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ReelShort Drama Spotlight

😊Click to download the app to watch all episodes for free: https://reelslink.com/cps/CAhefx   👉 Head to ReelShort for More HD Episodes: https://www.reelshort.com/movie/orc-love-69eb2f6f539dc58dcc01d3fe  📌Notice: ReelShort Drama Spotlight is an officially authorized publisher of ReelShort content.   📝Synopsis: After rescuing a wolf Beastkin pup from the Underground Beast Trade, Emma spends thirteen years devoted to Brian, believing their bond means something. But when she overhears his cruel confession that he wishes he had been chosen by her cousin instead, her love shatters, forcing her to walk away and reclaim her worth.  ✨Genre: Fantasy, Romance, Anime  #reelshort #reels #FYP #film #series #Movies #drama #shortdrama #fullmovie #EngSub #englishmovies #Dailymotion #ROMANCE #RomanticDrama #BILLIONAIRE #UndercaoverBillionaire #CEO #FemaleSuccess #SecondChanceLove #FirstLove #ForbiddenLove #lovestory #marriage #RevengeStory #Betrayal #SecretReveals #HiddenIdentidy #Fantasy #ceoandcinderella #Christmas #officiallife #BingeWorthyShorts #2026

Transcript

00:00:17Brian and Logan were twin wolf beast kin that my cousin Isabella and I rescued from the

00:00:22underground beast trade. Back then the two of us stood there staring at those filthy little wolf

00:00:27pups and without even needing to say much we each decided to adopt one. I took Brian, Isabella took

00:00:33Logan. Thirteen years passed in the blink of an eye. All that time I believed that even if Brian

00:00:39didn't like me he would at least feel grateful that I had saved his life. That illusion shattered.

00:00:44The day I accidentally overheard him talking to some other beast kin someone asked Emma's been

00:00:51really good to you why are you always so cold to her? Who asked her to be good to me?

00:00:58You've got it good and don't even realize it. Good? Then I guess I should thank Emma properly.

00:01:04If she hadn't taken me first me'd be the one with Isabella right now. I mean makes sense.

00:01:08Compared to Isabella the head cheerleader Emma's just nothing special. A dull ache spread through

00:01:13my chest. Every feeling I had held on to for Brian over the years quietly disappeared. When I got home

00:01:19I sat on the living room couch until well past midnight. Again and again I picked up a mirror

00:01:24staring at the girl reflected in it. I had always thought I looked average but now the longer I

00:01:29looked the worse it seemed. With a surge of disgust I tossed the mirror aside. All I could see in

00:01:35my

00:01:35mind was Isabella's radiant effortless smile. I lowered my head and let the weight of my own

00:01:39insecurity swallow me whole. The sound of the front door opening broke the silence. Brian walked in,

00:01:45reeking of bourbon. Barely sparing me a glance before turning toward his bedroom. I wiped my tears with the

00:01:49back of my hand and stood up. For the first time I reached out, trying to grab his tail. My

00:01:54hand

00:01:54was immediately slapped away. He stepped back, his face full of irritation. Don't touch me. It was

00:01:59exactly the same reaction as the first time I had tried to touch his wolf ears. Even after I had

00:02:04taken

00:02:04him in and cared for him with everything I had for 13 years. A bitter laugh slipped out of me.

00:02:10So if you're

00:02:11not pretty, even your sincerity isn't worth anyone taking seriously. I didn't even notice when my tears

00:02:16began to fall, one by one, onto the hardwood floor. By the time I looked up again, I was alone

00:02:21in the

00:02:22living room. My thoughts drifted, as they always did. Back to high school and the annual fall homecoming

00:02:27carnival. I used to bring a big box of Texas's barbecue and find Brian in the backyard. Brian,

00:02:33will you come to the carnival with me this year? He'd lift his head out of the pool, water dripping

00:02:37from

00:02:38his hair. No. But a lot of people bring their bee skin with them. No. If you want someone to

00:02:44go with you,

00:02:44go adopt another one from the shelter. So every year, I went alone. I would stand off

00:02:50to the side, watching Logan, who had the exact same face as Brian, yet always wore the gentlest

00:02:56smile. He would ruffle Isabella's hair and ask, Isabella, do you want that teddy bear?

00:03:01She'd nod with a bright smile, rising onto her toes to reach for his wolf ears. And Logan would

00:03:07always bend down for her, patient and indulgent. I watched him like a thief, quietly craving the life

00:03:12Isabella had. But one time, Chase and a few of his buddies shoved me onto the grass.

00:03:17His voice was dripping with mockery. Well, look who it is. Emma, a straight-A

00:03:22nerd. Where's your little bee skin? Didn't feel like coming out with you? One of his friends snickered.

00:03:27Her bee skin and Isabella's are twin wolves, right? The older one ended up with the prom queen,

00:03:32and the younger one got stuck with an ugly duckling. I refused to back down. Gritting my teeth,

00:03:37I pushed myself up and swung my fist straight at his friend's face. He went down hard. Before he

00:03:42could even react, Chase lunged at me, trying to fight back. But I slammed him to the ground and

00:03:46kept hitting him until someone finally pulled me off. The end result was predictable. All of us were

00:03:51called into the principal's office. I thought my mom would be on my side. Instead, right in front of

00:03:55the principal and Chase, she sighed in annoyance. Honestly? What were you thinking? They weren't even

00:04:00wrong. Why would you hit someone over that? I tugged lightly at the sleeve of her coat.

00:04:03Mom, I said, barely above a whisper. She acted like she didn't hear me. Let's be real. She went

00:04:08on. You're not exactly pretty. And now you've got this terrible temper too. Even the bee skin you

00:04:12raised doesn't care about you. I don't know how I ended up with a daughter like you. Sometimes I wish

00:04:17Isabella were my child instead. That night, I cried my eyes out in Central Park. When I finally went home,

00:04:22my father greeted me with a sharp slap across the face. He said. I closed my eyes and fell into

00:04:29a heavy

00:04:29sleep. My messed up schedule left my mind blank when I woke up again. When I pushed the door open,

00:04:34I realized it was already dusk. Brian was out. But his presence lingered everywhere in the apartment.

00:04:39I grabbed a slice of pizza and forced myself to eat. Then started packing up everything that belonged

00:04:43to me. There wasn't much really. After I got into college at 18, I was afraid my parents would treat

00:04:48Brian badly. So I took him with me. At my poorest, I could only afford a run-down studio apartment.

00:04:54He slept on the bed. And I took the couch. Brian was well over six feet tall. And he would

00:04:59bump his

00:04:59head every time he walked through the low doorway. So I worked nonstop, picking up every part-time job

00:05:04I could find. Until I finally saved enough for a down payment on a small two-bedroom townhouse.

00:05:09Love has a way of making you feel like you owe everything. So I bought Brian more things than he

00:05:13could ever need. I never once considered that he didn't want any of it. This time I decided to give

00:05:18him

00:05:18what he actually wanted. Freedom. After I finished packing, I walked out of the home Brian and I had shared.

