Chapter-154 Watson Family

Keifer's POV

"…Annoying! You'll pay for this." I whisper while walking.

"Keifer… What did I tell you?" Mom said with her signature 'remember-what-I-said' tone.

"Don't curse back." I answer innocently.

"What else?"

"Revenge is not the answer."

Mom smiles at me, but I can't smile back. That Yuri Hanamitchi beat me again. He already defeated me in the exam, and now even in a fistfight.

I hate him.

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

"Mom… He beat me again. Dad will get mad at me." I said, sounding disappointed.

Well, I really am. Especially when Dad finds out about this. He'll think his eldest son is weak again—the one he always says will inherit everything he has.

I'm only seven years old, but I already feel pressured about everything.

It feels like I already have a huge responsibility in life.

"Don't think about your Dad. I'll be the one to talk to him." She answered and smiled.

I have no choice but to force a smile. I didn't want to, but I know Mom won't stop pestering me until I do.

We stopped at the gate where Dad's car was supposed to pick us up. From across the street, I saw him. I saw the one who defeated me, together with his friend who had blue eyes.

His gaze passed over me for a moment but quickly returned to his companion.

Dad's car arrived, but it looked like he wasn't in it again. I felt a bit relieved, knowing he'd only scold me once he found out what happened.

As we got in, the car started moving. From the window, I saw Aries.

He was with his scary older brother.

But I didn't care about them. Yuri was still on my mind—how I was going to get back at him.

"Did you lose to Hanamitchi again?" Dad asked.

I couldn't answer. I just bowed my head. I was waiting for Mom to say something, but Dad looked at me fiercely.

"I'm asking you a question, Keifer." He said with authority.

"Y-yes."

Dad suddenly let go of his silverware. It hit his plate, and the noise was deafening to me. I hated hearing that sound, especially when it came from Dad.

I'm scared.

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

"That's the problem!" Dad interrupted Mom. "...Because they're kids! Because they're kids! They should learn while they're still young! They'll carry that until they grow up!"

I want to cry, but I can't. Dad will surely get mad again if he sees me crying. I can do nothing but look down.

I get scared of him when he's like this. I glanced briefly at Keigan. He was just looking at me, and I could clearly see the tears welling up at the corner of his eyes.

Even Keigan couldn't cry out loud.

I looked at the food in front of me. I had no appetite anymore, but the way Mom looked at me seemed to say, "Please, eat."

Even though I didn't want to, I forced myself to pick up the spoon and start eating.

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

I nodded in response. But I immediately wanted to regret that, especially when I saw how my Mom looked at me.

Sorry.

"Keigan sleep here." Keigan said while pointing at my bed.

He's been getting used to sleeping here in my room. He does that every time he gets scared.

"No. Go back to your room." I answered him.

"Keigan don't want to." Suddenly, he jumped beside me and hid under the blanket.

What the heck?

"Keigan...."

"Keigan sleep." He said and made a snoring sound.

So stubborn!

I just let him be.

Someone knocked on my 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 while smiling at me.

"Keigan will sleep here." Keigan said with a big smile.

Mom kissed his forehead. She was about to do the same to me when we suddenly heard a loud banging noise outside.

"SERINA!" It was Dad. Shouting like a madman. "WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU?!"

I know Mom is scared, but she manages to hide it. She looks at me reassuringly.

"Stay here." She told us.

She was about to open the bedroom door, but it swung open on its own. Dad stormed in, furious, holding a piece of paper. Keigan immediately clung to me.

"What is the meaning of this?!" Dad asked angrily, waving the papers at Mom. "...Are you stealing from me?!"

"N-no... T-that's my money. I have the right—"

Suddenly, Dad grabbed Mom by the throat.

Keigan and I both froze in fear and shock.

"You have no right! This is my money; you have nothing here!" Dad shouted furiously.

I want to help Mom, but I don't know what to do! My body is shaking, and I'm just a kid.

"N-n-it hurts, K-Kaizer." Mom said while desperately struggling.

"You're really going to get hurt by me!" Dad shouted and suddenly slapped Mom.

She fell straight to the floor. All we could do was cry and call out to her.

"Stop it, Kaizer! Not in front of the kids!" Mom pleaded while crying.

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

"Dad! Stop it, please!" I begged.

"Kaizer! Stop, please!"

"Mom!"

Dad stopped but gave us a sharp look. He grabbed Mom by the hair.

"Do that again, and this won't be the only thing you'll get from me!"

He let go of Mom and stormed out of the room. Keigan and I took the opportunity to run to her.

I hugged her tightly. "Mom!"

"Sssshhhh... Don't cry. Mom is okay." She said while hugging us back.

I feel useless. I couldn't do anything for her. We just watched as he did that to Mom.

It's haunting me. It's a nightmare for me and Keigan. Seeing our Mom hurt by our own Dad.

And we couldn't do anything.

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

I shook my head and looked down. I'm not in the mood to play. I need to think about what I should do if Dad does that again.

Suddenly, a ball rolled to my foot.

"Keifer! Pass it over!" Someone shouted.

I looked up to see who it was. Yuri.

Him again! Annoying. Did he intentionally throw the ball to my side? Is he trying to provoke me?

I picked up the ball and played with it in my hands. I smiled at him, and he smiled back.

Did he really think I forgot 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 looked at his playmates for a moment. I grabbed the opportunity. With all the force I could muster, I threw the ball straight at his face.

Bullseye!

"Yuri!" They shouted.

He collapsed to the ground, and his playmates immediately ran to him.

"What's your problem?!" The blue-eyed kid angrily asked.

"None of your business." I answered, bored.

Yuri stood up, blood dripping from his nose.

"He's bleeding! Call the teacher!"

Yuri wiped his nose and looked at me with confusion and anger.

"What's your problem?" He asked calmly.

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

"You're mean! We're telling the teacher!" The blue-eyed kid shouted while pointing at me.

"Tss... Then go ahead."

"You—" He was about to come at me, but Yuri stopped him.

"Let it go, Percy... There's no point in fighting him." He said calmly.

That made me even more irritated. What is he trying to say?

Arrogant!

He looked at me again, expressionless. He was completely relaxed even though his nose was bleeding.

My fists clenched. How can he do that? Staying calm in the middle of this situation?

Something inside me got even angrier at him. My body moved automatically, and I ran toward him. I punched his face, and he fell to the ground again.

"You're crazy!" The blue-eyed kid shouted and suddenly charged at me.

Why is this guy getting involved?!

Before he could hit me, I struck first. But as he fell, a fist landed on my face.

Yuri!

I couldn't hold back anymore. I fought back, and a brawl broke out. Even our other classmates got involved.

In the middle of the fight, I was suddenly hit by a kid who got thrown toward me.

"Ouch!" He yelled.

Aries?

I wasn't sure what happened, but I didn't know Aries was part of the fight.

He got up on his own and started throwing punches too. I turned back to Yuri. I didn't care where my punches landed.

All that mattered to me was getting back at him!

Once again, I put all my strength into hitting him. And I succeeded because he was struggling to get up.

Did I win?! I won! VICTORY—

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

I'M DEAD!