Alexander walked towards a window and peeked at the sky as the bright daylight touched his eyes.

"Where's that kid, Alex?" Layla approached Alexander as she dried her hands on her white apron.

"He's taking a bath," Alexander responded, staring at the sky.

"It's too early for him to take a bath. He still has mega-tons of work to do this afternoon," Layla said as she glanced through the window.

"It doesn't matter," Alexander yawned. "He needs to learn how to practice good hygiene because he must go to school soon."

"Oh." Layla's lips tightened. "...Erm, yeah."

"He'll be at school for years, right?" Alexander looked at Layla.

"Yes. But where shall he study?" Layla asked.

"...There is a... public school downtown," Alexander replied.

Layla's eyes became wide. "Oh, shoot! We must homeschool him instead," she said.

"Why?" Alexander wondered.

"He will have classmates, of course. And I assume he might tell others how we treat him," Layla speculated.

"Oh, shoot! You're right!"

"Yes, shoot. Stop saying 'shoot'."

"You said 'shoot' first."

"Uh-huh, uh-huh. So... we both agree that he'll be homeschooled?" Layla questioned Alexander.

"Yes," Alexander nodded as he fixed his gaze on the azure sky. "Who shall we hire as his teacher, though?" he then asked curiously.

"...Oh, I know! Amelia!" Layla grinned as she responded keenly. "She has a degree!"

"Your... childhood friend?" Alexander's face scowled as he glanced at Layla.

"Yes! And! She... has a daughter!" Layla ventured as she stepped nearer Alexander.

"So, what's your point that she has a daughter...?" Alexander questioned.

"Can't you see...?" Layla answered with a malicious smirk. "Oliver can marry Amelia's daughter!"

"Disgusting! Oliver is too young!" Alexander shook his head in disgust.

"Ugh... no, that's not what I meant..." Layla crossed her arms as she explained. "Oliver and Amelia's daughter are almost the same age."

"So, child marriage?" Alexander raised a brow as his lips pressed back to his cheek.

"No! Stupid!" Layla clarified as she glared at Alexander. "We'll only betroth them. And they'll marry each other... when they're older!"

"...The idea seems unusual enough for me," Alexander placed his hands on his back and raised his chin as he leered at the bright sky.

     Layla scoffs and rolls her eyes. She then turns her back on Alexander and leaves for another room. Meanwhile, Alexander stands still, gazing at the sky through the window as he processes his wife's words. Then, he sighs and walks away.

     Four years have gone by. Oliver has gained a few feet—and his neat, combed hair droops above his eyebrows. As time passes, Oliver switches his cotton shorts to tight-fitting black breeches and white stockings paired with black shoes. Instead of a casual shirt, Oliver begins wearing white long-sleeved shirts with ruffled sleeves and buttons that run to half his chest.

     The night progresses as Oliver sleeps inside his bedroom, wearing a casual white shirt with brown laces and knee-length shorts. He turns sideways on the bed, and his bedsheets become wrinkled. Then, he starts moaning, and his body trembles as his brows furrow. With his eyes shut, he gnashes his teeth and clenches on a pillow.

     Oliver's eyes start leaking tears. His moaning turns into a loud, uncontrollable panting. Then, his head begins shaking left and right as his furrowing brows wrinkle his face. His body folds as his thighs embrace a pillow.

     Suddenly, Oliver let out a sharp gasp. He woke up and jumped from his bed. His eyes became wide open, his pupils contracting, as he turned silent and motionless.

     The moonlight through the window glistened on the teardrops sliding onto Oliver's cheeks. The atmosphere inside Oliver's bedroom turned thick—and the silence was palpable. Then, the stillness snapped when Oliver burst into tears. Oliver quickly took a pillow, shoving his face on it, and his ear-piercing wails became muffled.

     Time flew to the hour of the scorching daylight. It was quiet until Layla suddenly yelled Oliver's name from the front doorway. Oliver gasped, startled by her voice.

"Kid!" Layla called out.

     Oliver was inside the kitchen, drying a wet place with a towel. Hearing his name, Oliver swiftly stored the plate on the rack. Then, he approached Layla at the entrance.

"Yes, Ma'am...?"

"Kid. You're now eight. You know what that means," Layla said as she gazed at the street while standing in the doorway with Alexander.

"...Do I get the right to walk around the park without any guardians around...?" Oliver guessed.

"Kid. We didn't even give you the right to take one step outside our yard," Layla glared at Oliver.

"Uhmm... can I take another guess?"

"Uh, what do you think?" Layla asked.

"I... uhmm... I- I... get... I mean- I am more capable of using my p-p-power?" Oliver guessed while stuttering.

Layla raised a brow as she sighed. Glancing at Oliver, she revealed, "...It's time for you to study."

"Study?"

"You're eight years old. It's the time when kids go to school."

Oliver gasped. He grinned as he bounced on his feet while squeezing his fist. "I... I'm excited!" He then asked, "But where should I study?"

"You're getting homeschooled, kid..." said Layla.

"Oh..." Oliver's glee diminished as he stood still.

"Now, go change into your best outfit. I want Amelia to have a pleasant impression of you," Layla ordered, gesturing towards the staircase with a tilt of her head.

"But, I am already wearing my only best outfit, Ma'am," Oliver said.

Alexander glanced at Oliver and scanned his clothes. "Only one best outfit?" he snickered. "Sad..."

"If you have your best outfit, then... stand between us in the doorway, will you?" Layla told Oliver. "We have to wait for someone."

"Wait for whom, Ma'am?" Oliver asked politely.

"Amelia. I just mentioned her name a few seconds ago..."

"Who is she, though?"

"She'll be your teacher," Layla answered.

"And your future mother-in-law," Alexander added, then chuckled. Layla then hit him with her elbow, causing him to stop giggling. "Ow—" he grunted.

"...What's a mother-in-law?" Oliver tilted his head as he wondered curiously.

     Without replying, Layla steps down from the porch. She then marches her way into the middle of the front yard and slowly turns around towards Oliver and Alexander. She then raises and outstretches her arms as she smirks.

"This is a mother on a lawn!" Layla laughed.

"Haha!" Alexander giggled as he placed a fist before his mouth.

"...But, I was asking about the mother-in-law, not a mother on a lawn..." Oliver said, leaving him confused without an answer to his question.