00:05:23The next morning, when the staff at the Bureau of Non-Human Affairs asked me for the third time

00:05:27if I was sure I wanted to terminate my bond with Brian, I still nodded. When a human dissolves

00:05:31a bond unilaterally, financial compensation is required. I left the townhouse to him. At the office,

00:05:37Emily handed me the bond termination certificate. Then hesitated before asking,

00:05:41Miss Emma, would you like to give this to Mr. Brian in person? Or should we mail it on your

00:05:44behalf?

00:05:45I took out the letter I had rewritten over and over again the night before. Please mail it to him,

00:05:49I said, and include this. There were only two sentences in the letter. I am sorry Brian,

00:05:54I took you away without your consent. So this time, I am giving your freedom back to you.

00:05:58I walked out of City Hall, got into my car, and left Los Angeles behind. My new life would begin

00:06:03in Florida, somewhere by the ocean, waiting for warmer days ahead. Since my new job was as a lecturer,

00:06:09at a university in Miami, I rented a small beach house with a yard. The evening sea breeze carried a

00:06:13faint salty smell as I walked along the shore wearing a mask. The orange glow of the sunset was

00:06:18just right. Soft and beautiful. I took a photo, then out of habit opened my iMessage chat with

00:06:22Brian. Scrolling up, it was nothing but messages from me. Photos of little trinkets I found at

00:06:26vintage markets. Strange shaped clouds in the sky. The slow growth of a sunflower. He rarely replied.

00:06:32Most of the time, all I ever got back was a short dismissive. Yeah, the last message in our chat

00:06:37was

00:06:37from the day I heard the truth. I had asked him, Where are you? I can come pick you up.

00:06:41He never replied.

00:06:42By then, he must have already received the bond termination certificate. And still,

00:06:47he could not even bring himself to say goodbye. All that was left in my chest was a dull,

00:06:51spreading ache. After thinking it over, I realized my new life should not be tied to the past. So I

00:06:56changed my phone number, deleted my old Instagram, and created a new account. I packed my schedule as

00:07:01full as possible, just to earn a few nights of uninterrupted sleep. Some of the more outgoing

00:07:05college girls like to chat with me between classes. Professor Emma, why do you always wear a mask on

00:07:10campus? Because I'm not very pretty. Who said that? Oh my god, I swear I will shut them up.

00:07:15There is no such thing as an ugly girl. She sounded completely sincere. And the others around her

00:07:20nodded in agreement, just as indignant. I would laugh it off, and smoothly change the subject.

00:07:25Soon enough, they started talking about the bee skin they had at home. Then they asked me,

00:07:28Professor, what kind of bee skin do you have? I did not know how to explain everything that had

00:07:33happened with Brian. So I gave them a simple answer. He died. They fell silent for a long moment,

00:07:37until the bell rang, and class began. After that, during my two weekly lectures,

00:07:41students would often bring me little things. A Starbucks latte, a blueberry muffin,

00:07:45or a bar of Hershey's chocolate. I could never finish it all. That was when I started thinking

00:07:49about the little fox bee skin on campus, who survived by collecting recyclables. Bee skin were

00:07:54usually striking in appearance, and fox bee skin were among the most beautiful of all. But this one had

00:07:59deep criss-crossing scars covering both sides of his face. He was afraid of scaring the students,

00:08:03so he only came out late at night. That evening, when I left the lab and went looking for him,

00:08:08it started pouring. Out of nowhere, a figure darted toward me, a fluffy foxtail swaying behind him.

00:08:13I called out softly. Hey, little fox, huh? The young bee skin turned around and noticed me,

00:08:18immediately lowering his head. He quickly covered his face with his hands. I'm sorry, ma'am,

00:08:23I must have misheard. Please don't mind me. The autumn rain carried a sharp chill. He was soaked

00:08:27through, water dripping steadily from his clothes. I looked at him and said gently,

00:08:31you don't have to hide your face. I've seen you around. I have hot water and a dryer in my

00:08:35office.

00:08:36Come upstairs and get warmed up. He hesitated, then slowly lowered his hands and nodded.

00:08:40Thank you, ma'am. Once we got into my office under the bright lights,

00:08:43I realized how young he was. Around 18 or 19, about the same age as my freshman. While he was

00:08:49showering,

00:08:49I went next door to the lab to ask about him. My colleague, Arthur, was always eager to talk,

00:08:54and he filled me in without hesitation. That little fox is named Finn. I heard he used to be

00:08:59incredibly good looking. His former handler tried to sell him to the red light district in the

00:09:03underground beast trade. He refused and even bit someone before escaping. During the escape,

00:09:08his face got slashed up. When the people from the black market saw he was disfigured,

00:09:12they beat him badly and threw him into the ocean. Lucky for him, the university rowing team pulled him

00:09:17out. Since then, he's been scraping by on campus, selecting recyclables. I asked, where does he live?

00:09:22There's a rundown shed behind the hill on campus. Arthur frowned slightly. Emma,

00:09:26I heard your beastkin passed away. You're not thinking about adopting him, are you?

00:09:30I bit down on the straw of my hot latte and didn't answer. Arthur's voice suddenly sharpened.

00:09:34He looks like that. Who would want to adopt him? His words overlapped with the voices from my past.

00:09:38She looks so plain. Who would ever like her? But why? We have hearts too. We want to love and

00:09:43be

00:09:43loved. Just the same. I looked at Arthur and said quietly, he isn't ugly. He's just been hurt.

00:09:48And he's kind. He's sweet. I've seen him share the food he collects with homeless people nearby.

00:09:53I've seen him donate his spare change to the beastkin protection agency. So please,

00:09:57don't say things like that about him again. When I stepped out of Arthur's office,

00:10:00I saw Finn standing in the hallway. His blonde hair and tail were still damp. His eyes were brimming

00:10:05with tears. Feeling a little awkward. I changed the subject. If it's hard to do it yourself,

00:10:09I can help dry it. I took the towel and gently dried his hair and tail. Then used a hair

00:10:13dryer to

00:10:14finish the job. It was my first time drying a beastkin's tail. And I was clumsy. I accidentally

00:10:19hurt him more than once and kept apologizing. Finn's face turned red.

00:10:22It's okay. I'm already very grateful to you. When I finally finished, I handed him a muffin

00:10:27and a latte. He didn't take them. After a long pause, as if gathering all his courage,

00:10:31he spoke again. Ma'am, I don't eat much. Could you adopt me?

00:10:36My hand froze mid-air. Finn continued. I know I'm not good looking, but I can cook,

00:10:40wash dishes, mow the lawn, I can get massages, and I know how to grow roses.

00:10:44I smiled, then took off my mask and met his eyes. But I'm not good looking either. Would you still

00:10:48choose me?

00:10:48Finn gently reached out and touched my cheek, his movements careful, almost reverent.

00:10:53You're very cute, he said softly. I want to go with you.

