Chapter Text
Kalim finds himself suddenly back to his first year right when the first term exams results drop. This is for him the unique opportunity to stop Jamil from overblotting and give him the freedom he wished for. Even if it means Kalim had to end their friendship. It’s not like Jamil would be hurt by it, it had been one sided all along, right?
Jamil was secretly freaking out, how did Kalim figure out he lowered his grades on purpose? Since when did that dense idiot pick up on those things? And he didn’t want to be friends anymore?! What was going on here?!
Competent Kalim; confused Jamil, strange friendship between Jamil and Leona, strange friendship between Kalim and Malleus, also Silver, and the Octavinelle trio, Kalim being good at negotiation, Intrigued Azul, KaliJami, Insecurities galore, Overblot surprise, Sad Kalim, people freaking out about it, temporary death, male Yu.
Kalim had been stupid, and selfish. He was dying because of it. He could still hear Jamil rampaging in the background, while Yu and Jade were hunched over him panicking. It was all his fault, if he had been more keen and saw how Jamil truly felt instead of how he wanted him to then he wouldn’t be bleeding out.
The worst part was that he knew that Jamil would follow soon, either because of the overblot or by retribution from his family.
He wanted to fix everything, but it was too late now wasn’t it?
It didn’t have to be.
Uh?
You could be given a redo, if you say the right thing.
What should I say?
Come on kid, you’re sharper than that. You already know what to do.
…
I wish…
The pain, the odor of iron and the feeling of warm metal suddenly disappeared. Instead came the feelings of being pushed around in a crowd and the exam results in front of him.
1st year
30th Kalim Al - Asim
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35th Jamil Viper
You already know what to do.
Kalim was suddenly pulled backward and out of the students pushing one another to try and see where they were situated in the classment.
“I told you I’ll check it out for us. You nearly got crushed on here”
Kalim fixed blankly the boy still holding his arm.
Jamil.
“Are you okay? Did you get hurt?” Jamil said, concerned.
Pretending to be concerned, Kalim corrected himself.
“Yeah I’m fine, I just got dizzy.”
Jamil didn’t look convinced but did not press. Instead he took a look at the board.
“Congratulations you made it to the top 50. You even beat me; you should be proud of yourself, Kalim.”
Jamil was smiling gently at him, like he actually meant what he just said. Kalim wanted to scream or cry, knowing it was all a lie.
He was going to be sick.
Jamil noticed right away that Kalim got even more upset. He tried to reach for Kalim again but the young heir took a step back. If he hadn’t been worried about causing a scene he would have slapped Jamil’s hand away.
“Jamil, we need to talk. Let’s get back to the dorm.”
He turned around without letting the other one answer. He heard Jamil call him but pretended that he didn’t hear him. Jamil soon caught up to him and tried to pry as to why he was acting this way, but only got the silent treatment in return.
Once they arrived at the dorms Kalim went straight to Jamil’s room and then to his ‘friend’ desk. Despite the protests of the room’s owner he soon found what he was looking for: Jamil’s copy for the history exam. He pointed to a wrong answer on it and turned to Jamil.
“Why did you get that one wrong?”
Jamil seemed surprised before turning annoyed.
“What do you mean? I just made a small mistake. I still got a 60 on this test, I don't understand why you’re so upset about it.”
Kalim glared at him, furious.
“It’s a question about the Sorcerer, you’ve been obsessed about him for ages and read everything you can about him. He’s even the reason why you want a parrot, but suddenly you can’t answer a beginner’s question about him? You’re the one who tutored me for that test! So how did you score lower than me?!”
If Jamil was surprised by his outburst he did a fine job hiding it. But maybe he was genuinely angry when he answered back.
“Well maybe it was because I was tired between all I had to do! Tutoring you, cooking, classes and everything! I’m only human, I make mistakes ok?! It’s not like I failed on purpose!”
“Really?! Could have fooled me!” Kalim screamed nearly hysterically . “From where I’m standing it sure looks like it!”
Jamil suddenly looked very nervous.
“What are you even saying? It doesn’t make any sense. Why would I do that?”
“Well, if I were to take a wild guess I’ll say that either my parents or your parents set you up to it, am I wrong?”
Silence set in the room, they were just facing one another at this point. Jamil had turned cold, his eyes were pure steel piercing through Kalim with disdain.
Kalim felt himself falter, but the other’s stare reminded him of what lay in the balance.
For Jamil’s sake he had to do this now, even if it killed him inside.
“So what if it’s true? Shouldn’t you be used to it by now?” Jamil was truly furious now. Too furious to hold back what he was thinking. Whatever, he’ll just use his magic to make Kalim forget about all of this. In the meantime he’ll let out some steam since no one’s around. “Just like back home, everything is done so that you can succeed without merit. So the spoiled brat that you are doesn't have to worry.”
Kalim went pale, he knew this may be coming but he didn’t feel ready for it.
“It’s not like I have any say in the matter. If you’re so upset about it then you shouldn’t have enrolled here. It’s only because you’re here that I have to do this!”
“I didn’t ask you to do it! I never wanted you to do it!”
“So? You still did it because your naive idiotic brain can’t understand what’s happening around it! Why does it matter to me if you mean it or not! In the end I’m still trapped because you exist.”
“Jamil, I’m sorry, but things don’t have to be this way! If you just told me I could have helped! We’re friends!“
Jamil laughed mockingly at him.
“You don’t get it do you? We’re not friends, we never were. That friendship you speak of is just another thing handed to you in virtue of your birthright. I would never have associated with such a happy go lucky moron otherwise.”
Kalim swallowed back his tears. He’ll cry later. He didn’t want Jamil to see him cry right now.
“Okay, I get it. I’ll call my parents and make sure that everyone gets off your back. I won’t bother you while we’re in school anymore.”
