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📝Synopsis:What happens when years of devotion turns into meaningless affection?
Emma and her cousin once rescued twin wolf beastkin brothers, deciding to raise them separately. Thirteen years later, Emma has always cherished and cared for her adopted wolf Brian, believing he holds gratitude toward her. However, a casual conversation she overhears completely breaks her heart. Brian never treasures her kindness, even wishing he had been adopted by her outstanding cousin instead. In an instant, all her long-held feelings fade away completely.
💎GENRE: Engagement Breakup, Werewolf Attack, Love-Hate
#reelshort #reels #FYP #film #series #Movies #drama #shortdrama #fullmovie #EngSub #englishmovies #Dailymotion #ROMANCE #RomanticDrama #BILLIONAIRE #UndercoverBillionaire #CEO #FemaleSuccess #SecondChanceLove #FirstLove #ForbiddenLove #lovestory #marriage #RevengeStory #Betrayal #SecretReveals #HiddenIdentidy #Fantasy #ceoandcinderella #Christmas #officiallife #BingeWorthyShorts #2026
💟Full & Free Playlist-HD: https://www.dailymotion.com/ReelShort-Hot-Drama-Hub
🛎Notice: ReelShort Hot Drama Hub is an officially authorized publisher of ReelShort content.
📝Synopsis:What happens when years of devotion turns into meaningless affection?
Emma and her cousin once rescued twin wolf beastkin brothers, deciding to raise them separately. Thirteen years later, Emma has always cherished and cared for her adopted wolf Brian, believing he holds gratitude toward her. However, a casual conversation she overhears completely breaks her heart. Brian never treasures her kindness, even wishing he had been adopted by her outstanding cousin instead. In an instant, all her long-held feelings fade away completely.
💎GENRE: Engagement Breakup, Werewolf Attack, Love-Hate
#reelshort #reels #FYP #film #series #Movies #drama #shortdrama #fullmovie #EngSub #englishmovies #Dailymotion #ROMANCE #RomanticDrama #BILLIONAIRE #UndercoverBillionaire #CEO #FemaleSuccess #SecondChanceLove #FirstLove #ForbiddenLove #lovestory #marriage #RevengeStory #Betrayal #SecretReveals #HiddenIdentidy #Fantasy #ceoandcinderella #Christmas #officiallife #BingeWorthyShorts #2026
Category
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Short filmTranscript
00:04Brian and Logan were twin wolf beast kin that. My cousin Isabella and I rescued from the
00:10underground beast trade. Back then the two of us stood there staring at those filthy little wolf
00:15pups. And without even needing to say much we each decided to adopt one. I took Brian,
00:20Isabella took Logan. 13 years passed in the blink of an eye. All that time, I believe that even if
00:26Brian didn't like me, he would at least feel grateful that I had saved his life. That illusion
00:31shattered. The day I accidentally overheard him talking to some other beast kin. Someone asked,
00:38Emma's been really good to you. Why are you always so cold to her? Who asked her to be good
00:44to me?
00:45You've got it good. And don't even realize it. Good? Then I guess I should thank Emma properly.
00:51If she hadn't taken me first me'd be the one with Isabella right now. I mean makes sense.
00:55Compared to Isabella the head cheerleader Emma's just, nothing special.
00:59A dull ache spread through my chest. Every feeling I had held onto for Brian over the years quietly
01:05disappeared. When I got home I sat on the living room couch until well past midnight.
01:10Again and again, I picked up a mirror, staring at the girl reflected in it. I had always thought
01:15I looked average but now the longer I looked, the worse it seemed. With a surge of disgust I tossed
01:20the
01:21mirror aside. All I could see in my mind was Isabella's radiant, effortless smile. I lowered
01:26my head and let the weight of my own insecurities swallow me home. The sound of the front door
01:29opening broke the silence. Brian walked in, reeking of bourbon. Barely sparing me a glance before
01:35turning toward his bedroom. I wiped my tears with the back of my hand and stood up. For the first
01:39time
01:39I reached out, trying to grab his tail, my hand was immediately slapped away. He stepped back,
01:44his face full of irritation. Don't touch me. It was exactly the same reaction as the first time I had
01:49tried to touch his wolf ears. Even after I had taken him in, and cared for him with everything I
01:54had for
01:55thirteen years. A bitter laugh slipped out of me. So if you're not pretty, even your sincerity isn't
02:00worth anyone taking seriously. I didn't even notice when my tears began to fall, one by one,
02:05onto the hardwood floor. By the time I looked up again, I was alone in the living room. My thoughts
02:10drifted, as they always did, back to high school and the annual fall homecoming carnival. I used to
02:16bring a big box of Texas's barbecue and find Brian in the backyard. Brian, will you come to the carnival
02:21with me this year? He'd lift his head out of the pool, water dripping from his hair. No. But a
02:27lot
02:27of people bring their bee skin with them. No. If you want someone to go with you, go adopt another
02:33one
02:33from the shelter. So every year, I went alone. I would stand off to the side, watching Logan,
02:39who had the exact same face as Brian, yet always wore the gentlest smile. He would ruffle Isabella's
02:45hair and ask, Isabella, do you want that teddy bear? She'd nod with a bright smile, rising onto her toes
02:52to reach for his wolf ears. And Logan would always bend down for her, patient and indulgent. I watched
02:57him like a thief, quietly craving the life Isabella had. But one time, Chase and a few of his buddies
03:03shoved me onto the grass. His voice was dripping with mockery. Well, look who it is. Emma, a
03:09straight-A nerd. Where's your little bee skin? Didn't feel like coming out with you? One of
03:13his friends snickered. Her bee skin and Isabella's are twin wolves, right? The older one ended up with
03:19the prom queen, and the younger one got stuck with an ugly duckling. I refused to back down.
03:23Gritting my teeth, I pushed myself up and swung my fist straight at his friend's face. He went down
03:29hard. Before he could even react, Chase lunged at me, trying to fight back. But I slammed him to
03:33the ground and kept hitting him until someone finally pulled me off. The end result was
03:37predictable. All of us were called into the principal's office. I thought my mom would be
03:41on my side. Instead, right in front of the principal and Chase, she sighed in annoyance. Honestly? What
03:46were you thinking? They weren't even wrong. Why would you hit someone over that? I tugged lightly at the
03:50sleeve of her coat. Mom, I said, barely above a whisper. She acted like she didn't hear me.
03:55Let's be real. She went on. You're not exactly pretty. And now you've got this terrible temper
03:59too. Even the bee skin you raised doesn't care about you. I don't know how I ended up with a
04:02daughter like you. Sometimes I wish Isabella were my child instead. That night, I cried my eyes out
04:07in Central Park. When I finally went home, my father greeted me with a sharp slap across the face.
04:12That'd be cool. I'd be having something that's awkward. He said. I closed my eyes and fell into a heavy
04:17sleep. My messed up schedule left my mind blank when I woke up again. When I pushed the door open,
04:21I realized it was already dusk. Brian was out. But his presence lingered everywhere in the
04:26apartment. I grabbed a slice of pizza and forced myself to eat. Then started packing up everything
04:30that belonged to me. There wasn't much really. After I got into college at 18, I was afraid my
04:35parents would treat Brian badly. So I took him with me. At my poorest, I could only afford a run
04:41-down
04:41studio apartment. He slept on the bed. And I took the couch. Brian was well over 6 feet tall. And
04:46he
04:46would bump his head every time he walked through the low doorway. So I worked non-stop, picking up every
04:51part-time job I could find. Until I finally saved enough for a down payment on a small two-bedroom
04:56townhouse. Love has a way of making you feel like you owe everything. So I bought Brian more things
05:01than he could ever need. I never once considered that he didn't want any of it. This time I decided
05:05to give him what he actually wanted. Freedom. After I finished packing, I walked out of the home Brian
05:10and I had shared. The next morning, when the staff at the Bureau of Non-Human Affairs asked me for
05:14the
05:14third time if I was sure I wanted to terminate my bond with Brian, I still nodded. When a human
05:18dissolves
05:19a bond unilaterally, financial compensation is required. I left the townhouse to him. At the
05:24office, Emily handed me the bond termination certificate. Then hesitated before asking,
05:28Miss Emma, would you like to give this to Mr. Brian in person? Or should we mail it on your
05:32behalf? I took out the letter I had rewritten over and over again the night before. Please mail it to
05:36him, I said. And include this. There were only two sentences in the letter. I am sorry Brian. I took
05:42you away without your consent. So this time, I am giving your freedom back to you. I walked out of
05:47City Hall,
05:47got into my car, and left Los Angeles behind. My new life would begin in Florida, somewhere by the
05:52ocean, waiting for warmer days ahead. Since my new job was as a lecturer, at a university in Miami,
05:57I rented a small beach house with a yard. The evening sea breeze carried a faint salty smell
06:02as I walked along the shore wearing a mask. The orange glow of the sunset was just right,
06:06soft and beautiful. I took a photo, then out of habit opened my iMessage chat with Brian. Scrolling up,
06:11it was nothing but messages from me. Photos of little trinkets I found at vintage markets.