00:10:58My eyes stung. I blinked quickly, holding back the tears, and took his hand as we walked out of

00:11:02the lab building together. The rain had stopped, and just like that, I chose a family for myself.

00:11:07I completed the paperwork, and adopted Finn, just like he promised. He did everything beautifully.

00:11:12He kept the beach house spotless, filled the yard with blooming hydrangeas, and brought me hot,

00:11:16home cooked lunches at the lab. Running those spectral analyses today nearly killed me,

00:11:20Arthur said as he wandered in from next door, shamelessly helping himself. He took a big spoonful

00:11:25of beef stew, and let out a low whistle. Damn, Finn can cook, this is incredible. Meanwhile,

00:11:30the one at my place does nothing but curl up on the couch and watch Netflix. Honestly,

00:11:34Arthur should've been grateful. Brianne could not cook at all. Then again,

00:11:38maybe he just never bothered to do anything like that for me. That night, I had the nightmare again.

00:11:43A memory buried deep in my mind. I was 17. Isabella and Logan went with me and Brian to

00:11:49Universal Studios Orlando. Halfway through the day, the park was hit by a sudden, indiscriminate attack.

00:11:55Explosions erupted from every direction. Logan shielded Isabella while I grabbed Brian's hand

00:12:00and ran for the exit. We were near the eastern side of the park,

00:12:03but the flying debris still cut into everyone. We were only steps away from the exit, when it was

00:12:09blown apart right in front of us. At the time, I had been running ahead and never noticed what

00:12:13happened in that instant. But in the dream, I saw it clearly. Both Logan and Brian threw themselves

00:12:19toward Isabella without hesitation. I was left alone, collapsing into rubble and dust,

00:12:23with no one caring whether I lived or died. Logan and Brian were only relieved that Isabella was

00:12:28safe. Later, I lay unconscious in the ICU for days. My parents and Brian stayed by Isabella's side,

00:12:34comforting her as she cried from the shock. A voice echoed in my mind, mocking me.

00:12:39Emma C, no one in this world loves you. It came from everywhere, repeating itself over and over,

00:12:44surrounding me until I could not escape it. In the dream, my soul seemed to float above. Crouched down,

00:12:50clutching my head as I tried to argue back. That's not true. That's not true. Then,

00:12:55faintly, someone grabbed my hand and pulled me forward. A voice said,

00:13:00Emma, that's not true. Everyone deserves to be loved. I woke with a start. The first thing I saw

00:13:05was Finn sitting at my bedside, wiping the cold sweat from my forehead. His face tight with worry.

00:13:11When he saw my eyes open, he finally let out a breath. Tears slipped down my face before I could

00:13:15stop them. Finn, can you hold me? He climbed onto the bed and pulled me into his arms. I clung

00:13:20to him

00:13:21like a child, pouring out everything I had been holding inside. Finn gently patted my back, murmuring

00:13:25soft reassurances. I did not have to worry about him snapping at me to leave him alone. I did not

00:13:30have to worry about him brushing me off and disappearing into distractions. And I definitely

00:13:34did not have to worry about him looking at me with cold indifference. I want to hear a song,

00:13:38I whispered. Finn hummed softly. You are my sunshine, my only sunshine. You make me happy

00:13:44when skies are gray. With Finn taking care of me, I started getting better, little by little.

00:13:49The sunlight was especially bright today. Finn and I were in the backyard,

00:13:53hanging sheets out to dry. We ended up laughing and playing around on either side of the fabric,

00:13:58the breeze lifting it between us. Then someone called my name from beyond the fence.

00:14:02Aima. I turned around.

00:14:03Brian was standing there. The hanger slipped from my hand and fell straight onto the grass.

00:14:07Finn noticed the shift in my expression, immediately, and stepped in front of me without hesitation.

00:14:12I tugged lightly on the hem of Finn's flannel shirt. It's okay. I know him. Go take care of the

00:14:17blue crabs in the kitchen. I just need a minute to talk to him. We walked over to a wooden

00:14:21bench by the

00:14:22shore. The ocean breeze tangled my hair. I forced a small, awkward smile. It's been a while,

00:14:27Brian. He stared at me, his voice cold. Who is that fox? My new fostered beastkin.

00:14:32Brian and Logan were twin wolf beastkin that. My cousin Isabella and I rescued from the

00:14:37underground beast trade. Back then the two of us stood there staring at those filthy little wolf pups.

00:14:43And without even needing to say much we each decided to adopt one. I took Brian, Isabella took Logan.

00:14:4913 years passed in the blink of an eye. All that time, I believed that even if Brian didn't like

00:14:54me,

00:14:55he would at least feel grateful that I had saved his life. That illusion shattered. The day I

00:15:00accidentally overheard him talking to some other beastkin, someone asked,

00:15:06Emma's been really good to you. Why are you always so cold to her? Who asked her to be good

00:15:12to me?

00:15:13You've got it good. And, don't even realize it. Good? Then I guess I should thank Emma properly.

00:15:18If she hadn't taken me first me'd be the one with Isabella right now. I mean makes sense. Compared

00:15:23to Isabella the head cheerleader Emma's just, nothing special. A dull ache spread through my chest.

00:15:29Every feeling I had held onto for Brian over the years quietly disappeared. When I got home I sat on

00:15:34the living room couch until well past midnight. Again and again, I picked up a mirror,

00:15:39staring at the girl reflected in it. I had always thought I looked average but now the longer I

00:15:44looked, the worse it seemed. With a surge of disgust I tossed the mirror aside. All I could see in

00:15:50my

00:15:50mind was Isabella's radiant, effortless smile. I lowered my head and let the weight of my own

00:15:54insecurity swallow me whole. The sound of the front door opening broke the silence. Brian walked in,

00:15:59reeking of bourbon. Barely sparing me a glance before turning toward his bedroom. I wiped my tears with

00:16:04the back of my hand and stood up. For the first time I reached out, trying to grab his tail.

00:16:08My

00:16:09hand was immediately slapped away. He stepped back, his face full of irritation. Don't touch me.

00:16:14It was exactly the same reaction as the first time I had tried to touch his wolf ears. Even after

00:16:19I had

00:16:19taken him in, and cared for him with everything I had for thirteen years. A bitter laugh slipped out of

00:16:24me. So if you're not pretty, even your sincerity isn't worth anyone taking seriously. I didn't even notice

00:16:30when my tears began to fall, one by one, onto the hardwood floor. By the time I looked up again,

00:16:36I was alone in the living room. My thoughts drifted, as they always did. Back to high school and the

00:16:40annual fall homecoming carnival. I used to bring a big box of Texas's barbecue and find Brian in the

00:16:46backyard. Brian, will you come to the carnival with me this year? He'd lift his head out of the pool,

00:16:52water dripping from his hair. No. But a lot of people bring their bee skin with them. No. If you

00:16:58want

00:16:58someone to go with you, go adopt another one from the shelter. So every year, I went alone. I would

00:17:04stand off to the side, watching Logan, who had the exact same face as Brian, yet always wore the

00:17:10gentlest smile. He would ruffle Isabella's hair and ask, Isabella, do you want that teddy bear?

