Keifer's POV
"There's Boss!" Percy shouted, pointing at a group of men who were in a fight.
He was referring to Angelo. I don't know where that came from, but it all started when he saved us from a gang war... again.
But honestly, I only call him Boss when I need something.
"Should we help him?" Yuri asked.
"No need. My brother can handle it," Aries said.
I looked back at Angelo. That's what you call 'handling it'? He was practically being eaten alive in that fight.
"Let's go... My hands are itching for a fight," I invited them and immediately jumped into the brawl.
They followed me. This was just another meaningless fight. We already knew how to fight back, but that wasn't enough.
"What the hell are you doing here?!" Angelo asked us angrily.
"Joining your fight!" Percy answered.
"What the fvck?! Go home!" he ordered.
We ignored him and kept fighting alongside him.
This had become my life outside the house. I preferred this over staying home and seeing that man's face.
"Aaarghhh! That hurts!" Percy and Aries screamed.
Angelo was pulling them both by the sideburns. As usual, he was scolding us again for joining his fight. Since Percy and Aries were the ones who brought us to him, they were the first ones to get scolded.
"You're all so hardheaded!" Angelo yelled at them.
Then, he turned to me and Yuri, so we quickly looked away. Not because I was scared, but because—shit!
"Why do you have to hit us on the head?!"
I looked at Yuri, who was also rubbing the back of his head. He was so fast—just a moment ago, he was holding the other two, and now he was already behind us.
"I already told you! There's nothing to gain from fighting! Focus on your studies!" he lectured us.
Tss...
I don't want to study. I'd rather be out of school, where I can learn how to fight.
"We can handle both fighting and studying!" Percy shouted back, earning a sharp glare.
Angelo was about to say something when a phone suddenly rang.
We all reached for our phones, but only one person answered with "Hello?"
"...How are you, love?" Percy asked the person on the other end. Love?!"...Make sure you eat well, okay? Stay away from your male classmates. I swear, I'll cripple them!" As he continued talking, we couldn't help but raise our eyebrows. Disgusting! This was the first time I had ever heard Percy talk like this. "...Take care! I love you! Ahihi." He said before finally ending the call.
He was grinning as he stared at his phone. He looks so weird.
I never expected him to be like this when he got a girlfriend. If having a girlfriend would make me act like that, then I don't think I want one.
"You have a girlfriend?" Aries asked.
Percy looked at him seriously. "Sorry, bro..." He even placed a hand on Aries' shoulder. "...There's really no hope for us. I like girls."
Aries answered him with a hard smack on the head. "Idiot! I don't like you! And I'm NOT GAY!"
We could only shake our heads at Percy's behavior. I feel like his antics are getting worse.
For the second time, a phone rang. But this time, it wasn't Percy's.
It was mine.
"Hello?"
["You need to come home... Now!"]
It was Keigan.
He didn't wait for my response. He ended the call without saying why.
But for some reason, I knew this was about Mom and that man.
I got home as fast as I could. I went straight to Mom's room. I wasn't even close yet, but I could already hear his loud shouting and things breaking.
My heart pounded rapidly. I felt nervous and scared for Mom. I ran and immediately pushed the door open.
"...I TOLD YOU! THAT'S MY MONEY!" he shouted while grabbing Mom's hair.
Mom had bruises and blood on her lips.
I couldn't hold back anymore. I rushed toward them and pushed him with all my strength.
He let go of Mom, but then he turned his attention to me. He slapped me hard across the face.
Damn it!
"YOU TOO?!" he yelled at me.
"K-Kaizer... Not Keifer!" Mom cried as she begged.
That only made me angrier.
I don't want to see her cry again. Mom!
"I DON'T CARE! GIVE ME BACK MY MONEY!"
"That is not yours. That money is for the kids! You know that." Mom answered him.
Money again! Is that all he cares about? Is that why he can hurt us? Just for money? Why is he like this?
"Y-you're a greedy bastard!" I forced myself to shout as I struggled to stand.
"What did you say?!" He glared at me. "...WHAT DID YOU SAY?!"
"I said you're—"
I didn't get to finish my sentence.
