enough!" the coach put an end to the sparring session, and Jane released Julia. Gasping for air, Julia looked unsatisfied and attempted to retaliate, but the bell rang, interrupting her intentions.

As everyone rushed into the gym locker, the boys couldn't help but admire Jane's physique, deeming her body quite attractive. I stood up, walked over to her, and playfully hugged her.

"Sorry, but that was quite the exposure!" I chuckled, glancing at her hand. She held her shirt, presumably the item she had pulled out of Julia's pocket.

"Show's over!" Frank shooed the boys back to the class, leaving only Jane and me behind.

"She said if I let her win, she would return my shirt... but I knew she was just lying," Jane spoke in a deep voice, and I gently pushed her back as tears welled up in her eyes.

I adjusted her judo uniform and ensured it covered her properly. "It's okay. You did a great job. Maybe even better than expected!" I smiled at her, and she responded with a sheepish laugh.

"At least I learned something new about you today..."

"Which part?"

"All of it!" I gestured toward her entire body. Suddenly, she swiftly swept her leg, causing me to fall.

"Ouch! That hurt!"

"Pervert!" she teased, flashing a mischievous smile. I got back up and laughed.

Well, that's the day I realized I needed to get to know her better!

Following the incident, my classmates began paying considerable attention to Jane. She gradually became the object of desire for many men, a bitter reality. I did my best to convince everyone otherwise, but the damage had already been done, and there was little I could do.

Jane was fine with the situation, although she didn't particularly enjoy it. However, at least Julia's clan started avoiding her, making life a bit easier. Or so it seemed, at least until then.