00:17:16She'd nod with a bright smile, rising onto her toes to reach for his wolf ears. And Logan would always

00:17:22bend down for her, patient and indulgent. I watched him like a thief, quietly craving the life Isabella

00:17:28had. But one time, Jason and a few of his buddies shoved me onto the grass. His voice was dripping

00:17:33with mockery. Well, look who it is. Emma, a straight-A nerd. Where's your little bee skin?

00:17:39Didn't feel like coming out with you? One of his friends snickered. Her bee skin and Isabella's are

00:17:43twin wolves, right? The older one ended up with the prom queen, and the younger one got stuck with an

00:17:48ugly duckling. I refused to back down. Gritting my teeth, I pushed myself up and swung my fist straight at

00:17:54his friend's face. He went down hard. Before he could even react, Chase lunged at me, trying to

00:17:59fight back. But I slammed him to the ground and kept hitting him until someone finally pulled me

00:18:03off. The end result was predictable. All of us were called into the principal's office. I thought

00:18:08my mom would be on my side. Instead, right in front of the principal and Chase, she sighed in annoyance.

00:18:13Honestly? What were you thinking? They weren't even wrong. Why would you hit someone over that? I tugged

00:18:17lightly at the sleeve of her coat. Mom, I said, barely above a whisper. She acted like she didn't hear

00:18:22me.

00:18:22Let's be real. She went on. You're not exactly pretty. And now you've got this terrible temper,

00:18:26too. Even the bee skin you raised doesn't care about you. I don't know how I ended up with a

00:18:30daughter like you. Sometimes I wish Isabella were my child instead. That night, I cried my eyes out

00:18:35in Central Park. When I finally went home, my father greeted me with a sharp slap across the face.

00:18:39He said. I closed my eyes and fell into a heavy sleep. My messed up schedule left my mind blank

00:18:47when

00:18:47I woke up again. When I pushed the door open, I realized it was already dusk. Brian was out,

00:18:51but his presence lingered everywhere in the apartment. I grabbed a slice of pizza and forced

00:18:56myself to eat. Then started packing up everything that belonged to me. There wasn't much really.

00:19:00After I got into college at 18, I was afraid my parents would treat Brian badly. So I took him

00:19:05with me. At my poorest, I could only afford a run-down studio apartment. He slept on the bed,

00:19:11and I took the couch. Brian was well over six feet tall, and he would bump his head every time

00:19:15he

00:19:15walked through the low doorway. So I worked nonstop, picking up every part-time job I could find. Until I

00:19:20finally saved enough for a down payment on a small two-bedroom townhouse. Love has a way of

00:19:25making you feel like you owe everything. So I bought Brian more things than he could ever need.

00:19:29I never once considered that he didn't want any of it. This time I decided to give him what he

00:19:33actually wanted. Freedom. After I finished packing, I walked out of the home Brian and I had shared.

00:19:38The next morning, when the staff at the Bureau of Non-Human Affairs asked me for the third time if

00:19:42I

00:19:42was sure I wanted to terminate my bond with Brian, I still nodded. When a human dissolves a bond

00:19:47unilaterally, financial compensation is required. I left the townhouse to him. At the office,

00:19:52Emily handed me the bond termination certificate, then hesitated before asking,

00:19:56Miss Emma, would you like to give this to Mr. Brian in person, or should we mail it on your

00:19:59behalf?

00:20:00I took out the letter I had rewritten over and over again the night before. Please mail it to him,

00:20:04I said, and include this. There were only two sentences in the letter. I am sorry Brian. I took you

00:20:09away without your consent. So this time, I am giving your freedom back to you. I walked out of City

00:20:14Hall,

00:20:14got into my car, and left Los Angeles behind. My new life would begin in Florida, somewhere by the

00:20:19ocean, waiting for warmer days ahead. Since my new job was as a lecturer, at a university in Miami,

00:20:25I rented a small beach house with a yard. The evening sea breeze carried a faint salty smell

00:20:29as I walked along the shore wearing a mask. The orange glow of the sunset was just right,

00:20:33soft and beautiful. I took a photo, then out of habit opened my iMessage chat with Brian. Scrolling up,

00:20:38it was nothing but messages from me. Photos of little trinkets I found at vintage markets,

00:20:42strange shaped clouds in the sky, the slow growth of a sunflower. He rarely replied. Most of the time,

00:20:48all I ever got back was a short dismissive. Yeah, the last message in our chat was from the day

00:20:53I

00:20:53heard the truth. I had asked him, where are you? I can come pick you up. He never replied. By

00:20:58then,

00:20:58he must have already received the bond termination certificate, and still, he could not even bring

00:21:02himself to say goodbye. All that was left in my chest was a dull spreading ache. After thinking it over,

00:21:07I realized my new life should not be tied to the past. So I changed my phone number, deleted my

00:21:12old

00:21:12Instagram, and created a new account. I packed my schedule as full as possible, just to earn a few

00:21:17nights of uninterrupted sleep. Some of the more outgoing college girls like to chat with me between

00:21:22classes. Professor Emma, why do you always wear a mask on campus? Because I'm not very pretty.

00:21:27Who said that? Oh my god, I swear I will shut them up. There is no such thing as an

00:21:31ugly girl.

00:21:32She sounded completely sincere, and the others around her nodded in agreement, just as indignant.

00:21:37I would laugh it off, and smoothly change the subject. Soon enough, they started talking about

00:21:41the bee skin they had at home. Then they asked me, Professor, what kind of bee skin do you have?

00:21:45I did not know how to explain everything that had happened with Brian, so I gave them a simple answer.

00:21:50He died. They fell silent for a long moment, until the bell rang, and class began. After that,

00:21:55during my two weekly lectures, students would often bring me little things. A Starbucks latte,

00:21:59a blueberry muffin, or a bar of Hershey's chocolate. I could never finish it all. That was when I started

00:22:04thinking about the little fox bee skin on campus, who survived by collecting recyclables. Bee skin

00:22:08were usually striking in appearance, and fox bee skin were among the most beautiful of all. But this

00:22:13one had deep crisscrossing scars covering both sides of his face. He was afraid of scaring the students,

00:22:18so he only came out late at night. That evening, when I left the lab and went looking for him,

00:22:23it started pouring. Out of nowhere, a figure darted toward me, a fluffy foxtail swaying behind him. I called out

00:22:29softly. Hey, little fox. Huh? The young beastkin turned around and noticed me, immediately lowering his head.

00:22:35He quickly covered his face with his hands. I'm sorry, ma'am. I must have misheard. Please don't mind me.

00:22:40The autumn rain carried a sharp chill. He was soaked through, water dripping steadily from his clothes.

00:22:45I looked at him and said gently, you don't have to hide your face. I've seen you around.

