Chances

Chapter Four

Leah got home after a very challenging battle and her secretary called her on her way back home about another fight that was rescheduled that same week.

Annoying as it seemed, she just dragged her feet to the hall and found Marisca playing her guitar.

She greeted her and asked how Tyler was doing; which she was told he was already asleep.

Marisca waited to see any reaction from her before telling her her sister was in. But she didn't find any. All she found was her wincing in pain and trying to feel comfortable in her chair.

Marisca asked how her fight was and she couldn't help but say what happened, "Can you imagine I fought against two today? If they had told me that was what was going to happen, I would've prepared myself. I thought I was just going to fight against that mole.”

Marisca laughed as she pulled out the first aid box. Leah hated it when she lost a fight. And she always called for re-matches when she lost. And Marisca was sure there'd be one next week.

“Oh before you think about me going in for a re-match, just know I wouldn't waste my strength on those idiots who think pairing up is what shows strength. I have another fight this week so I deserve all the sleep and food I need to get," she explained as Marisca still watched her with a smile.

Leah looked at her closely and knew something was up. She lifted her chin showing her she knew something was up. She moved her hands behind her and then with a short notice, she sent them forward, over her head making Marisca hear the sound she mostly got scared of hearing. Her bones cracked loudly, making Marisca cringe at the sound of it.

“I told you, don't be doing that in front of me. It makes the hair on my skin stand. It's not fair when you do that. Well, your sister is in...i mean Tina is in," Marisca told her as Leah nervously nodded. She didn't look surprised.

Then Marisca remembered she had already seen her and even invited her over. She asked her if she was ready to see her.

“Well, I'm tired and need to take some sleep. Tell her I said good night," Leah said as she tried picking herself up from the chair.

“No need for that. You can tell her yourself," Marisca aided while showing her fingers behind Leah.

“Good evening," Tina greeted as Leah looked behind her shoulders. She eyed her and asked her about when she arrived. Marisca then told her how she had met her sitting outside.

“What were you thinking when you came here without calling me? Were you expecting me to give the security men your picture in case you decided to show up without a call? Do you know the number of people who come here pretending to be our relatives so they can see us?" Leah's outburst surprised Marisca.

Leah could get angry sometimes, unnecessarily. She tried calming her friend but she didn't even cool down. It was like she had wanted to unleash the disappointment of her lost match, on her foster sister.

You gave me your address for what? If you had wanted me to call you then why did you give me your address? Not as if you wanted to come and pick me up. I wish I could punch you right now.

She had wanted to say but just settled for, "Sorry I didn't mean to do that. I will call you the next time...”

“There's going to be no next time," Leah snapped before Tina could even say more. She even didn't understand why she was angry at her.

“She lost a fight today so don't worry, she's snapping at everything that crosses her way," Marisca joked to lighten the mood,

Tina wanted so much to shout what was in her head out:

It so happened I'm not a thing, ignorant star!

But instead, she thanked her with her eyes and whispered, "Nice to know that.”

“Now, go in and take your bath. You are sticky and smelling. I'll heat your food for you, just go and rest for a while," she added, "Wait, after you wash that smelling body of yours.”

Leah walked upstairs. Her jacket laid on her shoulders. She moved toward her door as she removed her blouse, she didn't even bother about Tyler coming out of his room any moment. She wasn't so sure if the silly man was asleep or pretending to be sleeping.

Tyler preferred to be in the grown up category than he actually was. They just had to let him dream while he was still a boy. Leah smiled as she remembered how ugly it went when Marisca told him he was still a boy.

He went all crazy and demanded for an apology from his mother. He didn't sleep until his mum gave him that apology.

****

After eating her meal and clearing the table, Leah went to her room to take some rest before she woke up at dawn to train. But Marisca seemed to have different plans.

She tapped on Leah's back and asked her to sit up. Leah groaned and it took her sixteen minutes to sit up. Marisca acted patiently with her, considering she came home with so much bruises all over her body.

Leah winced as she sat up. She supported her head with two pillows as she leaned her head against the head post. She asked her what she wanted and she told her she came to her because of the way she had talked to her sister.

“That lady, is old enough to know what is right and wrong. You shouldn't have shouted at her that way," Marisca pointed out.

Marisca finally sat on the bed. She placed a pillow on her lap. She had to tell her how it sounded when she barked at her sister or foster sister; however she liked to see and call it.

“Well, that lady after knowing she's old enough to know what is good and wrong, still chose to come here without calling me. Why did she do that? I'm surprised you are defending her," she defended herself.

