Part III

"My father, Douglas Smith, old name Douglas Jones, the son of the Late Jacob Jones, was born in a military family, even though he is quite careless and irresponsible towards his children but when it comes to maintaining discipline, he leads a strict life. His life turned upside down after his father passed away and they had to live on the streets because, my Paternal Grandma, Madam Jones' brother lost their house to gambling, she later remarried one of the richest business tycoons and became the mistress of Smith family, now you will think why I call my paternal grandmother, 'madam', well because she never accepted my mother because she is from a lower status than that of my father and according to her, my mother is a Gold-digger. Fun-fact is, my father, broke off his relationship with his mother long ago and ran away from his home, and right now the house we live in, is actually brought with my mother's money, and the job my father does, was actually given by my maternal grandparents, so I wonder, who is the real gold-digger here.

Anyways, back to my father, usually, he is meek in front of our mother especially when she is angry with him, but if he becomes serious, even our mother can't save us from his wrath. His most serious moment is when he trains his students as a coach in the field, we are supposed to call him a coach there, though he never really gives his own children football coaching."

We have been standing outside for almost one hour now. The house is unusually quiet as our parents are having dinner, tonight is a bit cold as we shivered, rain clouds covered the sky, and a cold wind blows, maybe it will rain tonight, our legs trembled due to standing for such a long time, "First, I had to stand outside my class today and now this! Who does this to their own children? Agh…so tired…" I yawned while my sister was busy crying and my brothers fighting.

"Damn luck, she called our dad from the police station and told everything to him. Cause of his relations with the policemen those punks escaped easily. If only I knew that she is dad's friend's daughter, we wouldn't have dared to mess with her, but come on, she tried to hit your precious daughter, or is it that you don't care about the abuse because the victim was me instead of Angela. " This is the reason, you should never help others for free, "ungrateful humans."

The door opened as dad came out and stood in front of us, he was completely pissed, and mom wished us luck from behind. He folded his arms and tapped his foot impatiently.

Douglas : Are you feeling guilty for what you have done? (he raises brow questioning)

We : (trying to look as guilty as possible) Yes Father... We won't do it ever again... (We tried to make our expressions as innocent as angels)

Douglas : You said that last time as well. (He pinched the bridge of his nose while sighing with disappointment) You, people, are making my headache even worse. Anyways, let's discuss this tomorrow, everyone come inside, it's already late. Don't catch a cold. (Our faces brighten up as we were about to enter the house only to be stopped by him again) Except for you, young lady. Stand here for the whole night and reflect on your mistakes.

Anna : Douglas! Enough is enough! The weather is cold today, and it will rain soon! Is your punishment more important than your daughter's safety? (she looks at him in disbelief)

Douglas : A bit of rain won't kill her, right? (he frowns)

Leo : Dad, Anne is injured, if she gets wet in rain, the injury may get infected, so can I be punished instead of her? (he says concerned)

King : 'We', am also ready to be punished on behalf of our little sister. (he stands in front of dad with a determined expression)

Douglas : She is the mastermind, and she should understand that people get punished or rewarded according to their deeds and don't worry, Elizabeth family isn't that weak to fall sick over minor injuries..(he says while glaring at them)

Me : (I snapped) I don't wanna understand! Aren't I, your flesh and blood?! Why do you always treat me like a stranger! (Saying this I ran off towards my usual place as I could hear mom shouting my name only to be stopped by dad)

"Why? Why me? My face reminds me of his own reckless self doesn't mean he gotta take it out on me all the time….I hate him so much! Yet….I can't hate him….after all he is my father….I know he loves me as well….I guess? No….he definitely does!"

I sat down on the grass enjoying the cool breeze though I shivered a bit, the sky looked sad like me, covered in dark clouds, it was hiding the moon the same way I tried hiding my pain.

"Yet another night sleeping on the grass, if only I had my footballs here, at least I could have practiced." Life is indeed unfair, even though each time I make up my mind that I won't feel anything towards such partial treatments, I still end up losing my shits. Just the sight of his face makes me feel annoyed. All of a sudden my chest felt tight with over-whelming grief, I felt anxious and squeezed my chest, I bite my lower lip staring at the clouds blankly, as a few drops of rain fell on my face "Ah its raining…" before I realized, tears rolled down from my eyes, it seemed like the sudden heavy rain was helping me hide my own tears, as I sat on the wet grass, drenched in rainwater, crying along with the clouds. I soon calmed down only to realize that my wounds have opened up yet again, and my head was dizzy, I felt like losing consciousness, it had been a few minutes since I ran away from home, "I wonder if my family is worried for me." My body felt heavy, as I was sleepy, my eyes starts shutting and my thoughts were blurry due to fever, I was about to fall unconscious when two strong arms pulled me up, I wrapped my arms around his neck and cuddled him feeling his warmth against my feverish body.

