The Uncanny Summon

JAKE'S POV

I slammed the door right into his face. That is what Mike deserves, even though I instantly regret my actions. We have been roommates for nearly three years now and he can't even give me a little space! I mean, I know that I haven't always been the no-nose-poking types, but come on man, that's no excuse for him to be like me too! After all isn't that his life's dream, to not be like me?

I almost crashed into Cassie, Mike's girlfriend. I mean, I know that they deny it vehemently, but I am no fool. I have seen the way they look at each other, the change in Mike's demeanor when he is with her, I have actually seen Mike smile when he is with Cassie. Linda says that Cassie is really different nowadays, brighter and happier than her original self, and she attributes this change to Mike's presence in her life. So, they may deny it all they like, they are a really great couple. 

I don't know why I told Cassie to teach Mike some manners, he already has enough manners to choke me. He would have been my father's ideal child, proper in attire and etiquettes, polished manners and a thirst for knowledge, the ideal top-of-the-class pupil whom teachers adore and every University wants. Hell, my father even wanted me to go into pre-med! As if I won't faint every time I see blood or any gross body organs. But then, when did my father think about my preferences? It was all about making his son a doctor to uplift his status in the community. Everything has always been about status for him!

Am I not supposed to be pissed off when I am summoned by him to spend my Easter Holidays at the farmhouse? The same Holiday that I had promised Linda I would spend with her. I really wanted to be with her, she made me feel alive in a sense that no one else could! Now, I am stuck with my grumpy dad and his elite Farmhouse, where I will be sermoned every single day, starting from the course that my miserable life is taking to the correct way to fold a napkin. 

Times like this, I really miss mama. She was the one who had really understood me, she had always been the fun one in the family. Even dad seemed so different around her, more frivolous and fun-loving and less business like than usual. Everything changed after her untimely death, I know dad blames himself for mama's death and the very fact that he wasn't there with her in the last moments of her life, tears him apart. Since then, He had never been the same, immersing himself in work and completely ignoring his family. I had to make friends to stay sane, I always craved for my father's attention and looked for it elsewhere. My governess warned me that this could be my downfall, but I guess I had always been fundamentally different from dad and more like my mama. This thought always soothed me. 

I really didn't want to meet him. But, what other choice do I have? If I don't go, he might turn up here, and I can't let that happen. I can't let Mike, Linda or Cassie know about his existence and pity me for being who I am. I can't let Mike think that I am just a spoilt rich brat, living off his father's hard earned money without being grateful in the slightest. I can't let Linda think that I am one of those boring rich kids, the ones that bore her to death. None of them would understand. I just have to be Jake Brooks, a normal guy, not the sole successor of The Brooks Foundation, a multinational company with a million dollar turnover. 

I call Linda and she answers after three rings.

"Hello baby!" Her voice soothes my ears. 

"Lin, I am really sorry but I have to go and meet my dad this Easter. He's really sick and he needs someone to look after him. I am sorry I can't spend the holidays with you." I crossed my fingers hoping that she won't be very mad at me. 

"Ohh! What happened to your dad? Is he okay? Do you need me to call my papa so that he can arrange for Mr Brooks to see the best Doctor in the country?" Linda said. I loved how non-chalantly she threw these words together, without being pretentious about her wealth in the least. I wish I could be like her. 

"No, no! He's alright. Just a little sick. Don't you worry darling, I will be back soon." I replied hastily and cut off the phone without waiting for her to answer.

Time for a moment of truth now, I would finally be meeting my father after two years. We had communicated over the phone several times, but meeting him would be totally different. I had packed my bags, and I would be leaving today. 

Dad wanted to send his private car to escort me, but I declined vehemently. I can't let the University folks see me getting into his ultra modern car and speculate. Gossip does spread like wildfire here. It'd be better if I took a train to Elmont and then from there it's just a short walking distance. I don't intend to stay long, just a few days so that my father can make his proposal, for which I have been summoned, and I can firmly decline it. Then, everything will return to normal, I would apologize to Mike for my rudeness, I would take Linda out on a date and everything would be better. 

I arrived at my father's farmhouse at 3:00 PM, drenching in sweat after a dreadfully hot day, despite the imminent spring. The sprawling mansion was as impeccably maintained as he was. There was a garden with springs, exotic flowers tastefully grown, the gardener fussing over the rose bushes fumbled when he saw me. 

"Er..Master Jacob, you look dreadful! Do you need assistance carrying your belongings?" He said, judging my appearance inwardly. 

"No thanks, Isha. I can manage them very well, thank you. Now, where's my father?" I replied curtly. 

"Here you are! Late as usual." Dad seemed to have appeared out of nowhere, disapproval ringing in his voice. I could never, for the life of me, understand what I have done to earn his displeasure. 

"Yes dad. Now if you must, let's get through this quickly. I am aware of the fact that I am not exactly welcome here." I said tersely. 

My father's features tightened, "Why would that be Jacob? You are my only son. Why do you always assume the worst?"

"Because that is how it is... you can stop pretending, dad." I replied with a slight quiver in my voice. 

"Let us go inside, shall we, son?" He offered, glancing strictly at Isha who seemed to be eavesdropping. Isha quickly returned to his business of mending the rose bushes. 

I must say, I was really surprised when he summoned me. It's no secret that my father abhors my company, I remind him too much of my mama, and try as he might, he could never contain me. He could never make me like him. We were completely opposite. My father had always tried to discipline me, teach me the nuances of gentility, but all in vain. I did try to comply at first, eager to please my father and win his approval. But, it was impossible to please him, he would always find something amiss...he could never be completely satisfied. 

So I had stopped trying. I gave up, and became who I truly was and that, more than anything, created the unbridgeable distance between us. I told myself, if he couldn't like me for who I was, he didn't deserve me for who I was growing up to be.