Emptiness Within Him

(Karsten)

I was very well aware that I was speaking with Arata's mother, Skyla Zyair. Since Arata wished to keep this all a secret, I went along with the pretence that I was oblivious to the situation. But I wanted to see how she would handle it. 

Arata could be a pro at poker, she had great control over her facial expressions. 

Surprise, nervousness and unease, she masked it all and masterfully spoke to her mother, pretending not to know her. 

She surprised me for I was counting on making her sweat a little. But this Phoenix surpassed my expectations. 

Taking her cell phone, I noticed she had even deleted her mother's number from her contacts before dialling her.

Smart, I liked that, and my lips twitched to smile at her witty thinking, but I pressed it down.

"You can call me Mrs. A," her mom poisedly answered. There was this elegance in the way the lady spoke.