Turning Tables: The Final Instalment

Chapter 2: The Champ

1 year earlier..

Jhené:

"Nae when is daddy coming on?" I felt Harlem tap his hand on my knee and then climb off of his seat and onto my lap.  I readjusted him so that he was seated comfortably and then looked down at the time on my phone, it was close to 7pm the time the fight was due to start. 

"Soon baby, we just have to wait a little bit longer okay..."

Just as I reassured him, the house lights suddenly went down and then the stadium filled with navy blue fan lights, creating a dark but euphoric atmosphere. My heart began to race and goosebumps mounted my arms as everyone's chanting instantly got louder. The sudden sound of his voice resonating through the stadium speakers struck through my body like a bolt of lighting. Harlem gasped in excitement as concurrently an immersive video of all 21 of his fathers knockouts played above the ring.

"Ladies and gentleman, coming to the ring the undefeated world champion defining pride from The United States of America...Marcusss Clayyy" Michael Buffers infamous voice commanded the presence of the stadium.

Once again the lights flickered on and off and then suddenly... everything went pitch black.

Tedious,  anxiety- striking nerves raced through my body as we eagerly awaited the moment. It wasn't too long before a bright spot light hovered over the entrance and then the chilling voice of his ring music; Meek Mills Dreams and Nightmares intro boomed through the stadium speakers.

"I used to pray for times like this, to rhyme like this so I had to grind like that to shine like this..."

Thunderous roars erupted as finally the man of the hour graced 90,000 people with his anticipated presence. From where we stood I could just about make out his face, the crowd of people chanting his name and the entourage surrounding him were temporarily blocking our view, however his commanding presence was something that nobody could miss.

His visage finally came into my view. Hood on, head held high, boxing gloves tight with the confidence of a lion determined to annihilate it's prey. "Look, you see him Harley?" I pointed at the screen above us.

"Yeah!" he exclaimed, jumping up and down with enthusiasm. It was the first time he was witnessing one of his fathers fights in live time. For me this had become somewhat of a norm, sitting ringside anticipating his bouts. However the nerves, the chills and the excitement never seized to exist, it was the same feeling every single time. "C'mere lil man" Zeus our appointed security quickly raised Harlem up on his shoulders so that he could get a better look at his dads grand entrance. Harlem leaned his chin on the top of Zeus bald head and watched in complete awe at Marcus finally entering the ring.

I smiled and then focused my gaze back on the man of the hour. Steadily Marcus looked around at the crowd, lapping up all of the electrifying energy. He knew he was the greatest, everybody else knew it too. In the past 3 years his growth in the sport was something not even his haters could deny,  he was powerful and confident, not in a cocky or arrogant way, more so a self -assured manner. He knew what he was about, knew what he was worth and it projected effortlessly in his exterior being. It was one of his many qualities that made me fall in love with him 3 years ago.

Briefly our eyes connected as he walked over to his corner. "Get em" I mouthed to him. His response was a confident wink, that was all the reassurance that I needed to know that my baby had this.