For the rest of the night and into the morning, I sat in my room, listening to the clock chime, anxiously awaiting my uncle's arrival while dreading his reaction when he finally saw me like this. Truthfully, he probably wouldn't make an effort to check on me anytime soon. I had at least until the school called him about my numerous absences.
In the meantime, I isolated myself in my room, doing my best to avoid the outside world. I left my laundry outside the door for Ur to handle and instructed her to leave all my meals at the threshold as well. She did as she was told and would occasionally check in on me, probably to make sure that I didn't kill myself or something. I could hear her soft voice through the door, filled with concern. "Mr. Glen, please let me know if you need anything. I'm here for you." But I couldn't face her. I couldn't even let her see me like this.
Finally the day came when the school called my uncle about me skipping so many days and I heard him knocking on my bedroom door.
"Glen, open up!" He demanded. "I want to talk to you! Your principal called me about you missing school and while I was on the air, no less! Do you know how humiliating that is?"
For the remainder of the night and into the early morning, I sat in my room, listening to the clock's relentless chimes, anxiously awaiting my uncle's arrival while dreading his reaction when he finally saw me like this. Truthfully, he probably wouldn't make an effort to check on me anytime soon; I had at least until the school called him about my numerous absences.
In the meantime, I isolated myself, doing my best to avoid the outside world. I left my laundry outside the door for Ur to handle and instructed her to leave all my meals at the threshold. My days blurred into a haze of despair, replaying Kagura's words over and over in my mind.
"Two years to find true love," I muttered to myself, the weight of that challenge pressing down on me like a heavy blanket. "As if that's even possible."
I had no idea where to begin. The thought of approaching anyone, let alone a girl, felt utterly impossible. I had spent so long building a reputation based on looks and charm, and now I was reduced to a creature that inspired fear and disgust.
Ur continued to care for me, leaving meals at my door and occasionally checking in. I could hear her soft voice through the door, filled with concern. "Mr. Glen, please let me know if you need anything. I'm here for you." But I couldn't face her. I couldn't even bear the thought of her seeing me like this.
Finally, the day arrived when the school called my uncle about my absences, and I heard his urgent knock on my bedroom door.
"Glen, open up!" he demanded. "I want to talk to you! Your principal called me about you missing school—and while I was on the air, no less! Do you have any idea how humiliating that is?"
I didn't respond. Words eluded me in that moment, so I chose to let my actions speak for themselves. Summoning my courage, I placed my clawed hand on the doorknob, slowly turned it, and opened the door, revealing the transformation I had undergone.
His reaction was... annoyance.
"What the... why are you dressed like that?" he asked, incredulous.
Of course, he thought it was just a costume. Anyone would.
"This is me, Uncle Nathaniel," I said softly. "It's not a mask. It's my face."
He stared at me for a moment before bursting into laughter. "Ha-ha, Glen. I don't have time for this."
Oh please, did he really think I'd waste his time over a joke? But I tried my best to stay calm. I knew if I got upset, I'd begin to growl and snarl, to paw the floor like a caged beast.
"Take that stupid mask off!"
He grabbed a chunk of my face fur and pulled it hard. I yelped, and before I could even think, my claws were out, close to his face. I stopped myself as my paw met his cheek. He stared at me, panic in his eyes. He let go of my face and backed away.
"Glen, what the hell is wrong with you?" he shouted, his voice shaking. "You're scaring me!"
I took a step back, my heart racing. "This isn't a joke, Uncle. I'm serious! This is what I've become!"
His expression shifted from confusion to disbelief. "You're playing some kind of prank, right? This is just a costume for attention. You think this is funny?"
"No! I'm not joking!" I shouted, my voice a low growl. "I've been cursed. I'm a beast now."
He laughed again, but this time it was a nervous laugh. "You think I'm going to fall for that? You're trying to get sympathy, aren't you? You think I'll just let you stay home and play sick?"
"Why would I want to look like this?!" I roared, my voice echoing off the walls. "You think I wanted this? I didn't ask for any of this!"
He stepped back, his bravado wavering. "Okay, okay, calm down. Just... just take a breath."
I inhaled deeply, struggling to rein in my anger. He looked at me again, finally grasping the reality of the situation: this was truly me, a living, breathing beast.
"But how? Are you sick?" He could no longer meet my gaze, raising his hand to shield his eyes.
"It was a witch." I replied.
"This... this thing... this disease... condition... whatever has happened to you, Glen," he stammered, dismissing my explanation, likely unable to accept such a notion. "We'll fix it. We'll find a doctor, and we'll make it right. Don't worry. No nephew of mine is going to look like this."
"Mr. Grisham? Mr. Glen?" I heard Ur call from the back of the hallway. I held my breath as her footsteps approached. "I thought I heard yelling. Is anything wrong—"
But when she saw me, she dropped the folded shirts she was carrying, her hands instinctively flying to cover her mouth.
"Don't panic, woman!" my uncle barked at her. "The boy's just developed some rare skin and hair disorder. But we can fix it! I just need to call the right doctor or plastic surgeon!"
Her terror intensified tenfold at his confirmation. Slowly, her hands fell from her mouth, and her eyes filled with sorrow and tenderness as they met mine. It was clear she wanted to hug me. I wanted that too, but I didn't ask for it. I just stood there, hoping my uncle could truly fix this.
Because if he couldn't, there was only one other alternative.
"Fall in love with and earn the love of a girl whose true beauty equals that of roses, and you both proclaim your love, and share a kiss, the spell will break, and you'll return to your handsome self. If not, you'll remain a beast forever."
Those were Kagura's words, the only glimmer of hope I had.
"Today is May 18th. You have until midnight on the same date two years from now. That's how long you have."
"Two years to find true love," I muttered, the weight of the challenge pressing down on me like a heavy blanket. "As if that's even possible."
I had no idea where to begin. The thought of approaching anyone, especially a girl, felt insurmountable. I had spent so long building a reputation based on looks and charm, and now I was reduced to a creature that inspired fear and disgust.
And what made it worse? It had to be a girl as beautiful as a rose. Why did it have to be someone like that? At least with someone less attractive, I might have had a chance. But a girl as stunning as a rose? That felt impossible.
Then I remembered Jenny. She was as beautiful as any flower in the world, and she always said she loved me. If I could just get her to kiss me, I would change back. Of course, I had to do it without her seeing me like this.
I called her cell.
"Why haven't you called me?" she whined.
"I'm calling you now."
"But you were supposed to call me right after the dance! Now you suddenly pull this silent treatment on me."
I pushed back my annoyance and tried to sound as sweet and charming as possible.
"I know. I was a jerk, but I want to make it up to you. My uncle is out for the day, so why don't you come over?"
"Sure. Yeah. But I have to leave now, Glen. I'm on my way to the salon for a facial and manicure. I'll be over in an hour."
"Okay. See you later."
I hung up, my heart racing. She would be here in an hour. I would tell her I loved her, she would say she loved me back, we'd kiss, and I would change back.
Everything would be right again.