Chapter 10: Sarkon's Promise

"She was snooping about? Why would anyone do that?" "Is she jealous or something? Of Julie?" "Was she trying to steal?" "Poor Julie! What a terrible roommate!" "I knew it. Her kind shouldn't be trusted." Maria folded the paper nicely and did what Julie expected her to do. She bowed and apologized, "I'm sorry. I've learned my lesson. I won't do it again." The girl widened her gaze at the top of Maria's head. She was all prepared to argue with this country girl or even fight. How was she to know? Julie had called her a "feisty b*tch," so she took the queen's word for it. Now she felt like an idiot. This stupid girl behaved exactly the opposite of Julie's predictions. The second Maria lifted her gaze, the girl swiftly switched back to her cocky expression. "A-are you trying to make Julie look bad?" Maria frantically waved two open palms like a white flag, "No, no, no! I'm just sorry for what I've done." Splash! Cold water hit her in the face. A familiar sensation seeped through her clothes and struck her heart. When Maria opened her eyes again, the girl was frowning with an empty glass in her hand. Her first instinct was to rush to the washroom to clean up, but she held her ground and waited. The girl thrust an angry finger at the exit, "G-go! L-leave!" Maria lowered her drenched face and ran off. ***** Twelve-year-old Maria opened the door and was stunned with horror. Sarkon was on the mat on his back, legs spread out on the floor, an arm over his head, and chest heaving heavily. He looked like he was in excruciating pain. "Uncle Sarkon!" She ran over to the body, tears flowing down her cheeks. She knelt beside his thick arm and hovered her worry-stricken face over his half-covered face. "Uncle Sarkon!" She cried out again. Is he dead? "Uncle Sarkon! Don't die! Don't leave me!" Maria wailed. Sarkon removed his arm and was surprised to see Maria's face crimsoned and wet with devastation. Watery stuff was gushing non-stop from her closed eyes. He frowned. In between deep breaths, he muttered with annoyance, "What's wrong with you? Why are you crying?" Startled, Maria's eyes flared open. She halted in the middle of a deep sob and nearly got choked by her own tears. She coughed slightly as Sarkon sat up. "Uncle Sarkon, you're not dead, right?" She whispered fearfully and then took in deep staccato breaths and sniffed. "No," Sarkon rubbed the strain in his shoulders and winced in pain. "Are you hurt?" Maria quickly went behind the giant in between sniffing and proceeded to massage his shoulders. Sarkon removed his hand and let Maria help him. He sat there wincing in pain. That damn instructor, he grumbled silently. He was exceptionally harsh today. Sarkon thought his head was going to be ripped off from his neck. I'm already twenty, yet my strength is still nowhere near his. D*mn it. The handsome giant cast a death stare at the wall as if it was his enemy. Maria continued massaging quietly, and Sarkon felt his muscles loosening. After a while more, he muttered, "You can stop." Maria turned his shoulders to face her, "Will you be alright, Uncle Sarkon?" "Yes," Sarkon muttered. He faced ahead again and started drawing circles with his right elbow and then his left. Maria's body slumped and she sat in relief, "Thank goodness. You scared me. What were you doing?" Sarkon faced her with puzzlement. "Training. Jiu-jitsu." Maria blinked, equally confused, "What?" "Martial arts." "Oh," Maria broadened her eyes in realization and sniffed. Slowly, the effects of the trauma were wearing off. She crossed her legs and scanned the room the first time. Turning back to Sarkon, she muttered sadly, "Uncle Karl said you were with someone, so I thought that person hurt you!" "Well, he did," Sarkon stated in a deadpan tone. Maria's eyes widened again in apprehension. "But it was for training." Those emerald eyes relaxed again. Maria hugged her knees and pouted, "Training? What for?" She didn't enjoy the thought that her Uncle Sarkon would be "hurt" again. That's what "training" meant, right? Like her violin lessons, it would happen again and again. Sarkon answered her nonchalantly, "Self-protection." Maria watched in silence as the tanned hulk in white costume started stretching his limbs again. "Is someone going to hurt you?" she asked, genuinely concerned. "Maybe." Maria burst into tears once more. The thought of this wonderful man leaving her like her parents terrified her. The clueless giant was alarmed. "What's wrong with you again?" The deep voice sounded frantic and helpless. "I don't want you to be hurt. What if you leave me too?" Maria lunged forward and grabbed his biceps. "Don't leave me, Uncle Sarkon!" Sarkon stared at the pretty face that was red and raw like a steamed prawn and fell into a grim mood. His voice was gentler and careful. "I won't leave you. That's why I'm training. I want to be stronger. When I'm stronger, I can stay by your side and protect you." Maria stared back in awe. With a sudden surge of motivation, she jolted to her knees. Her emerald eyes looked determinedly into his surprised blue gaze. "I'll train too! I want to be stronger so I can stay with you forever and protect you, Uncle Sarkon!" That navy gaze widened in amazement and then relaxed into two cheerful rainbows. Maria's handsome hulk smiled… Maria stared at her reflection in the bathroom mirror. That was the first time Sarkon smiled like a child going down a slide for the first time. She realized when she got older that it was a rare chance because that smile never happened again. There was nothing Maria could do to get Sarkon to smile that way again. It was another unanswered question circling inside Maria's mind that she told no one, not even Sophie. Her sparkling green eyes fell onto her damp books, and she sighed. She would have a hard time explaining to the librarian about the stains later. What if they don't let her borrow books again? How would she catch up with the assignments? Would she have to call Sarkon for help? Was that all she could do? Sarkon's voice rang in her ears. She turned back to her reflection and tightened her brows. Get a grip, Maria! You promised to stay with Sarkon and protect him forever. You need to be stronger. This is your training. You can do it! They are just pranks. It was time to count her blessings. First, the water wasn't blue or stinky. Second, she wasn't physically harmed. Third, she was let off early, so she could continue to attend her classes. All is going well, she beamed at her damp blouse and grabbed her things. The lecture was almost starting soon. Her stomach growled in protest. Sniggers exploded from behind her. Maria kept her eyes forward. There was nothing she could do about it anyway. The only thing she could do was focus on the lecture and go back to her room and grab some cookies to beat the hunger. Lucky for her, she had kept a few boxes in her drawer in case she needed a midnight snack. That was another thing she was grateful for. As the professor droned on, Maria's mind drifted to her next blessing: her afternoon art class She wouldn't miss it for the world. ***** Maria had been dying to draw Sarkon's portrait. With Julie on her back, she resisted the urge to fill the blank canvas with the familiar contours of his striking features. Instead, she drew and painted blue things, from the sky to flowers to blueberries, anything that reminded her of those blue crystals of warmth in Sarkon's gaze. As her brush stroke with her natural talent, her mind drifted back to the villa. Sophie was smiling at her. Uncle Karl was feeding the pigeons and seagulls. Albert was frowning at her for watering the plants and doing his job. Sarkon was reading his file. It was so peaceful whenever she painted that she'd always forget her surroundings and the time. When she emerged from the art building, the sun had already set hours ago. Famished, Maria ran to the cafeteria. It was already closed. As Maria fought her hunger pangs to think of a way to get food, the doors opened. The lady from earlier motioned Maria to follow her. Maria entered the dimmed and empty hall and saw a bowl of warm soup and bread on a table in the corner. "It's yours," the lady whispered and turned around, prepared to leave. "Who is it?" The lady turned back and shrugged, "Someone paid for it. If you came back, I had to let you in. But if you didn't, then I'd discard it." "Didn't you see the person?" Maria was insistent. The lady walked off, ignoring the confused young lady.