CHAPTER 3
1963 Words
Yala’s POV
Sweat ran down my entire body as I concentrated on staying balanced, my weight evenly distributed between my legs, giving me more agility in every movement I made.
My opponent is also fixed in her position, her eyes closed, indicating that she is attentive to every one of my moves.
Incredible!
That's what I admire most about her, the way she can analyze a whole situation, even knowing she's at a disadvantage, since I've already scored four points, while she hasn't managed a single point.
I look at the clock which is timing the fight, and realized that we have been on the mat for five minutes, which means it's time to end this.
Paige comes towards me and we both go to the ground, but I manage to stay on top of her, quickly turning my body to lock her in an armbar. A few seconds later, she taps my arms, giving up the fight, and I come out victorious.
It's over!
"Yala Smith is the winner," Sensei Benjamin Black, who is also the owner of the gym, announces, making everyone applaud the great display they just witnessed.
I walked over to my friend and extended my hand to help her up. When she stands up, I realize she's upset because she was defeated.
"Are you okay?" I asked.
She nods, indicating that she is.
"You were amazing," she said as soon as she was able to stand firm.
"So were you," I replied.
"But I lost again," she says, looking devastated.
"But you didn't give up, and that's what matters the most."
We smile and leave the mat, as the next fight is about to begin.
"You girls nailed it!" Benjamin Black came towards us with two bottles of water and a towel.
"Just what I needed.’ Paige says, picking up one of the bottles and splashing some of the water on her body.
"Both of you are definitely the best teachers I have here at the academy.’ Benjamin says, praising us, and we only smiled.
‘Stop sucking up to us.’ Paige tells him, rolling her eyes.
‘He's afraid we'll leave for other martial arts academies.’ I said to provoke him.
‘First, you're conspiring against me." Benjamin says, putting his hand on his chest in mock offense, which made us all laugh. ‘Second, can't I compliment my dear teachers who just put on a show for the other students?’ he asked.
I looked at Paige, and we placed our hands on our hips, looking at him from head to toe.
‘Alright, Benjamin, you won.’ I said, raising my hands in surrender.
‘That's right, I give up on this topic because, in the end, you'll always come out on top.’ Paige said and raised her hands too.
‘Good thing you both know I'm right,’ Benjamin tells us, shrugging his shoulders, and we rolled our eyes again.
‘Now, I have some news, there's a new nightclub nearby and...’ I didn’t allow Paige to continue her statement, but interrupted her.
‘No, thanks. I need to train a bit, and you know I'm really fighting hard to move up in rank,’ I said, pointing at my long-awaited brown belt on the wall.
She sighs.
‘Yala, you know that belt is already your friend, and a night out won't hurt anyone. Do you know there’s a world outside this dojo?’ she asks, putting her hand on her hip.
‘That's right, Yala, there's life outside this gym too. I recommend you go have some fun and enjoy the weekend,’ Benjamin said.
I roll my eyes because I realize that there's no point in declining.
‘All right, I'll go.’ I said, giving in.
‘Yay!’ Paige jumped in excitement. ‘I'll come to your house tonight to pick you up,"
‘Okay,’ I said reluctantly. Now I'm going to arrange my apartment.
‘Okay, and I'll take this opportunity to go for a quick smoke,’ Benjamin says, coming up behind us, and I chuckle.
‘Only you,’ I said, shaking my head from side to side.
‘Hey, don't judge me, I picked up this addiction when I was almost bankrupt, and never stopped,’ he defends himself. ‘Unfortunately, it affected my performance, that's why I don't fight anymore, so never do that, girls, because it will only ruin you,’ he advises.
I nod.
‘You know I would never judge you,’ I told him.
Even though I'm not a smoker, I would never judge someone who is, because this world already has too many critics, and I speak from personal experience.
‘Neither would I,’ Paige says, raising her hands in surrender.
I say goodbye to my friends when we get to the parking lot, and I head towards my motorbike. I could be a traditional woman and drive a car, but I never liked that. Of course, I know how to drive, but it's the speed and exhilaration that excites me.
I enjoy the adrenaline rush that goes through my entire body. It's like I’m in control when I'm riding my motorcycle, I feel in control of my life. When I chose Jiu-jitsu as a sport, I already dreamed of being a teacher, and especially of advancing in rank, so I chased my dreams.
My father always wanted me to be an old-fashioned girl who liked parties with Barbie themes along with the world of princesses, but I like martial arts and motorcycles, so since I was a child, my parties had no Barbies or princesses, it had to be someone fighting Karate, Jiu-Jitsu, or a theme that involved a motorbike. It drove him crazy, because I was different from the daughters of his friends, who were all spoiled brats. It wasn't intentional, but I never really fit into that setting.