“No, that is where you are wrong. I am not her biggest fan; we all know this. But how you behaved toward her was rude. Yes she made a mistake with that but you shouldn't scold her like some child who had eaten all the sweets from your drawer," Marisca explained more.

“Well, if that will stop her from making simple mistakes, then I will do that again. Someone has to put her on the right path when she is going the wrong way," Leah told Marisca as she held her stomach due to the too much pressure she was putting on it.

“Right path, you say? You just want her to fear you. It is not how things are done. She's been to prison. She has spent years there and you think just what you did can instill fear in her? She's stronger than that. Just don't do that to her. She said she has changed so I expect us to help her even if it's a lie. I know deep down you believe she's changed or is still changing. You wouldn't ask her to come here if you didn't believe in her. So please relax and let's give both of you a chance. I know you feel guilty for not looking for her when her mother died after her father also died in a car accident. I know you loved her parents and they loved you too. So forgive her for all the wrong things she did to you," Marisca advised her best friend. She just hoped it helped calm her down.

Leah looked at Marisca without showing any emotions and Marisca hated it when Leah pretended she was OK with everything that went on while in reality she wasn't. She knew deep down things weren't going on well with her best friend and that she was just faking it.

“K, can I go back to sleep since your message is now delivered?" Leah requested and Marisca made a face at Leah's tired request.

“I say all that to get a 'K' from you? Wow, you wound me sometimes. I'll pay you back, I promise. You know I do as I promise, right?”

Leah held the finger Marisca was threatening her with. She winced when Leah bent it over and she asked her to stop bullying her.

“Yeah exactly like you did when i talked to you about the father of Tyler! See I'm not in the mood to talk. I'm tired and I need to sleep. I can't believe you woke me up to talk about this. I need to wake up early for my training. And I don't think you'll even be up to see me around," Leah said as she positioned the pillows back on the bed.

Marisca's eye brows met as she opened her mouth to say something. She smirked at her and walked towards the door. She removed the key from behind her door without Leah seeing it. Once closing the door behind her, she inserted the key back inside and locked her door.

Leah heard the key turn but as much as she wanted to scream at her to open the door, her tired body fell back on the bed.

Marisca texted her later;

you already look beaten more than you actually were beaten. Just rest your body and forget about the gym or the training grounds for once. Sleep and regain that lost energy dear. Goodnight...kisses.

****

MARISCA WALKED into her son's room to wake him up when it was morning. He stretched as his mum tickled him until he got up. He looked into his mum's eyes and said good morning to her.

Marisca gave him a peck on his cheeks. Tyler smiled at his mum and she smiled back. He got down from his bed and walked towards the washroom like a zombie.

“Take off your pyjamas and let me run you a quick bathe. Or you prefer I do that myself," Marisca suggested as her son folded his arms against his chest.

“Mum how many times have I told you I'm man enough to take my own bathe? You could cook while I bathe. Pleeeeeeeeeeese. Pleeeeeeese. Pleeeeese. Pleeeeeese," he begged as his mother put a hand on her chin as if she were considering it.

“Not working young man. Now take off your pygamas as we take your bathe. Don't keep me waiting. Hurry up or else our food will burn," she warned as Tyler quickly took off his clothes.

Tina was in the kitchen and she quickly wanted to go check up on how their meal was going. She didn't want anyone poisoning them. Yes she said she had changed but she couldn't relax on just her word.

After a while, everyone finished eating and Tina cleared the table and from how things were going, Marisca knew they were safe with the food Tina offered to prepare and had prepared.

Tyler's driver was already waiting even before he was set to leave. He woke up to meet a new aunt who smiled at him any time he looked at her. But he knew behind the smile, she didn't look sweet. She looked like those old boring class teachers who were waiting for your parents to leave once they drop you off.

Tina wanted to please him and he noticed that too. Too many women in his life and he wondered when he'd be blessed with a man.

Leah woke up and read the message. She smiled as she checked the clock. It was 10:27am and she laughed. Imagine even when she didn't lock her behind the door, she'd still wake up late.

She failed to hear the alarm blare. Not even the song playing in Marisca's room woke her up. She was really tired but hungry as well.

She woke up and went into the bathroom. She stood under the shower as the cold water ran over her body. It went against her bruises. And she had to hold the tiled walls to stop her from running out of the bathroom. Every drop felt like a needle piercing through her bruised flesh.

She walked downstairs and when she was told Tina had cooked, she again nodded as if she were considering whether to eat it or not.

Tina had always known how to cook. She liked to cook and when she wasn't cooking, she was doing something bad.

Their mum had to make her cook sometimes to prevent her from following bad companies hanging around their house.

Leah went back to sleep after taking her meal. It was going to be impossible for her to go to the gym.