"Hey...You okay?" I heard a voice calling out.
"Ah, yeah. Sorry, I was just thinking about something else…" I responded, as I returned my attention to Frost. "What were we saying again?"
"Nothing. You were just stalking me."
"Oh, right! I needed to ask you something!" I suddenly remembered.
"And I said I wouldn't answer, so don't bother asking."
"You're a summoner, right? How do you cancel a summoning?" I asked anyway.
"Are you deaf? I told you not to ask!" Frost sighed, bringing his palm to his face. "But that's all you wanted to ask? And here I though it was something important…"
I tilted my head to the side. "What else would I ask you? We aren't even friend."
"Exactly. Why would you ask me anything?"
"Because you're a summoner."
"I'm not a summoner yet! I'm a mage! Apprentice mage to be exact!" He corrected. "I'm only starting to specialize in summoning magic! Besides, aren't you a better summoner than me? Didn't you summon that yellow rabbit the teachers are looking for?"
I gave him a bitter smile.
"Wait," he suddenly added, seemingly realizing something. "Is that what it is all about? Your yellow rabbit."
"Uh, kind of?"
"You… Still haven't canceled your summoning?"
"Not really…"
An awkward silence briefly filled the room as I stared into those brown eyes, looking at me in disbelief.
"Are you kidding me?" Frost yelled. "It's already been a week! I thought it disappeared!"
"I thought so too!" I tried to explain. "But then, this morning, I woke up to him looking at me like a creepy stalker! He was just there, sitting in the window ledge, watching me sleep for gods know how long! I was lucky my roommate wasn't here…"
"This morning?" Frost repeated, raising a single eyebrow. "Where is he right now?"
I shrugged. "I tried to lock him up in the closet for the time being, but he destroyed it and then he fled."
The boy gasped, his brows creased.
"Y-You let your little monster on the loose?! What are you waiting for to make him disappear!"
"That's exactly what I'm here for! I need you to help me cancel the damn summoning!"
"And how am I supposed to help? That's your familiar!"
"You're a summoner! Tell me how you cancel a summoning, and I'll manage to make him disappear, somehow."
"I don't know how, I just do it!"
Feeling the frustration slowly building up inside me, I let out a loud sigh.
"You're not helping you know."
"You're the weird one, here!" Frost tried to justify himself. "If you want him gone, just tell him so! It's just as simple as that!"
"Do you think I'm an idiot?" I grunted. "I tried, it's not working."
"Well, try again! It's your familiar, you're the master! Absolute obedience, remember? A contracted beast can never go against its master's word!"
Ah.
Aaaaaaaaah!! The contract! I should have thought about it! Summoners need to pass a contract with a magical beast fist, before they can summon it. But I didn't. I didn't just summon Pikachu, I created it. We never entered into a contract. That's why he's not listening! He's still unbound! Coming to this sudden realization, I wrapped my arms around my head.
"Y-You okay?" Frost inquired.
I looked up at him.
"Hypothetically speaking… If there was something wrong with the contract, is there any other way to make a magical beast disappear?"
Frost squinted his eyes, clearly not understanding my point. But he answered anyway.
"Well, you can…" He stopped for a few seconds, then, seemingly remembering something, he sneered. "Not saying."
"Are you being serious, right now?"
"Dead serious. Have you forgotten? I told you I wouldn't answer."
"Oh, come on! We were getting somewhere, here! You should know better than anyone that we can't let Pikachu roam around freely."
"That's your problem."
"Oh, really?" I asked with a straight face. However, he showed no signs of changing his mind. Instead, his grin only grew larger. So I decided to go for the same strategy. "I'll barge out of the room crying, and I'll tell everyone you bullied me."
"W-What?! That's a lie!" Frost complained.
"Well, the perception of truth is relative. In the end, the only thing that matter is what people believe in. "
"I could get expelled!"
"That's your problem, right?" I retorted, repeating his own words.
His face brightened to a crimson tone.
"You!" He snapped, as he abruptly grabbed me by my collar. "Do you think this is funny?!"
