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With a sudden shake, a bottle of wine dropped from the table and slid on the floor. The TV was turned on, with the remote control left on the block pattern ceramic tiles. The screen was displaying the recent news of the city East Mill. Thanks to the hardship of a little boy and a ghost, the house was neat and tidy during the morning and afternoon. But sadly, to someone's bad luck, bottles of alcohol would always be scattered in the earlier evenings with sounds of snores.

A gust of breeze blew from the open window in the living room. The bottle slid near and hit a man's arm. The man who wore a white vest, lay down comfortably on the floor, covering himself with checkered pattern thick blanket. Mr. Rivas blinked his eyes and scratched his back.

"Ah.......what time is it?" Mr. Rivas wiggled his eyebrow and asked. His eyes were sleepy. It had been back from work. Smelling stink, he hated taking shower. No one really understood what type of work he did. It had been a natural routine for him to have a drink and doze off immediately after long hours of working. It was his poor old habit. He never wanted to change it. He did not have this habit until six years ago after he broke up with that woman. He was once an optimistic, hardworking man with honesty in the old days until he turned lazy and aggressive. Like always, no one acknowledged the reason of this changing behaviour and attitude. Surprisingly through, he was a friend of reputation, what he was doing now was the completely opposite of what he did at work.

"........ah, my head hurts. It must be the wine. I need more." Mr. Rivas got up and rubbed his eyes. He stared at the clock on the ceiling. It was half past nine. The sun was down. The school hours were over. He searched his surroundings, there was no one in the living room aside from him.

"Where is my son?" He wondered. Son. The word repeated in his mind. Although he didn't want to admit it, he had a good one. So obedient and useful. He could not even count his fingers for the time his son chose to disobey him. His son never had. He was quite a coward through, always crying and sobbing after being 'physically educated'. Mr. Rivas didn't like crying. He never let out a tear even he was being 'physically educated' by his parents in his childhood. He was proud of himself being tough and strong.

"Alfie. Alfie! Give me another bottle of wine." He commanded. No one came. He was talking to the air.

"Argh........" He scratched his head, "Where is he? He should be back from school already." He opened the fridge. It was empty. There wasn't any pizza. Pizza was his favourite. He always enjoyed fast food.

"How useless is he. Where is my dinner?" he grumbled.

Clack. Click. Mr. Rivas went near the main gate. There were footsteps behind the door, along with sounds of keys turning. The door opened.

"Isn't it interesting, Jay? I'm surprised we found a new pearl milk tea shop. Unexpected, isn't it?"

"Yes, yes, you sure like ice cream. It's been a while since we have any."

"No, I'm exhausted. Let's not play board games. Maybe tomorrow. After all, since school will be postponed for a while, we got plenty of time to play."

Hearing the voice, apart from being a coward, Mr. Rivas recalled there was one thing he hated the most about his son.

He was always talking to himself.

His son, was like his mother, they were all insane.

"Alfie."

I froze.

Dad called me.

My eyes widened. I instantly covered my mouth.

He saw me talking to Jay.

"Oh Dad, you're back. I'm sorry I was just talking to myself. I just came back from shopping. Today, school was closed. There was a gas leak------"

"Alfie. Where is my dinner?" he asked.

I froze again. I had a bad feeling.

Dinner?

What is he talking about?

No.

It can't be.

"Oh......dinner, yes. You are talking about dinner. I just finished dinner. I enjoyed beef stewed with Ja-------err...I mean Kevin. An old friend of mine."

"No. I mean, my dinner. You can have dinner, what about me? I NEED TO HAVE DINNER TOO!" he scolded.

Ah........even what happened today, the same cycle still repeats. I wondered how much I changed.

"........I'm sorry, Dad." I apologized. That's all I can do.

"What about my wine? DIDN'T I TELL YOU TO BUY WINE?!!" he screamed.

".......I'm very sorry, Dad. This won't happen again." I lowered my head and clutched my fist. I had to hold back my tears. Dad didn't like me crying.

"SORRY? WHAT'S THE USE OF APOLOGIZING? COME OVER, YOU BAIT!" Dad pulled my hair and dragged me inside the living room. He threw me towards the wooden cabinet. Stacks of DVD players and ornaments fell. My back and legs hit the corners of the cabinet and bruised red. Pain stroke me like sinking into the bottom of the deep blue sea. I choked. Why is it always like this? Everything something good happen, something bad follows. It is like an old rusty chain.

"I WARN YOU, ALFIE! YOU USELESS CHILD. WHY CAN'T YOU DO JUST A SIMPLE THING? ARE YOU BRIAN FULL OF WATER? IT IS JUST DINNER AND WINE. I RAISED YOU SO HARD, GIVE YOU MONEY TO GO TO SCHOOL AND THIS IS HOW YOU REPAY ME?!!"

"YOUR CREEPY SMILE AND LAUGHER. REMINDS ME OF THAT NASTY WOMAN WHO BETRAY ME. WHY CAN'T YOU JUST ACT LIKE AN NORMAL PERSON? STOP TALKING TO YOURSELF! I AM SHAME TO HAVE SUCH A CRAZY CHILD LIKE YOU!!! I WISH I HAVE NEVER BORNT YOU!!!" He kicked me in the stomach. I covered my head with my heads. I couldn't stop crying. I'm sure I have improved myself, still, nothing changed. I am still in the same situation.

"ALFIE!" Jay cried, he pulled his sword, "HEY! YOU WICKED MAN, STOP BULLYING ALFIE!!! YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TODAY!!!" Jay gripped his sword and made a heavy slash towards Dad.

"Jay." I whispered softy. I stared at him. Our eyes matched. I shook my head and smiled bitterly.

"........argh!" Jay missed Dad and sliced the air instead. As long as I was Dad's child, Jay knew he couldn't harm him. In a fit of rage, Dad knocked and stomped my chest. Again and again as if it was an endless hole.

Ah.......now that I finally understand.

Dad did not like me in the beginning.

He didn't like me is not because I am useless but because I often talk to Jay. He couldn't see Jay, so that's why he thinks I am a crazy person who talk to himself. That's why he doesn't love me.

How hilarious.

I was being tortured and bullied talking to ghosts but at the same time I felt happiness and satisfaction.

Love and hate are just a coin flipped in two sides.

"YOU RUBBISH! DON'T YOU KNOW THAT ONCE YOU HEAR SOMEONE SAY SOMETHING, YOU NEED TO REMEMBER IT DEEP INTO YOUR HEART AND NEVER FORGET?! HOW ARE YOU ABLE TO SURVIVE IN THE SOCIETY IF YOU CAN'T EVEN BUY DINNER AND WINE? I WARN YOU, THE SOCIETY IS NOT AS EASY AS YOU THINK. YOU NEED TO WATCH AND LEARN. NOW STARTING BY LEARNING HOW NOT TO CRY!!!!!" Dad barked.

He was always saying big stuffs.

I doubted he never really worried about me.

Argh.......why am I always like this?

Why am I always in this situation?

Why do I need to face all this kind of things and being tortured by Dad?

Just please.......

Please........someone.....

".........someone help me..." I begged.