Izzy's mouth was salivating once he sat at the dining table. For all of the food on the table was his favourite dish. Cook by his mother and father.

There's his mother's beef and bell pepper cook in blackpepper sauce.

There's his father's shrimp and pineapple cooked in coconut broth.

And the most heaven defying dish of all, Three Flavoured Fish. A holy amalgamation of spicy, sweet and sour. Served with mixed vege.

“Wow! What's the occasion, mum?” He could not help but to ask.

With a smile and a frown on her face, Zarina answered with a question. “Huh? What do you mean?”

“Oh dear mother, you can't fool me. There's only two reasons why you made this Three Flavoured Fish. When I aced my quarterly school tests, and after dad came back home after being stuck at work for a few days.”

“So?” Zarina’s voice was strained with rage.

“So, again I ask, what's the occasion? It's the beginning of the year, and dad have stayed at home for a few months now. Why the feast?”

Shuib chuckled watching Zarina roll her eyes. “You smart mouthed brat. Can't you just be thankful?!”

But this eleven year old boy was unrelenting. “Dad always taught me, good things always come with a price. Right, dad?”

Zarina's sharp gaze turned and stabbed at Shuib. The meaning is clear. Are you on his side, or me?

Shuib knew that there's only one answer for that. The answer which have been true since the beginning of human civilization.

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Yet, he can't just disappoint his beloved son. Not when Izzy's been diligently practicing what Shuib’s preached.

Hence, diversion is the key.

“Hahaha, son. There's no harm in taking things for free, as long as you are prepared for any possibilities. Isn't there an old saying: Don't look for death, don't run from wealth?”

This boy actually stopped to ponder, like a great philosopher. Moments later, his gaze was sparkling. “I'll take that into consideration, dad. Hehehe.”

“Good boy. Now say thank you to your mother, and let's eat.”

Izzy, knowing he had offended his mother, turned his boyish charm and went and hugged his mother. “Thank you mother! Love you!”

“Hmph! Eat your dinner.” She said that. But her lips were quivering in her effort not show how touched and happy she is.

And so, the three happily ate their dinner.

###

“Is there…really nothing special to tonight, dad?”

The dinner is finished, and the trio are enjoying their dessert. Shuib's delicious caramel pudding. Creamy yet light, dense yet delicate. It was just wonderful.

Shuib and Zarina looked at each other, and btoke into giggles.

“Heh, when did my son get so smart?” Shuib jokingly scoffed. “You guessed it. It's a happy day today.”

“Oh? What could it be, dad?”

Shuib gave his son the biggest smile of all. “Son, from now on, your dad is retired. With big pension too. Isn't that great news?”

Unfortunately, Izzy did not share his enthusiasm. “Oh…” he said nonchalantly.

There's a reason for that. Izzy naturally knew about his father's occupation. Yes, he did work in the King of Kedah's office. Yes, he did serve the office of the last monarchy in Malaysia.

But Shuib was just an account clerk. He's not a…a soldier defending the royals or something. He just did bookkeeping. In charge of figuring out wasted expenditure of spoiled nobles.

And to this day, Izzy did not get a satisfying answer as to why an account clerk would sometimes spent days in the office without coming home.

“Oh?! What do you mean oh?! You should be happy. Your dad is going to be at home more. Isn't that a good news?” Shuib frowned. Conversely, Zarina's shoulders shook with amusement.

“Cheh. What's so great about that. Now I gotta train my silat every evening now. Haiz, goodbye TV…” Izzy spoke in a melancholic tone jokingly.

“You ungrateful child!” Shuib was enraged. And then, to Izzy's horror, an evil smile formed on Shuib's face. “Hehehe, just you wait. I'll make sure you won't have the energy to think about cartoons.”

“Oh no.” Izzy hurriedly went down and kowtow to his dad. “Father. Dear sweet, beloved father. Forgive your idiot child. This child will work hard. Just…don't deprive this child of his budding childhood.”

Hearing that load of nonsense, both husband and wife started laughing. “You…where did you learn to speak like that? Hahahaha, sit down and eat you damn brat. Alright, don't worry. There'll be time for TV and cartoon.”

“Fuh, I'm relieved. Dad is wise. Dad is the best.”

Zarina did not want to lose. “Eyy, what about me? What about mommy?”

However, before Izzy could say anything, both Shuib and Zarina turned serious. Startling the young Izzy. He never saw his mother and father looked this angry in his life.

If the tiger was here, and was still alive, it would have recognized the man suddenly joining the dining table. For that man was the one that killed it.

But, frankly, Shuib and Zarina did not need the introduction from the tiger. They recognized this man.

“Shir…!”

Bashir smiled. “Hello, family.”