The Awakening (Book 4 of the "K-pop Chronicles")

Testing

Alex is just sitting there, mouth agape, trying to find something to say. I just explained to him what has been going on with him, and now he's speechless. He has been like that for several minutes now, but I'm waiting patiently because I know how hard it is to process everything.

Finally, he slowly starts to be able to speak again, but he does so haltingly.

Alex: So... so you're saying... that we actually have... powers?

Me: Yes.
Alex: And you're saying that the... the red eyes are part of it?
Me: Well, the colored eyes, yes.

Alex: And you've lived with eleven female k-pop stars and your ex, and you encountered twelve other k-pop stars on different occasions in a matter of a month?
Me: Yes. I am still trying to process it too, but yes.
Alex: How are you so calm about this?
Me: Oh, I wasn't at first. However, after over two years of living with these powers, I have gotten used to them.
Alex: I can't do this, dude!
Me: Yes, bro, you can.
Alex: So if you have these powers, why aren't you willing to go look for them?

I pause in shock at the change of pace in the conversation.

Me: Because it was wearing on me in every way, and I can't handle the intensity of everything that happened in that month.
Alex: But you have powers beyond normal human beings.
Me: It doesn't mean that I have endurance to handle these things more than any other human being.
Alex: From what you told me, you do.
Me: Yes, but it's not unlimited. I can only take so much.
Alex: Well, I can't just stand by and do nothing.
Me: And what exactly do you think you could do?
Alex: I could go help, and so could you.
Me: I already told you that I'm not helping this time. And you are too inexperienced to be able to handle it.
Alex: So were you when you first started.
Me: Not exactly. I've always had certain... abilities. I just pushed them down for a long time because I was scared of them. However, I had moments where they would surface, and I would freak out and push the powers down again. So no, Alex, I wasn't in the same boat as you are now.
Alex: I don't care if you think I can do it or not. I'm going.
Me: Fine, go if you must. When you get in over your head, like you have a tendency to do, then you know exactly what I'm gonna end up saying to you.
Alex: And when I help them because you're too damn scared to, I'll be saying that to you.
Me: Scared? No. Tired? Absolutely. I just graduated, and I plan on fully experiencing the joy of that. Have fun trying to control your powers. Without me, you won't be able to learn to do so.
Alex: Watch me.
Me: How cute! Use my song against me all you want, but where you're at now, control-wise, you won't succeed. If you stay here, I can teach you how to control the powers. If you leave, you'll just crash and burn.
Alex: We'll see about that.
Me: Yes, we will. Well, God be with you.
Alex: And with you.

And with that, he heads outside.... or at least he tries to. The door won't open for him. Grunting in frustration, he heads in the opposite direction.

Me: I wouldn't try the window if I-

He jumps... and slams into the window as if it were a wall.

Me: Were you... Yeah, I tried to tell you.

He turns around and glares at me. I raise my eyebrows at him, put my head down on my chest, and close my eyes. As soon as I do that, I can hear his footsteps coming towards me. Just as his footsteps stop, I throw my hand up to block his punch, looking up at him as I do so. Seeing his red eyes, I smirk at him as he tries to speed box me. Of course, I'm blocking every shot and laughing at him. That only pisses him off more. Finally, he does what I've been waiting for; as he goes for one of his punches, his hand and arm solidify into iron, and I grab his wrist just in time. Twisting his iron arm around, I push him to the ground on his stomach, my knee pushing hard into his back as he screams in pain.

Me: That's ENOUGH, Alex!!!!!

He tries push me off him, but I dig my knee further into his back.

Alex: AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! OKAY, FINE, I'M SORRY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Me: Are you done trying feebly to fight me?!?!
Alex: Yes!! Just please let me up!!! I feel like you're about to rip off my arm!!!
Me: Well, I'm not about to rip your arm off, but I will let you up. Hold on a second.

As I let go of his arm, I teleport to the sofa in case he tries to trick me. Instead he just lays there for a moment, out of breath and groaning in pain.

Me: If you come over here, I can heal your arm.
Alex: I can't move, Andrew!
Me: In that case...

I go over to him and place one hand on his shoulder and one on his back where my knee had been. Closing my eyes, I start healing him. As soon as the healing is done, I open my eyes as he sits up.

Alex: Thanks for healing me.
Me: You're welcome.
Alex: You could've ripped my arm off, couldn't you?
Me: Yes.
Alex: Why didn't you?
Me: Because you're my best friend, and I wouldn't even do that to my worst enemy unless there was no other option.

Alex: Alright.
Me: So have you realized just how dangerous it is for you to do this by yourself without training?
Alex: Yes.
Me: Good because my enemies would rip off your arm just to lure me out.
Alex: Then why not take the fight to them?
Me: Because I have to train you first, remember?
Alex: Oh... right...
Me: Keep in mind, I don't even know who was able to take all of them, but I do know that they would be impossible for me to take on alone. That's the real reason I didn't go with SuA.
Alex: So you wanna save them?
Me: Yes. As much as they hurt me two years ago, I still care about them, and I can't just leave them to die. However, I can't have you trying to help me, only to lose control of your powers like you just did with me. That could get you, me, and countless other people seriously injured, maybe even killed. So I need to train you first. However, without some help, training would take a year or more. I'm afraid we may not even have a month.
Alex: Okay, so what do we do?
Me: SuA and Rosé, I know y'all are outside the door. Please come in.

I point my finger at the door, and, as it unlocks and opens, there stand SuA and Rosé, both teary eyed.

Me: Ladies, I need your help.

I wave my hand towards Alex.

Me: I have about a month to train Gene, and he has so much to learn. I can't train him on my own. Are y'all up for the task?

They both nod.

Me: Fantastic. Keep in mind, though, that he's stubborn.

SuA smirks at that.

SuA: So am I.
Me: Yeah, that's what I'm afraid of.
SuA: Don't worry, I'll take it easy on him. For now...

Alex looks at me with his stubborn eyes, and I realize that he won't be broken under SuA's tutelage.

I hope.........