Challenge

"****** A phone conversation******"

"Hello." Marilyn said

"Hi Marilyn, how are you?" a man's voice sounded across the phone.

"I'm fine, thank you. I hope you are fine as well" she replied.

"Yes, I am. How did the conversation go with your mom?" the man asked with a bit of urgency in his voice.

"It went well, she said I can come to get him this evening." She replied slowly.

"Oh, okay. I'm sorry I can't be there with you. I really am… " He said in a heavy tone.

"No, it's fine, it really is." She said, cutting him short.

"I'll come around in a few days to see you both, okay? the man said with an unconcealed concern.

"Hm okay, she replied. I have to go now, we'd talk later." Ahe continued.

"Oh, okay. Goodbye." the voice replied rather hastily.

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England,

Knightsbridge.

"Come here and give Grandma a hug." Mrs. Parker said as she walked towards Rowan.

"Remember you always have a place here, this is your home and you always have my backing." She said hugging him while glancing at Marilyn.

"Yes, Granny, I will remember that." Rowan muttered.

"You know it won't hurt you to come over to see your Father once in a while." She said glaring at Marilyn.

"We can always meet anywhere other than here and he is okay with that." She replied, returning the glare.

"Hump, rebellious as always, you had better get going before I change my mind." She replied, squinting at Marilyn.

"That's not going to happen mom, never again." she replied, chuckling lightly.

Rowan, wait for me in the car, I have some things to discuss with your Granny.

'Where's Father? I haven't been able to reach him for a while." Marilyn asked with visible concern in her eyes.

"He is out of the country and will be for a while, he needed a vacation break from work so he took one." She replied slowly.

"You didn't go with him?" Marilyn asked again.

"I ought to but I wanted to spend a little more time with Rowan before you take him away." She said, smiling bitterly.

"Oh, that. Have a wonderful day mom, thanks for keeping your promise too." She said.

"Of course, I won't go back on my words. Where is that silly husband of yours? I believe he can do better than coming to the once-in-a-year family party and the least he could do is to be here with you to get Rowan." Mrs. Parker snorted and smiled creepily.

"He would be here more often if you don't scare and make him nervous every time he comes around." She said. "About him not being here, I told him not to, as he had crucial business meetings to attend to." she continued after a pause.

"I revel in making people apprehensive." Mrs Parker replied, baring an evil grin. It's one of my little wins.

"Uh, mother." Marilyn signed as she massaged her glabella.

"I better be going now. Have a nice day." Marilyn said exiting the house.

"Pfft, of course, I will." Mrs. Parker muttered.

******************

It has always been like this between the mother and daughter pair ever since seventeen years ago.

Anything for the Mafia but the family remains family.

Marilyn was hurt by what her Mother did but there was little she could do about it. Not to say, it was partly her fault for running away. She took it as her punishment and let it go but of course, it did strain the mother-daughter relationship a bit.

********************

**l **l Rowan **l **l

I trembled at the thought of Granny changing her mind earlier. It was such a relief that she did not.

I don't hate my Granny. She is a good person but I will never be able to get over the torturous personal training she puts me through every New year's Eve.

Training out in the cold snow was not enjoyable and I do not want to experience it again.

Asides from that, the near-to-death training I went through these last few days is nothing good to think about.

She and my Grandfather had plans to go on a break but she claimed she wanted to spend a little more time with me.

Simply put, she gave up on a vacation to torture me.

How twisted, isn't it?

I get she's trying to help me learn to protect myself but did I have to go through torturous training I went through? I mean, my cousins do the bare minimum and she doesn't seem bothered about it.

"Oh, here comes my mom." I thought as my heart raced in anxiety.

"Rowan Dear, are you okay?" She asked with concern

"Yes ma'am, I am." I replied cautiously.

"How many times would we go over this, I am your mother Rowan, it's okay to call me mom." She said slowly with a bitter smile.

"Yes mom." I said, giving her a small smile despite my aching jaws.

She got in the car and started driving. My racing heart calmed at the disappearing familiar neighborhood I grew up in. A feeling of nostalgia rose in my heart and disappeared as fast as it came as she sped past my favorite spot.

I rested my head and slept off without a worry in my head.

**l **l **l **l **l **l

Grey High School,

California.

I lay in the bathtub in exhaustion as I soaked in my peach bath.

Today was a hectic day for me.

After acing the self-defense exercises today. A girl suddenly challenged me to a friendly spar demonstration.

I was happy to test out my newly acquired skills so why not?

I agreed without giving it much thought.

It was going on well till I sensed a threat from the punches she started throwing. I don't remember having any beef with this girl. Why are these punches personal or do I say intentional? I thought as a raised my brow and assume a proper defensive stand

The coordinator blew the whistle but she didn't stop so I had to get out of the mess by myself.

She kept on throwing punches at vital points and I kept evading.

She was so fast that I couldn't go offensive.

The next time I see Master Chi Fu, I give him a good hug for his training and open my ears to learn more from him. The stealthy subtle movements came in handy here and lessened the fatality of the blows that hit me.

After a while, she slowed down so I studied the pattern of her movements and adjusted to it I found an open point on the tummy, focused a good amount of energy on my leg, and kicked her mid-air.

Fortunately, I did a good job. We both fell to the ground in exhaustion.

"Nice reflexes you got there." the coordinator commented, squinting at me in scrutiny.

"What's the name again." He asked

"Raven, I am Raven Jordan." I replied.

"Class dismissed, Florian, you stay behind." he said sternly, facing the girl who sparred with me.

I got up and dragged myself to my class.

Packed up my stuff, and copied the given assignments from my seat partner who also offered me a bottle of water.

I took it, thanked him and l left for my dorm. He is such a lifesaver, I was barely holding on. That was the first serious spar I've ever had that wasn't from Master Chi Fu. It was like she was after getting me injured.

I should stay clear of her till I get ready because I have an inkling that there's more from where that came from.

Here I am in a bathtub trying to bathe away my exhaustion, hahaha, if there's anything like that.

I got out of the bathtub, took an energy booster from the refrigerator, and drank it.

I got dressed and headed toward the library to borrow some books.

"The usual somewhat bustling library was looking rather deserted today, am I missing something?." I wondered.

I borrowed the books and walked out of the library.....

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