06:15Strange shaped clouds in the sky. The slow growth of a sunflower. He rarely replied.
06:19Most of the time, all I ever got back was a short dismissive. Yeah. The last message in our chat
06:25was
06:25from the day I heard the truth. I had asked him, where are you? I can come pick you up.
06:29He never
06:29replied. By then, he must have already received the bond termination certificate. And still, he could
06:34not even bring himself to say goodbye. All that was left in my chest was a dull spreading ache.
06:39After thinking it over, I realized my new life should not be tied to the past. So I changed my
06:44phone
06:44number, deleted my old Instagram, and created a new account. I packed my schedule as full as possible,
06:49just to earn a few nights of uninterrupted sleep. Some of the more outgoing college girls like to
06:54chat with me between classes. Professor Emma, why do you always wear a mask on campus? Because I'm not
06:59very pretty. Who said that? Oh my god. I swear I will shut them up. There is no such thing
07:04as an ugly
07:04girl. She sounded completely sincere. And the others around her nodded in agreement, just as indignant.
07:09I would laugh it off, and smoothly change the subject. Soon enough, they started talking about
07:14the bee skin they had at home. Then they asked me, Professor, what kind of bee skin do you have?
07:18I did not know how to explain everything that had happened with Brian. So I gave them a simple
07:22answer. He died. They fell silent for a long moment, until the bell rang, and class began.
07:27After that, during my two weekly lectures, students would often bring me little things. A Starbucks latte,
07:32a blueberry muffin, or a bar of Hershey's chocolate. I could never finish it all. That was when I started
07:36thinking about the little fox bee skin on campus, who survived by collecting recyclables. Bee skin
07:41were usually striking in appearance, and fox bee skin were among the most beautiful of all. But this
07:46one had deep crisscrossing scars covering both sides of his face. He was afraid of scaring the
07:50students. So he only came out late at night. That evening, when I left the lab and went looking for
07:55him,
07:55it started pouring. Out of nowhere, a figure darted toward me, a fluffy foxtail swaying behind him. I called
08:01out softly. Hey, little fox. Huh? The young beast kin turned around and noticed me, immediately lowering
08:07his head. He quickly covered his face with his hands. I'm sorry, ma'am. I must have misheard.
08:12Please don't mind me. The autumn rain carried a sharp chill. He was soaked through, water dripping
08:16steadily from his clothes. I looked at him and said gently, you don't have to hide your face. I've seen
08:21you around. I have hot water and a dryer in my office. Come upstairs and get warmed up. He hesitated,
08:26then slowly lowered his hands and nodded. Thank you, ma'am. Once we got into my office under the bright
08:30lights, I realized how young he was. Around 18 or 19, about the same age as my freshman. While he
08:36was showering, I went next door to the lab to ask about him. My colleague, Arthur, was always eager
08:41to talk, and he filled me in without hesitation. That little fox is named Finn. I heard he used to
08:46be incredibly good looking. His former handler tried to sell him to the red light district in
08:51the underground beast trade. He refused and even bit someone before escaping. During the escape,
08:55his face got slashed up. When the people from the black market saw he was disfigured,
08:59they beat him badly and threw him into the ocean. Lucky for him, the university rowing team pulled
09:04him out. Since then, he's been scraping by on campus, selecting recyclables. I asked, where does
09:09he live? There's a run-down shed behind the hill on campus. Arthur frowned slightly. Emma, I heard
09:14your bee skin passed away. You're not thinking about adopting him, are you? I bit down on the straw of
09:18my hot latte and didn't answer. Arthur's voice suddenly sharpened. He looks like that. Who would want to
09:23adopt him? His words overlapped with the voices from my past. She looks so plain. Who would ever like
09:28her? But why? We have hearts too. We want to love and be loved. Just the same. I looked at
09:32Arthur and
09:33said quietly, he isn't ugly. He's just been hurt. And he's kind. He's sweet. I've seen him share the
09:38food he collects with homeless people nearby. I've seen him donate his spare change to the
09:42Beastkin Protection Agency. So please, don't say things like that about him again. When I stepped
09:47out of Arthur's office, I saw Finn standing in the hallway. His blonde hair and tail were still damp.
09:52His eyes were brimming with tears. Feeling a little awkward. I changed the subject. If it's hard to do it
09:56yourself, I can help dry it. I took the towel and gently dried his hair and tail. Then used a
10:01hairdryer to finish the job. It was my first time drying a Beastkin's tail. And I was clumsy. I
10:05accidentally hurt him more than once and kept apologizing. Finn's face turned red. It's okay.
10:10I'm already very grateful to you. When I finally finished, I handed him a muffin and a latte. He
10:15didn't take them. After a long pause, as if gathering all his courage, he spoke again. Ma'am, I don't
10:21eat
10:21much. Could you adopt me? My hand froze mid-air. Finn continued. I know I'm not good looking,
10:26but I can cook, wash dishes, mow the lawn. I can get massages, and I know how to grow roses.
10:31I smiled, then took off my mask and met his eyes. But I'm not good looking either. Would you still
10:36choose me? Finn gently reached out and touched my cheek. His movements careful, almost reverent.
10:41You're very cute. He said softly. I want to go with you. My eyes stung. I blinked quickly,
10:47holding back the tears, and took his hand as we walked out of the lab building together.
10:51The rain had stopped, and just like that, I chose a family for myself. I completed the paperwork,
10:56and adopted Finn. Just like he promised. He did everything beautifully. He kept the beach
11:00house spotless, filled the yard with blooming hydrangeas, and brought me hot, home-cooked
11:04lunches at the lab. Running those spectral analyses today nearly killed me, Arthur said as he wandered
11:09in from next door, shamelessly helping himself. He took a big spoonful of beef stew, and let out a low
11:14whistle. Damn, Finn can cook. This is incredible. Meanwhile, the one at my place does nothing but
11:19curl up on the couch and watch Netflix. Honestly, Arthur should have been grateful.
11:24Brianne could not cook at all. Then again, maybe he just never bothered to do anything like that for
11:28me. That night, I had the nightmare again. A memory buried deep in my mind. I was 17.
11:35Isabella and Logan went with me and Brian to Universal Studios Orlando. Halfway through the day,
11:40the park was hit by a sudden, indiscriminate attack. Explosions erupted from every direction.
11:45Logan shielded Isabella while I grabbed Brianne's hand and ran for the exit. We were near the eastern
11:50side of the park, but the flying debris still cut into everyone. We were only steps away from the exit
11:56when it was blown apart right in front of us. At the time, I had been running ahead and never
12:00noticed
12:01what happened in that instant. But in the dream, I saw it clearly. Both Logan and Brian threw themselves
12:06toward Isabella without hesitation. I was left alone, collapsing into rubble and dust,
12:11with no one caring whether I lived or died. Logan and Brian were only relieved that Isabella was safe.
12:16Later, I lay unconscious in the ICU for days. My parents and Brian stayed by Isabella's side,
12:22comforting her as she cried from the shock. A voice echoed in my mind, mocking me.
12:26Emma C., no one in this world loves you. It came from everywhere, repeating itself over and over,
12:32surrounding me until I could not escape it. In the dream, my soul seemed to float above,
12:37crouch down, clutching my head as I tried to argue back. That's not true. That's not true.
