Chapter 9- Bad Son
"Mommy ! Daddy! " Seth shrieked loudly when he saw Hunter and Stephanie had returned after a long day of working, running towards them in excitement.
"Hello big guy, " Hunter laughed as he opened his arms for his youngest son, pulling him into a tight embrace. "How was Daddy's hero today? "
"Come here, " Stephanie said , kissing Seth's small cheek as the child moved from Hunter to hug his mother. "Is everything alright today Sweetheart? I just heard what happened to you today, and I'm sorry I wasn't there for you. We promise to make it up to you, alright?" She hugged Seth's small frame while showering his head with comforting kisses.
"It was really bad , Mommy. Dean poured a bucket of ice water on me, and it was freezing cold like snow drops." Seth whimpered.
"Oww, " Stephanie winced, " I'm sorry to hear that, honey. Look, Mommy promised, tomorrow Daddy and I will meet up with Mr. Jericho and talk about this with him. I will tell him to make Dean Ambrose stay out of your way, alright? " She assured.
"Okay, Mommy. Kane was angry with Mr. Jericho, though." Seth said, "Mr. Jericho had to call Dean's mommy to school, "
"Really? " Hunter asked, " I think we should find a way to meet her. Maybe she can teach her son a thing or two about bullying other kids, what do you think honey? " He turned to his wife, who already walked into the kitchen with Seth.
"That's a good idea, " Stephanie agreed, "Although I had forgotten how she looked like. I can't remember the last time we saw her when Dean was still hanging with Seth, "
"I don't think Dean's mommy came at all. She was a busy woman like you, " Seth said, "She always went overboard. Last time the school held a parents and teacher meeting, she did not come for Dean . She's the only parent who wasn't attending the meeting, "
"What a scumbag mother, " Stephanie scowled, " She should be spending more time with her son. If she learn to value her child a little bit, maybe Dean would not be such a jerk to Seth,"
"That's why I think we should meet her personally, " Hunter said, "Tell her to knock some sense into her son's head,"
"Right," Stephanie nodded, turning her attention towards Seth. "Have you had your dinner honey? " She asked him.
"Yeah, mommy, " Seth replied, "Mrs. Guerrero made roast chicken today. We left you and Daddy some," He opened the fridge and took out a large plate of the chicken and handed it to his mother,but Stephanie refused gently.
"Give it to Daddy, I'm not eating , " Stephanie said as she pulled out a cup of her favorite yoghurt. Seth took the plate to his father, but apparently Hunter was not interested too. He picked an apple instead.
"That's nice of you, big man, but I'm not hungry either, " He chuckled . 'Okay, " Seth nodded happily, placing the chicken back into the fridge.
"Where's Randy and Kane? " Stephanie asked, sitting beside her husband as she dug into her favorite yoghurt. Hunter cocked his eyebrows,had just realizing that the house was suspiciously quiet without high-pitched voice of Randy. "And honey, you and Randy did not go through another kitchen war today, did you?"
"No! " Seth immediately shook his head.
"Speak of the devil, " Kane suddenly appeared, followed by Randy from behind. " The champ is here! " He stated merrily, pushing Randy to his parents.
"Mom, Dad! " Randy exclaimed, "I got into soccer team today! They picked me! "
"Really? "Hunter and Stephanie was amazed. "My little boy is growing up, " Stephanie cooed, hugging Randy while Hunter clapped on Randy's back.
"I'm so proud of you, son, " He told Randy, giving him a hug as well. "Thanks, Dad, Mom, " Randy said happily, pleased to see his parents' reaction to the news.
"We should thank Kane, " Seth chimed in, "If it wasn't for him, Randy would not be in the team, "
"How come? " Hunter and Stephanie were shocked. They exchanged glances at each other, and at once knew their eldest son had been up to something.
"Yeah Dad, Mom, " Randy confirmed, "If it wasn't for Kane, I would not get chosen. The coach changed his mind in the last minutes, " He said, looking up to Kane who had gone to the fridge, scanning for some light food. He took out a slice of pizza .
"What do you mean the coach changed his mind? " Hunter asked, getting suspicious of his eldest kid.
