Chapter 154 - Watson Family

Keifer's POV

"...So annoying! You'll pay for this," I whispered while walking.

"Keifer... What did I tell you?" Mom asked in her signature remember-what-I-said tone.

"Don't curse back," I answered innocently.

"And?"

"Revenge is not the answer."

Mom smiled at me, but I couldn't smile back. That Yuri Hanamitchi defeated me again. I lost to him in the exam and in a fight.

I hate him.

"Why aren't you smiling yet?" she asked.

"Mom... I lost again. Dad is going to be mad at me," I said, sounding disappointed.

I was disappointed—especially knowing that when Dad found out, he'd think his firstborn was weak again. He always said I would inherit everything he had.

I'm only seven years old, but I already feel pressured by everything. I feel like I have so many responsibilities in life.

"Don't think about your dad. I'll talk to him," she reassured me with a gentle smile.

I had no choice but to force a smile. I didn't want to, but I knew Mom wouldn't stop nagging me until I did.

We stopped at the school gate where Dad's car would pick us up. From the other side, I saw the one who had beaten me—Yuri—with his blue-eyed friend.

He glanced at me for a moment but quickly turned his attention back to his companion.

Dad's car arrived, and Yuri was gone. I felt relieved because I knew that if he were still around when Dad arrived, Dad would be even angrier when he found out what had happened.

Once inside, the car started immediately. Through the window, I saw Aries. He was standing with his scary older brother.

But I didn't care about them. My mind was still on Yuri. How can I get back at him?

"You lost to that Hanamitchi again?" Dad asked.

I couldn't answer. I just bowed my head. I was waiting for Mom to say something, but Dad shot her a fierce look.

"I asked you a question, Keifer," he said firmly.

"O-Oro," I muttered.

Dad suddenly slammed his cutlery down onto his plate. The loud clang startled me. I hated that sound—especially when it came from Dad.

I was scared.

"H-Hon... It's okay. They're just kids—"

"That's the problem!" Dad interrupted Mom. "Because he's a child! He needs to learn while he is a child! He needs to toughen up before he grows up!"

I wanted to cry, but I couldn't. If Dad saw me cry, he would get even angrier. I kept my head down.

I was terrified of him when he was like this.

I glanced at Keigan. He was staring at me, tears forming in his eyes.

Even Keigan couldn't cry out loud.

I looked down at the food in front of me. I had no appetite, but Mom's eyes silently pleaded, Please eat.

Even though I didn't want to, I forced myself to pick up my spoon and take a bite.

"Next time, make sure you beat that Hanamitchi," Dad said.

I nodded in response, but the moment I did, I regretted it—especially when I saw the way Mom looked at me.

Sorry...

"Keigan wants to sleep here," Keigan said, pointing at my bed.

He liked sleeping in my room. He always did this whenever he was scared.

"No. Go back to your room," I told him.

"Keigan doesn't want to," he whined before suddenly jumping onto my bed and pulling the blanket over both of us.

What the heck?

"Keigan..."

"Keigan is sleeping," he mumbled, pretending to snore.

I sighed and let him be.

A knock sounded on my bedroom door. I didn't say anything—I already knew it was Mom.

The door opened, and I was right.

"How are my boys?" she asked, smiling at me.

"Keigan is sleeping here," Keigan said with a grin.

Mom kissed his forehead. She was about to do the same to me when a loud bang suddenly came from outside.

"SERINA!" Dad's voice boomed. "WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU?!"

I knew Mom was scared, but she hid it well. She gave me a reassuring look.

"Stay here," she told us. She was about to open the bedroom door when it swung open on its own.

Dad stormed in, furious, holding a piece of paper in his hand. Keigan immediately clung to me.

"What is the meaning of this?!" Dad shouted, shoving the paper in Mom's face. "Are you stealing from me?!"

"N-No... T-That's my money. I have the right—"

Dad suddenly grabbed Mom by the throat.

