Alan, Melvin's elder brother, walked in with an air of confidence, wearing an enigmatic smile that matched his confident demeanor. He strolled across the room and confidently pulled out a chair, taking a seat without waiting for any invitation.
Melvin looked at his brother with a hint of irritation. "Alan, no one asked you to take a seat."
Alan continued to smile like a wolf circling its prey and responded with an air of nonchalance. "Ah, Melvin, you're always so serious. I'm just here to meet your friends. Won't you do the introductions?"
Melvin, despite his irritation, reluctantly introduced his uninvited guest. "Well, everyone, this is Alan. He's... my elder brother."
Alan stood up with his one arm in pocket and the other across his back "That's not how you introduce me. Allow me, Melvin, I need to teach my younger brother a lot. Alan Goldbell, son of Lucas Goldbell, the first son of the CEO of the Goldbell Company." Alan spoke with a sense of pride and privilege that left Melvin even more displeased.
Emilly and Ahiro exchanged glances, slightly taken aback by Alan's grandiose introduction. His self-importance seemed to hang in the air like a heavy perfume. Alan's smile showed that he enjoyed making Melvin uncomfortable.
The evening took an unexpected turn, and Ahiro couldn't help but feel a sense of discomfort at the tension in the room.
As the awkward tension thickened in the room, Alan pointed towards Ahiro and Emily and said with a condescending tone. "Who are these little chicks?"
Melvin's patience had worn thin. His eyes shot daggers at his older brother, his usual amiable demeanor giving way to frustration. "Whoever they are, it's none of your business," Melvin retorted sharply, his voice laced with anger. "Just leave the room, otherwise, I'll have to call the manager."
Ahiro couldn't hide his shock. He had never seen Melvin so angry. Melvin was usually a calm and collected individual, the epitome of a relaxed personality. Seeing him so infuriated was startling to Ahiro.
Alan, seemingly unfazed by the mounting tension, continued to goad his brother. "True, what could I possibly gain from knowing the names of two insignificant pebbles," he taunted, increasing the displeasure etched on Melvin's face. The friction between the two brothers seemed to fill the room, adding an even heavier layer to the already uncomfortable atmosphere.
With a feigned nonchalance, Alan decided to withdraw from the situation. "Well, well, don't be angry, brother," he said dismissively, standing up from his seat. "I'm leaving."
As Alan prepared to exit the room, he couldn't resist taking a final dig at Melvin. "Can someone bring me a hand sanitizer and mouthwash before I leave?" he quipped, turning back to Melvin. "Talking to son of a runaway left a bad taste in my mouth."
Melvin, struggling to maintain his composure, clenched his fists at Alan's parting words. Emily sensed Melvin's distress and gently held his hand, offering silent support. Ahiro, while unaware of the exact dynamics between the two brothers, recognized that Alan's behavior was nothing short of offensive and distasteful. He decided not to probe any further into the matter.
Their appetites thoroughly ruined by the encounter, they made their way back to the academy. The pod ride back to the academy was a silent one. The trio's emotions were a mix of frustration, anger, and disbelief at the unpleasant interaction with Melvin's older brother.
Upon returning to the academy, Ahiro and Melvin parted ways with Emily, who headed to the girls' dome. Melvin, still evidently affected by the incident, turned to Ahiro. "I'm sorry you had to witness such a displeasing thing," he expressed, his voice filled with regret.
Ahiro offered a reassuring smile. "No need to apologize, Melvin. That Alan guy was a jerk," he responded.
"Ahiro, could we talk for a moment?" Melvin asked. Ahiro nodded, understanding that Melvin needed to share something important. Together, they walked to Melvin's room.
As they entered Melvin's room, Ahiro couldn't help but notice the scattered wrappers from snacks strewn across the floor. Melvin, seemingly embarrassed by the mess, offered an apologetic smile as he sat down on the bed. Ahiro took a seat in a nearby chair, ready to listen to whatever Melvin needed to say.
"Sorry for the mess," Melvin began, acknowledging the state of his room. He took a deep breath, a hint of sadness in his eyes. Ahiro patiently waited for his friend to speak his mind.
"You know, the Goldbell name may seem attractive on the outside. Everyone wants to be a part of the family, have some connection to us," Melvin mused. Ahiro nodded in agreement, curious about where this conversation was heading.
Melvin continued, "But inside, it's just hollow." His voice carried a mix of disappointment and sorrow. Ahiro listened intently, unsure of what to say in response.
"In the family, it's like a total dogfight over the company. Everyone wants a piece of the meat," Melvin explained, his expression reflecting the bitterness that seemed to run in his family. "My grandfather, Damien Goldbell, had four children—three sons and one daughter. My mother was the only daughter and the favorite child of my grandfather." As he spoke of his mother, there was a complex mixture of pride and sadness in Melvin's eyes.
Ahiro remained silent, allowing Melvin to share his story at his own pace, he could sense the pride and pain in Melvin's voice as he spoke about his mother.
"And she was the most beautiful and talented among all the children her age," Melvin said, his voice wavering with a mixture of emotions. "To complement this, my mother was an C-Rank Awakened with <
Melvin continued. "Everyone was sure my mother would inherit the business, but she had other plans. She ran away," he said, his voice quivering with emotion. Tears welled up in his eyes as he continued speaking "She ran away with my father, and after a year, when she was giving birth to me, she died."
"My father loved my mom more than anything in the world," Melvin continued, his voice choked with sorrow. "He couldn't bear the loss and soon after my mother's death, he passed away as well." Melvin wiped away his tears and took a deep breath. "I was soon taken in by my grandfather and have been living in the Goldbell mansion ever since and since then I am living in hell."