Jiya sighed and closed her eyes, "Please give me a break! What the hell are you?"
Alex's warm breath tickled her face as he heaved a sigh. When Jiya opened her eyes, he was sitting on her chair, watching her intently. She opened her mouth to say something, but he cut her off with a wave of his hand. The sleeve slid down, revealing his pale white skin.
"I am Alex Marol, to begin with. I am smizard and became a shapeshifter when Professor Tipsy got hold of your existence. I am trained to become your first companion in the Institute and the upcoming years."
"You are smizard. I see", Jiya nodded thoughtfully, "Why do I need a companion? Did you become a shapeshifter because you are my companion?"
"Yes", Alex nodded with his Cheshire grin, "You need a companion because your kind is rare and there will be evil forces out there to destroy you."
"Destroy me?" Jiya raised her eyebrows with disbelief, "And you will protect me?"
Alex nodded, "That's what I am supposed to do."
"Where did your funny accent go?" Jiya asked with a sigh.
"You mean my cat accent?" Alex grinned again, knocking the breath out of Jiya's lungs, "Now that I am in my native form."
"Oh? Now tell me. Why in the world should I attend that freak of an Institute?"
"Because you have to", Alex said with a nonchalant attitude.
"What about my school?" Jiya frowned, "I don't want to lose my position as a House Captain."
"You will have plenty of chances of being a Captain. There are Houses there too. It's not boring as you think", Alex said with his usual grin.
Why do you grin so much? Jiya wanted to ask. But, instead, she asked, "What about my school? Will I just disappear without letting them know?"
"I believe", He nodded, "She had already settled everything with your, err, former school."
"My Mom knew?" Jiya asked, her eyes bewildered.
"Of course," Alex grinned again, "Isn't that obvious?"
"When do I leave?" Jiya asked as she fidgeted with her fingers, "And how long will the time be frozen?"
"We leave today morning. And as for your time, it will revert to normal once you go to sleep."
"But I am not sleepy at all", Jiya sounded worried.
"You will be", Alex nodded, "Once your curiosity is satiated. So, I bet you still have questions for me, don't you?"
Jiya flushed as she glanced down at her hands. She was afraid to admit. That she was being curious about him.
But she managed to stammer, "How… why do I have to attend that Institute? I don't use my gift that much."
"Why do you have this gift? To begin with?" Instead of answering, Alex retorted with a question of his own.
"Because…" Jiya scratched her head, "Because my great-grandfather had the gift."
"And why did he have it?" Alex asked with a slight smile.
"…" Jiya pursed her lips and frowned.
"Because he was willing to help people", Alex answered the question himself, "Now, tell me. Have you not helped people with your gift before?"
Jiya glanced down before nodding slightly.
"Don't you want to help your friends?" Alex asked.
Jiya's head shot up and she frowned before glancing at the old doormat tucked under the clothes hanger. In her peripheral vision, she saw Alex grin.
"If I want to help my friends…" Jiya began, "I have to stay at this school. I can't go to that Institute."
"Don't you want to use your gift in a better way to help them?"
Jiya sighed and looked up, "Fine. I'll go."
"Good", Alex grinned.
"Why is it you?" Jiya spoke up impatiently.
"Sorry?"
"Why are you, my companion?" Jiya looked straight into his eyes, "Why not anyone else?"
"Family history", Alex said as he rubbed his temples, "Now no more questions."
"One last question", Jiya raised her right forefinger, "How old are you?"
"Seventeen", Alex grinned slyly, "Now sleep."
Within moments, he was beside her. He turned her around and pulled her back. Jiya's head hit on the pillow. Alex's upside-down face came into view. She opened her mouth to say something but his warm palm covered her eyes. Jiya felt light-headed. She drifted to sleep as Alex faded from her vision.
---
"Jiya, wake up!" she heard Mom call her softly.
"No", she groaned, "That was just a dream!"
No, it was not. Jiya heard a voice in her head. She slowly opened her eyes.
"Good girl", Mom planted a kiss on her temples, "Get ready. You have to leave."
Jiya sat up and stretched, "Leave where?"
"For the Institute", Mom said, rubbing her head.
Jiya sighed and her eyes fell on the black ball of fur sitting outside her open window. She glared at it.
Whom are you glaring at? A voice came in her head. It had a hint of a smile. Telepathy!
You, Jiya thought back.
"Come on", Mom yanked her off the bed, "Get ready."
"Mom?" Jiya tried to put up an accusing tone, "You knew?"
Mom smiled at her, "Of course!"
Jiya frowned with disappointment. She wanted to put on her jacket but then she realized that she had slept with her jacket on. So, she stormed off her room and grabbed her toothbrush. After a few moments, Jiya rinsed her face and washed her face.
"Come for breakfast", Mom called her, but she didn't want to answer. She wanted to stay angry, but a delicious smell wafted to her nose.
Pancakes! Alex's voice echoed in her mind.
Don't you dare! Jiya warned in her thoughts and got up to go to the dining hall.
But her eyes nearly fell off her sockets when she saw Alex in his human form, chatting with her Mom at the dining table. Sensing her tense presence, both of them turned to her. Mom smiled her motherly smile while Alex had his usual breathtaking smile.
Jiya closed her eyes and took a deep breath to calm herself. Her hand was itching to slap his face.
You want to slap me? Alex thought in a mock surprise tone.
Jiya opened her eyes and glared at him before she went and sat down at her usual place.
"It's yummy!" Alex mumbled with his mouthful of pancakes. Her favorite fluffy pancakes! Mom never gave them to anyone without letting her taste it first. And now, Alex was stuffing pancakes without her!