Page 133 of My Ruthless Neighbor

He gets really scary when he’s angry. Last night he hurt mommy because the food was not hot enough for him when he returned from work.

Whenever he comes home, mommy locks me in my room. I hate it when mommy does that. I want to protect her. But she thinks I can’t do that. She thinks I am not strong enough. But I am going to prove her that I am.

Maybe after today, she will believe it. I am serious about the cake. She will learn today that I don’t need to be locked up from today onwards.

She enters the kitchen and puts her hands on her hips. “What did I tell you about eating sugar?”

“I didn’t…”

“Now you are lying, too?” She frowns at me and I look down. “Sorry, mommy.”

She reaches for me and picks me up. I wrap my legs around her middle and hug her closely, burying my head in the crook of her neck. This is a trick that always works.

No matter what I do, when I hug her, she forgets about it and melts. Just like that.

As expected, she relaxes and strokes my back. “Don’t think I am unaware of your tactics, monkey.”

I pull back to stare at her and find her smiling. “You can be a great actress when you grow up, my drama queen.”

I wrinkle my nose. “I don’t know about that, mommy, but I want to grow up really, really fast.”

She quirks a brow. “Why is that?”

“So that I can save you.” I kiss her nose. When I lean back, her smile is gone.

She clears her throat, then puts me back on the stool. “Shall we begin?” She smiles but her eyes sparkle less.

“Yes.” I nod vehemently.

That night we waited for daddy to surprise him. We turned off all the lights of our house and hid in the kitchen.

The front door opens. I squeal in excitement.

“Shh…” Mommy puts a finger on her lips.

I nod and remain quiet.

He calls out our names but we stay hidden for a few minutes. Then Mommy lights up a candle on the cake and walks out of the kitchen with me in tow.

He turns when we begin singing happy birthday. I run off the side and hit the lights, a grin splitting my face in two.

I am still grinning as I turn. “What the hell is this?” He shouts, making me and mommy flinch.

She smiles but it trembles. “Happy birthday.”

“I was banging on the door for ten minutes like a lunatic. I had to use my damn key to get in and find that you were home.” He takes a step toward her.

“Look, we made a cake for you—” Before mommy could finish, daddy pushes her and the cake goes flying in the air before dropping to the floor.

I shudder as I watch the destroyed cake, my cheeks getting wet with tears. Shaking myself, I run toward mommy when he advances forward.

She clutches me and dashes for my room.

“Don’t lock me in, mommy! I am a grown-up! I don’t wanna leave you! Mommy, no!” She drops me on the bed and leaves. I scramble off the bed but it’s too late. The door is locked.

I bang my palms on the door until they are aching and red. “Mommy, open the door, please! Mommy!”

The knock on the door jolts me awake. I sit straight, still shivering from the nightmare.

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