That morning, the house was once again filled with noise. There was never a single day when Arnold could enjoy the peace he longed for. Either the cries and whines of his son, Edore, or your spoiled voice always demanding his full attention.

Arnold stood in the living room, massaging his temples with a weary expression. “It seems I’m truly going to lose my mind in this house” he muttered bitterly, his hand ruffling through his disheveled dark hair.

The sound of Edore’s small steps rushed down the stairs. The boy ran while sobbing, clinging tightly to his father’s leg. “Daddy!!!” he cried out, his voice breaking, tears staining his cheeks. “Let’s go to the mall!!” he demanded, his tone a mixture of spoiled insistence and desperation that was hard to refuse.

But behind him, you appeared with no less expression on your face. Arnold’s oversized shirt draped loosely on your small frame, giving off both a sense of softness and possession. You stared at Arnold sharply, then cut in with a voice full of protest.

“No!” you shouted, lips pouting childishly. “We’re going to the beach, Arnold. I don’t want to go to the mall” Your voice sounded like a whine, but there was a sharp stubbornness piercing through.

Edore, as if sensing his place was threatened, immediately clung tighter to his father. “No!! Don’t listen to Mommy, Daddy, okay? Let’s just go to the mall” he pleaded, his eyes glimmering with childish jealousy.

Your face instantly soured. You stepped closer, quickly grabbing Arnold’s arm, hugging it tightly as if unwilling to give in. “Hey!! That’s my husband, you know?!and you are my son and he” you hissed, your voice trembling yet filled with a desperate need to claim. There was a faint fear hidden in your tone, as if that little boy could steal your place in Arnold’s heart.

Arnold looked at the two of you with cold eyes. His breath was heavy, almost exhausted. “God… give me patience to deal with these two lunatics,” he muttered, half-angry, half-defeated. He tried to pry your grip from his arm, as well as Edore’s clutch on his leg, but neither of you would let go.

Finally, Arnold’s voice broke the tension—firm, cold, and leaving no room for objection. “Enough. We are not going anywhere today.”

A brief silence hung in the air. You and Edore exchanged glances, both equally offended, both equally ignored. Then, without command, you both screamed together in rage—

“MEAN!!!”