The way to become the Great Sorcerer

Chapter 61: Ramen for a chnage

“Do you actually know him? I mean why do you know he’s a good kid?” Larcade said but not in a voice that’s too loud afraid that the guy he was talking about would hear it. “Your dad and I knew his family since they moved here 10 years ago. You don’t remember? You, him, and Neveah have been classmates in kindergarten.” Larcade was so surprised at the newly gain information that he halted. He then shook his head.

 “But--” He was cut off when his mother forcefully faced him. “Larcade, Lucas is a great kid,” Larcade only shuts up. He saw how her words were genuine and her fondness on the said guy, that he could not object anymore. Both mother and son went out in the kitchen and the next thing they saw halted them from approaching them. Both Lucas and Neveah were now approximately close to each other. There is only an inch gap between their faces. Both wearing the same annoyed expression. Neveah’s hands were in Lucas’s hair the same as the said guy’s hands were on the female’s hair. Larcade looks at them with a blank expression. “Oy,” He rolled his eyes after sighing. 

They were in the class now and it was already lunchtime. Neveah’s hair was a mess so she asked her classmate to fix her hair. Their classmate, Lila, gladly fix and style Neveah’s hair. “Damn that Lucas guy I’m really going to put him in his place someday!” Neveah said while crossing her arms. Larcade lightly scoffs. “What happened to the both of you anyway? Did you piss him off earlier?” Larcade said looking up to his cousin. “No, we’re just sitting there and the next thing I knew we’re already insulting each other off,” Neveah said while closing her eyes feeling a little relaxed because someone is touching her hair.

 “Dude, both of you had the same brain cells,” Larcade commented earning a smack from Neveah. “Do not ever compare me with that rampaging gorilla,” Larcade rub the part where she hits and glared at his cousin, “Geez, you do not need to be so aggressive.” Neveah huffed and Lila informed that her hair is done and Neveaht thank the girl she then noticed Axel sitting in front of them his back faced. His head was hanging low this made Neveah curious. “Hey, Axel let’s go for lunch!” Neveah playingly kick his seat this made Axel flinch. “What?” 

Axel faced her. Both, Neveah and Larcade saw the cold sweat that was dripping on his face. They also noticed his shaking eyes. Both cousins look at each other before feeling worried for their friend. “Axel, are you okay?” Neveah leaned her body to Axel and touch her shoulder but what Axel did make Neveah widen his eyes. Axel just slap Neveah’s hands that were about to touch him. Larcade saw it all that made him furrow his eyebrows. 

“Oh sorry, I did not mean it. He said while looking greatly troubled. This irks Neveah. “Ax--” Before Neveah can call out to him she was beaten by a guy’s voice. “Axel!” All three of them panned their heads. It was Mark who was slinging his arm to an annoyed-looking Lucas. Neveah furrowed his eyebrows while squinting her eyes and her mouth slightly open. She was confused about why Mark acts familiar with Axel. Mark then gestures to Axel to come with them. Neveah saw Lucas’s expression. It was filled with annoyance as he rolled his eyes. 

Axel stood up but was stopped by Neveah. “Where are you going?” Neveah’s face was mixed with confusion and anger. Axel looked down at his friend and then at the guy sitting beside her. He smiled and reassures them, “I gotta have some business with them, I’ll be back!” Axel said and then face Mark who was waiting at him outside their classroom. He then put up a brave face that both Larcade and Neveah noticed.

Class ended and Neveah and Larcade were walking home. Both of them did not understand the situation with Axel. There are a lot of questions in their mind as to why he was hanging out around them. Axel did not return after lunch. It was the first time Axel cut his class and this made the two even more troubled and worried. At this time they were now very anxious about their friend. Even if Larcade did not want to admit it, he was concerned for him. “If he won’t tell me even once, I’m really going to punch him!” Neveah said while smacking her fist to her palm. 

Suddenly, he caught sight of someone that was very familiar. That certain person was looking very annoyed and angry that made Neveah curious. “Hey cuz?” Neveah said while rummaging through his backpack her wallet and phone. “Yeah?” Larcade asked. His eyebrows raised as he look at his cousin in confusion. Neveah then gave him her bag. 

“Go home first without me,” Neveah said while putting her wallet and phone to her denim shorts underneath her skirt. “Where will you go?” Larcade said clutching her backpack. “Need some business to attend to.” Those were her last words before running put to the directions here that certain someone went. Larcade stood there, confused, staring at his cousin’s vanishing back. 

