CHAPTER 14

It was morning and Lo'ak waited for the rest of his family to leave their pod before walking over to Neteyam and crouching down beside him. "Wake up," he hissed, harshly shaking his brother awake.

Neteyam merely groaned and rolled over, facing the other direction, "Go away."

Lo'ak scoffed, "You are so lazy. How are you the son of our parents?"

That made Neteyam sigh and sit up, "What is it? Why would you wake me up so early?"

Lo'ak gave him a look, "You missed breakfast. It is not early."

Neteyam rubbed his eyes and ignored his words, "What is it?" He repeated himself.

Lo'ak pressed his lips into a thin line, debating wether he should ask. When he saw Neteyam growing annoyed, he decided to spit it out, "What do I do if someone likes me?"

Neteyam's eyes grew wide. There was no way his younger brother had managed to catch someone's attention before him. "What? Who?" He asked in disbelief.

Lo'ak looked down at the floor and Neteyam could see a light dust of blush on his cheeks. "'Kanu," he said quietly.

Neteyam stared at his brother, not believing his ears. Sure, he knew that Lo'ak was interested in her - anyone could tell - but she was interested in him? "You're not making this up, are you?" Lo'ak looked offended as he frowned and shook his head. "How do you know?" Neteyam continued, straightening his back and sitting crossed legged before his younger brother.

"The other day - when the tulkun arrived," Lo'ak began his tale, "I saw her talking to her spirit sister. The tulkun asked who I was and she - she said I was the boy she likes."

Neteyam blinked, "You're sure you didn't misunderstand?" He checked.

Lo'ak seemed to think, "She did this-" he lifted his hands to sign, "A boy that I like." Neteyam seemed to be in disbelief. "It means she likes me, does it not?"

Neteyam nodded slowly, "Yes - that is what it means."

Lo'ak smiled, "So what do I do?"

To tell the truth - Neteyam did not have much experience in this field. But he would never admit that to his younger brother. So instead, he wrapped an arm around Lo'ak's shoulder and sighed, "Play hard to get. Works every time."

"What?" Lo'ak looked at his brother, "Hard to get?"

"Yeah! If she ever asks to spend time, say you're busy." Neteyam nodded.

"But I do want to spend time with her," Lo'ak frowned, "I'll even make time for her!"

Neteyam clicked his tongue and let go of Lo'ak, "Then don't come crying to me when she loses interest."

"What?" Lo'ak turned to his brother with wide eyes, "That can happen?!"

Neteyam nodded, "Of course. You need to be strategic about things like this." He wasn't trying to sabotage his brother - he just wanted to seem like he knew what he was doing, "Strategic like - when hunting. You need a plan or everything will go wrong."

Lo'ak nodded, he thought he was understanding what Neteyam was telling him, "Got it."

Neteyam clapped Lo'ak on the back with a grin, "But remember you are young - no lifelong commitments or anything like that, okay? Mom would murder me.. Oh! And don't forget-"

"Yeah, yeah, yeah," Lo'ak hurriedly got to his feet while covering his ears. Whatever his brother was about to say next, he did not wish to hear it.

₊˚.༄

For the past few days Lo'ak had been ignoring 'Kanu. Or - not ignoring her - merely blowing her off or something of the sort. For example the day before yesterday. 'Kanu had asked Lo'ak to sit beside her during food time. Lo'ak had smiled, making her believe he would agree, before he shook his head and went to sit with his parents. The smile on 'Kanu's face had been quick to disappear as she watched him quizzically. Ao'nung had laughed at her while Tsireya looked just as baffled as her.

Then yesterday, 'Kanu had asked him go visit the tulkun with her. Before then Lo'ak had always smiled brightly and agreed to spend time with her, so she had found it odd when he was suddenly busy. She'd found it even weirder when she'd walked around the village and seen him sitting by the beach doing absolutely nothing when he was supposed to be busy. It made her furious to think that he would lie just to get out of spending time with her.

Lately they had been close - or so 'Kanu had thought they were. She wasn't so sure anymore. Whenever she asked to do something, Lo'ak would make up an excuse.

"I mean - if he doesn't want to see me, he should just say so!" 'Kanu said angrily. Her and Tsireya sat around the fire in their pod, cutting up fruit like their mother had asked them to.

"Lo'ak has been acting weird lately," Tsireya agreed, "You don't think he could be going through something?"

'Kanu shook her head slowly. Even though there had been the Payakan situation, and then the skypeople thing - she did not think it was about that, "I do not think so.. he always smiles at me as if he will say yes but then he says no - it's so weird!" 'Kanu was chopping the fruit before her without even paying attention.

