Chances

Chapter Twenty

It was precisely two days and Leah had laid her tired body in bed the whole of the day. She was in need of some rest yet she couldn't will herself to blink even an eye. She was irritated at how the time moved slowly. It was as if the clock moved one minute forward and ten minutes backwards.

Her match was going to take off in the evening at nine and that made her easily agitated which it led her to go back to her old habit when she found herself being nervous: she kept rubbing her neck and nose.

She was unusually too quiet and Dean was making it his job to make her talk but she was doing a fine job ignoring him. Well not after he asked what she was going to do should her opponent win.

Leah's eyes fluttered opened as her chest rose and fell quickly. Her face turned red and her lips shook. Her fingers were now hiding in her palms as she controlled herself not to throw her fist against his handsome face. She was at first deliberately paying no attention to him and yet he kept on pissing her off without realizing.

“Know when to shut up, Dean. Seriously I won't stop her when she starts hitting you. I'll watch her knock you out. What is wrong with you? Why do you keep on doing that?" Marisca complained, pulling him away from the angry fighter.

“I was just pulling her legs. Come on, that joke didn't mean anything. She will definitely win. Of course she will. Who wouldn't win when they have me cheering them up," his voice shook as he clapped his palms together.

“So it's already five. Wow so soon? And the match is at nine, are you prepared?" He again pushed his luck.

“Man when would you know to stop? Do you need a black eye this early time of the month? If yes, then you are doing a good job...keep it up," David slapped his back, moving away from them.

“So what are we eating this evening? I'm already hungry...Damn is that sausages I'm smelling?" Dean shouted while running to the dining hall like a child.

He lifted his nose in the air and the most delicious smell wafted up his nose. His smile widened, breathing in the scent that had filled the room.

Everyone rolled their eyes as they watched him running towards the food like a little boy. David knew he only did that to escape Leah's wrath.

Leah had already chilled herself out. If her enemy was going to win the night's match, she then was probably going to quit boxing and be a make up artiste! She thought as she chewed down on her lower lip.

“Don't mind him, you know how he is. You should be used to him by now. He wants nothing but to see you happy. You know that right?" Marisca tried comforting and restoring her best friend's confidence.

“Oh you don't say," she scoffed, also chuckling and moving to the dining hall as well.

Everyone sat around the large table as Kourtney beseeched Tyler to pray. The young boy wouldn't let anyone else but himself pray ever since they arrived at the Villa. He would go crazy if someone else were to pray while he was sitting around the table as well.

The prayer was brief, which surprised almost everyone around the table. Everyone then picked up their forks, digging them into the variety of foods in front of them.

Leah's food was different from what the others were eating. Mainly because she didn't need to press herself down with something heavy. She needed something light which would give her energy and not tiredness. She mostly took in fat free salads. So on that day she decided to eat the fruit salad Tina offered to prepare for her. She would've done it herself but Tina forced her way into preparing it for her.

After Jad had left that day, Leah pretended what she lied about were true. She acted as if she didn't tamper with words to get her out of trouble.

It took Tina two days to notice and understand Leah knew she was the one who set the fire. What she didn't understand was why she didn't turn her in, why she didn't accuse her, why she didn't question her about it and mostly, why she didn't throw her out of the house or their lives.

When she was preparing the fruit salad, it had crossed her mind to mix sleeping medicine with the salad. But thinking about all those questions, halted that intention of hers.

Leah had saved her, and she saved her also by not mixing the food with the sleeping powder she held in hands.

They were even now, she convinced herself. She owed her nothing now and could continue with her plans: ways to hurt, destroy and kill her.

If she had added the pills, it was not going to end her life, it was just going to prevent her from showing up at the match.

Nothing would make her happier than to see Leah wallowing in her misery for not showing up. It would be assumed she had accepted defeat and her opponent would be named the ultimate winner.

But again, she didn't do anything. She had to let Leah go and fight. So they would be even. It was none of her business whether she won or not. She could care less about it.

Running her fingers through her hair, Tina watched as everyone assured Leah she would win, not because she was their friend but because they had seen the effort she had put into her training. She often stayed sleepless nights, training and exercising. She didn't mind her body aching, as long as she was satisfied she was good enough to win the match.

Kourtney wasn't fond of Marisca and kept giving her eyes whenever their eyes met. Tina wondered what their quarrel was. After all they were all going to live together for a while...which seemed to her like it was going to be for a lifetime.

Well that was if none of them crossed between the paths of her plans and herself.

She inhaled and Dean broke a rule of eating; he spoke, almost like he yelled, "So what are we gonna do tomorrow? That is after watching your match.”

“We'll celebrate her victory!" another voice replied cheerfully.

OK so why is every body staring my way instead? Oh and they are looking at me, directly. What did I do this time?

