BAIDER (ENGLISH VERSION)

ANMELA ERIS’ POV

Laurenz & Laurex

“Daddy, I can’t do that. I hate hurting other people,” Laurenz said calmly. He laid down his Arnis on the ground.

I looked at him in surprise. He got me being kind and not knowing how to hurt. It’s not just my looks that Laurenz inherited but also my temperament.

Each member of the Baider was trained at an early age so that even if the enemies or anyone who wanted to hurt the family came, they would be able to protect each other.

“Laurenz, you can’t defend your family if you don’t want to hold any weapon. It’s for your own good. I swear.” I could see the annoyance on Laurent’s face.

I arranged the meals on the grass. It had clothing because we were on the mountain. We did not have a table or what. It was like just having a picnic while Laurent and Resttan training the two kids. Lauressa is also here but left suddenly to practice in other parts of the forest as well.

“Dad, I really don’t want to hurt people,” Laurenz growled but even though it was obvious that he was annoyed with his father’s insistence, he still did not raise his voice.

He inherited everything from me.

“That’s not possible, Son, what if the day comes when you have to use it?” The persuasion of Laurent to Laurenz day by day was consistent.

“As long as I don’t hurt people, my family will not face possible trouble. Being good to anyone is the only weapon I want, Dad.” Laurenz sat down on the ground.

“World doesn’t work like that, Laurenz.” Laurent messed up his hair. “One day, you’ll understand.” Laurent let out a loud sigh before glancing at me. It was as if he was saying that I was just like his son.

I was shocked when Laurex hit Laurenz on the shoulder. Laurex had no emotion. The frown on its forehead is obvious.

“You’re so weak, Brother.” Laurex was shaking his head in disbelief and disappointment.

“Laurex…” I scolded him in a low tone. Even if I was telling him not to hurt his brother, his eyebrows remained frowned.

I stared at the way he looked at me. If Laurenz inherited everything from me this one would be Laurent’s. His looks, speech, grimace and most of all his forehead. I was also having a headache on Laurex because like his father, he answers not so often. His words were just few. He was irritated all the time. I rarely see her smile.

Laurenz is ten years old. Laurex is only six years old.

“Son, don’t hurt your brother,” I moved down so I could level on Laurex height.

“But he needs to know how to fight, Mom.” The frown on his forehead was visible.

“Yeah, but you must not cause pain to your brother. You should protect him instead, shouldn’t you?” I touched his cheek and caressed ito into an up and down movement.

“But Mom…he is so weak!” Laurex was looking down on his brother as if he was the oldest among them.

“Laurex, don’t talk to your brother like that!” Laurent said rudely. He was the only one who could discipline Laurex.

“Fine!” The wrinkling on the forehead of Laurex was now severe. He was so annoyed as if he wanted to hit his father with Arnis, too.

They both get each other because they have the same temperament. They were having the same attitude.

“Laurenz.” I approached Laurenz. I felt sorry for the way he stared at me. He was massaging his shoulder that Laurex hit. I held it in a circular motion. My heart was suffocated every time I saw my children fighting.

I pulled him closer to me and hugged him tightly. “You’ll always be my good boy,” I whispered in his ear. “Come on,” I invited his hand.

We sat on the picnic. I took care of my husband and my two boys happily.

“Uncle!” Laurenz briskly ran closer to Resttan.

“How’s the rehearsal?” Rettan messed up Laurenz’s hair with a huge smile on his lips.

“It’s not okay. I want you to train me.” Laurenz held his hand.

“Tsk,” I heard the sound of annoyance coming from Laurent. He was jealous again.

The one who often rehearses with Laurenz is Resttan because with him, he follows. He is funny to watch because when he hits someone, he is like me. He says ‘sorry.’

The rehearsal started again, but this time it was Resttan who took care of them.

Laurennz smiled as he grabbed Arnis. He looked at Resttan as if he was excited to do it with him. I would never wonder why. Resttan saved us when I was pregnant with him. Perhaps Laurenz was close to him.

“A little strength.” Resttan was smiling as he was teaching Laurenz on how to hit Arnis. “Good. One more. Okay. A little strength.”

“Is he Laurenz’s father?” Laurent asked with full sarcasm and irritation.

“You’re jealous, Baby Boy.” I chuckled in a low tone. I pinched his cheek softly.

“When it’s me. I have to force him to rehearse, but when it’s Resttan, he’s doing it well with a smile? Where is the justice in that? Tsk. Tsk.” Laurent’s murmuring as if I could not hear what he was saying. He was so cute in his attitude.

“It’s not that. Resttan just knows how to handle Laurenz.”

“Woah? So I don’t know how to handle my own child?” He emphasized the word ‘own child.’Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDrâ/ma.O(r)g!

“Oh, come on, Baby, it’s just practice.”

“Let’s create another baby, then.” The smirk formed on his lips.

I rubbed my forehead. Every day he was repeating to me that he wanted to have a princess since we had two boys. It was so hard to give birth! He did not know that!

tattooed my family again so that he would have a princess. It’s so hard to give birth!

“Take the baby in your womb. It’s not easy, Laurent. Gosh.”

He moved over to me and squeezed my shoulder. “If only I can get the pain on you. Then I’ll take the baby. If that is so, maybe we already have a basketball team and cheerleaders.” He finally smiled. His smile was precious to me because I sparingly saw that.

“Really? You’re having difficulty taking care of Laurenz, then you’re going to add? Gosh. my head aches.”

“Why is Laurenz grabbing your attitude? I’m worrying about him.” Laurent watched Laurenz who was now laughing with Resttan. “I mean, he’s not weak, but he’s too kind. I’m scared that attitude would harm him.”

“Let’s just wait for him to realize. Having training is a must. Don’t be tired of guiding him.” I stared at the smile of Laurenz. He is my good boy.

“I will never get tired of guiding him. You know that.”

“Come on!” The two of us looked at each other as Laurex seemed to fly in the air and hit his brother, while Laurenz defended Arnis by santing it horizontally to block him. I stood up but Laurent took my hand to sit down again.

“They’re just rehearsing, don’t worry.” Laurent said with a small smile, assuring me that nothing would happen wrong.

I watched the two kids, just like the way I fight Laurenz back and forth, he just shielded Laurex and pushed sometimes. I was worried every time his brother hit him. Laurex never got bored with it even once. He loved being involved in a battle.

“Your boring opponent, Brother!” Laurex shouted as he rushed towards Laurenz. He spiked him over and over again.

If you look at Laurex’s demeanor he was fast and trained in many things. He has no fear of punching and kicking someone that Laurent also does that way. I was afraid that one day he might kill too even though that’s the family tradition.

I clung tightly to Laurent’s arm as Laurenz and Laurex’s fight intensified. Laurenz was quick to dodge. Laurex was also quick to strike with his Arnis at him. Laurenz ran and focused her foot on the trees to avoid his brother and then fell to the ground. Laurex chased after him, responsive and continuing to wield the Arnis.

“You’ll die, Laurenz!” Laurex was out of the belt therefore I stood up.

“Laurex!” I called him. “Enough,” I insisted not to be annoyed by what Laurex said. I don’t know why I feel like Laurenz needs me more. I was also afraid that the day might come when he would need to fight but he couldn’t do anything because of the attitude he inherited from me.

‘You’ll die, Laurenz.’

I was scared when my second born son said that. As if he was sure that his brother would die. I grabbed my chest because I was so nervous. I don’t understand why.

“Laurent.” I hugged his waist to calm down the chaotic feeling in my chest.

“What’s wrong?” The concern on his face was obvious.

“Can you take better care of Laurenz?”

“You don’t need to say that I’m always protecting our family.”