The Candidate

"Come on dear, we need to be ready or else, we will miss our plane. I promise you, everything will be fine." These were the words of Mrs. Wendy Carrigan to her daughter Zarrah to convince her to start packing her things.

"Mom, I don't want to go!" Zarrah replied. Even though her Mom promised her that things will be OK but she knows that her Mom is also scared of what waits for them in China. Though things are far from perfect in California, at least they are surrounded by people who share their language and culture. On the contrary, China is so foreign to Zarrah. She has no friends there.

She remembered their discussion in class about China. Everything is old and rustic. There were old buildings, the great wall, agricultural communities, historical sites, and statues of their revolutionary heroes. All these worried Zarrah. She felt like she is being transported to an entirely different world.

"But dear, there is nothing left for us here. Your father has abandoned us. And besides, China offers us so many opportunities", Wendy tried to sound convincing. After her unfaithful husband left her and their daughter, Wendy just wanted to leave all the bitter memories behind. At the same time, she was offered a job as a designer at one of Beijing's top fashion houses. But the real reason why she wanted to go away from California was the fear that her husband will take their daughter away from her.

Zarah is not totally convinced that her Mom's plan to move to China will work, but she didn't want to argue. She just sat on her bed and silently cried. She felt that her world was falling apart. Her family was broken when her parents separated. Now she will be leaving the people, places, and activities that she has learned to love. She and her Mom will be moving to another country where she does not know even one person. Her tears made her vision blurry, so she just closed her eyes and tried to block her mind away from all her fears. When she opened her eyes, her Mom is already squatting in from of her.

"Honey, I know it is hard for you. It is also very difficult for me. But have each other. I know that as long as we help each other, we will be fine.", Wendy assured her daughter.

Zarrah looked into her Mom's eyes and saw the pain. "Mom, I'm scared".

Wendy then embraced her daughter. By now she is also crying. "I'm scared too, but we have each other. If we support each other, we will triumph over all the things we will face".

Zarrah did not know what to say anymore. But she knew that she has no choice but to trust her mom. Somehow, her mother's words calmed her down.

After 2 hours Zarrah was in their apartment's corridor sitting on a huge luggage drawing some sketches in her notebook while waiting for her mom to come out. She loves to sketch fashion designs. Her passion for designing provides her an escape from all her worries and sadness. At the moment she tries so hard to convince her mind that things will be better.

When her Mom came out of the door, Zarrah faked a smile so as not to upset her. "Honey, are you ready? OH, I'm so excited to start a new life in a magical new land!" Wendy, said as she locks the door.

"Mmm-mm" was all Zarah said. She stood up and grabbed the luggage handle and started to make small steps towards the building exit.

Wendy became sentimental when she touched the number on their apartment door and with teary eyes, uttered; "Okey! Let's go."

Zarrah's feet felt heavy, but her Mom was right. There's nothing left for them here. So, she just inhaled deeply, and hasten her steps to catch up with the excited pace of her mother. She did not look up but just looked down at the floor as she walked.

She did not want to see the familiar look of the neighborhood that she has grown to love. She fears that she might miss it. As she and her mom descended the front stairs of the apartment building, she can still see the golden glow of the sunset on the concrete pavements below. Suddenly she heard steps rushing toward her and her Mom. Before she could look up, she was already wrapped in the warm embrace of their friends and neighbors who have waited for them to say goodbye.

"We will miss you dear" Mrs. Lopez uttered. She is their Latina neighbor and Wendy's best friend. Hearing this, Zarah wasn't able to hold it anymore. Her tears fell from her eyes and rolled down her cheeks.

"Ohh, Nita, we will miss you too. But things will be fine for us., I can feel it" Wendy replied while holding back her tears. "We must hurry or we'll miss our plane." She disentangled herself from the embrace and helped the driver load their luggage in the trunk.

Zarrah was about to get inside the taxi when somebody patted her shoulder. When she turned around, it was her playmate Lessie, Mrs. Lopez's daughter. "Take Mimi with you" handing Zarah her favorite doll.

"I can't Lessie, she is yours", Zarrah refused

"Come on Zarah, just take her." Lessie gave a sad smile and embraced her friend.

"Let's go Zarrah, we will miss our flight" Wendy reminded her daughter. She then yelled to their friends, "Bye guys, we got to go." She then buckled Zarrah's seatbelt and her own. The taxi then slowly started running. Zarrah looked out the window and saw Lessie waving. She also waved back and hugged Mimi.

Zarrah continued staring from the car window; looking at the scenes of the shops, the busy streets, and people walking. From the side mirror, she could still see her neighbors waving at them. "I will never see this scene again; not in a very long time."

Zarrah slept through most of their flight. She was awakened by the bright afternoon light coming in from the airplane's window. Shortly after, the speakers amplified some Chinese instructions which Zarah did not understand. But the English instruction followed informing the passengers that after a few minutes they will land in Beijing. Zarrah was having mixed feelings. Was it fear or was it excitement? Perhaps it was a combination of both.

