Upper Room

[J-Hop]

[ :: WORK HARD, PLAY LATER :: ]
It comes down to how badly you want it!



Golden Boy Studios
July 5th 2012 – 1:22 pm

Post-Independence Day, all was back to normal. The lively sounds of ‘never-ending’ fireworks and bright sparkling lights displaying out of apartment windows, it was a great moment for us. Me and Karin, to watch as it seemed like a reflection of our lives. We were set in place and then with a little push, we took off into the clouds, aiming and hoping to land where we wanted to be. For Karin, she had slid right into a promotion at her workplace. Promotion = More money, more money = leaving this ‘dump’. I just wanted to make it equal on both sides, instead of having her do all the heavy work of bill paying and shit.

It was hectic to keep up with paper with number figures on it unless it was green and hand presidents faces. I just knew in due time, I’d receive some hopeful news, a direction forward onto the next plateau. My name was already spewing from a few notable faces. That was a step further. Elated, is a better word choice.

Right now, everything was sitting in the palm of my hand. I was back on a win streak, my confidence was back to the normal position, my energy was back to full, my dedication was back to its full location on the meter scale. I was ready for anything and everything. I was going to make sure my opponent know that Jair Hopkins was the greatest in spirit. The reality of being great, I was getting there. As long as I felt like it, I’d be just fine.

It had been a few weeks since I had met up with my mentor, the one that brought me to fruition to become a professional wrestler, a way to stay away from the violent street scene and accomplish something in life. I thought it would be a good idea to visit him before I took back off onto the road to Oklahoma. I knew he would probably be on my ass for the ‘lazy’ effort put in to those two chances to grab an early lead at a championship title.

I’d kick my own ass, if I had a third leg.

But the present would be the only focus for me. I had to get back on my training session. I had lagged major with my routine. Relaxing, experimenting with the obscene culture of green grass, acting stupid, it all had taken me off route to what was supposed to be the only thing in front of me … Development, Maturing, and Progression.

I wanted to be a coveted star like everyone else I saw above me. Name cheered for by thousands and a fan base that could rival Charlie Sheen’s #Winning hashtag, I had a few, I was on my way, but I wanted more. The only way to get more is to enhance, to upgrade, and do better … THEN maybe.

“Damn, for a minute there … I thought you had forgotten about this place!” The sarcasm from Juan’s voice as I made my way through the door, hidden underneath a hoodie.

Notice, it was ninety-five degrees outside. I had a hoodie on. Bold.

“Nah man, I’d never forget the place that ‘birthed’ me. I just been …”

“Lazy?” Juan quickly answered in my favor. I had a different answer of course, but I guess I had to take that and just be quiet. My head was down, knowing I couldn’t look him directly in the eye, bold as if I knew shit. I didn’t know shit, I was still a rookie according to my watch.

“Yeah, that too … I really have just been trying too hard at times, losing focus at the same time.” I said, shaking my head.

“Well the road is only going to grow tougher. After all the brand you are on is a ‘proving ground’, so it’s not just you who’s trying to see the light at the end of the tunnel.” Juan told me, shooting his advice into my ears, hoping it would “stick”.

“Yeah, I hear ya man … I think that experimental herb last week made me realize shit into a different perspective.” I said as Juan’s eyes immediately lit up.

“What? You’re smoking now? The fuck else you been up to?” Juan asked, extremely interested now into what I’ve been doing.

Why did I tell him, I had no idea but it had come out and now he was wondering what else I had been doing, maybe I should ‘clean’ that up a little.

“Actually, Karin had it hidden in her bag. She came in from work, saw me stressed out and right after that she rolled one and we shared turns smoking it. It was a first, had me tripping … literally.” I said, smiling looking back at my foolish antics.

Juan placed a finger on the side of his chin as he nodded his head.

“So that explains it!” Juan spoke as if he found the solution to something. “People were telling me you were acting strange on twitter and your promo last week was odd and strange. Now it all comes clear, your ass was truly rolling in the green pastures.” Juan said as he started laughing, not wanting to but had no way of holding it back.

I stood there, still inside the hoodie as I just shook my head slightly. I made my way forward as I headed towards the private room area that was Juan’s personal workout gym, when he chose to work on his physique and tone. He looked at me as he followed behind me up the stairs and into the room.

“I need to ‘tone’ up a few things.” I told Juan as I sat down on the bench, grabbing the two side arms, pulling them forward as I could feel the hurting pain in my arm as I tried to let it go slow before repeating the process over.

“Yeah, you look like you could use it … Plus your opponent this week is a ‘starter’ … he sees this as an opportunity to defeat a person who has a chance to go to the next stage. You better be prepared to take him down, or else…” Juan said, trying to inject what was at stake.

“Yeah, I seen his work … I know the risks, Juan. I’m well aware of my situation.” I said, rolling my eyes as I tried focusing on the bench.

“Do you now? Well I guess you heard the word around then …” Juan said as my eyes stopped rolling, immediately stopping as I looked at him like Gary Coleman to Todd Bridges.

“What chu’ talkin bout’ Juan?” I asked, now really out of mind.

“Well I got some sources that said some very key people will be in attendance, grading your work at Meltdown. I don’t know who or what it is for, but kid, I suggest you lay it all on the line!”