A powerful punch landed on my face. I was thrown to the floor, dizziness hitting me instantly. My jaw felt completely numb from the impact.
"KEIFER!" Mom screamed. "...Kaizer! Have mercy on your son!"
"Stay out of this! I've had enough of this brat!"
I tried to get up, but my whole body was trembling.
Then suddenly, he kicked me in the stomach.
I almost threw up everything inside me from the force of his kick.
"Argh!"
"Kaizer! Stop!"
Another kick.
Then another.
And another.
I could no longer count how many.
Even trying to block them was impossible—my body was too weak.
"You're just my son! The way you talk, you act like you're someone important!
What are you even so proud of?!" he shouted as he continued his assault.
This is it! This is what I had always prepared for—to protect Mom from him. I had joined almost every street fight I could.
But why couldn't I do anything now? All I could do was take his kicks.
Suddenly, I heard something shatter. At the same time, he stopped kicking me. I looked at him and saw him collapse, clutching his head.
Mom!
She rushed to me, trying to help me stand. "Leave now! I'll handle your Dad!"
"N-no! I won't, Mom! I'm not leaving you here!"
"Just go!"
"No—MOM!!" My voice nearly gave out from screaming.
Because out of nowhere, that monster grabbed her by the hair. His expression was furious.
I struggled to get up, but my whole body was shaking too much from the beating.
"I'm so sick and tired of you, woman!" he spat before slamming Mom's head against the wall.
"NO, STOP!"
He did it again.
And again.
Until suddenly, Mom's body collapsed to the ground. Her eyes were open, staring at me.
"M-Mom..." I called out to her.
No response.
Since I couldn't stand, I forced myself to crawl toward her.
With every passing second, my heartbeat pounded faster. Please, no! As I got closer, I saw her tears falling.
I cupped her face. "Mom... Please... A-answer me."
Blood trickled from her nose. The sight of it terrified me. I patted her cheeks, hoping she was just unconscious.
"Mom! Please!"
But she didn't respond.
Tears fell from my eyes on their own.
This is my fault!
She fell down the stairs... The dumbest, most idiotic excuse for a death, in my opinion. Especially for Mom.
That was the reason that bastard gave. And the fools—the brainless police and doctors—believed him.
Internal hemorrhage.
That's what killed Mom. I felt like it was all my fault. I couldn't even protect her from that man.
"Kuya... Where is Mom?" Keiren asked me.
That was the most painful question I had ever heard from him. He had asked me that so many times. But I could never give him a proper answer.
"She's in a better place now," Keigan answered, forcing a smile.
This was so difficult for me. So, so difficult!
"Keifer..." Someone called my name.
It was Aries, with Angelo and their mom.
"I'm sorry about what happened to your mom. If you need anything, we're always here for you," his mom said.
I forced a smile and nodded. "Thank you."
Next to arrive was Percy's family. His mother was holding his one-year-old baby sister, while beside her stood his stepbrother, Felix.
"Bro..." Percy said, patting my arm. "...Yours is the only funeral with a salad buffet."
Facepalm.
Felix smacked him hard on the head. "This is not the time for your jokes."
If these two weren't my friends, I would've kicked them out myself.
"Please excuse Percy," his mom said.
"It's okay. I'm used to it."
They stepped aside, and Yuri's family came next. Yoichi immediately hugged Keiren.
"I'm always here for you, Keiren," he said.
Keiren looked confused and tried to push him away, but Yoichi held on tight.
"If you need help with your brothers, we're here for you," Aunt Yakito said.
"Thank you."
Then my eyes landed on a man who had just arrived.
He wasn't familiar to me, unlike the other people here. But there was something different about him. He was carrying a briefcase. It also seemed like he was looking for someone.
I excused myself from Yuri's family and approached the man. But just as I got close, the monster did too.
"Mr. Brian Ryder..." he called out to him. "...You arrived earlier than expected. I was expecting to see you next week."
The man, Brian Ryder, looked at him. "Because I need to speak with your son. Urgently."
Son? Was he talking about me?!
"I understand... Let's talk over here," he invited, but Brian didn't move.
He looked at me. "I need to speak to your son..." He then turned back to the monster. "...Alone."
W-why me?!