CHAPTER SIX

Nick was making his bit of mischief when Ivan called. Nick wondered what this call was about since he had briefed Ivan a few hours earlier that he would not be available for the day's lesson. "Health emergency," he had said, but it was a lie. Now he wondered if Ivan had sensed the deceit and had called to inform him of his damnation in his book. That would have been fast, even for Ivan. Nick felt screwed. He had done everything to make his faux plight seem reasonable, and as per his current state, he could not afford Ivan's scolding. He had informed Ivan over the phone that he had a cold and would not have made it to practice that day- he even staged a cough to make it seem realistic. He was struck when Ivan seemed to believe it because Ivan was never that easy to fool. Maybe Ivan was fooling him. Or perhaps he wanted to see how long Nick would pull that card. Or how long it would take for Nick to come out clean. Or maybe how long it would take for Nick to start overthinking the whole situation. Ivan was a very patient man, and he had been with children long enough to know when they are up to something. Nick saw his phone ring until the call was automatically disconnected, and the Karate tutor was sent to voicemail.

Wait two to ten minutes to make it believable. Nick tried remembering where he had read that life hack. If he were sick as he had lied, it would be ideal if he wasn't available every time he was needed. He had to be missed. Sick people were constantly occupied with their illnesses and pain that they had no time to be on call. That was what Nick was going on with as he looked at the city from the highest arch in the rollercoaster ride. The city looked beautiful as the lights were coming on one by one, first the automatic streetlights, then the fog lights of most cars on the highway, then finally from inside the high-rise buildings. The people on the ground resembled stickmen, going about their businesses. On his left, the sun was setting, and its rays were just about a few inches short of reaching Nick's shoulders. From his position, he could see the giant ball of fire in the sky going to sleep- one of the main reasons he booked the 6.30 pm ride. It was well-timed to capture moments such as these, which brought in profits and bookings by the cup-loads--not much, but honest and perfect eye-watering views. Birds were rushing home, and a flock of pigeons had just perched on the last seat, startling some ravers who seemed to be liking the moment as much as Nick was. He saw his friends laughing while trying to make artistic poses in the sunset and wished that all days would be as normal as this one- no witches, no tales of vampires, and certainly not stretching his whole self at KaraDojo all day. He wanted to savor this moment forever, and he could in several ways, but sadly, all were not available to him. He could use his warlock powers to cause a temporary time freeze if he focused his inner core to the right degree, but that was against Grumpy old Ivan's rules of witchcraft and wizardry. He liked breaking Ivan's rules, but even for him, there was so much mischief could do without landing him in complete trouble. Furthermore, even if he wanted to, he was full of adrenaline, and as a result of such, his concentration was at an all-time low. Ivan had also warned him that magic does not go hand in hand with adrenaline; loss of control would be the consequence of such a pair.

Nick looked at his phone once more. He stared at the missed call from Ivan again. He wanted to call back as it had been a whopping ten minutes already, but then the ride started speeding downhill. His adrenaline was off the roof again. An old man can wait a little longer; I will call him after the ride. Although he was darting downwards, he felt on top of the world. Ivan called for the second time while Nick was mid-glory, but the latter could not care less. After all, he had called in sick earlier. Sick people must not be bothered. They need to be left alone.  

"Well, that was fun!" Mark, one of Nick's friends, said after alighting.

"I think I am going to throw up!" Betty, another friend of Nick, exclaimed, bending over by the rail car.

"Lightweights!" Nick teased.

"You don't seem fazed at the slightest!" Betty raised her head long enough to tell Nick, who was grinning. Nick's distinct jawline was one of his outstanding facial features. It shared the top spot with his brown eyes and his perfect afro. Nick's well-shaped lips were enough to make Betty have nasty thoughts every once in a while if she stared too long at them. Nick, on the other hand, always felt like he was asymmetrical, imbalanced even. He thought that he did not belong in his body, cursed it sometimes, but relished the looks women all over gave him, particularly Betty. Mark once said that Nick was a women magnet, a sentiment that Nick liked and disliked in equal measure. His body was perfect from the waist up, but he had slender legs. He always felt like he was too cartoonish for a warlock, in a twenty-year-old's body, for that matter. He thought it weird.

"Yoga and Karate people. That is the trick. How many times should I tell you?" Nick continued laughing. "Featherweights."

"Leave him be. Let us go, and… Oh, God! Here it comes!" Mark's insides were starting to churn. He was losing his balance. "Oh shoot!"

"Betty, be a dear and take him over there. He feels light-headed!" Nick winked.

"Mahn, you are bad at jokes." They both reiterated.

"What? I had to!"

"We'll see you back at the loft," Betty said, leading Mark away from the rail stands.

"Okay. I'll order something!" Nick called after them. He had a feeling that the day would turn out just OK, regardless of everything that had happened the past few weeks. He felt that this day would be the normal day he had had since he was introduced to mysticism. He meant to embrace it fully. Nick then fished out his phone and sought to call Ivan. Thirty minutes had been enough to mimic sickness. He cleared his throat and dialed his now-familiar number.

"Hello." Nick was at his best performance with a weakened voice. "I was asleep. I have just seen your missed calls. Sorry about that."

"Where are you?" Ivan sounded as stern as ever. Nick immediately knew that he was onto him.

"Sick. At home. Mom made me some soup." Nick answered, hoping that Ivan did not think what he thought he was.