This was a ridiculous punishment. What kind of parent would ground a child from going to school? Then again, what kind of child gets upset for being required to not go to school and go wild outside with friends? Oh yes...

Me

I didn't have friends so I didn't know what it felt to hang out like what normal teenagers do.

"Keetan, go play in the arcade today. If I see you going to school I will double your punishment!"

Derek took a bite of his toast and swallowed before saying: "Honey, give the boy some slack. He already told us the reason why he was gone."

Thank you Derek.

Samantha seemed unmoved. Ugh women and their strong will. It was both annoying yet amusing. I couldn't believe how unreasonable Samantha was. I value my education very much and to be deprived of my time at school was like starving my brain for the knowledge it needed to have.

"Samantha, I have never been in an arcade before. Please just let me do my homework."

Kennedy downed his milk and licked his lips. "I'll take you there and teach you the way of a pro!"

"Kennedy, finish your food. You are not allowed to go to the arcade. You're still grounded."

Kennedy pouted and started whining like a puppy not being given attention. "No fair! Why is my punishment and Keetan's punishment so different?"

"The purpose of the punishment is to make you guys think of what you did wrong. If I give you consequences that you will enjoy, that is not chastisement," Samantha explained, taking her last bite of bacon.

"I am willing to make a trade," I offered. "But Samantha is right," I sighed.

"Mom is always right even when most of the time dad has a point," Kennedy stated.

Derek pinched Ken's nose. "Shush, you don't want your mother to get mad. I learned in these twenty years of marriage that arguing with her is futile."

Samantha slapped Derek's arm with a giggle. "I'm so lucky to have you sweetie."

"I think dad thinks the opposite," their son snickered. Veins caused by stress popped on Samantha's forehead.

"You'll have salad for dinner!"

"Aw man!"

Derek shook his head in exasperation. Their son was really a handful. Not a day went by without Samantha or Derek grounding him. Derek diverted his attention to me, ignoring Kennedy and Samantha's growing argument.

"Why don't you come with me to work? They built small tents around the area we are going to work in. The tents are for clubs, arcade, food stalls, and stores that sell all kinds of stuff. I'll tour you during my lunch time."

"That sounds splendid honey," Samantha commented.

That sounded terrible. I could already feel the miserable day ahead. May my Lord be with me. This was worse than having Physical education class.

I got inside Derek's car with a non-visible dark cloud raining upon me. Samantha had a sweet smile as she waved at us goodbye. I knew under all that sweetness was a strict mama.

Derek drove towards his work place. There were many people in the area building the skeleton of a small stadium.

"I'll see you later at 11, son. Tour around for a bit. Time passes by quickly."

"Time passes by for those people who are enjoying their time," I pointed out. Time went slow for people who were bored and hated what they were doing. And in my case, the clock ticks very very slow.

Derek left me wandering around the area. I visited shops and bought a strawberry milkshake. Not a minute had passed as I took the straw in my mouth and slurped did I spat the cold treat when I saw Samael talking to my parents. I quickly hid myself behind a tent and observed them. My mom adored Samael with those googly eyes. What happened to her loyalty to dad? She hit dad because he cheated on her but now she was easily getting charmed by Samael's devilishly good looks.

I couldn't believe this...

No one can beat my parents' complexity. They should be given an award.

"What are you doing?" Someone queried from behind me making me whirl around and nearly have a whiplash. Cain stood there appearing grumpy.

It wasn't that I didn't want to see him but... Alright I won't lie I really didn't want to see him.

"I'm hiding."

"Who are you hiding from?" He asked. He sounded impatient and ready to leave me at any given moment.

"My parents...we have a misunderstanding."

Cain crossed his arms over his chest. "Come with me," he ordered and turned around. I stared at his walking figure for a moment and thought whether I should follow him or not. He might lead me into a trap and torture me for the rest of my life.

He seemed to be that kind of guy. I don't doubt it and his hate was all because I told him to God bless him after he sneezed.

"Where are we going?"

It took a while before he answered. He must have really hated talking to me. I kept my distance and avoided walking at the same pace. I must remain humble and patient.

"To my workplace. You can hide there until you die."

I dared look at his face that was held high without a tinge of shame. He was full of pride and confidence. "Why are you helping me?"

Again...it took two minutes for him to answer. Was he having difficulty in understanding my words or was he doing this on purpose?

I was getting irritated.

"You helped Abel and even though I don't like you and wished for you to stick holy things up your ass, I pay debts."

Calm down Keetan. Remember, the Lord will bless you for being understanding and from being free from rage and abhorrence.

"You don't have to. I don't see this as a favor for you to return."

Cain grunted in annoyance. "Shut it. It is taking me a lot of patience to talk to you."

"Likewise," I replied, making him huff.

"I hate you," he seethed.

"God ordered me to love my people so I will try my best to love you despite your hate," I answered him. Cain's eyes narrowed.

"So if you were ordered to kill your dad by your God to serve his most holy name, would you do it?" He challenged me.

And indeed, he had questioned something very hard...

My mouth tried to find the words that would lead me to speak up the truth and make my Father proud, but my brain knew I couldn't produce such answers that would contain both honesty and holiness at the same time.

