Post by Deleted on Aug 4, 2017 8:41:40 GMT -5
#FISTOFHYDRA 7.1
“You’re not to blame, Elena.”
It took her several moments to snap back to reality. She’d zoned out probably only seconds ago, but it felt like hours. She blinked a few times before her senses slowly began to work again. Her body felt cold, despite the fact that they were in the middle of summer. The petite person in front of her stared with a mixture of concern and love.
She is really trying.
“Look Mom -- I mean Margaret -- no matter how you twist and turn it, it was partly my fault. I could have stepped back from the match, knowing she never would. I could’ve struck down Kei before he got to us.” She let out a long sigh. “But I didn’t bother. Maybe the truth is that I’m a cold person.”
“I have seen you around your friends. You are all but a cold person. You’re just disappointed.”
Her voice had this comforting tone that she heard other mothers use -- the same she used on Isabella. No matter how hard she fought it, this woman was doing something to her. Elena observed the other people around them, busy chatting while enjoying their coffee. So little did they seem bothered with what was going on around them.
And sometimes I envy them.
“Disappointed in what? My friends? Myself? The world? No. For too long, I have been hiding behind my emotions instead of using them. I have met people with love and sensitivity, when in reality, they needed a hard hand.” She inhaled the scent of the Yorkshire tea standing in front of her. “I refuse to apologise for being a bitch. As no one has ever apologised to me for treating me like shit. I mean, what’s next? I kick the arse of Logan and have to write an ‘Excuse Me’ card? Since everyone seems to go through changes, I might finally be able to accept my own without guilt tripping myself into an early grave.”
Margaret looked at her closely, taking a small sip from her cup. Her hand reached for one of the dry cookies, before putting her focus back on her daughter.
“Are you happy in your life, Elena?” The question came rather unexpected, leaving Elena speechless for a moment. “I’m talking about your career. I know your marriage is good.”
Hmm. Truth to be told this was an easy question. A yes or no deal, right? But the way El’s mind worked was never easy. For a moment, she remembered her English teacher back at the orphanage.
Great minds never take the easy way. For them, there is only one way: their way, even when the world sees two paths.
“It’s funny you always ask me such things out of the blue. What is there not to be happy with? I am a champion in an established company. I get to do what I love… .”
“That’s not the answer to my question.”
“You are stubborn like an old mule.” Elena laughed for a moment, seeing the expression on her mother’s face. “I guess I am okay with how things are at the moment. Would I have picked another opponent this week? Yes. And that has zero to do with Logan and what I think of him. But there is still unfinished business for me and that is not about the Television Title. There is doing your job and then there is assholes that break into your house scaring your child.”
She clenched her hands into fists, looking down at her knuckles turning white. Her sharp, manicured nails poking into her own flesh.
“The time for revenge comes when you least expect it, darling. Strike when they feel safe. Do it on your terms.”
“Have you read the Art of War? You are a Zen-like lady, but I guess I know where you are going with this. Will it make me weak when I admit that I like Logan Traeger and his girl? Maybe. But I don’t need the acceptance of the world to remain true to myself.” She grabbed a cookie herself. “Only an idiot would belittle the force of nature this guy is. His last match against Tanja made one thing clear: he ain’t one to fuck around with.”
Her eyes wandered towards the waitress that leaned against the bar. She smiled at her colleague, while playing with her hair. Females and their tricks.
“Sometimes, it seems like you have to be a broken record in this business. I am faster than you. But look, I am stronger than you. Yeah, but my submission holds break bones. Excuse me bitch, I am smarter than you.” She rolled her eyes in a playful manner. “There is a time for theory and a time for practice. Mister Traeger certainly will give me a run for my money. And I welcome it. But I have been taught one thing in my life: What’s mine will be protected till my last breath.”
“You’re not to blame, Elena.”
It took her several moments to snap back to reality. She’d zoned out probably only seconds ago, but it felt like hours. She blinked a few times before her senses slowly began to work again. Her body felt cold, despite the fact that they were in the middle of summer. The petite person in front of her stared with a mixture of concern and love.
She is really trying.
“Look Mom -- I mean Margaret -- no matter how you twist and turn it, it was partly my fault. I could have stepped back from the match, knowing she never would. I could’ve struck down Kei before he got to us.” She let out a long sigh. “But I didn’t bother. Maybe the truth is that I’m a cold person.”
“I have seen you around your friends. You are all but a cold person. You’re just disappointed.”
Her voice had this comforting tone that she heard other mothers use -- the same she used on Isabella. No matter how hard she fought it, this woman was doing something to her. Elena observed the other people around them, busy chatting while enjoying their coffee. So little did they seem bothered with what was going on around them.
And sometimes I envy them.
“Disappointed in what? My friends? Myself? The world? No. For too long, I have been hiding behind my emotions instead of using them. I have met people with love and sensitivity, when in reality, they needed a hard hand.” She inhaled the scent of the Yorkshire tea standing in front of her. “I refuse to apologise for being a bitch. As no one has ever apologised to me for treating me like shit. I mean, what’s next? I kick the arse of Logan and have to write an ‘Excuse Me’ card? Since everyone seems to go through changes, I might finally be able to accept my own without guilt tripping myself into an early grave.”
Margaret looked at her closely, taking a small sip from her cup. Her hand reached for one of the dry cookies, before putting her focus back on her daughter.
“Are you happy in your life, Elena?” The question came rather unexpected, leaving Elena speechless for a moment. “I’m talking about your career. I know your marriage is good.”
Hmm. Truth to be told this was an easy question. A yes or no deal, right? But the way El’s mind worked was never easy. For a moment, she remembered her English teacher back at the orphanage.
Great minds never take the easy way. For them, there is only one way: their way, even when the world sees two paths.
“It’s funny you always ask me such things out of the blue. What is there not to be happy with? I am a champion in an established company. I get to do what I love… .”
“That’s not the answer to my question.”
“You are stubborn like an old mule.” Elena laughed for a moment, seeing the expression on her mother’s face. “I guess I am okay with how things are at the moment. Would I have picked another opponent this week? Yes. And that has zero to do with Logan and what I think of him. But there is still unfinished business for me and that is not about the Television Title. There is doing your job and then there is assholes that break into your house scaring your child.”
She clenched her hands into fists, looking down at her knuckles turning white. Her sharp, manicured nails poking into her own flesh.
“The time for revenge comes when you least expect it, darling. Strike when they feel safe. Do it on your terms.”
“Have you read the Art of War? You are a Zen-like lady, but I guess I know where you are going with this. Will it make me weak when I admit that I like Logan Traeger and his girl? Maybe. But I don’t need the acceptance of the world to remain true to myself.” She grabbed a cookie herself. “Only an idiot would belittle the force of nature this guy is. His last match against Tanja made one thing clear: he ain’t one to fuck around with.”
Her eyes wandered towards the waitress that leaned against the bar. She smiled at her colleague, while playing with her hair. Females and their tricks.
“Sometimes, it seems like you have to be a broken record in this business. I am faster than you. But look, I am stronger than you. Yeah, but my submission holds break bones. Excuse me bitch, I am smarter than you.” She rolled her eyes in a playful manner. “There is a time for theory and a time for practice. Mister Traeger certainly will give me a run for my money. And I welcome it. But I have been taught one thing in my life: What’s mine will be protected till my last breath.”