12:42Then, faintly, someone grabbed my hand and pulled me forward. A voice said,
12:47Emma, that's not true. Everyone deserves to be loved. I woke with a start. The first thing I saw
12:52was Finn sitting at my bedside, wiping the cold sweat from my forehead. His face tight with worry.
12:58When he saw my eyes open, he finally let out a breath. Tears slipped down my face before I could
13:03stop them. Finn, can you hold me? He climbed onto the bed and pulled me into his arms. I clung
13:08to
13:08him like a child, pouring out everything I had been holding inside. Finn gently patted my back,
13:13murmuring soft reassurances. I did not have to worry about him snapping at me to leave him alone.
13:17I did not have to worry about him brushing me off and disappearing into distractions. And I
13:21definitely did not have to worry about him looking at me with cold indifference.
13:24I want to hear a song, I whispered. Finn hummed softly. You are my sunshine,
13:29my only sunshine. You make me happy when skies are gray. With Finn taking care of me,
13:34I started getting better, little by little. The sunlight was especially bright today.
13:39Finn and I were in the backyard, hanging sheets out to dry. We ended up laughing and playing around
13:44on either side of the fabric, the breeze lifting it between us. Then someone called my name from
13:48beyond the fence. Emma. I turned around. Brian was standing there. The hanger slipped from my hand
13:53and fell straight onto the grass. Finn noticed the shift in my expression immediately and stepped
13:58in front of me without hesitation. I tugged lightly on the hem of Finn's flannel shirt.
14:03It's okay. I know him. Go take care of the blue crabs in the kitchen. I just need a minute
14:07to talk
14:07to him. We walked over to a wooden bench by the shore. The ocean breeze tangled my hair. I forced
14:12a
14:12small, awkward smile. It's been a while, Brian. He stared at me, his voice cold. Who is that fox?
14:18My new fostered beeskin. Brian and Logan were twin wolf beeskin that my cousin Isabella and I rescued
14:29from the underground bees trade. Back then the two of us stood there staring at those filthy little
14:34wolf pups. And without even needing to say much we each decided to adopt one. I took Brian, Isabella
14:40took Logan. Thirteen years passed in the blink of an eye. All that time, I believe that even if Brian
14:46didn't like me, he would at least feel grateful that I had saved his life. That illusion shattered.
14:52The day I accidentally overheard him talking to some other beeskin. Someone asked,
14:58Emma's been really good to you. Why are you always so cold to her?
15:03Who asked her to be good to me? You've got it good. And don't even realize it. Good? Then I
15:09guess I
15:10should thank Emma properly. If she hadn't taken me first, me'd be the one with Isabella right now.
15:14I mean makes sense. Compared to Isabella the head cheerleader Emma's just, nothing special.
15:19A dull ache spread through my chest. Every feeling I had held onto for Brian over the years quietly
15:24disappeared. When I got home I sat on the living room couch until well past midnight. Again and again,
15:31I picked up a mirror, staring at the girl reflected in it. I had always thought I looked average but
15:36now
15:36the longer I looked, the worse it seemed. With a surge of disgust I tossed the mirror aside.
15:41All I could see in my mind was Isabella's radiant, effortless smile. I lowered my head and let the
15:46weight of my own insecurity swallow me home. The sound of the front door opening broke the silence.
15:51Brian walked in, reeking of bourbon. Barely sparing me a glance before turning toward his
15:55bedroom. I wiped my tears with the back of my hand and stood up. For the first time I reached
15:59out.
16:00Trying to grab his tail, my hand was immediately slapped away. He stepped back, his face full of
16:05irritation. Don't touch me. It was exactly the same reaction as the first time I had tried to
16:09touch his wolf ears. Even after I had taken him in, and cared for him with everything I had for
16:1413
16:15years. A bitter laugh slipped out of me. So if you're not pretty, even your sincerity isn't worth
16:20anyone taking seriously. I didn't even notice when my tears began to fall, one by one, onto the hardwood
16:26floor. By the time I looked up again, I was alone in the living room. My thoughts drifted, as they
16:31always
16:31did. Back to high school and the annual fall homecoming carnival. I used to bring a big box of
16:36Texas's barbecue, and find Brian in the backyard. Brian, will you come to the carnival with me this
16:41year? He'd lift his head out of the pool, water dripping from his hair. No. But a lot of people
16:48bring
16:48their bee skin with them. No. If you want someone to go with you, go adopt another one from the
16:53shelter.
16:54So every year, I went alone. I would stand off to the side, watching Logan, who had the exact same
17:00face
17:01as Brian, yet always wore the gentlest smile. He would ruffle Isabella's hair and ask,
17:06Isabella, do you want that teddy bear? She'd nod with a bright smile, rising onto her toes to reach
17:12for his wolf ears. And Logan would always bend down for her, patient and indulgent. I watched him like
17:18a thief, quietly craving the life Isabella had. But one time, Chase and a few of his buddies shoved me
17:23onto the grass. His voice was dripping with mockery.
17:26Well, look who it is. Emma, a straight-A nerd. Where's your little bee skin? Didn't feel like
17:32coming out with you? One of his friends snickered. Her bee skin and Isabella's are twin wolves, right?
17:37The older one ended up with the prom queen, and the younger one got stuck with an ugly duckling.
17:42I refused to back down. Gritting my teeth, I pushed myself up and swung my fist straight at his
17:47friend's face. He went down hard. Before he could even react, Chase lunged at me, trying to fight back.
17:52But I slammed him to the ground and kept hitting him until someone finally pulled me off.
17:56The end result was predictable. All of us were called into the principal's office.
18:00I thought my mom would be on my side. Instead, right in front of the principal and Chase,
18:04she sighed in annoyance. Honestly? What were you thinking? They weren't even wrong.
18:07Why would you hit someone over that? I tugged lightly at the sleeve of her coat.
18:11Mom, I said, barely above a whisper. She acted like she didn't hear me.
18:14Let's be real, she went on. You're not exactly pretty, and now you've got this terrible temper too.
18:19Even the bee skin you raised doesn't care about you. I don't know how I ended up with a daughter
18:22like you. Sometimes I wish Isabella were my child instead. That night, I cried my eyes out in
18:27Central Park. When I finally went home, my father greeted me with a sharp slap across the face.
18:31I regret having something that's awkward. He said.
18:34I closed my eyes and fell into a heavy sleep. My messed up schedule left my mind blank when I
18:39woke up
18:40again. When I pushed the door open, I realized it was already dusk. Brian was out, but his presence
18:45lingered everywhere in the apartment. I grabbed a slice of pizza and forced myself to eat, then
18:49started packing up everything that belonged to me. There wasn't much really. After I got into
18:53college at 18, I was afraid my parents would treat Brian badly, so I took him with me. At my
18:59poorest,
18:59I could only afford a run-down studio apartment. He slept on the bed, and I took the couch. Brian
19:04was
19:05well over 6 feet tall, and he would bump his head every time he walked through the low doorway. So
19:09I
19:09worked non-stop, picking up every part-time job I could find. Until I finally saved enough for a
19:14down payment on a small two-bedroom townhouse. Love has a way of making you feel like you owe
19:18everything. So I bought Brian more things than he could ever need. I never once considered that he
19:23didn't want any of it. This time I decided to give him what he actually wanted. Freedom. After I
19:27finished packing, I walked out of the home Brian and I had shared. The next morning, when the staff
19:32at the Bureau of Non-Human Affairs asked me for the third time if I was sure I wanted to
19:36terminate my
19:36bond with Brian, I still nodded. When a human dissolves a bond unilaterally, financial compensation
19:41is required. I left the townhouse to him. At the office, Emily handed me the bond termination
19:46certificate, then hesitated before asking, Miss Emma, would you like to give this to Mr. Brian in
19:50person, or should we mail it on your behalf? I took out the letter I had rewritten over and over
19:54again
19:55the night before. Please mail it to him, I said, and include this. There were only two sentences in
20:00the letter. I am sorry Brian, I took you away without your consent. So this time, I am giving your
20:05freedom
20:05back to you. I walked out of City Hall, got into my car, and left Los Angeles behind. My new
20:10life would
20:10begin in Florida, somewhere by the ocean, waiting for warmer days ahead. Since my new job was as a
20:15lecturer, at a university in Miami, I rented a small beach house with a yard. The evening sea breeze
20:20carried a faint salty smell as I walked along the shore wearing a mask. The orange glow of the sunset
20:25was just right, soft and beautiful. I took a photo, then out of habit opened my iMessage chat with Brian.
