Down System

Chapter 43

KEEVAN ANDRE

I knew it was my dad.

My plan to still run away did not continue when my father's worried and begged face slapped me. I loved him and I didn't want to see him like that, so I just went with him back to the cottage. It was just my mother whom I had always like to tease on because she easily would get annoyed.

While heading back, Mom walked our way. She had the thought of beating me up, but Dad warned her— saying we would go home if she'd do that.

My dad was always like that— whenever my mom would scold me, he was there to defend me, even though he knew I was the wrong one. It wasn't that he was tolerating my bad deeds, he just understood I wasn't yet at the right age to mature.

I didn't think so.

On the other hand, Mom clenched her fist. She couldn't control her anger, so she accomplished her plan of hurting me again, but not in a wicked way.

"Such a mischievous boy you are!" Mom said as she hugged me. "Don't run away like that again. You're not just making me mad, but making me worry as well."

"You should take note of that, my boy," Dad mouthed. "Mom can't run as swift as you. She's now old, can't you see- ugh!" he groaned when my mom hit him on the arm.

"I'm not as old as you, huh!" Mom shouted, giving my father a scathing look.

"Dad ain't a granny yet, tell that to her, Keevan," my dad said to me, tapping my back.

I playfully gazed at my mom. "Dad isn't a granny yet, Mom."

Before Mom could whirl again my ears, Dad held my hands and pulled me away from her. Unfortunately, she caught us and gave us a penalty when we finally reached the cottage.

My dad lied when he said Mom could not run rapidly anymore. He knew she was an athlete way back in her teenage, a runner to be exact.

I was just glad my mom didn't follow me the first time I ran away from her, or else, she would pinch my ears again in a circular way. I wasn't able to hear clearly sometimes because she used to do that to me, but kidding aside.

I and Dad seated, pouting our lips when Mom did not share the food with us. It was our punishment for the crazy thing we had done to her. I must blame my father for this, but not anymore when he opened up the topic I'd always wanted to hear.

"For how many times I told you, I don't want to live in Hades anymore," Mom said and stopped eating because of annoyance.

While paying attention to their chat, I was slowly having a realization that moving in Shekihah was all Mom's plan; Dad was actually out of this, but since he loved my mother, he gave her the favor. But, how about me? How about my desire? What about my plan for myself? They were all wasted and disregarded.

"Tell me why you hate Hades, and I'll stop this issue," Dad said, letting out a sigh.

"No!" I interfered. "Don't say it, Mom. Let us just leave here and go back to the land where we really belong."

"Keevan, shut your mouth for some time. Let your mother talk. I wanna hear her side since she hasn't told me yet about it from the very day we came here."

"I said I don't want to tell," Mom uttered vehemently.

"Okay, if you don't want to say anything, I and your son will leave you here. We will be living in Hades again, whether you like it or not."

"And, who are you to warn me like that?"

"I am your husband and a father to your son. Is it clear now or should I say it once more?"

Mom let out a deep sigh and took her seat again after drinking a little amount of water. "I don't like the culture in Hades. I don't want the elders pushing us to follow all the rules even though it was out of reason— I mean, even so, they were nonsense. I just don't like it, and I hope you understand."

"So, that's also the reason why you chose to build our business in this third country?" Dad asked, crossing his arms.

My mother nodded. "But, Shekihah is far different from Hades. I can feel the democracy here. The culture here is good as well, the governance, and everything— not too tight and not too loose."

"So, are you saying you can't feel the liberty in Hades?" Dad questioned with his two brows raised. "I'm sorry, honey, but I don't get it. You seemed happy when we were still living there. What is pushing you to believe that Hades is throttling you?"

"I don't want to repeat it. I said what I said. No more argue. No more asking. We're gonna stay here in Shekihah no matter what happens."

Mom stepped her foot forward but backed off right away just to get some food. After which, she continued to walk away until she reached the seashore.

While she was still away, I grabbed the opportunity to take food on the table, since I was already starving. I invited my dad to eat with me, but he refused. I guessed he was thinking of what to do with my mother.

"Dad, you should go to her," I told him. "She's mad at you, for sure, not at me."

He tsk-tsked. "You should include yourself, son. But anyway, she'd never been a raging beauty."

I smiled as high as heaven, sitting beside my father. "You're really in love with her, Dad."

"Who would not? Your mom is every man's dream. I'm happy I'm the one she chose. And now, she has become my world. But sometimes... I just wanna throw her on a different universe, if there is," he kidded but his face was serious. "I know the root of this even though she doesn't tell me."

I creased my brow. "What is it, Dad?"

"Aside from the culture, she has been wanting to leave Hades because she hates Gandor."