"Well, when we finished the tryout session, the coach did not call my name. I thought I had failed. Then Kane volunteered to speak to the coach. After that, the coach informed me I had been elected into the team, " Randy explained, still smiling.
"Kane? " Stephanie looked up to Kane, who was busy munching the pizza, "What did you tell the coach?" She asked in a stern voice.
"Nothing, " Kane replied nonchalantly, "I just said, Hey coach, that's my little bro there, can you cut him some slack? He's a talented kid, I think you should give him another shot for the team, "
"Kane, " Stephanie rolled her eyes, glaring at him sharply as a sign that she did not buying any of that.
"Seriously, Mom, " Kane tried to convince, "It was all I said to him. Honest, " He lifted his hands up, trying hard to persuade his parents.
"Seth, Randy, why don't you both go upstairs and get ready for bedtime? " Hunter asked . " Okay Dad, " Seth and Randy replied obediently. They immediately went out of the kitchen leaving Kane with their parents.
"KANE, " Stephanie repeated in a harsher voice once Seth and Randy were gone. "What, mom? Can you at least for once appreciate what I did to help Randy? I was just looking out for my little brother , " Kane groaned defensively.
"KANE! " Stephanie roared.
"Fine, " Kane grumbled in defeat. "I threatened him a little, " He confessed reluctantly.
"What? " Hunter and Stephanie almost scream in unison. "How did you.. What did you threatened him with?"
"Well.. " Kane began, " Seth told me the coach's name is Paul Heyman. And he mentioned to me that he sort of.. you know, had one of the kid's parents as his client. The Lesnar family. Apparently, he also sort of..looking out for Brock Lesnar Jr. "
"Lesnar ? " Stephanie was surprised. Brock Lesnar and his wife are among the shareholders of the Authority Corp., and she knew the couple also sent their only son- who was around Randy's age - to the Lawler &Ross school, although Randy never made friends with Brock Jr. According to Randy, Brock's giant size scared him off.
"I remember the Lesnar family, I met them previously in your office the day I dropped by for awhile, "Kane continued, " Apparently, Heyman used to work for the family and occasionally still do if he's not coaching in school. And.. I told him that the Lesnar family was having a financial problem, and you both are going to throw them out of Authority. I also told him that you both are going to make you sure you are getting fired from the school too, "
"Dear Lord, help us, " Hunter sighed as he buried his face in his palms.
"So I offered him a deal, if he help Randy into the team, I'll put some good words to my parents about it.. and his career can be saved, so are the Lesnars, " Kane admitted.
"Jesus Kane, " Stephanie sighed in exasperation, " You can't keep telling people lies and blackmailed them to get anything your way. This is not fair, son. Not fair to the coach and not fair to your brother. Not fair to the other kids. It's like cheating, you know. If the coach did not want Randy in the first place, why not just let it be ? It's not like the world will end, right? Randy will get another shot and another tons of chances in the future. What's next? You gonna make Seth's teachers passed all his grades for him? "
"Mom, " Kane protested. "I'm just-"
"Kane, why don't you for once please save us some headache," Hunter cut him off. "I don't know what to say about you anymore. I really don't know. This is.. this is low, Kane. You had been through a lot worse than this..but .. I just don't know what to say about this. " Hunter exhaled deeply.
"Fine by me, " Kane shrugged. "I had nothing to lose at all. You guys are dumping me in Washington next week ,after all. And yeah, I'M sorry for what I did. And if you wanted me to, I can go back to the coach and apologize to him and set things straight with him. I don't know if you want to trade that with Randy's happy face when he told you he made the team and you go all, "I'm so proud of you son," . Your choice Dad, Mom. You pick one and tell me if you want to let him down and take that small joy off him."
"You- " Stephanie was dumbfounded for a brief second at her son's cutting words.
"Maybe I'm bad, the baddest son you ever had, but I loved my brothers. And I love you too guys, " Kane tossed the leftover of his pizza into the trash bin and left the kitchen.
Stephanie and Hunter once again was too blown away, speechlessly staring at each other as they struggled to digest Kane's last words.