00:22:48I have hot water and a dryer in my office. Come upstairs and get warmed up. He hesitated,

00:22:53then slowly lowered his hands and nodded. Thank you, ma'am. Once we got into my office,

00:22:57under the bright lights, I realized how young he was. Around 18 or 19, about the same age as my

00:23:02freshman. While he was showering, I went next door to the lab to ask about him. My colleague,

00:23:07Arthur, was always eager to talk, and he filled me in without hesitation. That little fox is named

00:23:12Finn. I heard he used to be incredibly good looking. His former handler tried to sell him to the red

00:23:17light district in the underground beast trade. He refused and even bit someone before escaping.

00:23:22During the escape, his face got slashed up. When the people from the black market saw he was

00:23:26disfigured. They beat him badly and threw him into the ocean. Lucky for him, the university

00:23:30rowing team pulled him out. Since then, he's been scraping by on campus, selecting recyclables.

00:23:36I asked, where does he live? There's a run-down shed behind the hill on campus.

00:23:39Arthur frowned slightly. Emma, I heard your beastkin passed away. You're not thinking

00:23:43about adopting him, are you? I bit down on the straw of my hot latte and didn't answer.

00:23:47Arto's voice suddenly sharpened. He looks like that. Who would want to adopt him?

00:23:51His words overlapped with the voices from my past. She looks so plain. Who would ever like her?

00:23:55But why? We have hearts too. We want to love and be loved. Just the same.

00:23:59I looked at Arthur and said quietly. He isn't ugly. He's just been hurt. And he's kind. He's sweet.

00:24:05I've seen him share the food he collects with homeless people nearby. I've seen him donate his

00:24:09spare change to the beastkin protection agency. So please, don't say things like that about him again.

00:24:14When I stepped out of Arthur's office, I saw Finn standing in the hallway. His blonde hair and tail

00:24:18were still damp. His eyes were brimming with tears. Feeling a little awkward. I changed the

00:24:22subject. If it's hard to do it yourself, I can help dry it. I took the towel and gently dried

00:24:27his hair

00:24:27and tail. Then used a hair dryer to finish the job. It was my first time drying a beeskin's tail.

00:24:32And I

00:24:32was clumsy. I accidentally hurt him more than once and kept apologizing. Finn's face turned red.

00:24:37It's okay. I'm already very grateful to you. When I finally finished, I handed him a muffin and a latte.

00:24:42He didn't take them. After a long pause, as if gathering all his courage, he spoke again.

00:24:47Ma'am, I don't eat much. Could you adopt me? My hand froze mid-air. Finn continued.

00:24:53I know I'm not good looking, but I can cook, wash dishes, mow the lawn, I can get massages,

00:24:57and I know how to grow roses. I smiled, then took off my mask and met his eyes.

00:25:01But I'm not good looking either. Would you still choose me?

00:25:03Finn gently reached out and touched my cheek. His movements careful, almost reverent.

00:25:08You're very cute. He said softly. I want to go with you.

00:25:13My eyes stung. I blinked quickly, holding back the tears, and took his hand as we walked

00:25:17out of the lab building together. The rain had stopped, and just like that, I chose a family

00:25:21for myself. I completed the paperwork and adopted Finn, just like he promised. He did everything

00:25:26beautifully. He kept the beach house spotless, filled the yard with blooming hydrangeas, and brought

00:25:31me hot, home-cooked lunches at the lab. Running those spectral analyses today nearly killed me.

00:25:35Arthur said as he wandered in from next door, shamelessly helping himself. He took a big

00:25:40spoonful of beef stew, and let out a low whistle. Damn, Finn can cook. This is incredible.

00:25:45Meanwhile, the one at my place does nothing but curl up on the couch and watch Netflix.

00:25:49Honestly, Arthur should've been grateful. Brianne could not cook at all. Then again,

00:25:53maybe he just never bothered to do anything like that for me.

00:25:56That night, I had the nightmare again. A memory buried deep in my mind. I was 17. Isabella and

00:26:02Logan went with me and Brian to Universal Studios Orlando. Halfway through the day, the park was hit

00:26:08by a sudden, indiscriminate attack. Explosions erupted from every direction. Logan shielded Isabella

00:26:14while I grabbed Brianne's hand and ran for the exit. We were near the eastern side of the park,

00:26:18but the flying debris still cut into everyone. We were only steps away from the exit, when it was

00:26:24blown apart right in front of us. At the time, I had been running ahead and never noticed what

00:26:28happened in that instant. But in the dream, I saw it clearly. Both Logan and Brian threw themselves

00:26:33toward Isabella without hesitation. I was left alone, collapsing into rubble and dust,

00:26:38with no one caring whether I lived or died. Logan and Brianne were only relieved that Isabella was

00:26:43safe. Later, I lay unconscious in the ICU for days. My parents and Brianne stayed by Isabella's side,

00:26:49comforting her as she cried from the shock. A voice echoed in my mind, mocking me. Emma C.,

00:26:54no one in this world loves you. It came from everywhere, repeating itself over and over,

00:26:59surrounding me until I could not escape it. In the dream, my soul seemed to float above,

00:27:04crouched down, clutching my head as I tried to argue back. That's not true. That's not true. Then,

00:27:10faintly, someone grabbed my hand and pulled me forward. A voice said, Emma, that's not true.

00:27:16Everyone deserves to be loved. I woke with a start. The first thing I saw was Finn sitting at my

00:27:21bedside,

00:27:22wiping the cold sweat from my forehead, his face tight with worry. When he saw my eyes open,

00:27:27he finally let out a breath. Tears slipped down my face before I could stop them. Finn,

00:27:31can you hold me? He climbed onto the bed and pulled me into his arms. I clung to him like

00:27:36a child,

00:27:36pouring out everything I had been holding inside. Finn gently patted my back, murmuring soft

00:27:41reassurances. I did not have to worry about him snapping at me to leave him alone. I did not have

00:27:45to worry about him brushing me off and disappearing into distractions. And I definitely did not have to

00:27:50worry about him looking at me with cold indifference. I want to hear a song, I whispered.

00:27:54Finn hummed softly. You are my sunshine, my only sunshine. You make me happy when skies are

00:27:59gray. With Finn taking care of me, I started getting better, little by little. The sunlight

00:28:04was especially bright today. Finn and I were in the backyard, hanging sheets out to dry. We ended

00:28:09up laughing and playing around on either side of the fabric, the breeze lifting it between us. Then

00:28:14someone called my name from beyond the fence. Emma. I turned around. Brian was standing there. The

00:28:19hanger slipped from my hand and fell straight onto the grass. Finn noticed the shift in my expression

00:28:24immediately and stepped in front of me without hesitation. I tugged lightly on the hem of Finn's

00:28:29flannel shirt. It's okay. I know him. Go take care of the blue crabs in the kitchen. I just need

00:28:34a

00:28:34minute to talk to him. We walked over to a wooden bench by the shore. The ocean breeze tangled my

00:28:38hair.