20:30Scrolling up, it was nothing but messages from me. Photos of little trinkets I found at vintage markets.
20:35Strange shaped clouds in the sky. The slow growth of a sunflower. He rarely replied. Most of the time.
20:40All I ever got back was a short dismissive. Yeah. The last message in our chat was from the day
20:45I
20:45heard the truth. I had asked him, where are you? I can come pick you up. He never replied. By
20:50then,
20:51he must have already received the bond termination certificate. And still, he could not even bring
20:55himself to say goodbye. All that was left in my chest was a dull spreading ache. After thinking
20:59it over, I realized my new life should not be tied to the past. So I changed my phone number,
21:04deleted my old Instagram, and created a new account. I packed my schedule as full as possible,
21:09just to earn a few nights of uninterrupted sleep. Some of the more outgoing college girls like to
21:13chat with me between classes. Professor Emma, why do you always wear a mask on campus? Because I'm not
21:18very pretty. Who said that? Oh my god, I swear I will shut them up. There is no such thing
21:24as an ugly
21:24girl. She sounded completely sincere. And the others around her nodded in agreement, just as indignant.
21:29I would laugh it off, and smoothly change the subject. Soon enough, they started talking about the
21:34beeskin they had at home. Then they asked me, Professor, what kind of beeskin do you have?
21:38I did not know how to explain everything that had happened with Brian. So I gave them a simple
21:42answer. He died. They fell silent for a long moment, until the bell rang, and class began.
21:46After that, during my two weekly lectures, students would often bring me little things. A Starbucks
21:51latte, a blueberry muffin, or a bar of Hershey's chocolate. I could never finish it all. That was
21:56when I started thinking about the little fox beeskin on campus, who survived by collecting
22:00recyclables. Beeskin were usually striking in appearance, and fox beeskin were among the most
22:04beautiful of all. But this one had deep crisscrossing scars covering both sides of his face. He was
22:09afraid of scaring the students. So he only came out late at night. That evening, when I left the lab
22:14and
22:14went looking for him, it started pouring. Out of nowhere, a figure darted toward me, a fluffy foxtail
22:19swaying behind him. I called out softly. Hey, little fox, huh? The young beeskin turned around and noticed me,
22:26immediately lowering his head. He quickly covered his face with his hands. I'm sorry,
22:30ma'am. I must have misheard. Please don't mind me. The autumn rain carried a sharp chill. He was
22:34soaked through, water dripping steadily from his clothes. I looked at him and said gently,
22:39you don't have to hide your face. I've seen you around. I have hot water and a dryer in my
22:43office.
22:43Come upstairs and get warmed up. He hesitated, then slowly lowered his hands and nodded.
22:48Thank you, ma'am. Once we got into my office under the bright lights, I realized how young he was.
22:52Around 18 or 19, about the same age as my freshman. While he was showering, I went next door to
22:58the lab to ask
22:58about him. My colleague, Arthur, was always eager to talk, and he filled me in without hesitation.
23:04That little fox is named Finn. I heard he used to be incredibly good looking. His former handler tried
23:09to sell him to the red light district in the underground beast trade. He refused and even
23:13bit someone before escaping. During the escape, his face got slashed up. When the people from the
23:17black market saw he was disfigured, they beat him badly and threw him into the ocean. Lucky for him,
23:22the university rowing team pulled him out. Since then, he's been scraping by on campus,
23:27selecting recyclables. I asked, where does he live? There's a run-down shed behind the hill on campus.
23:32Arthur frowned slightly. Emma, I heard your beast can pass away. You're not thinking about adopting
23:36him, are you? I bit down on the straw of my hot latte and didn't answer. Arto's voice suddenly
23:41sharpened. He looks like that. Who would want to adopt him? His words overlapped with the voices from
23:45my past. She looks so plain. Who would ever like her? But why? We have hearts too. We want to
23:50love
23:50and be loved. Just the same. I looked at Arthur and said quietly, he isn't ugly. He's just been
23:55hurt. And he's kind. He's sweet. I've seen him share the food he collects with homeless people
24:00nearby. I've seen him donate his spare change to the Beastkin Protection Agency. So please,
24:04don't say things like that about him again. When I stepped out of Arthur's office,
24:08I saw Finn standing in the hallway. His blonde hair and tail were still damp. His eyes were brimming with
24:12tears, feeling a little awkward. I changed the subject. If it's hard to do it yourself, I can help dry
24:17it.
24:17I took the towel and gently dried his hair and tail. Then used a hair dryer to finish the job.
24:22It was my first time drying a Beastkin's tail, and I was clumsy. I accidentally heard him more
24:26than once and kept apologizing. Finn's face turned red. It's okay. I'm already very grateful to you.
24:32When I finally finished, I handed him a muffin and the latte. He didn't take them. After a long pause,
24:37as if gathering all his courage, he spoke again. Ma'am, I don't eat much. Could you adopt me?
24:43My hand froze mid-air. Finn continued. I know I'm not good looking,
24:46but I can cook, wash dishes, mow the lawn, I can get massages, and I know how to grow roses.
24:51I smiled, then took off my mask and met his eyes. But I'm not good looking either. Would you still
24:55choose me? Finn gently reached out and touched my cheek, his movements careful, almost reverent.
25:01You're very cute, he said softly. I want to go with you.
25:05My eyes stung. I blinked quickly, holding back the tears, and took his hand as we walked out of the
25:10lab
25:10building together. The rain had stopped, and just like that, I chose a family for myself.
25:14I completed the paperwork, and adopted Finn. Just like he promised. He did everything beautifully.
25:19He kept the beach house spotless, filled the yard with blooming hydrangeas, and brought me hot,
25:24home-cooked lunches at the lab. Running those spectral analyses today nearly killed me,
25:28Arthur said as he wandered in from next door, shamelessly helping himself. He took a big
25:32spoonful of beef stew, and let out a low whistle. Damn, Finn can cook. This is incredible.
25:37Meanwhile, the one at my place does nothing but curl up on the couch and watch Netflix.
25:41Honestly, Arthur should have been grateful. Brianne could not cook at all. Then again,
25:45maybe he just never bothered to do anything like that for me. That night, I had the nightmare again.
25:51A memory buried deep in my mind. I was 17. Isabella and Logan went with me and Brian to
25:57Universal Studios Orlando. Halfway through the day, the park was hit by a sudden, indiscriminate attack.
26:02Explosions erupted from every direction. Logan shielded Isabella, while I grabbed Brian's hand,
26:07and ran for the exit. We were near the eastern side of the park, but the flying debris still cut
26:13into everyone. We were only steps away from the exit, when it was blown apart right in front of us.
26:18At the time, I had been running ahead, and never noticed what happened in that instant. But in the
26:22dream, I saw it clearly. Both Logan and Brian threw themselves toward Isabella without hesitation.
26:28I was left alone, collapsing into rubble and dust, with no one caring whether I lived or died.
26:33Logan and Brian were only relieved that Isabella was safe. Later, I lay unconscious in the ICU for
26:38days. My parents and Brian stayed by Isabella's side, comforting her as she cried from the shock.
26:44A voice echoed in my mind, mocking me. Emma C., no one in this world loves you. It came from
26:49everywhere, repeating itself over and over, surrounding me until I could not escape it. In the dream,
26:55my soul seemed to float above, crouch down, clutching my head as I tried to argue back.
26:59That's not true. That's not true. Then, faintly, someone grabbed my hand and pulled me forward.
27:06A voice said, Emma, that's not true. Everyone deserves to be loved. I woke with a start. The
27:11first thing I saw was Finn sitting at my bedside, wiping the cold sweat from my forehead. His face
27:17tight with worry. When he saw my eyes open, he finally let out a breath. Tears slipped down my
27:22face before I could stop them. Finn, can you hold me? He climbed onto the bed, and pulled me into
27:27his arms.
