CHAPTER 13

I finished the contemporary book I was reading just after Angelo took a bath. He asked me yesterday if we could bake cookies at his place, but it turned out he wasn’t expecting me early. As a morning person, I would go to him early if he didn’t specify a time.

I don’t have anyone to talk to. Minnie was still asleep. Sage was in his room—as always. Except for Nana who sat on the couch the moment Angelo entered his room to wear an outfit.

“What are you going today? It seems that you have plans, dear?” Nana asked. I never met my grandparents on Mom and Dad. Maybe they’re as sweet as Nana—who would ask questions and take care of her grandchildren.

“He asked me to bake cookies.” I don’t have anything to do at home that’s why I agreed to the plan. Besides, he’s my only friend. And I should do better as his friend.

“Oh, that is his favorite pastime when his mother was alive. His mother treated him like a prince, a blessing.” Nana lurched closer to me. “Don’t be so noisy but he’s always the favorite. Minnie’s the noisest and crankiest while Sage is too quiet for them.” Gelo’s is in the middle ground. I couldn’t blame his parents for having favoritisms. Besides that Angelo is the youngest, he has his charm and the qualities that any person would love about him.

I won’t stay with a person like Minnie for so long. I would be too quiet and she will constantly talk until she gets bored. But people like doesn’t get bored. I can stay for days with Sage. No one will talk. No one will bother the other. But I hate that awkward feeling with someone like him. I learned in middle school that a person couldn’t live without socialization. As much as I try myself, it is a challenge.

The door from Angelo’s room creaked. His hair was a bit wet but was combed. He was wearing a plain white t-shirt and black shorts.

“What are you whispering to Cath, Nana?”

Nana chuckled—the way old people chuckles. Slow and steady. “I don’t say anything to her.”

“We talked about the training yesterday,” I cut off. “I told her about the potion or drink that Chaz made me drink.” I wouldn’t tell Gelo about the cheat or trick that Chaz told him. He also said that I’m special. In what way? I’m just a petty teenage half-blood wolf who didn’t know how to embrace her life and seek justice for her human parents.

Nana nodded, agreeing with me. I wasn’t lying though. Before we talked about favoritisms, we had a conversation about the training. Nana said she could make a similar drink to what Chaz gave me. She also said that it would only work for werewolves or half-bloods. Thus I won’t be able to ask for Nana’s help whenever Jay breaks his uncle. And he stopped playing soccer after he finished university.

“Ah, you told my grandma how you almost died of running twenty kilometers on your pedometer.” He managed to laugh though yesterday he was so worried about me. I realized that it’s the trait that most men have. Pretend that they’re don’t care but when it happened they will panic to death.

When I was younger, Felix would always remind me that he wouldn’t care if I got cut by a knife. I was so horrible at using it but I forced my parents to believe that I can cook. Then one day I cut two of my fingers, blood sprawled to the onions and I cried hard. Felix was the only one at home at that time. He rushed to where I was and treated the would with rubbing alcohol and cotton. That time, I screamed for pain. And I let my brothers cook until I was a junior in high school.

“I’m not dying!” I stood up like an angry child who didn’t want to admit the embarrassing moment that I had yesterday. At least I get to learn the so-called cheats and tricks during the training. Be strategic and I don’t have to do everything that he says. “I was exhausted. I’m not a physically active person to run that long.”

Gelo formed his mouth into a smile. “I was just teasing you. C’mon, let’s start baking up some cookies.” He gestured on me—towards their kitchen. I bowed at Nana for a bit then followed Angelo to their kitchen. I guess we don’t need an apron or hairnet since we’re only at home.

“So what do we need?” I glanced up their pantry to look for things we could use. I’m not a cookie expert. I’d rather buy already made cookies in the grocery store instead of roasting some inside the oven.

“Flour, baking soda, chocolate chip…” He stuttered as he rummaged inside their pantry. “Where’s our sugar?” Sugar… where are you?” I pursed my mouth, holding my laugh. He looked for sugar like a lost dog. “Nana, where’s out sugar?”

“We don’t have any sugar, dear.” Nana stood from the sofa, had a glimpse of us, and headed back to her room. She must be sleepy. Old people like to sleep.

“Oh, bad. I guess we have to buy it at the community store. We don’t stack sugar that often because Nana doesn’t like sweet foods. It’s harmful to our health and it causes energy slumps.”

“I don’t mind. But where’s that?’

“Doubling the distance of the school is a better way to describe it.”

“I don’t mind walking. Let’s go?”

“Sure! I’ll just fetch my pocket in my room.”

He dashed back to his room. I waited on the couch, tapping my feet on the floor. He came back a few seconds and I noticed that there was a bump inside the pockets of his shorts. His purse might have a lot of coins. Jay would have two different money storage methods. A wallet where he puts his cards and bills, and a purse where he puts coins and smaller bills. Since we booked our house with dozens of groceries, he exchanges the coins he got into a bill. It’s a kind of saving up thing for him.

On our way to what he called the community store, he cracked up jokes about cookies. I can’t help but roll my eyes at some of them. They were corny and not funny at all. He’s good at entertaining me while walking, but he’s bad at cracking up jokes. It was possible that he copied some of them in Reddit.

Everyone in this town seemed to have their own lives—which was normal in our countries. There’s a benefit and a con for everything. In times of crisis, everyone will save their own lives. On normal days, no one would bother you for the sake of gossiping.