When they came out of the airport, Zarrah was amazed at what she saw of Beijing. Contrary to what she expected, Beijing was a very modern city. She was amazed at the buildings, the cars, and the streets. It is highly urbanized and modern. Even the people and their fashion are very modern. Seeing Zarrah's reaction, Wendy smiled at Zarrah, "I told you, you will like it here".

The travel agency that Wendy contacted sent a guide to meet them. The guide was a woman in her mid-twenties and she spoke English fluently. "Welcome to Beijing! I hope your flight was comfortable." The guide then led them to a taxi nearby which took them to their apartment.

While Wendy was unpacking, Zarrah decided to take a walk and check on their neighbors. Just 3 doors from their unit Zarrah spotted a girl about her age. Zarrah noticed something about the girl which aroused her interest. This girl is not Chinese! Like Zarrah, the girl has blond hair only the girl's eyes are brown while Zarrah's eyes are blue. When the girl saw that Zarrah was looking at her, she smiled and waved.

Zarrah invited her new friend to their apartment. As they were about to enter the door, they met Wendy who was about to go out to look for her daughter. "well, well, look at you! We just got here and you are making friends already!"

"Mom, this is Jean, she lives 3 doors from us."

"Hello Mrs. Carrigan, welcome to the building"

"Hello Jean, do you know where the utility man is? I have a problem with the shower."

"He leaves on the rooftop. I mean he has a sort of house on the rooftop", Jean replied

"Can you guide Zarrah to him? It would be wonderful if the shower gets fixed"

"Sure"

Since the elevator was filled with people, the girls decided to take the stairs. This gave them more time to talk.

Do you know how to speak Chinese? Jean asked.

"No, I don't" Zarrah replied.

"Well, it's China. It might not be a bad idea," Jean suggested.

As they reach the rooftop, Zarrah was amazed at what she saw. The rooftop was like a garden, even a paradise. Plants both with healthy foliage and vibrant flowers are everywhere. Bonsais were creatively and meticulously mounted on rocks and wooden trunks. The place was like a paradise in a city. On a corner is a tiny hut. Jean knocked on its wooden door. " Mr. Li, are you in there?... Mr. Li?"

Both Girls almost jumps when a voice behind them caught them by surprise. "What do you want?"

Zarrah turned around a saw a middle-aged man with a kind face and sad eyes. She politely relayed her mother's request to Mr. Li.

3 YEARS LATER

In the rooftop garden, Zarrah and Jean stared into each other's eyes like tigers trying to anticipate their opponent's plan of attack and defense.

In a swift, Jean attacked with a combination of punches aimed at the head and chest. She then followed with a turning kick. These executions were accomplished in a matter of seconds.

Zarrah used her speed to block these punches using her forearms and quickly hopped back to elude the fatal kick.

However, Jean was not satisfied, she attacked again with a different combination of punches. These punches are now faster and have greater force than the previous ones.

Still, Zarrah was not hit. This time she did not block the punches but eluded them. But before Zarrah can regain composure, she was hit in her abdomen by a quick pushing kick that caused her to take 3 steps back.

Seeing that Zarrah lost her footing, Jean quickly followed up with a "leaping tiger kick" which cause her to fly closer to Zarrah with her right foot aimed at Zarrah's right jaw.

But Zarrah quickly regained her focus. While Jean was in mid-air, she quickly released a "forked lightning kick which hit Jean on the hips and lost balance.

Jean quickly sprung up and was about to charge again when…

"Stop!", Mr. Li shouted. "That would be enough for today"

The two girls faced each other and bowed 90 degrees.

"Zarrah, you need to improve your speed. Not only the speed of your execution but also speed in thinking about your attack and defense. However, your strength is good." Mr. Li instructed.

Mr. Li continued; "Jean, you have the speed but lack the strength. Both of you need to concentrate and practice harder. Learn from each other"

The two girls bowed again to show respect to their teacher and master.

For the past three years, the girls were meticulously mentored by Mr. Li, who is a practitioner of Martial Arts. Unknown to the people Mr. Li is not just an ordinary utility guy but the owner of the Apartment building itself. He is a member of one of the top clans in the capital but was disowned because of a choice he made. He belongs to the elite level of martial arts practitioner because he has been taught the Art of combat since he was a young child. Now that he is alone and has no children, he decided to transfer his knowledge about martial Arts to Jean and Zarrah.

The girls learned fast and have shown great passion and dedication to what they are learning. Though Mr. Li is strict and seldom gives compliments to his 2 students but in his heart, he knows that the 2 girls have almost reached the Elite level of martial arts despite their very young age. When they reach adulthood, they will be much greater than their master. Thinking about this made Mister Li smile.

The girls have also grown close and loyal to each other. They support, sustain, and protect each other. Though both excel in martial arts, neither jealousy nor envy exists between them. Instead, sisterly love grew stronger between them as the days pass.

After their practice, Mr. Li went to repair some fixtures in the apartment building. The two girls continued to practice for 2 more hours before they went home. They spent 1 more hour for their sparring and another 1 more hour for meditation. Mr. Li did not only teach them the physical aspect of martial arts but about strengthening their QI or the spiritual aspect of martial arts as well. Mr. li knows that the girls still have so much to learn in this aspect.