Strong
Keifer's POV
Nightmare.
That's what I'm going through right now. Dad hurting Mom is becoming more frequent. It's gotten to the point where she easily gets sick. And it's so frustrating that I can't do anything about it. I just don't understand why Mom still chooses to stay in this house when that's how he treats her.
So annoying!
"Kuya... your friends are here," Keigan called.
Him too! Something's wrong with Keigan. He's become so quiet, always looking preoccupied. I already told him to stay away from Dylan, but I always see them together.
"You don't want to join us?" I asked while getting dressed.
"No. I want to stay here with Mom," he replied and walked away.
I also want to stay with Mom, but I just can't do it. Every time I see her, I only feel worse. Why is she still putting up with this? With Dad?
I've asked her the same thing several times, but her answer never changes. "Your dad and I will be okay someday." But obviously, that's never happening.
I left my room. They were already at the entrance—Percy with his usual smile, Aries with his serious look, and Yuri with his ever-poker face. We've been friends for more than a year now.
They always pick me up from the house since no one else can drive us.
I was just a few steps from them when I heard a very familiar voice.
"Keifer, where do you think you're going?"
"Out with my friends," I answered Dad quickly.
"You've been going out quite a lot lately."
"Why? Are you going to lock me inside the house too?" I asked, bored.
He stared straight into my eyes. I knew I was being disrespectful, but I just couldn't hold it in anymore.
"I don't like the way you talk to me."
"And I don't like talking to you," I said and walked out. The three followed me immediately.
"You're not scared of your dad?" Aries asked.
"No. Why?"
"Because we are," Percy laughed.
I wish it were that easy to laugh everything off. We got in Yuri's car. Their driver usually tags along on trips like this. We just go anywhere, as long as we're far from that cursed house.
"Where to now?" Yuri asked.
"Let's go somewhere fun. We need to celebrate," Percy said.
"Celebrate?"
"Yeah! Did you forget what day it is?" he asked.
The three of us looked at each other. We clearly didn't get what he was saying. What day is it again?
"No one remembers? Seriously?!" Percy said, annoyed.
"Is it your birthday?" Aries asked.
He shook his head. "It's our anniversary! Two years of friendship!"
"Ahhh..." we all said in unison while nodding.
"Seriously?! Doesn't our friendship mean anything to you?!" he said, arms crossed, eyes straight ahead.
"What's this? A relationship? You're counting the days?" Aries asked.
"Yes! So, you should kiss me!" Percy yelled and tried to plant a kiss on Aries.
Aries immediately shoved his face away. "Yuck! Stop it!"
"Enough of that… Let's just go to my house. Hahaoya will cook for us," Yuri said, signaling the driver to start the car.
So it's already been two years… Since the day we fought and got punished by Angelo.
"Keifer." Dad again. I had no intention of facing him, but he was clearly waiting for me.
"Do you need something?" I asked.
"What time is it?"
"I don't know. You're the one wearing a Rolex. Why don't you look at—"
"DON'T YOU DARE TALK TO ME LIKE THAT!" he shouted.
His voice sent a chill down my spine. I'm still scared of him, but I tried to hide it.
"Is this what you've been learning from your friends?!"
I looked away. Now he's blaming my friends. He always blames someone else, even though it's really his fault from the start.
"ANSWER ME, KEIFER!"
"N-no."
"Didn't your mom teach you any manners?! Or is this what she's teaching you?!"
"No! Don't drag Mom into this!"
He glared at me and suddenly stormed toward me. What he did next was something I never thought he'd do to me—he slapped me hard. I fell to the floor. I could feel the stinging pain on the side of my lips, and my cheek went numb.
I couldn't stop the tears or the fear I felt.
I was right!
He can hurt me too—not just Mom. And maybe even Keigan.
"YOU'RE STARTING TO DISRESPECT ME! MAYBE YOU'RE FORGETTING WHO I AM!" he shouted, grabbing my collar and slapping me again.
