CHAPTER 2: LEITZ

Leitz distanced himself and gaze at me. He beamed at me looking pleased.

"I love mommy, the most!"

"I love Leitz my darling, the most as well," I smiled at him lovingly.

I lifted Leitz and let him sit on my lap.

"Oh... please sit down Marquess and Marchioness..." I teased.

"Stop it, Leiana! You know how I hate it when you called me like that!" Vera complains.

I laughed at her. The two couples sat down on the couch across from me.

"He is more clingy than before, Leiana," Vera chuckled.

"Leitz may become a mommy's boy in the future, hahaha!" Johann kidding.

"What is wrong with being a mommy's boy?" Vera countered.

"Yeah, what is wrong with that?" Leiana seconded.

Johann felt cornered when the two women is glaring at him. He raised both of his hands showing submission.

"I don't have any problem with that. Just that, the boy might always look for their mother when they grow up. That would be bad for their image," Johann explained.

"You know, Johann. It depends well on how you raised the child. If you raised him always shielding him with every little thing and always letting him off from his little mistakes. That would be a problem when he grows up. He will carry that thought that you will always be on his side even if he did something wrong."

"I can't argue with that," Johann backed down.

"Mommy?" Leitz called.

I gaze down and look at him while he is gazing up at me.

"Well, it is a boy like you always looking for a mother when he is troubled."

"Hmm?" Leitz tilted his head with a confused look.

"For example, someone has bullied you. You run home and search for me. You told me everything and wanted me to punish the child you bullied."

"Ooh? So, it means the boy is a coward."

"Excuse me?" I was caught off guard by his response. Just when did he manage to thought it like that?

"Well, there is nothing wrong to run to me whenever you have a problem, Leitz. But sometimes, to be a great man you should learn to stand on your own. Before you run back to me, try to solve it yourself first, if you can."

"Is mommy saying I should try my best before calling for your help?"

I pat his head. "Yes, darling. You are a bright child. You easily understand what mommy is saying."

"Of course!" he beamed. "I am mommy's son after all." Hugging me.

"Right? You took after me."

"No wonder, Leitz is attached to his mother more than before," Johann chuckled.

"She pampered him in her way," Vera seconded.

"Since it has been a while seeing each other. Why don't you play outside with Hebron, Leitz," I suggested to him with a smile on my lips.

"Okay," Leitz agreed.

He jumped off from sitting on her lap and walked toward Hebron. He lends out his hand to him.

"Let's play outside. I have playmates there too..."

"But I want to stay with Tita ack..." Hebron didn't finish his sentence Leitz dragged him away.

"Yes, let's go!" Leitz smiled brightly. He holds the back of Hebron's collar and dragged him outside the house.

"I wonder if they will be fine," I said worriedly.

"They'll be fine. Ever since they were a child, they were close already," Vera responded.

"Oh, I forgot. Do you want to drink something?"

"Well, I am glad about anything," Vera answered with a smile.

"Me too," Johann seconded.

"Okay, wait a bit..." I stood up and went to the kitchen. I came back with some refreshments and sweets as our snacks. I put it on the center table and sat on the couch across from them.

"Ever since the two of you got married, we barely see each other..." I started while sitting down.

"Yes, can't be helped since we are already living in the capital city," Vera answered with a sigh.

"So where is Hestia? I didn't see her with you."

"That girl went together with my mother to the fief," Johann answered.

"I see. I thought those twins won't be separated."

"If you only knew, Leiana. Those twins might be better off separated than being together. They always bicker at each other and chaos is everywhere!" Vera stressfully said.

"Hahaha, I can tell on your face, Vera..."

[ HEBRON POV ]

"Hey why don't you let us join?" one of the three taller boys than us said.

Looking at them I guess they are five years older than us. The five of us who are of the same age look at each other and hesitantly nod our heads.

"Don't worry we will give you a handicapped. The five of you against us three."

"Yeah, you already had an upper hand!"

"O... okay..." one of our playmates answered in a trembling voice.

"Good. The losers should follow what the winners say, got it?"

"G... got it..." he stuttered.

The game is simple. The team who has the ball will hit the other team members. The first hit all the members of the other team wins. It was a game where you do not have to apply that much force to throw the ball to hit the other team members.

However, the bullies seemed to enjoy putting much effort into the game. Every child they hit will have a bruise on their face or body. Leitz and I find it annoying and did our best to dodge the ball. Until only the two of us are left standing.

I glanced at Leitz, who is focusing on the three bullies, while I was worrying about our playmates crouching on the ground. When I turn my gaze back to the three bullies, I saw one of them, holding the ball and about to throw it my way.

However, I am too late to realize that is a fake. I already move my body anticipating he throws the ball and is about to dodge it. He smirks when he saw where I am heading and adjusted the ball directly toward me.

I just close my eyes and embrace myself for the impact. The ball hit me right on my face. I roll on the ground because of the impact of the ball. I can have someone hold me in my arms and help me sit up.

