Leila sat cross-legged on a large plush rug, surrounded by piles of storybooks. Jane snuggled up beside her as they explored fantastical tales of adventure and magic.Leila brought the stories to life, using animated voices and expressions.Jane clapped excitedly. She enjoyed how Leila captivated her imagination.But James wasn't that interested.Jane's face beamed with happiness. She loved how the story ended."Do fairies exist?"Jane asked Leila.Leila stared at the cute little creature before her."No.""Ohhh. I wish to be one."Leila shifted her gaze to James. She wondered why he wasn't saying anything. Had he even been listening the whole time?"What's your question, James?"Didn't he have any questions to ask her?"I don't have questions. I know fairies don't exist."He shot a side glance at Jane. At least, he was old enough to know that.Leila sighed.She had tried everything to make him come around but he seemed not to be interested in whatever they did."What's the moral less
Leila exhaled deeply.He's still too young to take it all in.She would explain it to him in a way he would understand."Baby. It was so urgent we didn't know we would move. Just know we are here temporarily, and will move back."She gazed at his face to catch any glimpse of expression.Was he satisfied with her answer?"When?"Leila stared into the distance. Only if she knew when."I don't know. But very soon."He looked away. At least her answer was different from her mother's.He had asked Scarlet the same question one night when she tucked them in."Mom. Why did we move here?"She answered,"We had to move because it's necessary honey.""Alright."James said to Leila."Tell me. How's school?"Leila wanted to engage him in a conversation.She would be spending enough time here with them. She should be able to help him come back.He smiled."You have made a friend?"Leila asked him.He nodded affirmatively."Ohh. That's nice. Tell me about him or her."She was glad to hear he had al
James alighted from the car and covered his bruised face with his hands.He heaved a sigh of relief as he walked into the living room with no sign of Scarlet and Leila around.He dropped his hands and headed toward his room, he bumped into Scarlet on his way.He was disappointed.He quickly covered his face again."What happened to your face?"She saw his bruised face. She knew he was covering it because he didn't want her to see it."You get into a fight with someone?"James sighed. There was no point hiding it again.He dropped his hands and looked away.Scarlet ran his hands through her hair.She asked him a question why was he keeping quiet?"Start talking."She furrowed his eyebrows at him."Just leave me alone!"He exclaimed and stormed off. There were more important things to do now.He had to find the money he would give to those bastards tomorrow.Her jaw clenched tightly. She followed him inside.James sighed when she entered. He had forgotten to lock the door.He's just not
James knew if he told him, it would be trouble for him. It wasn't something he couldn't handle himself.He wouldn't escalate things by letting Ryan know. So far he could pay them, there was nothing to worry about."It's nothing.""Is anybody bullying you?"Ryan asked him."No!"He lied. He didn't want to get anyone involved.He quickly added,"Do I look like someone anybody can bully?"Ryan chuckled. He shook his head."I'm telling you. You don't."He teased him and winked at him."You can give me the money tomorrow. I don't want my aunt and mum to find out I have that amount of money with me."They would bombard him with questions. And no, he's not ready for that.Ryan understood.He watched the little guy walk away.He shook his head. The little boy never ceased to amaze him.He wondered what he needed the money for. He would start watching him closely now.He would find out what he needed it for on his own since he decided not to tell him anything.He had a hunch the money James wa
Collins sighed.He didn't like David's suspicious glance. What kind of question was he asking him?Was he monitoring his movements now?"I...I.."He wasn't sure how to answer him."Fine. I thought you would not be coming home."David didn't care where he had been.Collins cleared his throat."Did you miss me already?"He had not been around since afternoon, did he miss his presence that much?"Admit it. You just can't do without me."He teased David.David chuckled."What?"He was one hell of a trouble. He would even prefer not to have him around."I missed my woman."He shook his head. It wasn't him he missed.He missed Leila so much. He felt her absence deeply."Yeah! I know. I miss her too."He felt disappointed she didn't tell him anything about going to visit Scarlet. She didn't keep her promise.Collins took his seat.David set the magazine aside and stared into his face."I know she told you everything."He knew he was supposed to trust Collins but he just didn't know why he fe
"Hey! Hello!"Scarlet was waving her hands at Collins.He was dumb in silence.She touched him.Collins snapped out of his thoughts."Are you okay?"Scarlet asked him."Yeah! Sure!"He took his seat."Leila told me everything. How are the kids coping with the new environment?"Collins asked as he looked around. This house was bigger than the one they used to live in.It could look strange to the children."And you too?"Collins added. He knew she had not been going to work ever since they moved here.Scarlet shut her eyes. She had just been staying strong for her kids. She could not wait for all this to be over."I...I..""No. It's okay if you don't want to talk about it."Collins cut in."No. That's not it. I just don't know how to put my feelings into words."She smiled at him.She had a beautiful smile."I know it's a lot for my children. Changing of school, having to adapt with everything.""It's always hard to adapt but with time...."Scarlet did not wait for him to finish his wo
James heaved a sigh of relief. His face beamed with happiness."Who are you?"Kevin stared into Ryan's face. He looked tall and hefty.Ryan ignored him and twisted his arm. Kevin screamed."Leave me alone! Who the f*ck are you?"Ryan didn't release him."I'll release you if you say the right words to James.""I'm sorry. James, I'm sorry! Ahhh!"The pain was excruciating and it felt like his bone had dislocated.He released him.Kevin held his hand, he was relieved his bones had not dislocated. He stared into Ryan's eyes. Who could he be?"Give him back the money."Kevin glared at James and threw the money at his face.Kevin grabbed his hand again. "Don't be rude. Pick up the money and give it to him like a good boy."He did as he was told."Hey, Kevin!"They all turned in the direction of the voice. They were Kevin's three friends."What's happening here?"Tony asked.He saw that Kevin was looking sober."Are these the other bullies?"Ryan asked James.He nodded. Kevin seeing that hi
David tilted his head."What..."David wasn't sure of what to say.James shook his head and entered. David raised his eyebrows.Many questions flashed through his mind. He sounded as though he knew his true identity.Leila couldn't have told the little boy anything.He thought hard about it."Ryan?"He headed outside. He called unto him loudly. He was anxious.He was so angry, that he could feel his jaw stretching.Ryan had been in the car all this while. He got out of the car when he heard his name."Alpha.""What the f*ck! Don't call me that. What if someone hears you."He looked around."Alright.""What are you guys? That was the question the little boy asked me."He stared at him. He needed an explanation for that."Are you talking about James?""Of course, who would I be talking about?"David ran his hand through his hair. He was losing patience."I f*cking need an explanation!"Ryan explained everything to him. He had to do something to stop the bully.David sighed."That didn't