It hurt. So much. Not just physically, but emotionally. It hurt even more that I couldn't fight back.
"KAIZER!" Mom's voice. Dad stopped and turned angrily toward her. Keigan was behind her, expressionless.
"M-Mom!"
She ran to me and hugged me tightly. "Kaizer! Not the kids, please!"
"He's stubborn because you coddle him!" he yelled, pointing fingers at her.
"That still doesn't mean you have to hurt him!"
"Then what should I do?! Praise him for this behavior?! If he doesn't straighten up, I'll break him!"
Then he walked away.
I clung to Mom tightly and finally let the tears fall.
"Ssshhh... Mom's here now. He won't hurt you anymore."
"Mom! Let's leave this place! Please!"
"Damn! Your dad did that to you?!" Percy asked, shocked as he looked at the bruise on my face.
"What else do you want? A picture as proof?" Aries said sarcastically, earning a glare from Percy.
"He hurt you too. Isn't it time to report him? You can get him jailed," Yuri said.
I shook my head. I wish we could. But Mom won't do it. Even after seeing what he did to me, she still doesn't want to leave.
"Why is your mom still putting up with that man?!"
"You won't understand, you're still kids," Angelo suddenly joined. "Just pray nothing worse happens to your mom, to you, or to your brother."
I didn't know he was listening. I thought he was inside the house. We were hanging outside Aries' place because he wasn't allowed to have visitors.
"But what if prayers don't work?" Percy asked.
Yeah. What if?
"Then we go all out," Aries added—but Angelo smacked him hard.
Tsk. This isn't a joke. I need a way. A way to get us out of Dad's control. And if we can't leave, I want to be able to protect Mom.
"Go home already! It's late!" Angelo yelled at us.
I looked at him seriously. "Angelo…" He and the others looked back at me. "Teach me how to be strong."
"Huh?"
"I want to be strong! If Mom doesn't want to leave Dad, then I'll find a way to defend her. So please! Help me!" I begged.
He crossed his arms, clearly not pleased with what I said.
I've seen him fight off a group alone before. He beat them all. That wasn't a joke—and it's exactly what I want to learn.
"That's not how it works. I can't teach you," he said seriously.
"Then just teach me how to fight!" I insisted. "Please, Angelo!"
"Keifer—"
"Us too!" Percy interrupted.
"We should learn too!" Aries added.
"SHUT UP!" Angelo shouted angrily. "I'm not teaching anyone! Go home!"
He slammed the gate behind him, leaving us stunned outside.
"If he won't teach us, we'll teach ourselves. There's a karate school near my place," Percy said.
But the karate place was too slow. They only taught us basics. They said we were too young and fragile for advanced techniques.
So annoying!
I need something fast. What if Dad hurts us again?
I threw myself onto my bed, rolling around from pure frustration. But I was too tired—my eyes closed and I drifted off quickly.
I don't know how long I had been asleep when a voice woke me.
"Keifer… Wake up…"
"Mom?"
"Get up, please… Pack your things," she said, walking straight into my closet.
I rubbed my eyes and sat up. That's when I saw Mom and Keigan, already packing my stuff.
"W-what are you doing?"
"We're leaving," Keigan answered quickly.
Leaving?
Am I dreaming? Is this really happening?
"Please, Keifer... Get up and help us," Mom said.
I stood up and helped right away. I didn't plan on bringing everything—just what was important.
I wanted to get out of there as fast as possible. This is what I've been wishing for. It's finally happening!
We walked out with our bags. Some of the maids and butlers helped us bring the stuff out and load it into the car.
"Mom… What's going on? Why are we leaving?" I asked. She didn't answer, so I stayed quiet. Maybe she wasn't ready to explain.
"I've had enough with your dad," she finally said, and I froze and looked at her. "I thought hard about what he did to you. And I can't forgive myself for letting him do that."
I saw her wiping her tears.
That hurt more than Dad's slap.
And I hate myself for making her cry like that.
"I'm sorry, Mom."