The Hidden Truth

The boy got home and couldn’t hear the loud noise because of the plugged earpiece. He opened the door and his phone dropped, his mother was crying as his father beat her hard on the ground, the boy clenched his fist and ran towards the man. “Leave her alone!!!! What is your problem!!!” The boy said as he tried to push the man off his mom, but was not strong enough. The man flung him away, “leave her alone” he cried out. The man stood up and looked at both of them, “you two are useless... And you” he said looking at the woman, “don’t you dare come to my girlfriend's house to harass her again or I am going to kill you myself...” he said angrily and walked towards the door, “who knows if I am the real father of James... You hoe” he added and staggered out. “Mom!”, the boy hurried to his mom, he saw blood cut on her face, “mom you are bleeding” he cried out and helped her up. The woman groaned softly and stood on her feet, she felt several pain on her face but pretended she was fine, “just get the first aid” she said and sat on the chair. His son stared at her angrily, “what is wrong with you? Why do you keep going there? Do you want him to kill you? Mom!!!!” he cried. The woman stood up and ignored her son, she carried the first aid and returned to sit, “If you won’t help them go to your room” she said with teary eyes. He heard her shaky breath and scoffed, “you still love a man that has a girlfriend and beat you every day?” he yelled at her. “He is your father” ------------------- James gaped and opened his eyes, he breathed heavily and got out of the bed, he grabbed a bottle of water and gulped it all. “What weird dream is that? Does dad beat mom?” he said and tried remembering, “I can not seem to...,” he said and tilted his head. He groaned softly and sit on the bed, “Is she hiding something from me?” he asked himself and went out of his room. James got to his parent's room and knocked, he opened the door and saw his mother coming out of the bathroom, she looked at her son and wondered why he was in her room early in the morning. Mr. Charlie had left for work early that morning, wrapping a towel around her she entered the closet and put on her clothes. The woman returned and saw her son staring mysteriously. “What is it?” she asked. “I was so young so I barely remember, but does dad hit you? I want the truth” he said in a serious tone. The woman was surprised, she looked away “stop with this nonsense and go to your room”. James moved near his mom, “Is that why you got married to Tristan’s dad and lied that dad was dead? Because he beat you everyday and have another woman but you can not seem to leave him so you decided to come here and get everything so you can impress him or did he ask you to come here himself to collect everything?” he asked. Mrs. Charlie's eyes brightened, she wondered who gave her son all this information, “how did you...” “No one, you have an intelligent son... Tell me the truth mom... Please” he begged. Mrs. Charlie let out a sigh and locked her door, “listen... Your dad is a good man, we are doing all this for us, so we can all be together.. If I don't lie to Mr. Charlie how do you expect me to be in this position I am today? Go with it and stop getting distracted, you have a lot of things ahead of you” she said looking at his son. He stared at her for a while before walking out. The woman sighed and lay on the bed, “I am doing this mostly for you...” she said softly. Tristan knocked on his door and got in, he saw him staring out the window, “hey man!!! Did you drop Isabella off or dad did? She is not in her room” he said and noticed something was not right. He moved near James and touched his shoulder, the guy flinched and saw Tristan. “Tristan, when did you come in?” he asked looking lost. Tristan knew something was off, he ignored and smiled. A thing about Tristan is that he does not like getting involved in people’s business. “I came in some moment ago, I was asking about Isabella, she is not in her room” he repeated. James smiled and nodded, “I think she followed dad... He is not in also” he replied and walked away from the window “how do you think the Minch island would look like? Are you excited?” he asked. Tristan grabbed a sit, “I don't know if I am... Lot of people would be there... I don't like people” he said and looked at James as they both laughed out. “You are so hilarious...” James said and saw Tristan’s straight face, “you are serious” he added and laughed softly, “you are weird”. Tristan accepted by giving his brother a thumb up, he sighed “I would just act along since you all are excited to go... Let us all go to Minch Island”. James knew how fake that was, he shook his head and smiled. Later that day, Mr. Charlie returned with Isabella, he called out for his sons and his wife but just his sons hurried downstairs. “Hey dad” “Hi dad” They both chorused. The man smiled and sit, “where is your mother?” He asked. James and Tristan shrugged, “guess she went out” James said and sit next to his dad, “where did you take Isabella so early... I and Tristan were worried” he said. Tristan agreed as they stared at their father for a reply. “I followed him to work... It was so big and so many people love me, it was really exciting... You two should try it” Isabella replied excitedly. Mr. Charlie smiled, “she is right”. “Does that mean we would go soon too dad?” James asked eagerly. The man looked up at Tristan and cleared his throat, “not yet boys... You would go when it is the right time, now I have a surprise for you three” he said and looked at them, “you guys would be so excited for this” he added. They all stared at the man as he lifted up a bag, he grabbed three phones out of the bag. Tristan looked at it closely, “you bought us a phone dad?” he asked excitedly. The children were full of joy for the big gift their dad got them, the man promised to get them more gift as long as they keep making him happy. “Making him happy? What does he mean by that?”, Tristan said as he got back to his room, “is this a bribe to be nice to James’s mother? Ugh” he said and put the phone on the bed, “It is a nice phone though” he said and stared at it. Suddenly Isabella entered, he jumped up startled. “Isabella!!!” The girl expression didn't change, she ran towards her brother, “Help me, Tristan, I switched it on and i don't know why it is all white, is it supposed to do that?” she said, looking scared. Tristan sighed and took it from her, he switched it off and switched it on again. It turned on and was back to normal, she took it from him excitedly, “you fixed it!!!! Thank you” she said and noticed his phone on the bed, “you...you haven't touched your phone! You have not switched it on?” she asked curiously. He shook his head, “not yet” he replied. “Okay okay weirdo” she said and hurried out, “I need to collect my best friend number first” she said out. ----------------- The woman looked around as usual before getting in the car, without looking at him she said, “why do you ask to see me... We can not keep seeing like this” she said. The man scoffed and moved closer, “Why? I miss my wife, what else” he said and held her face. She removed his hand and turned to him, “what about your girlfriend? Why don't you go to her? I was busy when you called me out, bye” she said and was about to leave when he held her arms tight and pulled her closer, “are you stupid or dumb? Who is my wife? Are you not my wife? Am I happy you are f*****g another man?” he said angrily. She felt his saliva hitting her face, she struggled to release herself but he was too strong. “Let me go... I am doing everything for you and our son and you dare say that to me when all you do is go around with that lady, I am in there with my son risking everything for you” she said angrily. He scoffed and looked away, “I own you and everything you own, you hear me? I don't care if you risk it or not, get all we need so I can be in charge and we can be a whole happy family again” he said and noticed her expression, he pulled her hair angrily. She groaned in pained as he lifted her face, “you hear me?” he said and released her after she nodded yes. He smiled and kissed her cheek, “How is James? Didn't he want to see me as well? What kind of son is he?” he asked. Tears rolled down her face, she looked out the window and nodded, “He is fine... I will go now, he must have returned from work” she said and went out of the car. The man smiled and sniffled, “very soon everything would be mine” he said as he watched her from his side mirror.