00:28:39I forced a small, awkward smile. It's been a while, Brian. He stared at me, his voice cold.

00:28:44Who is that fox? My new fostered beastkin. Brian and Logan were twin wolf beastkin that

00:28:50my cousin Isabella and I rescued from the underground beast trade. Back then the two

00:28:54of us stood there staring at those filthy little wolf pups. And without even needing to say much,

00:28:59we each decided to adopt one. I took Brian. Isabella took Logan. Thirteen years passed in the blink of an

00:29:05eye. All that time, I believed that even if Brian didn't like me, he would at least feel grateful

00:29:11that I had saved his life. That illusion shattered. The day I accidentally overheard him talking to some

00:29:17other beastkin. Someone asked, Emma's been really good to you. Why are you always so cold to her?

00:29:25Who asked her to be good to me? You've got it good. And don't even realize it. Good? Then I

00:29:32guess I

00:29:32should thank Emma properly. If she hadn't taken me first me'd be the one with Isabella right now.

00:29:36I mean makes sense. Compared to Isabella the head cheerleader Emma's just, nothing special.

00:29:41A dull ache spread through my chest. Every feeling I had held onto for Brian over the years quietly

00:29:47disappeared. When I got home I sat on the living room couch until well past midnight. Again and again,

00:29:53I picked up a mirror, staring at the girl reflected in it. I had always thought I looked average but

00:29:58now

00:29:58the longer I looked, the worse it seemed. With a surge of disgust I tossed the mirror aside. All I

00:30:04could see in my mind was Isabella's radiant, effortless smile. I lowered my head and let the

00:30:08weight of my own insecurity swallow me whole. The sound of the front door opening broke the silence.

00:30:13Brian walked in, reeking of bourbon. Barely sparing me a glance before turning toward his bedroom.

00:30:18I wiped my tears with the back of my hand and stood up. For the first time I reached out,

00:30:22trying to grab his tail. My hand was immediately slapped away. He stepped back,

00:30:26his face full of irritation. Don't touch me. It was exactly the same reaction as the first time I had

00:30:31tried to touch his wolf ears. Even after I had taken him in, and cared for him with everything

00:30:36I had for 13 years. A bitter laugh slipped out of me. So if you're not pretty, even your sincerity

00:30:42isn't worth anyone taking seriously. I didn't even notice when my tears began to fall, one by one,

00:30:48onto the hardwood floor. By the time I looked up again, I was alone in the living room. My thoughts

00:30:52drifted, as they always did, back to high school and the annual fall homecoming carnival.

00:30:57I used to bring a big box of Texas' barbecue, and find Brian in the backyard. Brian, will you

00:31:03come to the carnival with me this year? He'd lift his head out of the pool, water dripping from his

00:31:07hair.

00:31:08No. But a lot of people bring their bee skin with them.

00:31:11No. If you want someone to go with you, go adopt another one from the shelter.

00:31:16So every year, I went alone. I would stand off to the side, watching Logan, who had the exact same

00:31:23face as Brian, yet always wore the gentlest smile. He would ruffle Isabella's hair and ask,

00:31:28Isabella, do you want that teddy bear? She'd nod with a bright smile, rising onto her toes to reach

00:31:34for his wolf ears. And Logan would always bend down for her, patient and indulgent. I watched him like

00:31:40a thief, quietly craving the life Isabella had. But one time, Chase and a few of his buddies shoved me

00:31:45onto the grass. His voice was dripping with mockery. Well, look who it is. Emma, a straight-A

00:31:51nerd. Where's your little bee skin? Didn't feel like coming out with you?

00:31:55One of his friends snickered. Her bee skin and Isabella's are twin wolves, right?

00:32:00The older one ended up with the prom queen, and the younger one got stuck with an ugly duckling.

00:32:04I refused to back down. Gritting my teeth, I pushed myself up and swung my fist straight at his

00:32:09friend's face. He went down hard. Before he could even react, Chase lunged at me, trying to fight back,

00:32:15but I slammed him to the ground and kept hitting him until someone finally pulled me off.

00:32:18The end result was predictable. All of us were called into the principal's office.

00:32:22I thought my mom would be on my side. Instead, right in front of the principal and Chase,

00:32:26she sighed in annoyance. Honestly? What were you thinking?

00:32:29They weren't even wrong. Why would you hit someone over that?

00:32:31I tugged lightly at the sleeve of her coat. Mom, I said, barely above a whisper.

00:32:35She acted like she didn't hear me. Let's be real. She went on.

00:32:38You're not exactly pretty, and now you've got this terrible temper too.

00:32:41Even the bee skin you raised doesn't care about you.

00:32:43I don't know how I ended up with a daughter like you. Sometimes I wish Isabella were my child instead.

00:32:48That night, I cried my eyes out in Central Park. When I finally went home,

00:32:51my father greeted me with a sharp slap across the face.

00:32:54I regret having something that's awkward. He said.

00:32:57I closed my eyes and fell into a heavy sleep. My messed up schedule left my mind blank when I

00:33:02woke up

00:33:02again. When I pushed the door open, I realized it was already dusk. Brian was out, but his presence

00:33:07lingered everywhere in the apartment. I grabbed a slice of pizza and forced myself to eat,

00:33:11then started packing up everything that belonged to me. There wasn't much really.

00:33:15After I got into college at 18, I was afraid my parents would treat Brian badly,

00:33:18so I took him with me. At my poorest, I could only afford a run-down studio apartment.

00:33:24He slept on the bed, and I took the couch. Brian was well over six feet tall,

00:33:28and he would bump his head every time he walked through the low doorway.

00:33:31So I worked nonstop, picking up every part-time job I could find, until I finally saved enough for

00:33:36a down payment on a small two-bedroom townhouse. Love has a way of making you feel like you owe

00:33:41everything. So I bought Brian more things than he could ever need. I never once considered that

00:33:45he didn't want any of it. This time I decided to give him what he actually wanted. Freedom.

00:33:49After I finished packing, I walked out of the home Brian and I had shared. The next morning,

00:33:53when the staff at the Bureau of Non-Human Affairs asked me for the third time if I was sure

00:33:57I wanted to

00:33:58terminate my bond with Brian, I still nodded. When a human dissolves a bond unilaterally,

00:34:02financial compensation is required. I left the townhouse to him. At the office,

00:34:07Emily handed me the bond termination certificate, then hesitated before asking,

00:34:10Miss Emma, would you like to give this to Mr. Brian in person, or should we mail it on your

00:34:14behalf? I took out the letter I had rewritten over and over again the night before. Please mail it to

00:34:18him, I said, and include this. There were only two sentences in the letter. I am sorry Brian,

00:34:24I took you away without your consent. So this time, I am giving your freedom back to you.

00:34:28I walked out of City Hall, got into my car and left Los Angeles behind.

00:34:32My new life would begin in Florida, somewhere by the ocean, waiting for warmer days ahead.

00:34:36Since my new job was as a lecturer, at a university in Miami, I rented a small beach house with

00:34:41a yard.