Tina was struck with wonder for a while before realizing she was the one who happily declared Leah's victory.

Did she even care? She sure knew she didn't. But again she admitted inwardly she was cheering her sister up.

“Well I mean, since the match is at nine and probably would end after eleven...it would be late and you guys would be tired so we'll leave it for tomorrow to celebrate. Or?" She tried explaining while avoiding Leah's eyes.

“That's a good idea. We would celebrate tomorrow then," Dean supported, throwing smiles at the girl he enjoyed making angry.

“There would be no celebration," she whispered and Dean didn't miss her words.

“Are you planning to lose? Wait, are you meaning you would lose even when the game has not yet started? You want to lose?" Dean dared her again, earning his name being screamed out by both Marisca and David.

Tyler kept biting into his chicken, he was totally oblivious about what was going on.

“Oh come on guys. We were talking about celebrating if she won and she was like there'd be no celebration. What does that mean then? OK fine since you don't want us to celebrate tomorrow, can we do something else?" Dean pushed again.

“I'm not interested. I would probably be hurting or aching my back on my bed. I'll probably pass out when we come home, I'm sure. Or I would be wandering somewhere in my sleep," she genuinely told them.

“Well that can be fixed...i can fix that. I have magical hands, I would massage you," he grinned as he pushed his hands to run down his own face.

“Like hell you would!" Leah exclaimed; giving him a smile, as if daring him to do it.

Well, it was true she could use some extra aids and hands to ease her pains. Because she wasn't going to let her opponent win. It's either she won with all her strength or throw up her body to block her opponent's blows.

She wouldn't mind getting hurt a thousand time.

“OK, so we'll come home probably after twelve...i'm sure. You would like to greet your fans. You'll be interviewed and we'll return tomorrow morning. You'll rest and when you wake up, we would watch a movie with drinks, cookies and barbeque. Deal?" He offered, raising an eye brow at Leah.

“Wow honestly you should be my manager or P.A. You seriously have two of my days planned already. Great job!" She mocked as she drank an energy drink to push down the last spoon in her throat.

“Oh I know I'm great. I try my best," he also bragged, throwing his arms in the air and raising his shoulders.

“So what do you think, princess?" He begged as she rolled her eyes.

“Wait let me think about it," she raised her fingers to touch her chin as if she were considering it and then assured, "If I'm not too tired, I'll join you guys. Deal?”

“Cool, it's a deal! Good you made the right choice. It wasn't as if I'd take a no for an answer," He accepted, clapping his large hands together.

"Seems someone isn't getting it. She said she would join when she comes home and she's not too tired," Marisca teased, almost sticking her tongue out toward Dean.

“So what movie should we pick?" Dean quired, pretending he didn't hear Marisca speak which he earned answers from everyone gathered around the table.

Tyler had already ran to his grandmother's room to finish his homework.

“Obviously we would watch blockbuster movies," David yelled, already getting in the mood.

“No, a fine werewolf or vampire movies would do," Marisca also suggested.

“Well, we could watch telenovelas," Kourtney finally spoke, making everyone groan at the older woman's choice.

“Well too bad for you mum. Telenovelas come with so many seasons. The least I'm sure, has about thirteen seasons and one hundred and six episodes," Dean exaggerated, earning a chuckle from the woman.

"OK what about Korean or Chinese series? They are also cool to watch," she changed her option quickly after Dean blew the first one away.

They kept chanting their suggestions while Dean finished his food, totally ignoring them.

“OK, since it's a celebration for my victory, don't you think I have the right to choose the type of movie we should watch or the person to choose the movie we would be watching?" Leah broke into their noise, stopping them from continuing their argument.

“Yeah sure. Who do you pick?" Marisca asked, totally sure she'd be the one she would choose.

“Tina what movie do you want us to watch?" She unexpectedly asked her sister, making her almost jump out of her chair. This was the first time Leah had asked her for her opinion.

Everyone's eyes traveled to her side and she announced shyly, "I have always wanted to watch Frozen. I never got the chance to watch that. I would want to watch that and then any movie you pick.”

Almost everyone around the table laughed but Leah stopped them with her cold glare. She saw the shyness on Tina's face. That had never happened before. And that willed her to make her wish come true.

“Sure then we'll watch it. Is it only frozen you would want to watch?" Leah requested from her again.

“Oh and barbie cartoons too. That is if you don't mind. I kind of missed out when I was little. I didn't watch them because..." She spoke childishly.

“We'll watch them then. Deal? Dean it's your job to find those movies!" She looked at Dean who painfully looked away.

That was definitely not what he had imagined when he suggested a movie night. The rest frowned, already imagining how the night would end...probably sleeping and hitting each other without knowing until morning was what they were all concluding on.

Well, if they had a little hate for her in their hearts, they would surely be hoping she lost the match.