Chapter 5: Trust no one but yourself

"Do you really think she wouldn't hate me because of what I did earlier?” Aurora asked her father as they were stocking the fridge with groceries.

"I already told you. She understands. Don't worry."

"It's just. I don't want her to have the impression that I don't approve of the both of you."

He moved closer to her and placed his hands on her shoulders, massaging them. "Relax, princess. Everything will be fine. Trust me." He laughed. "I'm just wondering when you begin to want to impress someone. As far as I know, you usually don't care if someone calls you a snub."

"Come on, Dad. She is not just anyone. She is someone you like. So, I want to impress her."

"Okay", he said and continued to arrange the groceries.

"I really hope she likes me."

"She will." He closed the fridge. "Why don't we have a duel?"

"A duel? Really?"

"Yes. Are you scared?"

She chuckled. "Scared? I should be asking you. Are you scared I'm going to break your bones?"

"Why don't we duel and we will know whose bones are breaking."

"The loser gets to cook dinner and do the dishes."

"Deal", he said and smiled.

They moved to their wrestling room and Aurora was smiling all the way. It's been long she and her father wrestle but she's pretty sure she is capable of defeating him because she knows she has gained some strength recently.

They opened the door and got inside and moved to the mat.

"Are you really up for this?” Charles asked.

"Why are you asking questions I'm meant to ask you?"

He let out a laugh. "What makes you think you can defeat me? You sound so confident."

She shrugged. "Because I'm confident I can defeat you."

"Is that true?"

"Why not leave the chit chat for later and let's get to business", she said smirking.

"If you say so."

She removed her shirt and remained in just her top bra. Charles also removed his shirt revealing his singlet.

"I'm so gonna crush your bones", Charles said.

"You wish."

She remain like that while her father gave the first attack. He brought his fist close to her stomach but she pushed his hand back sending back. He moved towards her again and brought his fist closer to her face but she once again blocked it. He made to use his legs bit she blocked it again.

"Will you just continue defending? Why don't you attack?” He asked.

She smirked. "You want me to attack."

"Yes. Show me what you are made off. Don't see me as your father but someone trying to hurt you."

Without wasting much time, she ran towards him and brought her fist close to his face but he dodged it. She was expecting him to do that so in a blink of an eye, she hit him in the stomach with her leg. One thing that is clear is that, Aurora is extremely fast. She doesn't wait for a blow to settle before sending another towards her opponent.

Charles staggered back and held his stomach, groaning. "I wasn't expecting that."

She shrugged. Without wasting a second, she ran towards him and in a flash, she took his hand and flipped him over her shoulders.

He fell on the floor and groaned. "Ugh!"

She opened her eyes wide and rushed to him. "Dad? Are you okay, Dad? Should-"

She was cut short as Charles stood up and pinned her face first to the floor and put her hands behind her back, sitting on her.

"I win", he said.

"No. That's cheating. You cheated."

"No, I didn't. You shouldn't feel pity for your opponent when fighting."

"But you not an opponent. You are my Dad."

"I told you not to see me as your Dad, didn't I?

"But-"

"Didn't I?” He asked sternly.

"You did."

He stood up from her releasing her hands. She sat up and wriggled her hand to get rid of the pain she was feeling.

"Aurora?"

"Yes, Dad?"

"Do you know you can be betrayed by someone you trust?"

"I do."

"I don't think you do. You see, in this life, you shouldn't trust someone too much. You can trust only yourself."

"But I trust you, Dad. I do."

"Don't trust me. I don't even trust myself. So, don't trust me. The only person you can trust and depend on is yourself. Do you understand?

"I do."

"Human beings are bound to change. So, if someone change towards you, accept it as an act of nature. But that doesn't mean you should allow someone to hurt you. Whenever you are in danger, don't run away. You face it because I didn't raise you so you would succumb to fear. I raise you like a warrior and I want you to act as one. Is that clear?"

"Yes, Dad."

"Never run away from your fear, princess. Never."

"Never", she repeated.

"Now who is cooking dinner and doing the dishes?"

She sulked. "Me."

"Good", he pat her shoulder. "Get to it. I have work to catch up with."

"What should I cook?"

"Anything good and be fast about it. I'm starving."