00:34:41The evening sea breeze carried a faint salty smell as I walked along the shore wearing a mask.

00:34:46The orange glow of the sunset was just right. Soft and beautiful. I took a photo, then out of habit

00:34:50opened my iMessage chat with Brian. Scrolling up, it was nothing but messages from me. Photos of little

00:34:55trinkets I found at vintage markets. Strange shaped clouds in the sky. The slow growth of a sunflower.

00:35:00He rarely replied. Most of the time, all I ever got back was a short dismissive. Yeah.

00:35:05The last message in our chat was from the day I heard the truth. I had asked him,

00:35:09where are you? I can come pick you up. He never replied. By then, he must have already received the

00:35:14bond termination certificate. And still, he could not even bring himself to say goodbye. All that was

00:35:19left in my chest was a dull spreading ache. After thinking it over, I realized my new life should not

00:35:24be

00:35:24tied to the past. So I changed my phone number, deleted my old Instagram, and created a new

00:35:29account. I packed my schedule as full as possible, just to earn a few nights of uninterrupted sleep.

00:35:33Some of the more outgoing college girls like to chat with me between classes.

00:35:37Professor Emma, why do you always wear a mask on campus? Because I'm not very pretty.

00:35:42Who said that? Oh my god. I swear I will shut them up. There is no such thing as an

00:35:46ugly girl.

00:35:47She sounded completely sincere. And the others around her nodded in agreement, just as indignant.

00:35:52I would laugh it off, and smoothly change the subject. Soon enough, they started talking about

00:35:56the bee skin they had at home. Then they asked me, Professor, what kind of bee skin do you have?

00:36:00I did not know how to explain everything that had happened with Brian. So I gave them a simple answer.

00:36:05He died. They fell silent for a long moment, until the bell rang, and class began. After that,

00:36:09during my two weekly lectures, students would often bring me little things. A Starbucks latte,

00:36:13a blueberry muffin, or a bar of Hershey's chocolate. I could never finish it all.

00:36:17That was when I started thinking about the little fox bee skin on campus,

00:36:21who survived by collecting recyclables. Bee skin were usually striking in appearance,

00:36:25and fox bee skin were among the most beautiful of all. But this one had deep,

00:36:29crisscrossing scars covering both sides of his face. He was afraid of scaring the students,

00:36:33so he only came out late at night. That evening, when I left the lab and went looking for him,

00:36:37it started pouring. Out of nowhere, a figure darted toward me, a fluffy foxtail swaying behind him.

00:36:43I called out softly. Hey, little fox. Huh? The young bee skin turned around and noticed me,

00:36:48immediately lowering his head. He quickly covered his face with his hands. I'm sorry,

00:36:52ma'am. I must have misheard. Please don't mind me. The autumn rain carried a sharp chill. He was

00:36:57soaked through, water dripping steadily from his clothes. I looked at him and said gently,

00:37:01you don't have to hide your face. I've seen you around. I have hot water and a dryer in my

00:37:05office.

00:37:06Come upstairs and get warmed up. He hesitated, then slowly lowered his hands and nodded.

00:37:10Thank you, ma'am. Once we got into my office under the bright lights,

00:37:13I realized how young he was. Around 18 or 19, about the same age as my freshman. While he was

00:37:18showering, I went next door to the lab to ask about him. My colleague, Arthur, was always eager

00:37:23to talk, and he filled me in without hesitation. That little fox is named Finn. I heard he used to

00:37:28be incredibly good looking. His former handler tried to sell him to the red light district in the

00:37:33underground beast trade. He refused and even bit someone before escaping. During the escape,

00:37:37his face got slashed up. When the people from the black market saw he was disfigured,

00:37:41they beat him badly and threw him into the ocean. Lucky for him, the university rowing team pulled

00:37:46him out. Since then, he's been scraping by on campus, selecting recyclables. I asked,

00:37:51where does he live? There's a run-down shed behind the hill on campus. Arthur frowned slightly. Emma,

00:37:56I heard your bee skin passed away. You're not thinking about adopting him, are you? I bit down on the

00:38:00straw of my hot latte and didn't answer. Arto's voice suddenly sharpened. He looks like that. Who would want to

00:38:05adopt him? His words overlapped with the voices from my past. She looks so plain. Who would ever

00:38:10like her? But why? We have hearts too. We want to love and be loved. Just the same. I looked

00:38:14at

00:38:14Arthur and said quietly, he isn't ugly. He's just been hurt. And he's kind. He's sweet. I've seen him

00:38:20share the food he collects with homeless people nearby. I've seen him donate his spare change to

00:38:24the Beastkin Protection Agency. So please, don't say things like that about him again. When I stepped

00:38:29out of Arthur's office, I saw Finn standing in the hallway. His blonde hair and tail were still damp.

00:38:34His eyes were brimming with tears, feeling a little awkward. I changed the subject. If it's

00:38:38hard to do it yourself, I can help dry it. I took the towel and gently dried his hair and

00:38:42tail. Then

00:38:43used a hair dryer to finish the job. It was my first time drying a Beastkin's tail, and I was

00:38:47clumsy.

00:38:47I accidentally hurt him more than once and kept apologizing. Finn's face turned red. It's okay.

00:38:52I'm already very grateful to you. When I finally finished, I handed him a muffin and a latte. He didn't

00:38:58take them. After a long pause, as if gathering all his courage, he spoke again. Ma'am,

00:39:02I don't eat much. Could you adopt me? My hand froze mid-air. Finn continued,

00:39:08I know I'm not good-looking, but I can cook, wash dishes, mow the lawn, I can get massages,

00:39:12and I know how to grow roses. I smiled, then took off my mask and met his eyes. But I'm

00:39:16not

00:39:16good-looking either. Would you still choose me? Finn gently reached out and touched my cheek,

00:39:20his movements careful, almost reverent. You're very cute, he said softly. I want to go with you.

00:39:27My eyes stung. I blinked quickly, holding back the tears, and took his hand as we walked out of the

00:39:32lab building together. The rain had stopped, and just like that, I chose a family for myself.

00:39:37I completed the paperwork, and adopted Finn, just like he promised. He did everything beautifully.

00:39:42He kept the beach house spotless, filled the yard with blooming hydrangeas, and brought me hot,

00:39:46home-cooked lunches at the lab. Running those spectral analyses today nearly killed me,

00:39:50Arthur said as he wandered in from next door, shamelessly helping himself. He took a big spoonful of beef

00:39:55stew, and let out a low whistle. Damn, Finn can cook, this is incredible. Meanwhile,

00:40:00the one at my place does nothing but curl up on the couch and watch Netflix. Honestly,

00:40:04Arthur should have been grateful. Brianne could not cook at all. Then again,

00:40:08maybe he just never bothered to do anything like that for me. That night, I had the nightmare again.

00:40:13A memory buried deep in my mind. I was 17. Isabella and Logan went with me and Brian to Universal

00:40:19Studios Orlando. Halfway through the day, the park was hit by a sudden, indiscriminate attack.