"I--I will," I stuttered. "I must even if I don't want to."

I saw a twitch at the corner of Cain's mouth. "I thought one should serve God with willingness in his heart? Clearly, you aren't willing."

I scowled at him. Samael and Cain were both annoying. I think they were long lost brothers.

I let out a sigh to relieve the growing tension inside of me. I silenced myself to prevent shaming myself further. I will win the next argument with him.

Cain led me inside the tent containing a lot of sofas and tables. There were shelves full of different kinds of alcohol behind a semi-circle shaped wooden counter.

"Want something to drink?"

"No thank you," I said, holding my cup of fruit shake. I sat on one high stool chair, watching him help another employee in serving a few customers. I'd hide here until Derek gets out but I feel so out of place. People would think so too if they saw their faith healer hanging out in a bar. I pulled my hoodie over my head and uncomfortably sipped my drink. Cain graced me with his grumpy presence after an hour and cooked something in front of a stove. He placed a plate of steaming hot fish fillet with a creamy white dip in front of me.

"It's on me, eat up," he deadpanned.

This wasn't poisoned, was it? It smelled good though.. Cain busied himself again behind the counter. I avoided looking at him and focused my attention on my food. Minutes later, he placed a short and wide circular glass that was moist from coldness. It was an orange colored drink with cherries and pineapple in it.

It looked safe.

And delicious...

"Drink up," he encouraged with a slight smirk to his lips.

Was that a good sign or a bad sign?

"Does this have alcohol in it?" I questioned.

"None. I know how you value your God so I didn't put any. Enjoy the drink."

I stared at Cain to see if he would let out an expression that would lead me to a conclusion that he was purposely making me sin but he just stayed blank.

I ate my fillet and drank the fruity juice. It was refreshing. Cain kept pouring the same drink in my glass while serving me more tasty snacks.

Why was the room spinning?

I knew that I should have stopped drinking when my body began to heat up but even though I knew the symptoms of being tipsy in my knowledge, I didn't know how to apply it on experience because I never experienced being tipsy or drunk before.

"How's the drink? That has some rum, I made sure that you wouldn't taste the alcohol in it," he darkly chuckled.

Even when Cain admitted his dark acts...I didn't get angry like I should and instead, I giggled and brushed it off.

"Oh wow, really?"

"So, how are you?" Cain asked as he walked closer and stood in front of me.

I grinned at him. "I'm feeling sooo good."

"You're drunk."

I let out a laugh. "Oh shut up. It's your fault."

"You're a gullible dumbass."

Cain placed an ice bucket, two glass bottles and a slice of lime in front of me. He poured the contents of the bottles and shook them with ice. He then poured the dark yellow liquid in a glass and affixed the slice of lime at the edge of the glass, finishing it up with a straw.

"What's that?" I asked, fascinated with the dark color of yellow. It was strange how I get so amazed by everything now even when I didn't know what it was and it was probably another trick up in Cain's sleeve.

"I want you to help me. I need a taste-tester."

I pouted at him. "Why me?"

"To make yourself useful aside from serving your God."

I slapped Cain's chest and brought out my tongue playfully. "You bully...okay. Hehe...hehehe."

Cain served me drink after drink ranging from the color blue to red, to all colors of the rainbow.

So pretty!!!

I became a giggling mess at my 6th glass.

"What's this?" I slurred.

"That's another cocktail."

"Do cocks have tails?"

"What cock are you referring to, the chicken or the-"

"Yours!" I laughed out loud.

"You're seriously drunk," he commented. I slammed the glass on the counter and got off the bar stool.

I was dizzy.

The room was spinning, amazing!

"I'm not drunk you poop-head! Pray to the Lord for you have sinned!"

Stupid stupid Cain. Burn in hell! BUUUUUURN.

I turned around, bumping into a hard wall that made me lose balance. But the wall grew arms and caught me.

What a nice wall.

"The wheels on the bus go round and round, round and round, round and round, the wheels on the bus go round and round all through the town!" I sang through my giggling mess. I sniffed the scent of the warm wall and its scent got me to sniff it all over again like a doggy.

"You smell good Mister Wall...you're a nice wall..." I wrapped my arms sloppily around Mister Wall, rubbing my cheeks against it.

"Ah, boss, I'm sorry, he got too much to drink," Cain stated and rushed to take me away from the warmth of Mister Wall.

"No! No! Let go!" I whined. "I want to be with Mister Wall! Stupid stupid Cain!"

Mister Wall tightened its hold on me and I relaxed at the vibration of its deep baritone voice. "It's alright Cain, go back to work. I'll handle him."

Cain's hands withdrew from me. "I see sir, I'll be going then." I looked up and realized how tall Mister Wall was. I extended my hand on its face and got mesmerized by its warm and blue eyes that seemed to glow even in broad daylight.

Mister Wall slowly bent his head. I stood paralyzed in place from just its presence. He brushed its lips on mine, causing me to gasp yet lean closer.

"Mmm, you feel nice..." I murmured.

A large hand pressed my head firmer to its chest. "Rest my little boy...Entrust your whole being to me."