Chapter 54

Two years passed since then, two years filled with meeting new people and making new friendships, two years Taria and Ray grew up and learned a lot at. Taria became one of the most famous teachers at the school, known for being so loved and smart, Ray kept training with his uncle and he became much stronger and more intelligent, Josephine stayed the same energetic poisonous butterfly of the Leo family, Edrian got so close to Taria to the point they call each other Ed and Ria now, while everyone at school ship them together for that, and lastly, Steven became one of the strongest and most famous young boxers, and he started studying at the high school that was so close to the school Taria teaches at, keeping their special relationship that was way more than a teacher and a student.

In the middle of the night, Taria woke up to her phone ringing. She opened her eyes slightly and she saw that Edrian was calling, so she rose up and rubbed her eyes, then she took the call

"You forgot, didn't you?" Edrian said

"Forgot what?" Taria said

"Steven", Edrian said

"Steven who?.... STEVING IS LEAVING TONIGHT, SHIT I TOTALLY FORGOT", Taria said, getting out of the bed so fast, yet the blanket got stuck under her feet and she fell down

"Sigh… I'm waiting for you across the street, you have approximately fourteen minutes to get ready, bye", Edrian said

Taria started running around the place, brushing her teeth and hair, and wearing her clothes quickly, then she got out of the apartment running.

She reached Edrian's car breathing so fast, then she opened the door and entered

"Nice, you came just in time", Edrian said

"Let's go", Taria said, trying hard to catch her breath

After a while, Taria and Edrian reached the airport where Steven was waiting for them. She ran towards him and hugged him tightly, with tears getting out of her eyes.

"I will cheer for you, sniff, stay safe and take care of yourself", Taria said

"Why are you crying? You do this every time I go to a competition abroad", Steven said

"I will miss you a lot, Steev. Come back safe so we can eat ice cream together ok?" Taria said

"Ok ok, I understand. I will leave for a week only, yet I will miss you too", Steven said

"Take care, Steven", Edrian said warmly

"I will, thank you", Steven said, then he patted his teacher's shoulder and whispered "take care of her for me"

Steven left, leaving Taria who was still shedding tears with Edrian. She didn't want to get home, so he suggested walking with her since the night was so calm and the air was refreshing.

"He is already taller than me, time really flew by fast", Taria said, holding her necklace and smiling warmly

"You are holding that necklace again", Edrian said

"It's an old habit", Taria said

"Do you still wear that ring?" Edrian said, yet Taria stayed silent, giving him an answer he wasn't satisfied with

"Was he.. that important to you?" Edrian said

He knew that he shouldn't talk about that topic, and he never even tried to know as he always kept his curiosity blocked, yet the soft breeze and the shinny moon gave him some dramatic feeling, a feeling that forced him to let out what he was holding back in the depths of his heart, and the same feeling was the reason why she answered him without hesitation

"He saved me, from my own self", she said, looking at the moon with a warm smile on her face

"What is that supposed to mean?" Edrian said

"Ed. You don't really know me that well yet. It might not be obvious but every person have secrets, including me", Taria said, and he preferred to stay silent as he could relate to what she said.

Taria and Edrian kept walking silently, yet her phone disrupted that peaceful silent they were enjoying

"WHERE ARE YOU?" Ray shouted once she took the call

"Oh you woke up! I'm with Edrian, but I will be back soon so go to sleep now", Taria said

"What are you doing with that man this late at night, come back right now", Ray said angrily

"Hey hey hey, I am the parent here, you are still my baby child", Taria said, then she ended the call

"Sigh.. he is getting more difficult to deal with every day", Taria said

"Hahaha, being a single mom is hard isn't it?" Edrian said

"Hell yeah, and having to deal with him as a teenager even though he is still five is even harder", Taria said

"Ria… Won't you consider dating someone?" Edrian said

".... I don't know. Ray is still so young and I barely have time for myself, add to that the fact that I didn't let go of my past yet, I don't want to be unfair towards anyone", Taria said with a sad look in her eyes

"You are being unfair towards yourself this way", Edrian said

"Josephine said the exact same words", Taria said giggling, and he could understand that that giggling was to end the conversation, so he sighed and kept walking.

Taria got back home to find Ray waiting for her. The way he was shaking his leg and the cold look in his eyes gave her chills, yet she had to keep calm in order to let him know who the boss was. She took a deep breath and sat down on the chair, looking straight into his eyes, and after a while of deadly silence, Taria finally lost control under the pressure of his deep sharp looks gave her.

"I will tell you when I leave next time. I was in a hurry so I forgot to tell you before I left", Taria said

"Ok. I will go to sleep now. Oh, I called uncle Ve and told him that I will spend the summer holiday with him", Ray said after he got off the chair

"Ahhhh not again. Can't we spend the holiday as normal people for once? I was planning on traveling to Italy", Taria said sulking

"Sorry mom, I have to do this. I have to keep you safe", Ray said

"I don't need protection though", she murmured

"You need more protection than a three years old child. You trust any one who smile to you, and you even trust them even without smiling", Ray said

"Trusting people isn't a bad thing, little Leo", Taria said, crossing her arms

"That's why you got kidnapped three times in two years", Ray said, raising an eyebrow, and looking back at his mother

"Well..mm. OK OK LET'S GO TO SLEEP. I'm not going to give up on the travel though, ask Ve to give you a week off", Taria said after she couldn't deny the facts Ray said

"Sigh.. Ok, but three days maximum", Ray said, then he went to his room

"Can Edrian and Steven come too?" Taria said, and Ray paused after those names got on his nerves

"Steven can, but that old man can't", Ray said angrily

"He is not old, and why do you hate him in the first place?" Ray said

"Blond people give me a bad feeling, especially blond people with blue eyes", Ray said, then he shut the door fast, ending a conversation they went through hundreds of times