27:27I clung to him like a child, pouring out everything I had been holding inside. Finn gently patted my
27:32back, murmuring soft reassurances. I did not have to worry about him snapping at me to leave him
27:37alone. I did not have to worry about him brushing me off and disappearing into distractions. And I
27:41definitely did not have to worry about him looking at me with cold indifference. I want to hear a song,
27:46I whispered. Finn hummed softly. You are my sunshine, my only sunshine. You make me happy when skies are
27:52great. With Finn taking care of me, I started getting better, little by little. The sunlight
27:57was especially bright today. Finn and I were in the backyard, hanging sheets out to dry. We ended up
28:02laughing and playing around on either side of the fabric, the breeze lifting it between us. Then
28:07someone called my name from beyond the fence. Emma. I turned around. Brian was standing there. The
28:12hanger slipped from my hand and fell straight onto the grass. Finn noticed the shift in my expression
28:17immediately and stepped in front of me without hesitation. I tugged lightly on the hem of Finn's
28:22flannel shirt. It's okay. I know him. Go take care of the blue crabs in the kitchen. I just need
28:26a
28:26minute to talk to him. We walked over to a wooden bench by the shore. The ocean breeze tangled my
28:31hair.
28:31I forced a small, awkward smile. It's been a while, Brian. He stared at me, his voice cold. Who is
28:37that fox? My new fostered bee skin. Brian and Logan were twin wolf bee skin, Nat. My cousin Isabella
28:48and I rescued from the underground bee's trade. Back then the two of us stood there staring at those
28:53filthy little wolf pups. And without even needing to say much, we each decided to adopt one. I took
28:59Brian. Isabella took Logan. Thirteen years passed in the blink of an eye. All that time, I believe that
29:06even if Brian didn't like me, he would at least feel grateful that I had saved his life. That
29:10illusion shattered. The day I accidentally overheard him talking to some other bee skin. Someone asked,
29:18Emma's been really good to you. Why are you always so cold to her? Who asked her to be good
29:24to me?
29:25You've got it good. And don't even realize it. Good? Then I guess I should thank Emma properly.
29:31If she hadn't taken me first, me'd be the one with Isabella right now. I mean, makes sense.
29:35Compared to Isabella the head cheerleader Emma's just, nothing special.
29:39A dull ache spread through my chest. Every feeling I had held onto for Brian over the years
29:44quietly disappeared. When I got home I sat on the living room couch until well past midnight.
29:49Again and again, I picked up a mirror, staring at the girl reflected in it. I had always thought
29:55I looked average but now the longer I looked, the worse it seemed. With a surge of disgust I tossed
30:00the
30:00mirror aside. All I could see in my mind was Isabella's radiant, effortless smile. I lowered
30:05my head and let the weight of my own insecurity swallow me home. The sound of the front door
30:09opening broke the silence. Brian walked in, reeking of bourbon. Barely sparing me a glance before
30:14turning toward his bedroom. I wiped my tears with the back of my hand and stood up. For the first
30:18time
30:19I reached out. Trying to grab his tail, my hand was immediately slapped away. He stepped back,
30:23his face full of irritation. Don't touch me. It was exactly the same reaction as the first time I had
30:29tried to touch his wolf ears. Even after I had taken him in, and cared for him with everything I
30:34had for 13 years. A bitter laugh slipped out of me. So if you're not pretty, even your sincerity isn't
30:40worth anyone taking seriously. I didn't even notice when my tears began to fall, one by one, onto the
30:46hardwood floor. By the time I looked up again, I was alone in the living room. My thoughts drifted,
30:50as they always did, back to high school and the annual fall homecoming carnival.
30:54I used to bring a big box of Texas's barbecue, and find Brian in the backyard. Brian, will you
31:00come to the carnival with me this year? He'd lift his head out of the pool, water dripping from his
31:05hair. No. But a lot of people bring their bee skin with them. No. If you want someone to go
31:11with you,
31:12go adopt another one from the shelter. So every year, I went alone. I would stand off to the side,
31:18watching Logan, who had the exact same face as Brian, yet always wore the gentlest smile.
31:23He would ruffle Isabella's hair and ask,
31:26Isabella, do you want that teddy bear?
31:28She'd nod with a bright smile, rising onto her toes to reach for his wolf ears. And Logan would
31:34always bend down for her, patient and indulgent. I watched him like a thief, quietly craving the
31:39life Isabella had. But one time, Chase and a few of his buddies shoved me onto the grass.
31:44His voice was dripping with mockery. Well, look who it is. Emma, a straight-A nerd.
31:50Where's your little bee skin? Didn't feel like coming out with you?
31:52One of his friends snickered. Her bee skin and Isabella's are twin wolves, right?
31:57The older one ended up with the prom queen, and the younger one got stuck with an ugly duckling.
32:01I refused to back down. Gritting my teeth, I pushed myself up and swung my fist straight at his friend's
32:07face. He went down hard. Before he could even react, Chase lunged at me, trying to fight back.
32:12But I slammed him to the ground and kept hitting him until someone finally pulled me off.
32:16The end result was predictable. All of us were called into the principal's office.
32:20I thought my mom would be on my side. Instead, right in front of the principal and Chase,
32:23she sighed in annoyance. Honestly? What were you thinking? They weren't even wrong.
32:27Why would you hit someone over that? I tugged lightly at the sleeve of her coat.
32:30Mom, I said, barely above a whisper. She acted like she didn't hear me.
32:34Let's be real, she went on. You're not exactly pretty, and now you've got this terrible temper too.
32:38Even the bee skin you raised doesn't care about you. I don't know how I ended up with a daughter
32:42like you. Sometimes I wish Isabella were my child instead. That night, I cried my eyes out in
32:47Central Park. When I finally went home, my father greeted me with a sharp slap across the face.
32:51I regret having something that's awkward. He said.
32:54I closed my eyes and fell into a heavy sleep. My messed up schedule left my mind blank when I
32:59woke up
32:59again. When I pushed the door open, I realized it was already dusk. Brian was out, but his presence
33:05lingered everywhere in the apartment. I grabbed a slice of pizza and forced myself to eat, then
33:09started packing up everything that belonged to me. There wasn't much really. After I got into college
33:13at 18, I was afraid my parents would treat Brian badly, so I took him with me. At my poorest,
33:19I could
33:20only afford a run-down studio apartment. He slept on the bed, and I took the couch. Brian was well
33:25over
33:25six feet tall, and he would bump his head every time he walked through the low doorway. So I worked
33:29non-stop, picking up every part-time job I could find. Until I finally saved enough for a down payment
33:34on a small two-bedroom townhouse. Love has a way of making you feel like you owe everything. So I
33:39bought Brian more things than he could ever need. I never once considered that he didn't want any of
33:43it. This time I decided to give him what he actually wanted. Freedom. After I finished packing,
33:48I walked out of the home Brian and I had shared. The next morning, when the staff at the Bureau
33:52of
33:52Non-Human Affairs asked me for the third time if I was sure I wanted to terminate my bond with
33:56Brian,
33:57I still nodded. When a human dissolves a bond unilaterally, financial compensation is required.
34:02I left the townhouse to him. At the office, Emily handed me the bond termination certificate,
34:07then hesitated before asking, Miss Emma, would you like to give this to Mr. Brian in person,
34:11or should we mail it on your behalf? I took out the letter I had rewritten over and over again
34:14the
34:15night before. Please mail it to him, I said, and include this. There were only two sentences in the
34:20letter. I am sorry Brian, I took you away without your consent. So this time, I am giving your freedom
34:25back to you. I walked out of City Hall, got into my car, and left Los Angeles behind. My new
34:30life
34:30would begin in Florida, somewhere by the ocean, waiting for warmer days ahead. Since my new job
34:35was as a lecturer, at a university in Miami, I rented a small beach house with a yard. The evening
34:39sea breeze carried a faint salty smell as I walked along the shore wearing a mask. The orange glow of
34:44the sunset was just right, soft and beautiful. I took a photo, then out of habit opened my iMessage
34:49chat with Brian. Scrolling up, it was nothing but messages from me. Photos of little trinkets I found at
34:54vintage markets. Strange shaped clouds in the sky, the slow growth of a sunflower. He rarely replied.
34:59Most of the time, all I ever got back was a short dismissive. Yeah, the last message in our chat
35:04was
35:04from the day I heard the truth. I had asked him, where are you? I can come pick you up.
