[Son of a bitch!]
Just as I thought, my mischievous antics from the other day didn't come back to haunt me. My mother had no inkling at all about what I was up to. Her attitude, as if nothing had happened, really made me stop and think.
Did she not see my semen between her legs?
What about the hickey I left on her neck?
I was fairly confident that my rough handling had made her breasts swell, yet she seemed completely unfazed by it all. I've noticed something lately. My mother's attitude towards my father seems to have grown slightly distant.
I became more and more convinced that my mother was upset with him. That's why my father is not as cheerful as he usually is. I got that he might be feeling confused and unsure about what to do in this situation.
Poor guy...
Initially, I didn't feel any guilt whatsoever, but now I can't help but feel a bit sorry for my father.
With all that behind me, I'm excited to say that I'll be celebrating my 7th birthday in just a few days! I still haven't figured out what caused my early puberty. Just to give you a bit of context, most boys normally start going through puberty between the ages of 9 and 14, while for girls, it usually happens between 8 and 13 years old.
I'm not sure if what I'm going through is typical, and honestly, I have my doubts about finding someone who can break down all this puberty stuff for me. Living in this remote village where resources are limited is even more challenging.
Despite my efforts to push it all aside, the memories of those twisted moments with my mother kept creeping back into my mind, refusing to be forgotten.
It's kind of like being a kid stumbling upon a porn video for the very first time. My soul is a fully grown adult, but here I am, caught up in this frustrating situation. It's a bit of a clash.
"Viktor, look out!"
A shout from somewhere jolted me out of my daydream, but just as I was about to react, a sharp blow struck my back. I have a strong feeling that whoever did this must have held a grudge against me. I could still feel that sharp, stinging pain lingering even as my body hit the ground.
As I wiped the snow off my face, I began to take in my surroundings. Faxi and the other kids from my faction had formed a protective circle around me, their faces filled with determination and camaraderie.
"Viktor, are you alright? You just froze in the heat of the battle and lost your focus. That's not really like you," Faxi said, concern etched on his face. Keeping his eyes fixed on the enemy, he gradually stepped back and made his way over to me, reaching out his hand.
His plump figure served as a decent shield, but Faxi lacked fighting skills. He was still grappling with his fear and unable to confront it head-on. So, when I saw him hurrying over to me, I was surprised.
As I held his hand tightly, I stood up and said, "Good job, Faxi! I almost lost it if it hadn't been for your quick thinking."
"Come on, Viktor, you cheated again! Don't act like you didn't realize that my earlier attack totally knocked you out of the game."
It turned out that the person who attacked me from behind was one of the older faction leaders. I didn't catch his name, and I didn't feel like bothering to remember it anyway. I recall that he was in charge of a faction made up of kids who were around 7 and 8 years old, maybe even a bit older.
He had a striking face that stood out, especially because it always seemed to display anger right when the game kicked off.
As he mentioned, if you get hit by the opponent's weapon, whether it's just a little scratch or a solid blow, you're done for. Since I joined, things have shifted a bit. You won't be out of the game as long as you can stand and keep fighting, or you can always opt to surrender if that's what you prefer.
"This fiery leader is at it again, rambling on about who knows what. Come on, everyone, let's rally together and take down his faction first!" I called out to fire up my faction's enthusiasm.
As we marched forward, the sound of our feet hitting the ground echoed like thunder. Each of us lifted our weapons high, ready for what lay ahead, while the timid ones opted to hide behind their shields instead. Like waves colliding with force, the most epic battle in history erupted.
Our faction found ourselves in a pretty tough spot. Not long after we went up against the faction led by that hot-tempered leader, we suddenly had another faction closing in on us from behind, trying to trap us in a pincer move.
Ultimately, the fire of my spirit only made it this far. It's common knowledge that getting hit by wooden weapons still stings, and one by one, my teammates started to fall. As I moved swiftly through the chaos, I deftly sidestepped the enemy's cannon fodder, my focus locked on their leader, the real prize in this battle.
After I had made the leaders of both factions curl up in pain on the ground, I found myself, completely drained of energy, surrounded by a group of boys who were fuming with anger and resentment. To ease my pain, I quickly dropped down to the ground, signaling that I was out of the game.
Watching them grit their teeth and seeing the frustration etched on their faces gave me a sense of satisfaction. It felt like my actions had truly made an impact. With the last member of my faction down, they had no choice but to face off against each other.
I felt my warm body gradually cool off as I relaxed on the soft pile of snow, enjoying the contrast of the chilly surface beneath me. I got to enjoy a stunning bright blue sky. Watching the white clouds drift lazily across the sky helped me find my rhythm and get my breathing back to normal. The sounds of battle that surrounded me seemed to fade away, overshadowed by the sheer beauty of this incredible sight.
"Viktor, I had no idea you were part of this game," Thorfinn said, popping into my line of sight out of nowhere.
"Son of a bitch!"
He stuck his head out, peering down at me with a questioning look. But I couldn't be bothered with that. My heart nearly stopped from what he was doing. I accidentally let slip a curse word that didn't fit my age, but I was pretty sure he wouldn't get it anyway.
Propping myself up with the tip of my sword, I took my time getting to my feet. I didn't say a word until I had finished brushing the snow off my clothes.
"So, what brings you here?"
"Oh, I was searching for you at your place, but then I learned you were here," Thorfinn said, his tone casual and light, though his attention seemed to drift elsewhere entirely.
As I caught a glimpse of his intense gaze fixed on the battle unfolding behind me, it was clear he was itching to jump in. And then, when he spoke next, I was taken aback.
"Can I borrow your sword? I want to join in on the fun too!"
Just as I was about to give my consent, he lunged for my sword. In response, I pressed the tip of my blade against his chest and said, "This isn't for you, so be careful before you end up getting hurt."
From what I could see, Thorfinn seemed pretty much like any other kid his age. He was definitely one of the most enthusiastic listeners when Uncle Leif started sharing his stories. What surprised me was his eagerness to jump into the game, even though he was fully aware that he might get hurt.
"Come on, Faxi is over there too," Thorfinn said, gesturing toward the chubby boy sprawled on the ground, surrounded by several others who looked just as lifeless.
"I can do it! I can't believe I missed this for so long," Thorfinn insisted, his stubbornness shining through. He was unaware the sun behind him was gradually sinking, casting a stunning red glow across the sky.
"Feel free to swing by tomorrow," I said with a relaxed tone, realizing I wasn't going to change his mind. "I will take you home. I'd also love to meet your family."
As I dragged Thorfinn along, his dissatisfaction was palpable. I didn't mind his constant glances back. My mind was too busy replaying my mother's words from this morning.
Since my 7th birthday was just a few days away, she suggested that I invite my close friends to celebrate with me. When I said no and just wanted to hang out with my family, my mother was clearly moved and hugged me, but she still held her ground.
Back then, I thought it would be best to invite Thorfinn's family. I also didn't forget about Uncle Leif, who always lived by himself. After making my decision, I was asked to personally deliver the invitation.