The other boy was less than impressed.
“Of course you believe things would be that easy. Sorry but I can’t let you do that.”
Kalim felt himself go faint.
Kalim woke up in his bedroom. His last memory was of the results board. He couldn’t remember anything about it but he felt like he shouldn’t worry about it.
He knew better than that however.
He took up his phone from his pocket and checked his recordings.
Just as expected there was a new one that he didn’t remember taking.
He opened it and started to listen.
…..
Jamil didn’t understand what was going on, Kalim shouldn’t have caught on to what he did. Maybe he shouldn’t have made the gap between their grades so big? But his parents would have gotten angry at him if he scored just below the heir. It was truly a no win situation, but at least he took care of it thanks to snake whisperer. Kalim wouldn’t question their grades even if he noticed anything as long as Jamil induced him regularly.
Jamil would still need to be more careful. Kalim seemed to have gained some self awareness since the beginning of the year, which didn’t help.
He was reflecting on what else might render the young Asim suspicious when his phone started ringing. Najma’s name and picture were visible. Ugh, he didn’t want to answer, but if he didn’t she might suspect something and it wasn’t worth the headache.
“Hi Najma, what do you want?”
“Jamil what happened with Kalim?!” His sister said frantically.
Uh?
“Wha? Nothing happened, what are you going on about?” Jamil said, trying to push down his sudden nervousness.
“Really? Then you have a perfectly reasonable explanation as to why he called and argued with his father AND our parents for two hours?”
The nervousness had changed to a full blown panic now.
“What?! What did they argue about?!”
“About you obviously or I wouldn’t be asking you what happened!”
Kalim got into an argument with their parents over him?
“No that can’t be right, I made sure he forgot about it…” Jamil mumbled, forgetting his sister could still hear him.
“Oh for fucks sake Jamil seriously?!” Jamil winced.
“I didn’t do anything wrong, I just needed him to forget about my grades, that's all!” He tried to defend himself by reflex. Had he been in his right state of mind he wouldn’t have felt the need to justify himself to the ever-content-with-her-lot Najma.
“Are you kidding me?! You used your powers on Kalim? Kalim?! Of all the things to do, that was the stupidest one you could have gone with! Not to mention completely messed up! You two are friends, how could you do that to him?!” She shrieked and Jamil hoped she was alone and away from prying ears.
“Shut up! Don’t say that like you know anything! I didn’t have a choice, I did what was necessary!” Jamil spat back.
“Ah! Of course you never have a choice do you?!”
“Save it for when I’m back Najma, I might as well start packing before our parents call me to tell me what my punishment is.”
“Fortunately for you, Kalim managed to get his way so you don’t have to worry about that.”
Wait what?
“What do you mean Kalim got his way?”
“I don’t know how but he made a deal for… your freedom I guess? So yeah our parents are going to get off your back, they might disown you though.”
It was a lot to take in one day. Kalim found him out and now he was free? Just like that?
Are you freaking kidding me?!
“So that’s it?” his voice was strangely high, nearly hysterical.
“You wish! I’m not going to drop this even if our parents have checked out on you! You can’t just run around hypnotizing people who annoy you into compliance!”
“No, but I can hang up on them.” He said half laughing before doing so.
He laughed harder and harder until the sound of it was foreign to him. Like it was someone else, an unseen madman laughing loudly in his ears.
So that was it huh? All the pain, injustice and distress from his condition was over, swatted away by the back of Kalim’s hand like an annoying fly. All his anguish, biting his tongue, arguing did nothing, but the Asim’s heir threw a tantrum and voilà! His freedom! With a little ribbon on top, now take it and be grateful for it!
As if! Who gave him the right? Did Kalim think that he could do just whatever with Jamil’s life? That he would just nod and smile? He wanted Jamil to be free to do whatever with no repercussions from their families? Fine then! Jamil was going to head to that idiot’s room and tell him what’s what!
His and Kalim’s room were connected, so this first instinct was to barge in the heir’s room to scream at him but to his surprise the door was locked! Jamil tried it a few times thinking maybe it was just jammed, but no! The door was truly locked!
He went into the corridor and tried the main door while swearing under his breath. That one wasn’t opening either! Jamil started banging on the door loudly.
“Kalim! Open up now! We need to talk!”
He heard some shuffling inside the room, but soon enough Kalim opened up, wincing when he saw the thunderous look on his friend’s face. However, instead of letting him in, he decided to step outside and lock the door behind him. This did nothing to appease Jamil.
“So I guess your parents called you?”
“Najma actually.” Jamil was staring him down and Kalim couldn’t hold his gaze for long. He was literally squirming like a child caught with his hand in the cookie jar.
“Oh, I see. Then you know that you don’t have to pretend to be my friend anymore. Nor do you have any obligation to look after me either.”
Jamil let out a mocking laugh, startling the other boy.
“Well isn’t that convenient? And tell me how long before you realize that you can’t handle it and go bawling to your father again and that freedom is gone?”
Kalim frowned and looked like he was about to say something back before catching himself.
“I won’t do that.” He finally said. “I know you don’t think highly of me but I want you to believe me that I won’t ever rely on you ever again. We’re done, I won’t bother you anymore.”
Jamil felt a strange pang in his chest, he didn’t want to think about why. He pushed it down, it didn’t matter anyway because Kalim wouldn’t keep his word. It. Didn’t. Matter.
“Fine! Not that I would offer you any help if I have the choice anyway!” He spat at him before going back to his room.
He didn’t say all he had wanted to, but as soon as he heard what Kalim had said he didn’t feel like listening anymore.
It wasn’t running away, he just didn’t see the point that’s all.
Kalim was the one who discarded him anyway.