Marzia was completely taken aback that she couldn't answer. Her eyes wandered around the young man, and it seemed like what he said was indeed the truth. This tall and handsome man looked like he could own the world if he wanted to. Ian's gaze remained on her. "You don't need to do anything else. I only need you to teach him how to be a nice kid. He's already smart. You just need to tune some things up. Your schedule will be one hour every Saturday. I will pay you two thousand dollars for each session..." Ian said calmly.
Marzia calculated in her head as she weighed the pros and cons of taking the job. Although she was not actually willing to take it, being paid eight thousand dollars per month was indeed quite tempting. Besides, this could certainly help her pay Mary's ridiculous debts since Scott refused to lend a hand.
Marzia doesn't have a job yet, and earning that much money a month was a rare opportunity. And so, she could not think of any reasons to refuse. She eventually gave in and immediately nodded as she said, "Alright, deal!"
Marzia quickly snatched the coffee from Ian. After taking two big gulps, she returned it to him and said, "I'm too thirsty, but this will do. That's way too strong for me, though. Well, to each their own. I'll contact you, Mister! Thanks a lot!"
Marzia then walked off and pushed open the door after saying that and quickly left like a gust of wind. Ian lowered his head and stared at the coffee cup that she had just drank on. The corners of his mouth unknowingly curved up into a smile.
…
The day passed as usual. Marzia was out to get some groceries while Deniece has just gotten home.
As the tangerine sky greeted the apartment window, Marzia entered the unit and was shocked to see her mother on the couch with an unkempt and distraught face. Mary's eyes were red as scarlet when she stood from the upholstered chair and stepped forward toward her daughter.
Combing her curly hair, she batted her messy eyelashes at her daughter. "Hey sweetheart, how are you?" Awkwardly, Mary reluctantly hugged her, which Marzia found a little strange and sketchy. Usually, her mom only did it if she needed money from her.
"What are you doing here, mom?" Marzia tried not to grunt as she dropped the bag on the couch.
Meanwhile, Deniece came to the picture with a ladle in her hand as she went toward them. "Finally, you're here, Marzia! I kept calling you a while ago to tell you your mom is here."
Marzia turned her gaze to Deniece, smiling at her softly. "Sorry. I didn't notice. Thanks, Deniece."
"Sure, and no worries about it," Deniece answered as she looked at Marzia and Mary back and forth. She then recognized the tension between the two of them that made her move backward. "Okay, I'll just be in the kitchen if you need something, Marzia…"
Marzia nodded at her friend and then, in a couple of seconds, grabbed her bag from the couch, neglecting her mom to go into her room. Mary, however, followed her behind, looking quite jittery and nervous.
When Marzia got inside, she placed her back on the table and removed her shoes to change into her slippers. Without looking at Mary, Marzia finally resigned to the thought of ignoring her by asking her mother straight away.
"Do you need the money right now?" She then walked to her closet and yanked on some shirt and pajamas.
Mary bit her lips for a moment and then plummeted her arms to the side. "Yeah. The guys needed the money, Marzia. I have to pay them immediately, baby."
"Can't it wait?" Marzia threw her clothes onto the bed and then raised her arms to prop them on her waist. "I don't have any cash with me now, mom."
Her mother's face instantly became more anxious. Mary's finger fidgeted relentlessly as she walked toward Marzia's bed, sitting uncomfortably on it. Rubbing her palms onto her knees, she muttered, "I have to give t—them the money right away, Marzia."
Mary tilted her chin and with trepidation in her expression; she added, "They're going to kill me, if I don't pay them back." In the next moments, she buried her face into her palms and wailed.
Marzia couldn't help but get worried about her mom. The shield she was fortifying against Mary soon crumbled down as soon as she heard her mother's cry. She wasn't merciless and certainly, she wasn't a monster to not feel any empathy and compassion for Mary.
Mary was and is still her mom, and that would never change despite the former's flaws in motherhood.
Marzia walked to her bed, brushed her mom's arms, and sat on her feet to tell her, "Didn't I say I'll help you with it, mom?" Marzia then pulled Mary's forearms out of her eyes and looked directly at the woman's wrinkled face. "I just got a part-time job today and I will start soon. Also, I'm planning on applying to be a full-time teacher at a private school."
Mary's eyes blinked repeatedly.
