CHAPTER 32
The first thing we did in school was to solve a difficult Math problem about interest and discounts. I don’t hate Math. But I also don’t prioritize it.
In university, my major would be either communications or literature. I love reading and studying books and maybe I could articles. Certainly, I will not take a degree that has a Mathematics major subject. That’s not what I want.
Since our teacher wasn’t present inside the classroom, most of my classmates copies answers from one another. Kajik, one my classmates, even threaten others to give him answers. He was not a beta yet he dares to bully others.
I saw Aki asking Gwen questions. They were friends for a very long time and I understand why Gwen was giving him answers. I don’t refrain from cheating and copying answers when it comes to my activities. That wouldn’t satisfy me and I label it as wrong.
Gwen, Aki, and I finished at the same time so we left the room. Some of our classmates were begging for answers but our teacher had already come and we passed our papers.
“Shall we go to the cafeteria by now?” I asked them.
Gwen and Aki exchanged glances. Gwen placed her hand on my shoulders. “Cafeteria’s too boring. We have at least two hours to go outside.”
“We can go outside during class hours?” My eyes enlarged. In my previous school, we weren’t allowed to go outside unless it was already afternoon when most classes end.
“Of course, we can. We can even go outside even if our teacher is lecturing the history of the planets’ names!” Gwen spat Aki’s legs. He groaned out of pain. “What was that for?”
“Don’t teach Catherine how to cut class. We can only go outside the campus when it’s our vacant time.” Gwen gazed back at me. “Don’t get me wrong. I never cut classes in my whole life.”
“It’s fine. I know Aki was just joking around.”
We walked outside the school. The fresh air and feeling of having no eyes to look at you comforted me. If students could leave the school during their vacant times, maybe the moment when I first got to the lake was during their vacant time. Just like before, students were chatting and flirting outside. As a single person who doesn’t know how to flirt, I’m doing good.
A beggar was asking for money. Her hair was messy and students were pinching their noses to not smell her. Almost all of the students rejected her. I kinda pitied her even though my brothers told me that some of them were faking it.
I guess the beggar was around thirty-five or forty. I can’t see her face clearly because the slumps of hair hid it. Then it walked towards us.
“We don’t have any money,” Aki said sternly. I didn’t like how he responded. But maybe he had the same thoughts as my brother.
Then the old woman turned to me. I almost stumbled to the ground and hit my face with the rock when I saw her face. The beggar was Mila and she smiled the moment our eyes met! Why was she here? She never asked for money.
Without hesitation, I grabbed coins from my pocket and gave them to her. A dirty smile flashed across her face.
“Thank you.” She leaned closer to me and whispered, “I was waiting for you. Go to my place earlier and update me.” When she released, I nodded. She left me and pretended to ask for money again.
I glanced back at Gwen and Aki. They were crossing their arms and looking at me intently.
Gwen scoffed. “What did that beggar whisper to you?”
“A kind of spell that will make me lucky for the day,” I lied.
“You’re eighteen years old. Why are you still believing in those kinds of things?” Aki asked.
I shrugged. I don’t believe in luck or spells. I have to meet Mila later this day without anyone noticing me.
…
I hate surprise exams especially when it’s a few hours after our class schedule. Our teacher in history suddenly announced that we’ll be having a one-hundred item examination from three-thirty to five o’clock in the afternoon. We don’t have any schedules with him, but we had to follow the instruction or else we’ll fail.
My mind was already broken after the examination. There were a lot of dates and people that I had to remind myself while answering the exam. It felt more of a slambook than an objective type of examination. At least, I still have a few hours to kick time to visit Mila’s place.
My brothers might be looking out for me. I texted them earlier that I will be having an examination. They didn’t reply. Hope they saw my message. They always see it and never reply.
The sun was pale orange, meaning there was still time to talk to Mila for a few minutes. When I arrived at her place, she was sprinkling water on her plants. Though she looked like a beggar earlier, her plants looked healthy. I still wonder who among the people in the town helps her when it comes to food.
I gazed left and right before I catch her attention. “Hey!”
She glanced easily. She didn’t talk. Instead, she signaled using her hand and walked back inside her house. I carefully followed her, leaving no scent and sight from anyone else.
“It’s late,” she said. “It’s dangerous for you to stay until the night.”
She’s concerned with me. Even though it felt like we are using each other, she still wanted me safe. After all, she’s a human with a huge heart. We’re not different from each other. The two of us we’re the same people with the same goal.
“We had an examination earlier and I had to barge here as much as I can.” I dropped my backpack on the ground, rubbed my hands, and exhaled.
“Do you have any updates?”
I shook my head. What I gathered wasn’t helpful actually. “I asked people. I didn’t get anything important. But they told me that the alpha was dangerous and he would kill anyone on his way. According to the rule of statistics, this instigates that there’s a small percentage or chance that he’s a killer. Yet, it’s a chance. There’s a chance.”
“You’re smart and proud of the education that you attained. If it weren’t for poverty, I would’ve studied. I know statistics, as a word. Just so you know, what you gathered was pretty obvious. It doesn’t help us in any way.”
“I know. I’m sorry. I had to be careful.”
“It’s fine. You’re new in this town and I should’ve not trusted you.”
I don’t what I felt at that exact moment. Should I feel great that she’s finally releasing me or should I feel bad that she looked small at me? I know I didn’t do anything that good. I didn’t take the task seriously. But that is my capability at the moment.
“I know I’m not a person you could trust and I’m not the type who can solve everything easily. But to tell you, I’m capable of more…”
A howl! Wolves howling outside in a celebration. My eyes darted to Mila’s open bamboo window. The night flew fast and those who were waiting for us had arrived.
Someone kicked the door open. A group of four werewolves came inside. Every blood inside me turned to white. I’m going to die tonight.