As we passed the community school, Gelo pretended he was going to attend classes. I hit him—not that hard so I guessed it wasn’t painful—on his back. He liked fooling me and making me laugh. Sometimes I realize that introverts need a friend that will balance everything out. A noisy and friendly like Angelo. I guessed he became the best friend I’ve got for years. I don’t have any friends at all so he’s the best I think. No one to compare to.

The houses as we passed the school looked like each other again. Is this town a subdivision or people were copying house ideas from others?

We saw people crumpling up to enter the red building—the red color was a bit rare and unusual in this town. I guessed this is my first time seeing a read building. As we inched closer, chips and chocolate bar were stacked up on the shelf visible from the outside. The building has a clear glass door that also serves as a wall in the entrance.

The place felt like a convenience store that offers things we find in grocery stores. This must be the go-to place for people who don’t buy groceries as much as often. Since there were people inside, Gelo clutched my hand. Why does my cheeks feel warm after he held me? He has a soft hand. How much does he lotions this in a month?

I followed where he went to. The shelf where there were packs of sugar. He grabbed a huge brown one, and we headed to the cashier. We’re third in line so Gelo chattered things again to kill time.

“Cath, are you a sugar?” he asked. Another joke, I guessed.

“Why?”

“Because you’re the sweetest person that I know.” My heart stopped for a moment. He’s so cheesy but why does it impact me.

“I’m far from sweet, Gelo.” I rolled my eyes. He should be giving me more realistic punch lines or jokes.

“Cath, do you know why white sugar and brown sugar are packed differently?” he asked seriously. I hoped this wasn’t another joke or punch line.

“Because they have different tastes and uses?” I’m not that sure of my answer. First, I wasn’t a kitchen person. Second, I don’t study food and ingredients.

“Wrong! Because of racism.”

Colored and white people were separated from each other because of color. I don’t know the point of separating these races from each other when they were both humans.

“I don’t like racism at all. Beauty’s in the eye of the holder, but it’s not right to become a racist.”

“Chill, Cath. We have the same stand. Racism should be stopped. Humans, no matter what their color is, aren’t different from each other. Also…” He leaned his face closer to me. His details became more vivid to my eyes. Why does it look like he was going to kiss me? “Werewolves shouldn’t be racist on half-blood and humans.” He pulled his head away from me. It’s already our chance to pay for the sugar.

“Anything more that you buy?” the cashier asked. I recognized her voice.

“Gwen?” I tried. I was surprised to see her work here. Her father was a secretary of a billionaire. Why does she still work herself out?

“Cath!” From having an energy gap, the power suddenly spiked on her. “This is my first time seeing you here.”

“Gelo ran out of sugar. We decided to fetch a pack here. Right, this is my first time finding out about this. You work here?”

She shook her head. “No. We own this. During weekends I’m the cashier from six to twelve.” It made sense. Of course, she wouldn’t be looking for a part-time job if she were the daughter of a rich man.

Angelo handed the pack of sugar to her. Gwen scanned the price and he paid. She gave the paper bag where the receipt and sugar back to Gelo. “Nice seeing you again, Gelo.”

“Me too.”

“We have to go now, Gwen. There are a lot of people in the line,” I said.

“Sure! See you tomorrow.” She winked at me before we exited the store.

When we were feet from the store, Gelo asked me, “Are you friends with here?”

“Pretty close but we’re not friends. I followed your advice not to trust anyone. I don’t want to be kidnapped again.”

“Good… That you follow my advice. That girl looks pretty nice. She’s the same person who approached me when you were kidnapped. I think you should befriend her. So you can add someone to the list.”

I don’t have a list of friends at all. There’s only Angelo—and Nana? I learned in books that I don’t really need to have a lot of friends. One friend that will be by your side is much better than millions of friends you can’t bond with most of the time.

“So I’m going to break your advice?”

“Nah. You’re going to befriend her but you’re not giving your full trust in her. Like how you did not trust me with your secrets.” Secrets? Do I have those? “The point is you’re going to trust her but not to the point you’re risking your life. If you know she’s going to bring you into something dangerous, the friendship should stop.”

“Okay, I get it. Why does it feel like I’m just following what you’re telling me? You’re not a boss, right?”

“You don’t have to follow me. It’s a piece of advice and not a rule.” What he said reminds me of Chaz. Don’t follow anything that someone says. Learn to break the rule for the better.

I roamed my eyes around. There’s a house made of light materials such as wood, distanced from the other suburban houses. Why didn’t I notice this on our way here? “Do we change ways? That house looks unfamiliar.”

Gelo gritted his teeth. He froze as if chills covered his whole body. “We’re on our same way. We also passed that house on our way to the training grounds.”

“Maybe I’m just distracted with your corny jokes.”

A woman went out of the house. Sprawled hair, brown skin, worn-out clothes, and walks like a zombie. She looked like she was looking for a thing she desires but she couldn’t find it. Then she strode towards the pail and threw its contents to the plants in front of her house.

“Who is she?” I asked Gelo.

“She’s Mila. The other human in the town. She turned crazy after her parents were killed by werewolves. I don’t really know the full story. But that’s what Nana told me before.”

How can a woman like her live the rest of her life without someone accompanying her? There must be someone who helps her. But who and why?