FAMILY ABOVE ALL: BATTLING AGAINST GODS

Arthur looked at his son calmly.

He wanted to encourage his son about his loss, but after a moment, he decided against it.

Rubbing his son's head gently, he said to him:

"Father has lost once before. Let us not lose anymore."

He removed his hand from his head, and bared his knuckle at him, with a smile on his face.

Seeing that his father avoided his question, Arlo decided to leave it be.

Still, looking at his father's outstretched knuckle, Arlo couldn't help but feel some emotions well up inside him.

"Sniff..."

He slowly knocked his small fist on his father's and squeezed out a weak...

"Yes."

"Let us go home. Your mother is worried about you."

…..

Feeling the embrace of his mother, Arlo reprimanded himself in his mind.

When he came back home, he saw the unveiled face of his mother and he was shocked to the core.

Her hair was unkempt, and her eyes were red and swollen. He could tell that his mother had cried a lot which caused his heart to tighten in self-reproach.

"I'm sorry Mum. This won't happen again." He wondered why his Mum didn't bother to search for him and why she had been so anxious about his well-being, but looking at her wet face, he discarded those thoughts.

Rita held her son tightly, afraid that he would leave her. Hearing his words, her mind finally settled down.

Pulling him from her embrace, she voiced out her worries:

"What happened to you? Tell me about it."

Arlo's face blushed red.

'How can I tell you that I went somewhere to cry because I lost to a girl?'

Afraid that his father might sell him out, he turned in his direction.

However, seeing his father calmly make his way to his room, he couldn't help but feel at ease.

"Don't worry mum. I and Dad have settled it."

"Ah?"

Rita was left stumped as she gazed at his red-blushed face. However, realizing that her husband and son had some time to bond together, she felt happy at heart.

"Okay."

"Have you eaten dinner?"

"Not yet. However, I'm okay. But you Mum, need to take a bath."

"Ah?"

Rita was taken by surprise by her son's words. Before she could react, Arlo pushed her toward the bathroom.

"Be fast mum, I will wait for you upstairs."

Seeing his mum enter the bathroom, he made his way to his Dad.

A few moments later, Arlo entered his parent's room.

His Dad was lying on the bed with his face facing the roof. He laid his head calmly on his hands, and one of his legs was crossed over the other.

He was left stumped on the spot, as he saw what was in his father's mouth. It was a stick of broom.

'Father, are you a goat?' Thankfully, those were not the words that came out of his mouth.

"Hope you will keep what happened today a secret."

"Which one?"

Arlo was confused.

"Which one? Is there any other one?'

Arthur caught sight of his son's confusion and decided to clarify.

"Is it that you cried because of a girl or because I spanked your buttocks?"

"You…"

Arlo trembled from anger as he held the urge to spear his Dad.

Gritting his teeth, he replied.

"Both."

"Alright. I will take them both to the grave."

Arlo reflexively relaxed.

"As long as I am in a good mood," Arthur added

"You…"

Arlo pointed his trembling finger at his father.

…..

Rita entered the room, her hair still soaked. She had a towel draped around her body.

She saw her husband lying on the bed and her son behind the chair in front of the mirror.

Looking at this sight, she smiled brightly and made her way toward Arlo.

Arlo drew the chair out so his mum could sit.

After his mum sat down comfortably, he took a comb and started dressing her wet hair.

Rita looked into the mirror and could see the bright smile plastered on her face.

She felt so gleeful that her son was spoiling her.

Closing her eyes in satisfaction, she reclined comfortably on the chair.

Arlo continued to comb his Mum's golden hair and he couldn't help but marvel at her beauty.

'So this is why I am so devilishly handsome, huh?'

With that thought in mind, he gazed at his father through the mirror.

'He is not so bad either.'

Looking at the comfortable position of his Dad and the air of arrogance that he seemed to be unconsciously emitting, Arlo could not help but become a bit angry thinking about what happened earlier.

'Hmph, let me tease you a little.'

"Mum, I want to report Dad to you."