Tsireya nodded, "Boys are so odd."

"Tell me about it," 'Kanu rolled her eyes, picturing Lo'ak's smile, "That stupid smile.." she grumbled darkly under her breath, "He does not need to spend time with me, but why does he make fun of me?"

Despite her sisters anger, Tsireya laughed.

"What?" 'Kanu demanded.

"You like him," Tsireya giggled, covering her mouth.

"I - what?" 'Kanu spluttered, her cheeks turning pink. Thankfully it was only the two of them inside the pod - she did not want her mother to know of this. 'Kanu knew Ronal would be disappointed and against these feelings.

This only made Tsireya laugh more. Then she suddenly quieted down, "We cannot let mother hear of this," she said quickly, "Ao'nung too. They would be furious."

'Kanu nodded sadly and looked down at the fruits. She dragged her knife along the board, piling the fruits on one end of the platter to make room to cut more.

"We just won't tell them," Tsireya finally shrugged, "But how did this happen?" Her eyes seemed to glisten with excitement. The two girls would always share this kind of stuff with each other. It wasn't always about themselves either. If either of them heard a rumor of a new couple within the tribe, they would run straight to each other with the information.

'Kanu grinned and looked up at her sister, "It just did," she shrugged, "He was such a whiny baby in the beginning, I just wanted to drown him," Tsireya grimaced but she went on, "I think I started liking him when I successfully taught him our breathing technique. His smile was so real."

Tsireya smiled brightly though any other person would possibly have gagged. 'Kanu's smile was so cheesy and she seemed lost at thought as she described this - like she was picturing his smile at that very moment. "That is so cute!" Tsireya squealed and reached over to pinch 'Kanu's cheek, "My sister getting her very first boyfriend!"

'Kanu swatted her sisters hand away and looked around quickly, wary of anyone being near their pod and hearing their conversation. "It is not like that," she said, "He does not like me, after all," 'Kanu shrugged again and reached for another fruit. She placed it carefully in front of herself before starting to slice it into bite sized pieces.

Tsireya sighed, "I'm sure that he likes you."

'Kanu was determined to seem like this did not affect her - but her ears twitching gave her away, "What makes you say that?"

"He has liked you ever since he first saw you!" Tsireya nudged her sister, causing her to smile. "Everyone knows - even Ao'nung! I bet he wants to hit him for it."

"That's not funny," 'Kanu said, referring to the part where she had mentioned Ao'nung wanting to hit Lo'ak.

Tsireya merely snickered.

"And you?" 'Kanu asked suddenly, "Is there anyone that you like?"

Tsireya pressed her lips into a thin line, "Yes," she admitted.

'Kanu gasped dramatically and placed a hand on her mouth, her eyes widening comically, "Who?"

"..Wotxma," Tsireya blushed.

'Kanu grimaced in distaste, "Wotxma?" She pretended to gag, "Our friend, Wotxma? The one I have known since being a baby? My best friend, Wotxma?"

Tsireya rolled her eyes and pushed 'Kanu lightly, "He is not that bad! You are his best friend! How could you pretend to throw up? I did not react like this when you said you like Lo'ak!"

'Kanu nodded and tried to control her expression, "You are right - I am sorry," she went back to cutting up the fruit, but stopped again quickly, "Wotxma?" She asked again in disbelief.

"Yes!" Tsireya said, "Our friend, Wotxma!"

"Okay, okay!" 'Kanu held up her hands, "Be quiet before everyone hears you," she said and Tsireya nodded, blush still coating her cheeks. "How did that come to be? How did you start liking him?" 'Kanu asked after a short while of silence, glancing at her sister.

Tsireya looked embarrassed, "It was after he got into a fight with Lo'ak and Neteyam," she mumbled, "I accidentally walked into him after and he had the bruises and the cuts - he just looked cool."

'Kanu covered her face with both her hands, trying to hide her disgust, "You cannot be serious!"

Tsireya hit her sisters hand, "Be supportive! I am supportive of you and Lo'ak!"

'Kanu's hands slid down her face and she took in a deep breath while grinning, "Okay. I'm sorry - I support your feelings."

"Thank you," Tsireya nodded, pleased. Then 'Kanu's smile faded and Tsireya's did too, "What is it?"

"It's just - if you and Wotxma become something, mother will be happy. She will support you and accept him into this family with open arms. She won't do that with Lo'ak," 'Kanu admitted her jealousy.

Tsireya sighed and shuffled to be beside her sister. She wrapped an arm around her, "Mother will come around. Don't you worry."

"I hope you are right."