35:09He never
35:09replied. By then, he must have already received the bond termination certificate. And still, he could
35:14not even bring himself to say goodbye. All that was left in my chest was a dull spreading ache. After
35:19thinking it over, I realized my new life should not be tied to the past. So I changed my phone
35:23number, deleted my old Instagram, and created a new account. I packed my schedule as full as possible,
35:29just to earn a few nights of uninterrupted sleep. Some of the more outgoing college girls like to
35:33chat with me between classes. Professor Emma, why do you always wear a mask on campus? Because I'm not
35:38very pretty. Who said that? Oh my god, I swear I will shut them up. There is no such thing
35:43as an ugly
35:44girl. She sounded completely sincere, and the others around her nodded in agreement. Just as
35:48indignant, I would laugh it off, and smoothly change the subject. Soon enough, they started
35:53talking about the beeskin they had at home. Then they asked me, Professor, what kind of beeskin do
35:57you have? I did not know how to explain everything that had happened with Brian, so I gave them a
36:01simple answer. He died. They fell silent for a long moment, until the bell rang, and class began.
36:06After that, during my two weekly lectures, students would often bring me little things. A Starbucks
36:11latte, a blueberry muffin, or a bar of Hershey's chocolate. I could never finish it all. That was
36:15when I started thinking about the little fox beeskin on campus, who survived by collecting
36:19recyclables. Beeskin were usually striking in appearance, and fox beeskin were among the most
36:24beautiful of all. But this one had deep crisscrossing scars covering both sides of his face. He was afraid
36:29of scaring the students, so he only came out late at night. That evening, when I left the lab and
36:34went
36:34looking for him, it started pouring. Out of nowhere, a figure darted toward me, a fluffy foxtail swaying
36:40behind him. I called out softly. Hey, little fox. Huh? The young beastkin turned around and noticed me,
36:46immediately lowering his head. He quickly covered his face with his hands. I'm sorry, ma'am. I must
36:50have misheard. Please don't mind me. The autumn rain carried a sharp chill. He was soaked through,
36:55water dripping steadily from his clothes. I looked at him and said gently, you don't have to hide your
36:59face. I've seen you around. I have hot water and a dryer in my office. Come upstairs and get warmed
37:04up.
37:05He hesitated, then slowly lowered his hands and nodded. Thank you, ma'am. Once we got into my office,
37:09under the bright lights, I realized how young he was. Around 18 or 19, about the same age as my
37:15freshman. While he was showering, I went next door to the lab to ask about him. My colleague,
37:19Arthur, was always eager to talk, and he filled me in without hesitation. That little fox is named
37:25Finn. I heard he used to be incredibly good looking. His former handler tried to sell him to the red
37:29light
37:29district in the underground beast trade. He refused and even bit someone before escaping. During the
37:34escape, his face got slashed up. When the people from the black market saw he was disfigured,
37:39they beat him badly and threw him into the ocean. Lucky for him, the university rowing team pulled
37:44him out. Since then, he's been scraping by on campus, selecting recyclables. I asked,
37:48where does he live? There's a run-down shed behind the hill on campus. Arthur frowned slightly.
37:53Emma, I heard your bee skin passed away. You're not thinking about adopting him, are you?
37:57I bit down on the straw of my hot latte and didn't answer. Arto's voice suddenly sharpened.
38:01He looks like that. Who would want to adopt him? His words overlapped with the voices from my past.
38:05She looks so plain. Who would ever like her? But why? We have hearts too. We want to love and
38:10be
38:10loved. Just the same. I looked at Arthur and said quietly, he isn't ugly. He's just been hurt. And
38:15he's kind. He's sweet. I've seen him share the food he collects with homeless people nearby. I've seen
38:20him donate his spare change to the Beastkin Protection Agency. So please, don't say things
38:25like that about him again. When I stepped out of Arthur's office, I saw Finn standing in the hallway.
38:29His blonde hair and tail were still damp. His eyes were brimming with tears, feeling a little awkward.
38:34I changed the subject. If it's hard to do it yourself, I can help dry it. I took the towel
38:38and gently dried his hair and tail. Then used a hair dryer to finish the job. It was my first
38:42time
38:43drying a Beastkin's tail, and I was clumsy. I accidentally hurt him more than once and kept
38:47apologizing. Finn's face turned red. It's okay. I'm already very grateful to you. When I finally
38:52finished, I handed him a muffin and the latte. He didn't take them. After a long pause, as if gathering
38:57all his courage, he spoke again. Ma'am, I don't eat much. Could you adopt me? My hand froze mid
39:04there. Finn continued. I know I'm not good looking, but I can cook, wash dishes, mow
39:08the lawn, I can get massages, and I know how to grow roses. I smiled, then took off my mask
39:13and met his eyes. But I'm not good looking either. Would you still choose me? Finn gently
39:16reached out and touched my cheek. His movements careful, almost reverent.
39:21You're very cute. He said softly. I want to go with you.
39:25My eyes stung. I blinked quickly, holding back the tears, and took his hand as we walked out
39:29of the lab building together. The rain had stopped, and just like that, I chose a family
39:34for myself. I completed the paperwork, and adopted Finn. Just like he promised. He did
39:38everything beautifully. He kept the beach house spotless, filled the yard with blooming hydrangeas,
39:43and brought me hot, home-cooked lunches at the lab. Running those spectral analyses today nearly
39:47killed me, Arthur said as he wandered in from next door, shamelessly helping himself. He took
39:52a big spoonful of beef stew, and let out a low whistle. Damn, Finn can cook. This is incredible.
39:57Meanwhile, the one at my place does nothing but curl up on the couch and watch Netflix.
40:01Honestly, Arthur should have been grateful. Brianne could not cook at all. Then again,
40:05maybe he just never bothered to do anything like that for me.
40:08That night, I had the nightmare again. A memory buried deep in my mind. I was 17.
40:14Isabella and Logan went with me and Brian to Universal Studios Orlando. Halfway through the day,
40:19the park was hit by a sudden, indiscriminate attack. Explosions erupted from every direction.
40:24Logan shielded Isabella while I grabbed Brian's hand and ran for the exit. We were near the eastern
40:30side of the park, but the flying debris still cut into everyone. We were only steps away from
40:35the exit when it was blown apart right in front of us. At the time, I had been running ahead
40:39and
40:40never noticed what happened in that instant. But in the dream, I saw it clearly. Both Logan and
40:45Brian threw themselves toward Isabella without hesitation. I was left alone, collapsing into rubble and
40:50dust, with no one caring whether I lived or died. Logan and Brian were only relieved that Isabella
40:55was safe. Later, I lay unconscious in the ICU for days. My parents and Brian stayed by Isabella's side,
41:01comforting her as she cried from the shock. A voice echoed in my mind, mocking me. Emma C.,
41:06no one in this world loves you. It came from everywhere, repeating itself over and over,
41:12surrounding me until I could not escape it. In the dream, my soul seemed to float above,
41:16crouched down, clutching my head as I tried to argue back. That's not true. That's not true.
41:22Then, faintly, someone grabbed my hand and pulled me forward. A voice said,
41:27Emma, that's not true. Everyone deserves to be loved. I woke with a start. The first thing I saw
41:32was Finn sitting at my bedside, wiping the cold sweat from my forehead. His face tight with worry,
41:38when he saw my eyes open, he finally let out a breath. Tears slipped down my face before I could
41:42stop them. Finn, can you hold me? He climbed onto the bed and pulled me into his arms. I clung
41:47to
41:48him like a child, pouring out everything I had been holding inside. Finn gently patted my back,
41:52murmuring soft reassurances. I did not have to worry about him snapping at me to leave him alone.
41:57I did not have to worry about him brushing me off and disappearing into distractions. And I
42:01definitely did not have to worry about him looking at me with cold indifference. I want to hear a song,
42:05I whispered. Finn hummed softly. You are my sunshine, my only sunshine. You make me happy when skies are
42:12great. With Finn taking care of me, I started getting better, little by little. The sunlight
42:17was especially bright today. Finn and I were in the backyard, hanging sheets out to dry. We ended up
42:22laughing and playing around on either side of the fabric, the breeze lifting it between us. Then
42:27someone called my name from beyond the fence. Emma. I turned around. Brian was standing there.