"Hebron, are you okay?"

My ears are ringing so I couldn't recognize the voice's owner. I try to look at his face but then my sight blurred and I am dizzy.

"Hebron?"

Ughh! Just how strong did that bully throw the ball at me? After a while, I can feel a sting on my nose. I try to touch my nose and gaze at my hand. I focus my sight on my hand just to be surprised that there is blood on my hand.

"Ah!" I blurted in surprise.

"Hebron!" grabbing both of my shoulders.

I gaze at him. "Leitz?"

"Are you okay?" he asked worriedly.

"Am I? I am bleeding!" raising my hand to let him see the blood.

"I'm going to die!" putting both of my hands on my head. "Please tell my family that I love them! Also, tell Tita Leiana that I am sorry I can't marry her since this is where I die," I said panicking.

Leitz suddenly hit my head. I am surprised and look at him.

"What is that for? Can you see your friend is dying and here you are hitting him? Do you want me to die?"

Leitz sighed. "Don't be so dramatic, okay?"

"Me, dramatic? Can't you see I am bleeding?"

"It's just blood," he said casually. "Look your nose stops bleeding."

"Is it?" I asked looking for confirmation.

"Hm!" he nodded.

I sighed in relief. "But it still hurts..." I winced.

"I don't know why I am being friends with you. You are childish."

"What childish? I am a child, and so are you," I retorted.

Sometimes, Leitz acts strange. He may look my age but there are times when he acts more maturely. However, whenever he is with Tita Leiana he acts childishly and his gaze becomes soft and gentle. Including, he acts cute with Tita Leiana. I think Leitz is having a mother complex.

Out of the blue, Leitz flicks my forehead.

"Aw!" touching my forehead. "Why are you so mean to me? Huh?"

"Am I?"

"Yeah! Even Hestia, you...."

I couldn't finish my sentence when a ball suddenly hit the back of Leitz's head. Because of the force from the ball, Leitz is looking down at the ground. Oh no, as I realized what happened I felt my heart beating nervously.

Leitz is kind of a cold and temperament person. I don't know where he takes after that, but I do believe that is not from Tita Leiana. Since she is gentle and warm, smiling brightly like a sun.

Leitz's normal face is having an indifferent expression on his face. His face only shows emotion if he is facing Tita Leiana. It's kinda scary when he is glaring at me but in a split second looking like a sweet puppy when looking at Tita Leiana.

For five years we have been friends. I can tell Leitz when he is irritated and he is angry. And I can say that he is angry right now. Seeing how his face darken and didn't even glare at all at those bullies. He is angry.

"Uhm, Leitz..."

He stands up and turned around to face the bullies. In short, he isn't listening to me. Leitz picks up the ball and makes his way to the three bullies.

"I guess you're the only one left," the bully smirked.

Leitz looked at them. "Why are you bullying us?"

"Bullying? Are we bullying them?" asked his two friends.

"No," one answered.

"We are just playing brat, don't be so emotional."

"Playing? It was not necessary to hit them that hard. You are hurting them!" Leitz retorted.

Ah~ even Leitz is mean to me. He still cares for me. This is touching.

"If you are that mad then why don't you at least hit us?" he smirked.

"Hey, stop it. What if he runs back home and cries to his father?"

"His mother will dash here and say like, what did you do to my son? You rascals blah blah blah..." one of the three bullies mocked.

"Who cares about mother, he doesn't have even a father!"

"HAHAHAHA!" all of them laugh.

"HEY STOP IT!" I yelled out to them. They are going down the line. Well, they are doing that ever since the start but this is different.

"Say sorry..." Leitz muttered.

"What? I couldn't hear you," he teased.

"My mother said that you should say sorry if you had done wrong..."

"But we didn't do anything wrong hahaha!"

Leitz clenched his hand. "Fine..." glaring at them without knowing his eyes glowing.

The three of them flinched. There is one thing I learn about Leitz when he is really angry. His crimson eyes will suddenly glow and his gaze became sharper as if a predator is gazing at you.

"Leitz..." I try to call out but he didn't even glance at me.

Oh no, this is bad. The last time I saw Leitz that way, I think it was the last two months. Hestia almost got drawn into the lake because a boy pushed her. I want to punch the boy but Leitz immediately grabbed his collar and dip his head into the lake.

"Shall we continue the game then?" Leitz said with a smile on his face.

I gulped. Leitz rarely smiles. If you aren't close and he smiles at you innocently. You must pray for your soul.

The game started. One of the three bullies threw the ball towards Leitz with all their might. However, Leitz just stood there, took a step towards his side, and caught the ball in his hand. He steps his right leg behind and threw the ball back with all his strength.

The ball passed through the side of one of the bully's faces. He can feel the wind together with the ball that is flying passed him. He couldn't move to react or see the ball.

"Ah~ my bad... I missed," Leitz tilted his head with his glowing crimson eyes. "But next time, I won't." He smiled.