I was still surprised, looking everywhere in my body when a girl stopped at my front. She told me to go in, that class was on, but I just glared at her and asked if she knew me.
I could see the surprise all over her face, like, why would I ask her such a question? Her eyebrows furrowed, and she tilted her head slightly, studying me as if I had just spoken in a foreign language.
The confusion was written all over her features, from her slightly parted lips to the way her eyes narrowed in bewilderment.
Then she just replied, as if pretending to play along.
"I'm your classmate," she says, and then asked if I didn't recognize her. That though we are not really close in class since I don't mix with people, but we always greet when we see each other. She then asked again if I was truly sure, that she's not a face to be forgotten.
Her voice carried that tone people use when they're trying to be patient but are actually getting annoyed. I could tell she was waiting for me to snap out of whatever she thought was wrong with me. The way she stood there, shifting her weight from one foot to the other, made it clear she expected some kind of explanation.
"Kids of nowadays, so nosy," I replied, gesturing my hand and head in acceptance so she could leave.
But this girl pressed on.
She crossed her arms and leaned forward slightly, as if she was trying to peer into my soul.
"Seriously, what's wrong with you today? You're acting really weird."
"Yes, yesss," I retorted, and then asked if she liked this girl, pointing at myself.
"Yes I do, but as a friend," she replied, her voice now carrying a hint of concern. She was looking at me like I might need medical attention or something.
"Oh, I see," I said, pretending to understand whatsoever.
She seemed confused, the way she looked at me before leaving, like, is this really me?
She's right though, since I'm someone else in the body of who she thinks I was. I watched her walk away, glancing back over her shoulder twice, probably wondering if she should report me to a teacher or something.
Soon she left, and I stood from my position, thinking of where to go before I was reminded of a tree. It was planted during my day, recognizing the environment. It wasn't far from the school compound, it lies within.
The memory came quickly. I could almost see the younger version of that tree, smaller than what it must be now.
So I made my way there and finally found it. "Look how tall it is now," I murmured before climbing the tree swiftly.
The bark felt rough against my palms, and I marveled at how easily this body moved up the trunk. Each branch welcomed me like an old friend, and soon I was high enough to see the entire school grounds spread out below me.
School was actually built here. It was clear then. Perfect for calming one's mind just sitting on or underneath it.
I thought to myself. Then a flicker of memory came.
The last time I waited for him here. I was only 15 then and Liam was 18. We made a promise underneath the tree then and promising for next meeting, but only I came. And since then, I haven't set my eyes on Liam any longer and refused any other mate. Though wondering if it's because he had rejected me. But with no reason just like that? And when we were in love?
The memory was sharp and painful, I could almost feel the excitement I'd had that day, the way my heart had pounded as I'd waited and waited. Hours had passed, the sun moving across the sky, but Liam never came. I'd made excuses for him at first. Maybe he was running late, maybe something had come up.
But deep down, I'd known. He wasn't coming.
Sitting here now made me thinking about that day. The way the wind had blown my hair, the way I'd kept looking toward the path, hoping to see his familiar figure approaching. The disappointment had been crushing, but the worst part was not knowing why.
Enjoying the view, just then, I saw a guy, seeming as if he was hiding from someone before finding his way here. He kept looking over his shoulder, his movements was quick and nervous. His clothes were rumpled, and there was sweat on his forehead despite the cool weather.
Before I knew it, this guy stood facing me in front of the tree where I was enjoying the view.
Then he started shouting what no one asked him to. It was none of his business. He should have just walked away, but he decided to stay and poke his nose.
"Hey kid! You shouldn't be here, it's dangerous up there," he says, concern etched on his face.
Seeming scared of something he was running from and worried about my safety when he doesn't even know me. I wondered if this was how all human nature is... always prying on what doesn't concern them. He should mind his business since he's already in trouble. His concern seemed genuine though, which puzzled me.
Here he was, clearly fleeing from something, yet he'd stopped to worry about a stranger.
"Look who's calling someone kid," I muttered under my breath.
Curiously, he was still asking what I said. He cupped his hand around his ear, straining to hear me better.
So I tried to show him a glimpse of my werewolf eyes so he could just leave me be. He didn't seem fazed.
I got surprised.