My eyes grew slimmer, focusing on something across the wall from me as I took in what Juan was saying. Juan always had the ‘lowdown’ on shit. He just did, he had people all around. I really was on heels, trying to figure out about what he just said.

I jumped up, sort of giving Juan a slight shock, as he stepped back.

“What’s up soldier?” Juan asks.

“I gotta’ go … You got me on a spiral right now …” I told Juan as I was still under shock from what he told me.

People watching my performance, something was up.

I didn’t know whether to keep a calm face or smile. Hell, for all I know, Juan could be tricking me into thinking there are some ‘evaluators’ in the audience. I didn’t need to be on another ‘trip’. Either way, I had to somehow remain focus. Beating Mike Foxx was the task at hand.

=============={}==============

"PERFECTION"
TAPING: Recording Session #005
DATE: July 7th, 2012
OPPONENT: "The Main Event" Mike Foxx

[ REC • ]


It was a complete 360 degree turnaround for Jair. Everything had went perfect last week for him in his victory over El Insecto De Negro, despite the negative reviews of his promo, he never paid no mind to that issue and instead, moving on. Moving on to what, as he learned … could be his biggest outing. He was still under complete confusion to what or who was going to be in attendance but the fact was, he had to be on point, with everything he did and for him, that was a worry and a half. Not just for walking into a trap, but to walk into failure. If he had succumbed to pressure and reface the other couple of weeks before last week, he’d never forgive himself. Everything meant so much to him right now. He was planning on keeping that focus on lock.

J-Hop: Last week, it was only the beginning to something special. El Insecto De Negro found out about me and why the odds were heavily against him. I applaud his effort in trying to take me down but I took my job serious and I did my job to be victorious. I got a mixed review last week on my behavior … The look in my eyes, the tone in my voice, all was a wandering mystery to why? Weed, drugs are bad, I know that but I needed something last week and so fortunate, my girl, Karin had told me to trust her … it wouldn’t hurt.

Jair nodded.

J-Hop: And surely, it didn’t. It made everything better … It was like the Tylenol or the Ibuprofen. No need for registration or some bullshit papers. It was in my hands and after a few puffs, the world became easier to see and understand. Everybody isn’t perfect … I damn sure not. I want to be, I need to be, but I know it will take time to get there. Even when you’re at the success level of most in this company, you still are achieving for a ten out of ten.

Jair continued to nod until he stopped, looking upwards.

J-Hop: Perfection isn’t real, it’s fantasy. No matter how hard you try, you will never achieve it, even when defending as a champion. If you were perfect, there would be no need to face you because you would never lose and for any smart person in this world, you will lose, might be once, might be a trillion times, you will lose. Now for my opponent here in Mike Foxx or well “Main Event” Mike Foxx, I’m a little startled on the moniker, but all is good. Your body of work may not be there, but your spirit makes you feel like a main event. Unless you’re going off on past experiences then it’s pretty non-irrelevant here on this stage.

Jair throws his hands up in the air as if saying “Oh Well!” to his opponent, Mike Foxx. Standing in the east portion of Oklahoma City, being a true face, he sports the ‘Kevin Durant 35’ Jersey as in front of him, holding the camcorder, it’s Karin who is in a ‘Russell Westbrook’ jersey as it is a complete set. Karin tries to keep her hands steady as she films Jair as they stand in the front of a local barbershop, Jair looks to continue.

J-Hop: Mike, this week, I’m not Dante. Although you had a bad outing against the ‘Marilyn Manson’ copy, I’m not him. Both of you had your first showing last week and it just didn’t work out for you. Sorry to go your route of being the bad guy, but you’re not going to win this week either. See, I’ve got something to fight for. One day, you will be in this position and you’ll understand that day when I told you that I had something to fight for. This needs to be as close to perfection as possible. Mike, you will be my stepping ladder to the next plateau … don’t worry, if you think I’ll send you credit for your donation as a step ladder, think not. I worked too hard to let yet another opportunity slip pass me fingertips. I’m grabbing this one and I’m keeping it.

J-Hop: Hey, at least look at the bright side of it all, you’re one match away on this card from living up to your moniker’s status. Take this as a ‘Thank You!’ and not as disrespect. They say good guys always finish last … Not this time around. The bad guy will be the one in last place, out of breathe, seconds from collapsing. Maybe once you gain your composure and breath back, maybe you can tell your friends you got “OMFG” by a ‘True G’ that made himself from nothing to something in no time … Headed to the ‘Upper Room’ as they so perfectly made it sound like heaven in the film ‘Life’. Maybe one day if you work hard enough to want it, I’ll see you in the ‘Upper Room’ too. Till then, Buenos Noches …

Jair gives the ‘cut-throat’ gesture to cut the recording process as Karin does so, closing up the recorder as she gives Jair a hug.

J-Hop: Did that seem legit?

He asked Karin who quickly nodded.

Karin: That was good, babe … I just hope this film work will pay off for me one day. I could use the step up.

J-Hop: For sure, but do one thing at a time and not burn yourself out. How bout some food tho?

Karin: Wonderful. Let’s go!

The two, hand in hand, walks damn near in sync with each step they take. With them repping the hometown state, they hoped for some discounts. Money was hard right now. Had to save every bit but hopefully that would all change.