42:31The hanger slipped from my hand and fell straight onto the grass. Finn noticed the shift in my expression
42:36immediately and stepped in front of me without hesitation. I tugged lightly on the hem of Finn's
42:41flannel shirt. It's okay. I know him. Go take care of the blue crabs in the kitchen. I just need
42:46a
42:46minute to talk to him. We walked over to a wooden bench by the shore. The ocean breeze tangled my
42:51hair.
42:51I forced a small, awkward smile. It's been a while, Brian. He stared at me, his voice cold.
42:56Who is that fox? My new fostered bee skin.
43:04Brian and Logan were twin wolf bee skin. My cousin Isabella and I rescued from the underground beast
43:10trade. Back then the two of us stood there staring at those filthy little wolf pups. And without even
43:16needing to say much we each decided to adopt one. I took Brian, Isabella took Logan. Thirteen years
43:22passed in the blink of an eye. All that time, I believed that even if Brian didn't like me,
43:27he would at least feel grateful that I had saved his life. That illusion shattered. The day I
43:32accidentally overheard him talking to some other bee skin. Someone asked,
43:38Emma's been really good to you. Why are you always so cold to her?
43:42Who asked her to be good to me? You've got it good. And don't even realize it.
43:48Good? Then I guess I should thank Emma properly. If she hadn't taken me first,
43:52me'd be the one with Isabella right now. I mean, makes sense. Compared to Isabella,
43:56the head cheerleader Emma's just, nothing special. A dull ache spread through my chest.
44:01Every feeling I had held onto for Brian over the years quietly disappeared.
44:05When I got home I sat on the living room couch until well past midnight.
44:09Again and again, I picked up a mirror, staring at the girl reflected in it.
44:13I had always thought I looked average but now the longer I looked, the worse it seemed.
44:18With a surge of disgust I tossed the mirror aside.
44:21All I could see in my mind was Isabella's radiant, effortless smile. I lowered my head
44:25and let the weight of my own insecurity swallow me home. The sound of the front door opening broke
44:29the silence. Brian walked in, reeking of bourbon. Barely sparing me a glance before turning toward
44:34his bedroom. I wiped my tears with the back of my hand and stood up. For the first time I
44:39reached out,
44:39trying to grab his tail. My hand was immediately slapped away. He stepped back,
44:43his face full of irritation. Don't touch me. It was exactly the same reaction as the first time
44:48I had tried to touch his wolf ears. Even after I had taken him in, and cared for him with
44:53everything
44:53I had for 13 years. A bitter laugh slipped out of me. So if you're not pretty, even your sincerity
44:59isn't worth anyone taking seriously. I didn't even notice when my tears began to fall, one by one,
45:05onto the hardwood floor. By the time I looked up again, I was alone in the living room. My thoughts
45:10drifted, as they always did, back to high school and the annual fall homecoming carnival. I used to
45:15bring a big box of Texas' barbecue, and find Brian in the backyard. Brian, will you come to the carnival
45:21with me this year? He'd lift his head out of the pool, water dripping from his hair. No. But a
45:27lot
45:27of people bring their bee skin with them. No. If you want someone to go with you, go adopt another
45:32one
45:33from the shelter. So every year, I went alone. I would stand off to the side, watching Logan,
45:39who had the exact same face as Brian, yet always wore the gentlest smile. He would ruffle Isabella's
45:45hair and ask, Isabella, do you want that teddy bear? She'd nod with a bright smile, rising onto her
45:51toes to reach for his wolf ears. And Logan would always bend down for her, patient and indulgent.
45:56I watched him like a thief, quietly craving the life Isabella had. But one time, Chase and a few
46:02of his buddies shoved me onto the grass. His voice was dripping with mockery.
46:06Well, look who it is. Emma, a straight-A nerd. Where's your little bee skin? Didn't feel like
46:11coming out with you? One of his friends snickered.
46:14Her bee skin and Isabella's are twin wolves, right? The older one ended up with the prom queen,
46:19and the younger one got stuck with an ugly duckling.
46:21I refused to back down. Gritting my teeth, I pushed myself up and swung my fist straight at his
46:27friend's face. He went down hard. Before he could even react, Chase lunged at me,
46:31trying to fight back. But I slammed him to the ground and kept hitting him until someone
46:35finally pulled me off. The end result was predictable. All of us were called into the
46:38principal's office. I thought my mom would be on my side. Instead, right in front of the
46:42principal and Chase, she sighed in annoyance. Honestly? What were you thinking? They weren't
46:46even wrong. Why would you hit someone over that? I tugged lightly at the sleeve of her coat.
46:50Mom, I said, barely above a whisper. She acted like she didn't hear me.
46:54Let's be real. She went on. You're not exactly pretty. And now you've got this terrible temper
46:58too. Even the bee skin you raised doesn't care about you. I don't know how I ended up with a
47:02daughter like you. Sometimes I wish Isabella were my child instead. That night, I cried my eyes out
47:07in Central Park. When I finally went home, my father greeted me with a sharp slap across the face.
47:11I regret having something that's awkward. He said. I closed my eyes and fell into a heavy sleep. My messed
47:17up
47:17schedule left my mind blank when I woke up again. When I pushed the door open, I realized it was
47:22already dusk. Brian was out. But his presence lingered everywhere in the apartment. I grabbed
47:27a slice of pizza and forced myself to eat. Then started packing up everything that belonged to me.
47:31There wasn't much really. After I got into college at 18, I was afraid my parents would treat Brian
47:35badly. So I took him with me. At my poorest, I could only afford a run-down studio apartment.
47:41He slept on the bed. And I took the couch. Brian was well over 6 feet tall. And he would
47:46bump his head
47:46every time he walked through the low doorway. So I worked non-stop, picking up every part-time job I
47:51could find. Until I finally saved enough for a down payment on a small two-bedroom townhouse.
47:56Love has a way of making you feel like you owe everything. So I bought Brian more things than he
48:00could ever need. I never once considered that he didn't want any of it. This time I decided to give
48:05him what he actually wanted. Freedom. After I finished packing, I walked out of the home Brian and I had
48:09shared. The next morning, when the staff at the Bureau of Non-Human Affairs asked me for the third
48:14time if I was sure I wanted to terminate my bond with Brian. I still nodded. When a human dissolves
48:18a bond unilaterally, financial compensation is required. I left the townhouse to him. At the office,
48:24Emily handed me the bond termination certificate. Then hesitated before asking, Miss Emma, would you
48:29like to give this to Mr. Brian in person? Or should we mail it on your behalf? I took out
48:32the letter I
48:33had rewritten over and over again the night before. Please mail it to him, I said. And include this.
48:37There were only two sentences in the letter. I am sorry Brian. I took you away without your consent.
48:43So this time, I am giving your freedom back to you. I walked out of City Hall, got into my
48:47car,
48:48and left Los Angeles behind. My new life would begin in Florida, somewhere by the ocean, waiting
48:52for warmer days ahead. Since my new job was as a lecturer at a university in Miami, I rented a
48:57small
48:58beach house with a yard. The evening sea breeze carried a faint salty smell as I walked along the
49:02shore wearing a mask. The orange glow of the sunset was just right. Soft and beautiful. I took a photo,
49:07then out of habit opened my iMessage chat with Brian. Scrolling up, it was nothing but messages from me.
49:12Photos of little trinkets I found at vintage markets. Strange shaped clouds in the sky. The
49:16slow growth of a sunflower. He rarely replied. Most of the time, all I ever got back was a short
49:21dismissive. Yeah. The last message in our chat was from the day I heard the truth. I had asked him,
49:27where are you? I can come pick you up. He never replied. By then, he must have already received the
49:32bond termination certificate. And still, he could not even bring himself to say goodbye. All that was left
49:36in my chest was a dull spreading ache. After thinking it over, I realized my new life should not be
49:41tied
49:42to the past. So I changed my phone number, deleted my old Instagram, and created a new account. I
49:47packed my schedule as full as possible, just to earn a few nights of uninterrupted sleep. Some of
49:51the more outgoing college girls like to chat with me between classes. Professor Emma, why do you always
49:56wear a mask on campus? Because I'm not very pretty. Who said that? Oh my god, I swear I will
50:01shut them up.