That moment, we were suddenly interrupted as we heard the creaking noise of a door opening. Turning our attention to the entrance of the room, we noticed the tall boy who just entered. Recognizing the newcomer right away, Frost froze -no pun intended.
"Brother," I called out. "What are you doing here?"
"Lyni? I thought I heard your voice so I…" Aoban started before his gaze shifted from me to Frost, who instantly stiffened up the moment his eyes met Aoban's. "You! What do you think you're doing right now?"
Suddenly realizing what the situation looked like, Frost immediately let go of me. Instinctively, he rose both of his arms in the air in an attempt to look as harmless as possible.
"It's a misunderstanding!" He tried to explain.
But clearly, brother had no intention of listening.
"Misunderstanding my ass! What were you about to do just now?"
"Nothing, absolutely nothing at all!"
Aoban shoved Frost against the wall as he let the door slam behind him. Taking a closer look at the boy, his expression hardened.
"I recognize you," he said sternly. "Aren't you one of those cowards who tried to intimidate my sister a week ago?"
"No! I-I mean yes, but this time it's not like that! I swear!"
In the grip of silent panic, Frost's face fell faster than a waterfall. Failing to convey his words properly, he turned his wild eyes to me. His pupils were completely dilated, screaming for help. Seeing his helpless puppy face, I couldn't help but feel sorry for him. I know I did say I was going to tell everyone he bullied me if he was not going to help, but it was mostly bluff. I had no intention of doing so. And even if I did, right now, it was going out of control. I stepped forward to grab my brother's forearm.
"Aoban, just calm down for a second and listen to him." I suggested. "He's telling the truth."
"What are you saying? I clearly saw him. He was about to hit you." He growled before shifting his gaze to me. He slowly furrowed his eyebrows. I could see the worried look in his eyes. "Is he threatening you?"
He was getting the wrong idea. I could see the matter escalating quickly. I really needed to reason him.
"No he isn't," I calmly explained as I took a step closer. "Like he said, you misunderstood."
Aoban wiggled his arm out of my grasp, his eyes full of suspicion.
"What were you doing together then?"
I shrugged. "Just talking."
"About what?"
"Nothing much. About classes, stuff like that."
Brother gave Frost a deadly glare, which immediately made him stiffen up.
"With him? Why?" He groaned.
"Because we're friends."
"Friends…?" Aoban repeated, looking at me skeptically with his eyes narrowed. He clearly didn't believe me.
I know I should have come up with a better excuse, but to be honest, at that time, I couldn't think of anything else. As I was about to explain myself, I was cut short by Frost.
"T-That's right, we're friends!" He seconded, stuttering. As desperate as he was, I'm pretty sure he would have agreed to anything. But that wasn't enough to convince Aoban.
"Are you taking me for an idiot? There is no way you would be friends with him."
"Why not?"
Brother sighed, "Lyni, have you forgotten what he did to you last week?"
"I haven't," I replied while shaking my head. "But people make mistakes. We've already discussed about it and we got over it."
Aoban remained silent for a while. His eyes were intensively looking at me, probably trying to read my expression. But I didn't let any signs betray me.
"I won't accept that." He eventually replied curtly. The tone in his voice was indicating that he had lost patience. He returned his attention to Frost before grabbing his collar.
"What are you doing?" I called out as I placed a hand on his arm. But he pushed me away, keeping a threatening glare on Frost.
"I'll make sure this scumbag understands what happens when he approaches you." He explained as if it was obvious.
"Stop it! I told you we're friends!"
"And I told you I won't allow that."
Hearing his cold and harsh voice, I snapped. I did not recognize my kind and gentle brother. At this moment, he almost seemed like a stranger.
"What do you mean you won't- I don't need your permission!" I bellowed. "I can choose my friends on my own!"
"Clearly, you can't." Aoban shot back.
"What? What is that supposed to mean!"
"It means that you need to get back," he ordered.
"No, I'm not going anywhere!" I declared, and since he didn't show any signs of letting go of Frost anytime soon, I butted in between them. "You need to chill out and listen to me!"