Is it because this kid's body is weak that I can't do even this little to scare humans away? Usually, that golden flash was enough to send any human running in the opposite direction.
Then I just told him I was fine, that he shouldn't mind and just leave.
Suddenly, a man ran there, panting. He told the guy who was trying to bring me down from the tree, how dare he borrow money from him and run when he sees him coming. Forgetting about me, the guy starts begging, saying it wasn't that he ran from them, not purposely but coincidentally. That he was about to come get some herbs to cook for his sick wife, that's why he was here.
But he was probably lying. I could see it in his eyes.
The desperation in his voice was real though. His hands were shaking as he spoke, and there was genuine fear in his expression. Whatever money he owed, it was clearly more than he could afford to pay back.
Angrily, the other man asked when he got married, how dare he use his money to find a woman when he himself wasn't even married.
I clicked my tongue. "Probably because you are ugly." He heard, turned to look at me, and his rage grew.
"Who's that brat up there? Is that also a kid I never heard of?" Then the first man began to apologize, saying that I'm just a kid and that he shouldn't mind me.
"Older than you might think!" I said aloud for them to hear, and the first man was hushing me to keep quiet so I wouldn't get myself in trouble.
"What is taking these fools so long?" the angry man said.
"Scared? You can't hold him alone, so you're waiting for company?" I said, after getting a grip of the situation.
In a calm, pretentious manner, the kind man said, faking a smile, that I should just please be quiet.
Then, he gestured for me to come down as if talking to an actual kid when he couldn't be past his 30s.
"I will show you both a lesson of your life today," the angry man said.
"And you dare hide your daughter up there to make her insult me? Me and my money!" he added angrily.
And the first man continued begging nonstop.
But his apologies only added to the other's rage. The angrier the loan shark got, the more pathetic the debtor became, groveling on his knees like a dog.
I was mistaken for being his daughter because of this petite stature I'm inside, plus the man looks older than his age. Confusing enough.
Then before you know it, a slap landed on my so-called mistaken father, so sharp and painful, and instead of him avenging, he keeps apologizing, even on his knees.
The sound echoed through the clearing, sharp and cruel. I watched as the man's head snapped to the side, a red handprint already forming on his cheek. Yet he still begged. It was pathetic and infuriating at the same time.
"All this because of just money," I said.
"Just...?" they both retorted.
"Mhm," nonchalantly I hummed in response.
I hated that word 'money' or seeing people suffer because of it. You could say I hate the rich because of their mentality, all of them. Though this one here doesn't seem like a rich person but a petty loan shark that exhausts everything from someone after drawing them into it.
A money grubber.
The way he stood there, so proud of his power over another human being, disgusted me. He wasn't even wealthy. Just a small-time predator feeding off people's desperation.
"For every word she utters, you will pay for it, and so would she," the angry man says, and then turned to check his gang whom he left behind as he was rushing to find his debtor.
Wondering why it took them so long.
He has already spent almost ten minutes here.
I could feel it. Their smell suddenly became too sharp. They would be here in an instant.
These men weren't just debt collectors, but thugs who enjoyed their work.
And just so, they came with their ugly faces and strong body builds. They were ten in number, petty thugs.
They emerged from the trees like a pack of wild cows. Their leader had clearly chosen them for intimidation rather than intelligence. All have muscle and scars, with dead eyes that suggested they'd done this many times before.
"Attack him!" he charged. They were about to come for the other man when I laughed out hysterically.
"Ten men against one. Plus you, ugly, making it eleven," I said, and then smirked.
"Get her also!" he screamed, pointing at me.
Aha!
I thought to myself, it wouldn't be bad to just eat these ones since it will only make me become stronger, taint this girl's image, and also save the man that wasted his time covering for me instead of escaping.
My mouth was already watering at the thought.
"There's no need to come to me, because I would," I said, then curled my lips excitedly. And then, my eyes changed. What I had been trying to change to scare him off then changed itself as I had actually found my real prey...
I could feel the transformation beginning, that familiar burn in my eyes as they shifted from human brown to predatory gold. My muscles tensed, ready to spring into action.
As I was just about to land on the floor and just end those thugs, a strong hand held me from the back.
"You mustn't!"
* * *