Chapter 4
Charlie said menacingly, "Janine lost her temper with me yesterday because of the trouble you've caused with that little bastard son of yours. I got Simon to teach him a lesson. How can you go looking for him when you can't even save yourself?"
I could hear Jesse's vague screaming coming from the swimming pool in the distance. My heart was in my throat as I tore his hand away from me and ran toward the swimming pool.
"Get him! We need to teach that son of a bitch a lesson!" They came after me and had me surrounded, and they proceeded to slap me one after the other. My lips were torn, and my hair was pulled out, scattering all over the ground.
Jesse's screaming got even more hysterical, and I felt something snap inside me. Rage was pouring out of me as I punched the face next to me crazily. Charlie was hit in the nose and started screaming as every punch made his face bloody.
His friends were shocked by my crazy punches, and they started running in every direction. "Help! There's a madman out here!"
My eyes were red with anxiousness as I ran with all my might toward the swimming pool. When I was about to open the door, a sudden force came from behind me and pushed me to the ground. I fell heavily onto the ground and hit myself against the steps. I saw black for several seconds. I could hear buzzing and Charlie's angry accusations.
"Joe got mad when he saw you with me and Simon, Janine. He said we're beggars and thieves… I think my nose is broken…"
His friends added on to the accusation, "Charlie's right, Janine. Joe Langdon is a vicious man who wants us dead…"
They kept telling her about all of my wrongdoings, but all I did was crawl up the steps slowly, and I saw my son's little body struggling in the swimming pool through the crack of the entrance. He wanted to call for help, but his tiny mouth was filled with water the moment he opened it.
All I saw was red as I smashed into the door without hesitation, but Janine grabbed me from behind with both hands around my waist. The dark look in her eyes was filled with agitation. "You were the one who pushed me away, but you're also the one who can't let me go. What is it that you want?!"
I almost threw up with disgust. How could she still harp on this at this moment of crisis? I slapped her so hard, she fell to the ground, and I roared at her, "Listen! That's our son calling for help!"
Janine's eyes widened. "What?"
Before I could continue, Charlie piped up with disdain, "What are you talking about, Joe? Jesse is playing in the field right now. Stop with your nonsense and look at how badly you beat me up!"
Janine's worry for Jesse vanished immediately, and she grabbed my arm while saying sternly, "Apologize!"
The others around started pushing me around. "Are you deaf?! She told you to apologize!"
As the splashing in the swimming pool became weaker, the last strand of reasoning in my head broke. I struggled to escape from their grips and slammed into the door, opening it and jumping into the pool in a few strides.
Everyone standing on dry land started criticizing.
"What's with the act? Everyone is at the parent-teacher meeting, and no child would ever come here when it's so remote."
"Yeah. Especially when it's so dark. We don't see anyone in there at all."
"Well, Joe Langdon is a drama queen by nature. He's just trying to attract some attention after getting his divorce."
Janine frowned as she listened to everyone talking away, and felt annoyed when she saw the ripples on the surface of the pool. "Stop your act, Joe. I'll count to three, and if you don't get out of the water by then, I'm leaving!
"Three, two, one…"
Janine dragged the countdown, but the pool surface remained still as no one emerged from below the water. Her jaws clenched, and she looked disappointed.
Charlie smiled and pulled her away from the swimming pool. "Let that penniless loser continue being dramatic if he loves it so much. We shouldn't…"
Before he could finish, everyone heard a splash. I emerged from the pool, heartbroken and crying with my lifeless son in my arms.
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