I was born into a wealthy family, and had a strict and disciplined upbringing where I was taught morals and values, so I could represent my family well and make a good impression on my father’s elite business associates. When I gained admission to study business administration in college, my father presumed I would take over the family business, since I'm his only heir.
However, immediately I graduated, we had a serious conversation, because I wanted to pursue my own destiny, and it wasn't behind a desk in an office. Obviously, my father was disappointed, but he understood that I wasn’t ready for the business world, and that I needed the opportunity to make my own decisions and choices. Even though he was upset, he wanted me to be happy and hoped that someday I would want to take over his empire; the grand and magnificent Smith Duncan Palace. It's a large hotel chain owned by my father and his partner for almost half a century. He loves that place. I often say that my father's life is that hotel, and without it, I believe he would die.
While I'm here, following my own path in another country, my father is in New York, running the hotel business.
I hop on my motorbike and rode to my apartment, which is close to the gym.
"Meow"
As soon as I entered the apartment, my cat Penny trotted towards me, rubbing against my legs, and I picked her up and petted her head. Penny is the cat of my former neighbors from the apartment next door. When they moved out, they left the cat behind, saying they couldn't keep her anymore because their new residence didn't accept pets, which I think is absurd.
So, when I found Penny sitting in front of their door, obviously abandoned, I took her in. She never left afterward, and became my greatest companion.
‘Did you miss me, princess?’ I asked.
‘Meow," she meows again.
"Come, let's go feed you." I said, going to the kitchen.
As soon as I have Penny fed, I'll have to charge my phone. Unfortunately, I forgot to take the charger to the gym today. I'm sure my dad must have sent me a message as he does every morning, and we usually have a few minutes of conversation.
While the phone charges, I go in to take a shower. As soon as I came out of the bathroom, I went to my phone and turned it on, realizing there was no message from my dad, which is strange. I decide to call him, but it goes to voicemail. This gets me worried, because it is unusual, something is definitely wrong.
All kinds of negative thoughts began to run through my mind, and I was getting worked-up. But I endeavored to remain calm because being anxious won't help at all, since we're not even in the same country.
I decide to call the mansion, and the maid answers on the third ring.
‘Smith family residence,’
"Harper, good afternoon, it's Yala," I said.
‘Girl... is everything okay?’ she asks, but I sense her nervousness.
"I'm fine, but is there something wrong with my dad's phone?’ I asked. "I've been trying to call him, but it goes into voicemail," I told her.
She remained silent.
‘Harper, are you still there?’ I asked.
I hear her deep breath at the other end of the line.
‘Ma'am, your father asked me not to say anything to you,’
‘What? Tell me, Harper!’ I said, quickly getting out of bed.
‘Ma'am, your father had a health scare’ she said.
My heart raced at her words. ‘He had a mild heart attack’.
At this point, I started to breathe heavily.
‘Why didn't you tell me, Harper?’ my voice is full of indignation. ‘You should have called me when it happened?’ I said, anxiously.
‘I'm sorry, ma'am, but you know your father better than anyone.’ Harper replies. From the tone of her voice, I realized she was upset about the way I spoke to her.
I closed my eyes, knowing that he wouldn't let anyone tell me what happened. My father has always been stubborn and doesn't like to bother others with his problems, and even though I'm his daughter, he feels the same way.
‘My apologies, I know him, but which hospital is my father in?’ I asked.
‘He's in the hospital where he always goes for treatment, ma'am, but he's doing well. The doctors said he came close to having a heart attack, but he's fine, he just needs to take care of himself,’
I shook my head negatively.
‘I'm coming home,’ I said, walking into my closet to take out my suitcase.
‘Ma'am, your father is fine, this happened because he's been under a lot of stress lately,’
I stop in surprise.
"What do you mean my father has been under a lot of stress?" I asked her, but she remained silent.
‘Tell me now, what happened that made my father have a heart attack, Harper.’
‘Ma'am, please, don't put me in trouble, if you're coming back to the country, you can talk to him in person, but please don't make me say it’
I took a deep breath.
‘Okay, Harper, I understand, I'm coming home, and I'll talk to him in person, thank you,’ I said to her and hung up the call.
‘Meow.’ I swat and picked Penny up in my arms.
‘Princess, we're going back to mommy's home country,’
The only question that was going through my mind was: What's going on that has my father under so much stress?
"Mr. Steven, what are you hiding from your daughter?" I thought to myself as I made arrangements for my trip to the United States of America.
- Writer