"Kay."

He helped her up from the mat and they went out of the room while he went to his own room and she went to the kitchen.

After minutes of cooking, she decided to prank her Dad.

"Dad?!” She called. "Dinner is served."

He came down within seconds and made his way to the kitchen island.

"What did you cook?"

"Why don't you open it and find out?” She said biting her lips to hid her smile.

He sat down and opened the lid but an empty plate was staring back at him. On seeing his shocked expression, Aurora held her stomach and started laughing.

"You little! Where is the food?"

"You", she gasped. "You should ha...have seen your face", she said still laughing.

"You find my present situation funny, right?” He said and holding back his laughter.

"I think is should another word higher than funny", she said standing up and cleaning her eyes. "It was hilarious."

"You really are like your Mother. Always disturbing."

She smiled and brought out the food. "Here. Enjoy your dinner."

"Thank you, princess."

"You're welcome", she replied. "Dad?"

"Yes, Princess."

"Can you tell me the story of how you are Mum met, again?" She have heard it countless times but each time he repeats it, she was always laughing.

"You can't get tired of this story, right?"

"Never."

"Okay. I'll tell it to you."

She sat down and listened carefully.

"I was driving to work and I was already late which was unusual of me. All of a sudden, I almost ran into a pretty young lady. I came to a halt and rolled down the glass, parking at one side of the road. She came to my window and said. 'Young sir, did you perhaps misplaced your glasses?' My eyes almost popped out of their sockets and I couldn't speak. Then she placed her finger on her chin like she was thinking. She removed her finger and said 'Unlock the door' and moved towards the passenger's side. I didn't know what compelled me to but I opened it.

“She opened the car and got in before bringing down the wind shield and looking into the mirror, adjusting her make up. At that moment I wondered what was wrong with her. How can someone just sit in a stranger's car comfortably? As if reading my mind, she spoke up. 'I know you are wondering why I'm comfortable in your car. The thing is you can't do anything. I can break your bones in just a blink of an eye.' She said and winked. She opened the car safe and took my wallet removing my business card. She read it and spoke up, 'Hmm. Charles Penson. Nice name. You owe me for almost running into me.'

“At that moment, I found my voice. 'I am truly sorry', I said. 'You need to pay me for almost running into me. The thing is, I have a very important baking competition to go to and I’m almost late. I need you to take me there as a form of payment for almost running into me.' I didn't argue because I knew I was at fault in the situation. Even though I was already late for work, I agreed and drove her to where she was having the competition. 'Thank you, sir', she said and got down. I nodded in response and made to drive but she stopped me. Smiling she said, 'I think I might have mistakenly punctured your tyre with my pocket knife", he said and Aurora laughed. "I got down almost immediately and indeed, there was a small pocket knife in my Tyre. I turned back to look for her but she was gone."

Aurora was now on the brink of tears due to her laughter.

"Your mother is a really troublesome lady. That day I was impressed as well as surprised. I have never seen a lady like that. And you are just like that."

"I really wish I knew her more."

"You don't need to know her. You are exactly like her. Your mother never run away from things. She is the bravest person I've known. Even if the situation was more than her power, she will still stand tall. She never succumb to defeat. When she was diagnosed of cancer, I was sad but she said that no one on Earth is capable of changing destiny. She said if that was her fate then she is ready to face it."

"She really was a great woman."

"She was. She really was. I want you to also be the same."

"I will be, Dad."

"That's my princess. Let's eat now."

"Sure", she said and they began eating their food in silence.

"Dad, I'm going to bed now. I really feel tired", she said after they were through with their dinner and she had done the dishes.

"Okay, princess. Goodnight."

"Goodnight, Dad", she said and kissed his cheeks.

Charles just couldn't be happier at how grown his little princess has become. It still felt like yesterday when Sandra died and he wondered how he would be able to take care of a little girl all alone. He smiled and knew that Sandra will be proud of him for coming this far.

He loves Bianca but the love can't be compared to what he had for Sandra. Sandra wasn't the first girl he loved or was in a relationship with, but she was still the one. He remembered how she has always been caring when she was alive. He also felt sad that Aurora didn't know her mother that much. 

He shrugged and thought. 'No one can change Destiny.'