My eyes are glued to the TV. I'm eating my sandwich at the dining table. I can't take my gaze off the news aired on TV right now. It's the national headline.
There was a bank robbery, and the CCTV caught the bad guys shooting the employees.
I wince as the sound of gun shooting and people's scream echo. Even though it's coming from the TV, it feels real. I'm suddenly losing my appetite for breakfast.
"That sounds disgustingly cruel and barbaric," Inez, my sister who just turned seven this month, complains from across the table.
We're having breakfast together, but she has chosen the seat with her back facing the TV, just like usual, to avoid seeing some horrible news she can't bear to witness. Unfortunately, it's always around this time that Dad's friend turns on the news every morning.
The sound of footsteps catches my attention, and I find mom walking down the stairs while speaking on the phone.
"We'll be there in no time, sweetheart." A smile touches her lips while she's listening to the voice from the other side of the line. I know who she's speaking to. It must be my older brother, Jaxon. "Don't worry. All of us will be there to support you. Everyone is excited and can't wait to watch your first karate championship. Just listen to your instructor and take a deep breath. We'll be there shortly."
They talk a bit more before mom hangs up. She sighs, and I can see the excitement on her face.
Jaxon left earlier for the karate championship with his instructor to get warmed up before the competition. Inez and I will go there with mom to support him. I hope that dad can make it as well, but he's a very busy person.
I'm excited and nervous for Jaxon because this is his very first championship. At the age of 13, Jaxon has been one of the best karate students in his martial arts school. He's expected to win a medal in this competition.
Mom kisses my cheek as soon as she arrives at the dining table. Then she approaches Inez and does the same. She's glowing with happiness, but then her smile disappears as soon as she sees the TV.
"Fenrir," she snaps, glaring at the said man. "Again? I told you to not show such violence in front of my children. Please, can't you at least switch the channel to something else?"
Fenrir shifts his attention to mom. "Sorry. I got carried away while following the case." He changes the channel, which is now showing the news about drug trafficking.
Mom sighs, and I can see that she's still irritated. I don't know why momseems to hate him. Fenrir is actually a nice person. People would think that he looks intimidating on first impression -- with his piercing dark eyes and a cut on his left cheek that makes him look like a gangster in movies -- but he's actually fun to hang out with.
Sometimes, he likes to play games with me and Jaxon, like letting us aim our water guns at his shooting target board.
He once showed me his real gun and let me touch it.
Fenrir and some other close friends of dad's hang around here in our house very often. They usually spend a night here every other day. Our house has plenty of rooms, so there's always space for everyone.
Some people even call our house a mansion because we have more than 20 rooms. I've heard some of them also say that it's like some kind of 'base'.
I don't know the details of dad's jon, but I know for sure that he makes a lot of money. He's the founder of an organization.
Dad rushes downstairs, catching mom's attention. He's dressed in casual attire and wearing his black jacket, which is a good thing. He usually wears his suit before going to negotiation, so it means that he's not going to work today.
Mom looks pleased with the sight, a sign that dad is going to come with us to watch Jaxon's karate match.
"Have you finished your breakfast?" Dad greets me and Inez when he arrives downstairs. His gaze then darts to the TV. "Look there," he speaks to us in a fatherly tone. "Look at those guys over there trafficking drugs. They're the bad guys. Our job is to not become like them. Our job is to put them in their place. Understood?"
Inez and I nod in understanding. While mom always tries to not contaminate us with all things evil, dad prefers to show us both sides the good and the evil -- while making sure to guide us to choose the right path.
"Magnus." Fenrir stands up from the couch and strides toward dad's office. "Can we talk for a while?" he asks in a serious tone.
Dad stays on his spot while mom shakes her head in disagreement.
"Please, not now," mom begs. "He's waiting."
Judging from the way Fenrir spoke, he and dad are going to discuss an important work. And they always take a long time when they talk about work.
"Magnus," Fenrir calls, already inside dad's office with the door wide open for him to follow. "It's about the case you asked about yesterday."
Magnus is not dad's real name, and I've heard that Fenrir isn't his real name either. I don't know why they use all those fake names.
Dad sighs and gives mom an apologetic look. "Please give me a moment. It won't take long. I promise."
Mom watches in disbelief as dad enters his office and closes the door behind him. She sighs in frustration and takes a seat beside Inez. She caresses Inez's hair, telling us to be patient while waiting for dad to finish the discussion with Fenrir.
Only a minute passes after the door is closed, but the next thing we hear is them shouting at each other. I can't hear the words clearly, but it's obvious that both of them are furious.
I even think that they're going to kill each other because I can hear the sound of the furniture inside the room being toppled and crashed.
I just hope that I won't hear any gunshots.
Inez jumps in her seat every time a loud voice reaches her ears.
"Come on," mom says, helping Inez stand up. Her eyes are telling me to do the same.
I follow suit, heading toward the car which is already waiting for us in the driveway. Mom opens the door for me and Inez to sit at the back. Our driver, Tristan, is already behind the wheel, but mom doesn't get into the car.
Instead, she walks a few steps away and pulls out a cigarette with her shaking hand. She always edges away when she's nervous, as though she doesn't want us to see such weakness.
No matter how hard she tries to hide it, I know it when mom is scared. I know it when she's feeling sad, when she's in pain.
shaking beside me. "Will dad be okay?" she stutters.
I put my palms on her shoulders, trying to calm her. She looks up at me with her big emerald eyes. They're filled with tears and fear.
I hate to see Inez cry. I hate to see mom cry. I want to learn martial arts like Jaxon does so that I can protect them too when someone tries to harm them.
"Of course, he'll be okay," I say, believing in my own words.
I haven't seen any other man as strong as dad. That's why he's been the leader of this organization. Fenrir might be his advisor, but dad is called the destroyer. No one gets in his way.
However, I can see that Inez is still afraid, so I decide to distract her mind.
"Let's play Sticks," I say, starting withone finger out on each of my hands.
Inez stares at me, probably still debating if she wants to play this finger-counting game with me.
"Come on." I smirk, making her sigh.
She pulls one finger out of each hand too.
"Your turn first," I say, giving her a head start.
She taps my hand, and we start playing. She wins the first round, but surprisingly, she pouts.
"You gave me the chance to start first, so it was obvious that I was going to win," she says matter-of-factly. "Now, it's your turn to start first."
I notice that her mind is already distracted, which is good. This time, I take a head start, but when she wins again, she groans.
"That's not fair," she exclaims. "You purposely took the wrong step so that I could win."
I laugh, and she does too. It's such a relief to see her happy face again.
The funny thing is that we always play this game like this, but she never gets bored of it. I think she enjoys being spoiled.
Movement from the house startles us. A huge relief washes over me when I see dad storming in our direction.
"Let's go," he urges.
After mom and dad gets into the car, Tristan immediately starts driving.
***