Meanwhile, Lucas was walking down at a heavy pace. Both hands on his pocket. His eyebrows furrowed and looked annoyed. When he arrived at his destination he looked up and saw Mark and his goons. “Mark!” He growled. This causes mark and his friends to pay attention to the approaching Lucas. Mark smirk to see his expected guest. He took out the cigarette on his mouth and raised his arms greeting him. But, Lucas had enough of his personality and punch Mark’s cheek. The said guy went flying and all of his goons were alerted because of this. They stood up and were about to avenge their boss but Mark raised his hand that made them stop. “What’s the meaning of this, Lucas?” The tall male out of the two then grabbed his collar and pinned him hard into the wall. Mark grunts because of the impact. ‘This dude’s hella strong,’ He thought, mentally panicking about how to get out of the situation. He noticed Lucas’s angry face that made him smirk.

“I told you not to mess with them!” Lucas growled again. Mark laughed at his statement. “He didn’t do anything!” Lucas cried out to him. “He was trying to be a hero, Lucas. You know I’m weak to those kinds of guys,” Mark replied with amusement. “You’re stupid,” Lucas’s comment made Mark frown. Deciding that it’s no use beating them up Lucas left with a warning, “Don’t touch them again. Don’t talk to them and don’t mess with that kid.” He glared at everyone present in the area. “ Or else,” He said and somehow all the men felt a shiver on their spine just by his voice. He walked out not noticing the annoyed expression of Mark. “It seems my dog is now trying to bite its owner.” He said with a smirk but no ounce of amusement was lanced in it. 

Lucas walked out the alleyway and was surprised that he flinch and halted in his spot to see a familiar face hiding behind a dumpster. Neveah with her awkward pose was sitting there, hoping that the said guy did not see him. But, unfortunately for her, Lucas can see her clearly. Neveah cleared her throat because of this and went out from her hiding spot. And awkward silence was engulfing them before Neveah chuckled awkwardly. 

“Want some ramen? I know a good place,” And with that, both teens went their way to the store Neveah said. It was in the center of Helio, nearby the streets. The ambiance was relaxing and Japanese culture was present in their store design. Neveah walked in smelling the place. Lucas also did the same thing. “Hello, good sir. Two bowls of ramen please!” She ordered then glance at Lucas who was still observing the place. “Do you mind if I get a spicy one?” Lucas was surprised that the girl struck a conversation first without any awkwardness. He shook his head indicating that he said no. Both of them sat down. They smell their ramen immediately when the cook puts it on their table before digging in. The silence was still there but the awkwardness was somehow not visible as they gobble up their food.

Suddenly, Neveah spoke that caught Lucas’s attention, “Who did you refer to as ‘them’ while you’re talking to Mark?” Neveah could not help but ask. Lucas did not answer feeling some kind of embarrassment now that he was being interrogated. “Was it us?” Neveah said with a hint of amusement in her voice. “Were you concerned for us? And for Axel?” Neveah could not help but to grin when Lucas avoid her stares and avert his head in another direction. Neveah noticed the red tint on Lucas’s ear that she could not help but laugh at. 

Lucas was red as a tomato that Neveah clutch her stomach because it was funny. “Why tho? I mean I never remembered us to be that familiar with each other?” Neveah said while still keeping her smile on her face. “All three of you, look so carefree that I could not help but be jealous..” Lucas said after a moment of debating, “...And, a bit want to be part of your group,” He said with a frown. Neveah scoffed at his reason. “ Ever since I went to school no one has ever made me feel that I’m not dangerous. Everyone feard me because I have this frowning face and the fact that I was born with unexplainable physical strength made them see me like an animal worth controlling.” He explained. The smile on Neveah’s face slowly fades away as the guy beside her tells her his story. 

“And seeing you, I was greatly amused and wanted to know what the feeling of just laughing with your friends, hanging out instead of beating someone up just because someone who you thought was loyal to you asks you this favor.” He said. “Why are you always fighting when you don’t want to?” Neveah asked. “Because Mark asked me. He was my first friend. Not gonna lie being friends with Mark was great. It’s just that I don’t want to lose our friendship that I follow him like an obedient puppy. But, seeing your friendship with Axel and… Larcade. I concluded that my friendship with Mark was toxic all along. I was blinded because of fear of being left alone or forgotten that I could not see the toxic environment that I was holding on to.” What Lucas said made Neveah scoff in bitterness. “You should’ve said that to us in the first place that you wanted to be friends instead of glaring at us!” Neveah nudged at his arm. “I could not help it, I was called out as a rampaging gorilla,” He said that made Neveah avert his eyes from the glare of the tall male, “That! I’m sorry about that.”