Then, she wiped her tears off as though her distressed expression a while ago diminished in an instant. "You did, baby?" Mary smiled sweetly at her daughter, hugging her tightly. "I'm so proud of you! Mommy is so proud of you." Kissing the latter's temples, she added, "I love you so much, and thank you!"
"Just—I just need time to pay for it, mom. That's the last thing I could ask of you." Marzia sighed, parting away from their hug.
Sniffing her nose, Mary coaxed her daughter by tucking the falling strands of her hair behind her ear. "Of course, I understand, Marzia…"
Marzia couldn't find the exact words to say to her mother, which became the reason of her robotic smile as a reply. After that exchange of reassuring words, Mary left Marzia in a devastating state. As she went back to the kitchen, the food was already set on the table. Marzia slumped her back on the chair, exhaling massive frustration.
At that moment, Deniece noticed her friend's worries as she placed a glass of wine by her side. And so, she asked, "Is she hurrying you with the money?"
Marzia didn't speak and just nodded with dejection.
"You can borrow from me for a while if she badly needs it right now." Deniece sat on the side, holding Marzia's hand.
"No, Deniece. It's fine. Besides, you've already done a great deal for me." She forced her lips to curve upward. "I can handle it, don't worry," Marzia reassured her friend.
Deniece pursed her lips. "Alright, but please tell me if you find yourself in a tight spot, Marzia. You know I always got your back."
Marzia gave her a nod. "Yes, I will." She then lifts her hand and pats Deniece's palmar side. Clearing her throat, Marzia changed their subject as she grabbed the spoon and scooped the risotto from the plate. "I'm starving! Let's eat!"
Deniece didn't say anything any longer and just ate with her friend.
…
The next morning came by so rapidly that Marzia felt the strain of pressure on her nerves. She woke up so early to prepare all the things she would need for the first day of work. Wearing the most formal and professional clothes she had, she went to Ian's place even before the start of her schedule.
By the time she reached the place, Marzia was not surprised to be accosted by a thirty-foot tall mansion in front of her. The house, or so she said, the manor, was so commodious that it would fit more than a thousand people. It looked more like a commercial area with an aristocratic and expensive design, rather than a warm and comfy residential space.
She then fixed the creases on the hem of her blazer and pushed the bell button on the ten-foot column that was barricading the entire mansion. After a minute, an old lady came to open the gate in a formal black-and-white uniform. The lady must be one of Ian's caretakers, along with other employees who live with the Harrisons.
"Good morning. Uhm, I'm Marzia Delta. Mr. Chan's new tutor," Marzia greeted the lady.
"Ah yes, Mr. Ian has already informed us about your arrival. I'll take you to Chan's room, Miss Delta," the white-haired woman replied to her while she pulled the front gate open.
They walked to the massive space of the mansion and, as Marzia followed the helper to the stairs, her eyes couldn't stop roaming around as though she struggled with the thought of comparing Ian's over-the-top home to Scott's trifling mansion.
And by the time they got to the second floor, the old woman added a reminder, "You can tell me if you need anything, Miss Delta."
"Sure. Will do," Marzia politely replied. "Also, may I know if I need to know anything about Chan, in case…" She paused for a while and then jerked up her shoulders briefly. "In case something happens?"
She turned around to take a glimpse of her. "Not so much, Miss Delta. The kid will have to take his vitamins in the afternoon and need to eat lunch at the exact time, but that would be none of your concern. Also, we'll directly bring the meals or snacks here so you two won't get disturbed."
"Ah, got it. Thank you so much, miss—?"
"You can just call me Barbara," the old woman casually answered.
"Oh, okay. Then, please just call me Marzia. I'm not comfortable with people calling me by my surname," Marzia explained to Barbara with a friendly smile.
Barbara nodded and didn't bother probing any further and just shrugged it off. After a couple of minutes of walking down the hallway, they finally stopped at a white door. Barbara knocked and opened the door and upon entering the room, Marzia met a freckled young man on his bed.
"Chan, your new tutor is already here," Barbara informed the kid.
Marzia stepped forward with kindness and introduced herself to him with joy. "Hi, Chan! Good morning! I'm Miss Delta, your new tutor."
However, instead of being greeted pleasantly, Chan jumped out of his blue rocket ship bed and threw his stuff at her. "No! I don't like you." Before Marzia could even reply, she was already strewn with water from the kid's cup.
'Oh, boy…' she thought.