50:02There is no such thing as an ugly girl. She sounded completely sincere. And the others around her
50:07nodded in agreement. Just as indignant, I would laugh it off, and smoothly change the subject.
50:12Soon enough, they started talking about the beeskin they had at home. Then they asked me,
50:15Professor, what kind of beeskin do you have? I did not know how to explain everything that had
50:19happened with Brian. So I gave them a simple answer. He died. They fell silent for a long moment,
50:24until the bell rang, and class began. After that, during my two weekly lectures, students would often
50:29bring me little things. A Starbucks latte, a blueberry muffin, or a bar of Hershey's chocolate. I could never
50:34finish it all. That was when I started thinking about the little fox beeskin on campus, who survived
50:39by collecting recyclables. Beeskin were usually striking in appearance, and fox beeskin were among
50:44the most beautiful of all. But this one had deep crisscrossing scars covering both sides of his face.
50:48He was afraid of scaring the students, so he only came out late at night. That evening, when I left
50:53the
50:54lab and went looking for him, it started pouring. Out of nowhere, a figure darted toward me, a fluffy
50:58foxtail swaying behind him. I called out softly, Hey, little fox, huh? The young beeskin
51:04turned around and noticed me, immediately lowering his head. He quickly covered his face with his
51:08hands. I'm sorry, ma'am. I must have misheard. Please don't mind me. The autumn rain carried a
51:13sharp chill. He was soaked through, water dripping steadily from his clothes. I looked at him and said
51:18gently, You don't have to hide your face. I've seen you around. I have hot water and a dryer in
51:22my office.
51:23Come upstairs and get warmed up. He hesitated, then slowly lowered his hands and nodded. Thank you,
51:27ma'am. Once we got into my office under the bright lights, I realized how young he was. Around 18
51:32or 19,
51:33about the same age as my freshman. While he was showering, I went next door to the lab to ask
51:38about him. My colleague, Arthur, was always eager to talk, and he filled me in without hesitation.
51:43That little fox is named Finn. I heard he used to be incredibly good looking. His former handler
51:48tried to sell him to the red light district in the underground beast trade. He refused and even
51:52bit someone before escaping. During the escape, his face got slashed up. When the people from the black
51:57market saw he was disfigured, they beat him badly and threw him into the ocean. Lucky for him,
52:02the university rowing team pulled him out. Since then, he's been scraping by on campus,
52:06selecting recyclables. I asked, where does he live? There's a run-down shed behind the hill on campus.
52:11Arthur frowned slightly. Emma, I heard your beastkin passed away. You're not thinking about adopting
52:16him, are you? I bit down on the straw of my hot latte and didn't answer. Arto's voice suddenly
52:20sharpened. He looks like that. Who would want to adopt him? His words overlapped with the voices from
52:25my past. She looks so plain. Who would ever like her? But why? We have hearts too. We want to
52:29love
52:30and be loved. Just the same. I looked at Arthur and said quietly, he isn't ugly. He's just been
52:34hurt. And he's kind. He's sweet. I've seen him share the food he collects with homeless people
52:39nearby. I've seen him donate his spare change to the Beastkin Protection Agency. So please,
52:44don't say things like that about him again. When I stepped out of Arthur's office,
52:47I saw Finn standing in the hallway. His blonde hair and tail were still damp. His eyes were brimming with
52:52tears, feeling a little awkward. I changed the subject. If it's hard to do it yourself,
52:56I can help dry it. I took the towel and gently dried his hair and tail. Then used a hairdryer
53:01to finish the job. It was my first time drying a Beastkin's tail. And I was clumsy. I accidentally
53:05hurt him more than once and kept apologizing. Finn's face turned red. It's okay. I'm already
53:10very grateful to you. When I finally finished, I handed him a muffin and a latte. He didn't take
53:15them. After a long pause, as if gathering all his courage, he spoke again. Ma'am, I don't eat much.
53:21Could you adopt me? My hand froze mid-air. Finn continued. I know I'm not good looking.
53:26But I can cook, wash dishes, mow the lawn, I can get massages, and I know how to grow roses.
53:31I smiled, then took off my mask and met his eyes. But I'm not good looking either. Would you still
53:35choose me? Finn gently reached out and touched my cheek, his movements careful, almost reverent.
53:40You're very cute, he said softly. I want to go with you.
53:45My eyes stung. I blinked quickly, holding back the tears, and took his hand as we walked out of the
53:50lab
53:50building together. The rain had stopped, and just like that, I chose a family for myself.
53:54I completed the paperwork, and adopted Finn. Just like he promised. He did everything beautifully.
53:59He kept the beach house spotless, filled the yard with blooming hydrangeas, and brought me hot,
54:03home-cooked lunches at the lab. Running those spectral analyses today nearly killed me,
54:07Arthur said as he wandered in from next door, shamelessly helping himself. He took a big spoonful
54:12of beef stew, and let out a low whistle. Damn, Finn can cook. This is incredible. Meanwhile,
54:17the one at my place does nothing but curl up on the couch and watch Netflix.
54:20Honestly, Arthur should have been grateful. Brianne could not cook at all. Then again,
54:25maybe he just never bothered to do anything like that for me. That night, I had the nightmare again.
54:30A memory buried deep in my mind. I was 17. Isabella and Logan went with me and Brian to
54:36Universal Studios Orlando. Halfway through the day, the park was hit by a sudden, indiscriminate attack.
54:42Explosions erupted from every direction. Logan shielded Isabella, while I grabbed Brian's hand,
54:47and ran for the exit. We were near the eastern side of the park, but the flying debris still
54:52cut into everyone. We were only steps away from the exit, when it was blown apart right in front
54:57of us. At the time, I had been running ahead, and never noticed what happened in that instant.
55:02But in the dream, I saw it clearly. Both Logan and Brian threw themselves toward Isabella
55:06without hesitation. I was left alone, collapsing into rubble and dust, with no one caring whether
55:11I lived or died. Logan and Brian were only relieved that Isabella was safe. Later, I lay unconscious
55:17in the ICU for days. My parents and Brian stayed by Isabella's side, comforting her as she cried
55:22from the shock. A voice echoed in my mind, mocking me. Emma C, no one in this world loves you.
55:28It came
55:29from everywhere, repeating itself over and over, surrounding me until I could not escape it. In the
55:34dream, my soul seemed to float above, crouch down, clutching my head as I tried to argue back.
55:39That's not true. That's not true. Then, faintly, someone grabbed my hand and pulled me forward.
55:46A voice said, Emma, that's not true. Everyone deserves to be loved. I woke with a start. The
55:51first thing I saw was Finn sitting at my bedside, wiping the cold sweat from my forehead. His face
55:56tight with worry. When he saw my eyes open, he finally let out a breath. Tears slipped down my face
56:02before I could stop them. Finn, can you hold me? He climbed onto the bed, and pulled me into his
56:06arms.
56:07I clung to him like a child, pouring out everything I had been holding inside. Finn gently patted my back,
56:12murmuring soft reassurances. I did not have to worry about him snapping at me to leave him alone. I did
56:17not have to worry about him brushing me off and disappearing into distractions. And I definitely
56:21did not have to worry about him looking at me with cold indifference. I want to hear a song,
56:25I whispered. Finn hummed softly. You are my sunshine, my only sunshine. You make me happy when skies are
56:32great. With Finn taking care of me, I started getting better, little by little. The sunlight
56:37was especially bright today. Finn and I were in the backyard, hanging sheets out to dry. We ended up
56:42laughing and playing around on either side of the fabric, the breeze lifting it between us. Then
56:46someone called my name from beyond the fence. Emma. I turned around. Brian was standing there. The
56:51hanger slipped from my hand and fell straight onto the grass. Finn noticed the shift in my expression
56:56immediately and stepped in front of me without hesitation. I tugged lightly on the hem of Finn's
57:01flannel shirt. It's okay. I know him. Go take care of the blue crabs in the kitchen. I just need
57:06a
57:06minute to talk to him. We walked over to a wooden bench by the shore. The ocean breeze tangled my
57:11hair.
57:11I forced a small, awkward smile. It's been a while, Brian. He stared at me, his voice cold.
57:16Who is that fox? My new fostered bee skin.