Me : Dad….(I murmured weakly)

I don't know if the next words that he said to me were real or just part of my fever imagination but I heard him apologizing to me and felt his lips against my forehead before I fell unconscious. My fever got worse and I was admitted to the hospital for almost a week before getting discharged.

After I got discharged, I discovered that my siblings bitched about my bullying incident to our parents, so now my mother not only sent me to learn karate from her old pervy sensei but also pursued dad into teaching me boxing. All of a sudden my life became a packed box, our kindergarten timing starts from 9am to 2pm, and after my classes are over, I run off to my master's place I practice Karate for an hour there, then I am supposed to reach the academy where my father teaches football, he makes me run 5 laps around the ground before he teaches me some basic boxing moves before I finally drag myself to my mother so that I can train with her football team. In a few days, she is going to select a captain for her female soccer team, I just hope it's not me, I am already tired of this fucked up life.

"Yes, you heard that right, am in a football team that is coached by my mother, and guess what? Am the youngest and most hated member of her team. Football runs in the Elizabeth family for the last three generations, after my grandmother Sarah Elizabeth was abandoned by her family after failing to stop her from playing football, she married my grandfather Henry who was a British football player, later they pursued their dreams together, and had two daughters. My grandmother's original name was Akito Takahashi, as you can see, she is actually a Japanese lady who changed her name after severing her ties with her birth parents. Anyways, even my mother and aunt are into football, my father escaped from his home (America) and came to Japan only to fall for mom.

You know what? I think I should start my morning run tomorrow and practice football late at night during these hours, after all, usually I am kicked out of the house anyway. The more I train the better I will get. Break through your own limits that are my motto, also a reason why my body breaks down most of the time, but worth it. Or maybe am overdoing it with my 4-year-old body?"

It was 8 am, as I got dressed up and grabbed my cap before climbing down the stairs, "I am finally rejoining my school after two weeks' leave due to my poor health, though what's the point?" I have been trying my best in avoiding a proper conversation Dad, as if we are in a cold war, which may go on for a month or two, " am I being ridiculous for doing this?"

Anna : (gives me a hug worried) Anne, be careful on your way to school. Are you sure that you don't want me to drop you to school today?

Me: I am fine…I don't want to bother you. (I smiled hugging her back)

Dad walked out of his room dressed up. He looked at mom and sighed.

Douglas: What's with that worried expression, she isn't the first nor the last one to be bullied, back in my days, I used to be bullied too, no need to be so concerned about such minor incidents (he rolls eyes)

Anna : Douglas! This is your daughter, that you're talking about! (she says facing him)

Douglas: Anyways, I have made an important decision. (he calls out for my siblings)

Leo, King, and Angela stood beside me waiting for dad to start speaking.

Douglas : Since you hate babysitters so much, from now onwards Anne will be the babysitter. This is your punishment. (He glares at me before walking out)

Leo : How can he…..(he rubs his forehead frustrated)

King : Dad! She is a little girl! How can she babysit us?! (he shouted but it was too late cause Dad already left with his car)

Me : I hate him…(bites my lower lip pissed off before leaving for school)

I was almost near my school when I came across three men kowtowing in front of me, they were the same senior boys who bully me every day, but something was different today, there were multiple injuries on their bodies and faces including broken hands and legs. I don't have any doubts about who did this to them, the leader looked up at my face apologetically. "Great, First Dad, and now I need to face these morons"

Leader : (unlike last time his voice sounded pitiful) Miss Anne, we didn't realize before that you are a girl or else we wouldn't have…. (I looked at him in a manner as if telling "Whom are you kidding with?")

"Pathetic, they will bully you, until a bigger bully enters the scene, power isn't for bullying, it is for protecting the weak, instead you decide to abuse it, but you forget there is no end to gaining powers there is always someone more powerful than you."

Leader : S-Sister….d-di-did you f-forgive us?....(he looked scared as he begged to look at me in my eyes trying to analyze the situation)

Me : Tsk….annoying, how dare you to look into my eyes while begging me? (I said in a cold tone as I raised my right foot and stamped on his face putting pressure as he winces a bit in pain, my eyes looked dull with a murderous aura surrounding me) Beg me? It's not that easy.

One of the sidekicks mustered up courage as he felt insulted when I was torturing their leader, he still looked down as he raised his voice at me. 'What are you being so proud of? Don't think that we are scared of you….if not for your brothers threatening us, we wouldn't have bothered about a brat like you.'

He is right, they're here because of my brothers, what right do I have to show them, their place? When I did nothing except for receiving unwanted help. Removing my feet, I bite my lower lip and then frowned as I started walking off.

Me : You are right. Don't worry, my brothers will apologize to you tomorrow.

(I said with a cold expression before walking off without looking back)

Leader : Wait….does it mean, she forgave us? Or not? (Blinks as they looked at each other's faces)

"Such an insult, even after telling them to stay away from my problems, no matter how much they love me, they should have respected my privacy….I can't forgive them for hurting my pride….not this time at least." After that, I didn't talk with them for a week or two, call me childish but guess what? Am four years old.

To be continued....