"No, you listen to me! Get back!" He tried to push me away once again.
Don't. Do. It. Lynett. Calm down. Oh fuck, whatever.
"What's wrong with you, seriously!" I yelled, as I shook him away. "How about you mind your own business!"
Aoban's eyes narrowed as he looked at me in disbelief.
"What?"
"What what!" I continued. "You have a problem with my friend? How about you learn to choose yours first before you try to lecture me about it!"
Hearing that, brother's eyes twitched. It was very slight, but I definitely saw it.
"Lynett… What are you trying to say?" He questioned, anger growing in his voice.
Brother never called me by my name. Lyni, Lyni, Lyni… With him, it has always been Lyni. So the moment I heard the name 'Lynett' coming out of his mouth, I understood immediately that he was really annoyed. Still, I did not back down. Normally, I would have. Truth be told, confrontations aren't my forte. I hate arguments. It always ends up with both parties feeling hurt and angry. So usually, I let it go. No, actually, I always let it go. Because it's pointless. Because I'm afraid of shattering something. But this time, I knew I couldn't. Besides, I was just as annoyed as him.
"I've heard what people say about you and your friends!" I yelled. "And I saw you bullying that kid!"
"You don't understand!" Brother yelled in his turn.
"No, you're right, I don't! You of all people! Is this school your kingdom? Do you think you can do whatever you want and beat up people just because you're a little stronger than them?"
His face mottled crimson, he finally let go of Frost as he completely turns his attention to me.
"That is none of your business!" Aoban declared.
"Excuse-me?! So you can meddle in my life, but I can't?"
"I'm your brother!" He stated, as if it was justifying his actions.
"Exactly! You're my brother, not my father! So how about you stop acting like it!"
"Everything I'm doing is for you!"
"I didn't ask for anything, I can take care of myself!"
"No you can't!"
"Uhm, guys…" A little voice suddenly spoke up.
"WHAT?!" Brother and I both shouted in unison as we shifted our attention to Frost.
Startled, the poor boy gasped. He then lowered his eyes, letting his gaze wander on the floor.
"No, uh…" He muttered with a weak voice. "I just… I'll just… get going, so you guys can continue…"
Frost let out a forced and awkward chuckle in hopes to lighten the mood as he slowly headed toward the door under Aoban's glare. But brother did not stop him. With my previous frustration now relieved, I felt my pressure suddenly dropping, and at the same time, cold sweats forming on my face as I realized the situation.
C-Crap… I overdid it. I got carried away.
I do not have a bad tamper. In fact, I consider myself as a pretty calm person. I don't whine, I don't fuss, I don't throw tantrums. Usually. But when frustration builds up, it has to explode at some point.
As Frost was about to leave the room, he bumped into someone. That someone was one of brother's friend. I remember him from the day I arrived. He glared at Frost on the impact, but he did not push it any further. He simply ignored the fleeing boy as he entered the room, seemingly looking for my brother.
"Aoban, is everything ok?" He inquired once he spotted him. "We heard you shouting."
"I'm fine…" Brother hissed, looking in my direction.
"Is that so?" His friend replied, overlooking the tone in his voice. "We're waiting for you, you know?"
He followed Aoban's gaze and he finally noticed me.
"Oh! You're… the sister! Lynett, right?" He asked rhetorically. "What's up, how are you doing?"
"Good, thank you." I simply responded as I avoided an eye contact.
Seemingly confused by my cold answer, Aoban's friend blinked a couple of time. He looked at me for a few seconds, then at my brother, and then at me again.
"Am… Am I interrupting something?" He inquired, finally reading the mood.
Brother was still glaring at me. Eventually, he let out a loud, complaining sigh.
"No, it's nothing." He mumbled. "I'm coming."
Aoban passed by me, heading toward his friend. He gave him a pat in the shoulder, as if to tell him to follow him, which he did. Before leaving the room, brother turned in my direction one last time.
"This discussion is not over," he stated.
"Whatever…" I muttered, loud enough for him to hear.