Keigan and I both froze in fear and shock.

"You have no right! This is my money! You have no money here!" Dad roared.

I wanted to help Mom, but I didn't know what to do. My whole body was shaking.

I was just a kid.

"N-No... I'm in pain, K-Kaizer," Mom cried out, struggling against him.

"You really think you can hurt me?!" Dad shouted and suddenly slapped her.

She fell to the floor, sobbing, calling out to him. But all we could do was watch.

"Kaizer! Not in front of the kids!" Mom pleaded through her tears.

"I don't care!" He slapped her again.

"Dad! Stop it!" I shouted.

"Kaizer! Please!"

"Mom!"

Dad stopped but shot us a sharp glare. He grabbed Mom by the hair.

"If you speak up again, this won't be the only thing you get from me!" he hissed.

Then, he let her go and stormed out of the room. The moment he was gone, Keigan and I ran to her.

I hugged her tightly. "Mom!"

"Ssshhh... Don't cry. Mom's okay," she whispered, hugging us back.

I felt useless. I didn't do anything. We just stood there and watched as he hurt her.

It's haunting me. It's a nightmare—for both me and Keigan. Watching our own dad hurt our mom.

And we did nothing.

"Keifer!" One of my classmates called. "Come on! Let's play!"

I shook my head and looked down. I wasn't in the mood to play. I needed to think—what should I do if Dad does that again?

Suddenly, a ball rolled over to my foot.

"Keifer! Over here!" someone shouted.

I looked up. It was Yuri.

Him again! Annoying. Did he throw the ball my way on purpose? Was he trying to get on my nerves?

I picked up the ball and played with it in my hands. Then, I smiled at him. He smiled back, probably thinking I'd already forgotten what he did.

"Want to play with us?" he asked.

For what? To prove that you're great at everything?

"Sure," I answered quickly.

He glanced at his friends for a moment. Perfect. I grabbed the opportunity. With all the force I could muster, I threw the ball straight at his face.

Bullseye!

"Yuri!" his friends shouted.

He fell to the ground, and his friends immediately rushed to him.

"What's your problem?!" he asked angrily, his eye already turning blue.

I sighed. "Please."

Yuri stood up, and blood dripped from his nose.

"He's bleeding! Someone call Ma'am!"

He stared at the blood on his hand for a moment, then looked at me—calm, unreadable.

"What's your problem?" he asked again, his voice steady.

"Nothing. I just hate your face," I replied coldly.

"You're awful! We're reporting you to Ma'am!" the blue-eyed kid shouted, pointing at me.

"Tss... Go ahead."

"Why, you—!" He was about to charge at me, but Yuri blocked him.

"Leave him alone, Percy," Yuri said calmly. "You won't gain anything by fighting him."

That irritated me even more. What's he trying to prove?

So arrogant.

He looked at me again, still with that expressionless face. He was so relaxed—even with his nose bleeding.

I clenched my fists. How can he stay so calm in a situation like this?

Something inside me snapped. I lost control of my body and rushed at him. I threw a punch straight at his face, and he hit the ground again.

"You're crazy!" the blue-eyed boy screamed before suddenly lunging at me.

Does he even know how to fight?!

Before he could hit me, I knocked him down first. But just as he fell, a fist struck my face.

Yuri!

I couldn't hold back anymore. I swung at him, and we started brawling. Some of our classmates jumped in too.

In the middle of the fight, I was caught off guard when a kid suddenly jumped on me.

"Ouch!" he cried.

Aries?

I didn't know how Aries got involved, but suddenly, he was standing and throwing punches too.

I turned back to Yuri. We were both landing hits wherever we could.

I didn't care. I just wanted to get my revenge.

I put all my strength into one final punch. He staggered and struggled to stand.

Did I win? I won! I—

"MARK KEIFER WATSON! REPORT TO THE GUIDANCE OFFICE! NOW!"

Dead.