00:40:24Explosions erupted from every direction. Logan shielded Isabella while I grabbed Brian's hand

00:40:30and ran for the exit. We were near the eastern side of the park, but the flying debris still

00:40:35cut into everyone. We were only steps away from the exit when it was blown apart right in front of

00:40:40us.

00:40:40At the time, I had been running ahead and never noticed what happened in that instant. But in the

00:40:45dream, I saw it clearly. Both Logan and Brian threw themselves toward Isabella without hesitation.

00:40:50I was left alone, collapsing into rubble and dust, with no one caring whether I lived or died.

00:40:55Logan and Brian were only relieved that Isabella was safe. Later, I lay unconscious in the ICU for

00:41:01days. My parents and Brian stayed by Isabella's side, comforting her as she cried from the shock.

00:41:06A voice echoed in my mind, mocking me. Emma C, no one in this world loves you. It came from

00:41:12everywhere,

00:41:12repeating itself over and over, surrounding me until I could not escape it. In the dream,

00:41:17my soul seemed to float above. Crouched down, clutching my head as I tried to argue back.

00:41:22That's not true. That's not true. Then, faintly, someone grabbed my hand and pulled me forward.

00:41:28A voice said, Emma, that's not true. Everyone deserves to be loved. I woke with a start.

00:41:34The first thing I saw was Finn sitting at my bedside, wiping the cold sweat from my forehead.

00:41:39His face tight with worry. When he saw my eyes open, he finally let out a breath. Tears slipped

00:41:44down my face before I could stop them. Finn, can you hold me? He climbed onto the bed and

00:41:48pulled me into his arms. I clung to him like a child, pouring out everything I had been holding

00:41:53inside. Finn gently patted my back, murmuring soft reassurances. I did not have to worry about

00:41:57him snapping at me to leave him alone. I did not have to worry about him brushing me off and

00:42:02disappearing into distractions. And I definitely did not have to worry about him looking at me with

00:42:06cold indifference. I want to hear a song, I whispered. Finn hummed softly. You are my sunshine,

00:42:11my only sunshine. You make me happy when skies are gray. With Finn taking care of me,

00:42:16I started getting better, little by little. The sunlight was especially bright today.

00:42:21Finn and I were in the backyard, hanging sheets out to dry. We ended up laughing and playing around

00:42:26on either side of the fabric, the breeze lifting it between us. Then someone called my name from

00:42:30beyond the fence. I turned around. Brian was standing there. The hanger slipped from my hand

00:42:35and fell straight onto the grass. Finn noticed the shift in my expression, immediately, and stepped in

00:42:41front of me without hesitation. I tugged lightly on the hem of Finn's flannel shirt. It's okay,

00:42:46I know him. Go take care of the blue crabs in the kitchen. I just need a minute to talk

00:42:49to him.

00:42:50We walked over to a wooden bench by the shore. The ocean breeze tangled my hair. I forced a small,

00:42:55awkward smile. It's been a while, Brian. He stared at me, his voice cold. Who is that fox?

00:43:00My new fostered beastkin. Brian and Logan were twin wolf beastkin that

00:43:04my cousin Isabella and I rescued from the underground beast trade. Back then the two

00:43:09of us stood there staring at those filthy little wolf pups. And without even needing to say much,

00:43:14we each decided to adopt one. I took Brian, Isabella took Logan. 13 years passed in the blink of an

00:43:20eye.

00:43:21All that time, I believed that even if Brian didn't like me, he would at least feel grateful that I

00:43:26had

00:43:26saved his life. That illusion shattered. The day I accidentally overheard him talking to some other

00:43:32beastkin. Someone asked. Emma's been really good to you. Why are you always so cold to her?

00:43:40Who asked her to be good to me? You've got it good. And don't even realize it. Good? Then I

00:43:47guess I

00:43:47should thank Emma properly. If she hadn't taken me first, me'd be the one with Isabella right now. I mean,

00:43:51it makes sense. Compared to Isabella the head cheerleader Emma's just, nothing special.

00:43:56A dull ache spread through my chest. Every feeling I had held onto for Brian over the years quietly

00:44:01disappeared. When I got home I sat on the living room couch until well past midnight. Again and again,

00:44:08I picked up a mirror, staring at the girl reflected in it. I had always thought I looked average but

00:44:13now

00:44:13the longer I looked, the worse it seemed. With a surge of disgust I tossed the mirror aside. All I

00:44:19could

00:44:19see in my mind was Isabella's radiant, effortless smile. I lowered my head and let the weight of my

00:44:23own insecurity swallow me whole. The sound of the front door opening broke the silence. Brian walked

00:44:28in, reeking of bourbon. Barely sparing me a glance before turning toward his bedroom. I wiped my tears

00:44:34with the back of my hand and stood up. For the first time I reached out, trying to grab his

00:44:38tail.

00:44:38My hand was immediately slapped away. He stepped back, his face full of irritation. Don't touch me.

00:44:43It was exactly the same reaction as the first time I had tried to touch his wolf ears.

00:44:48Even after I had taken him in, and cared for him with everything I had for 13 years. A bitter

00:44:53laugh

00:44:53slipped out of me. So if you're not pretty, even your sincerity isn't worth anyone taking seriously.

00:44:59I didn't even notice when my tears began to fall, one by one, onto the hardwood floor. By the time

00:45:04I

00:45:04looked up again, I was alone in the living room. My thoughts drifted, as they always did. Back to high

00:45:09school and the annual fall homecoming carnival. I used to bring a big box of Texas's barbecue, and find

00:45:15Brian in the backyard. Brian, will you come to the carnival with me this year? He'd lift his head

00:45:20out of the pool, water dripping from his hair. No. But a lot of people bring their bee skin with

00:45:26them.

00:45:26No. If you want someone to go with you, go adopt another one from the shelter.

00:45:31So every year, I went alone. I would stand off to the side, watching Logan, who had the exact same

00:45:37face

00:45:38as Brian, yet always wore the gentlest smile. He would ruffle Isabella's hair and ask,

00:45:43Isabella, do you want that teddy bear? She'd nod with a bright smile, rising onto her toes to reach

00:45:49for his wolf ears. And Logan would always bend down for her, patient and indulgent. I watched him like

00:45:55a thief, quietly craving the life Isabella had. But one time, Jason and a few of his buddies shoved me

00:46:00onto the grass. His voice was dripping with mockery.

00:46:03Well, look who it is. Emma, Australian nerd. Where's your little bee skin? Didn't feel like

00:46:09coming out with you? One of his friends snickered.

00:46:11Her bee skin and Isabella's are twin wolves, right? The older one ended up with the prom queen,

00:46:16and the younger one got stuck with an ugly duckling.

00:46:19I refused to back down. Gritting my teeth, I pushed myself up and swung my fist straight at

00:46:24his friend's face. He went down hard. Before he could even react, Chase lunged at me, trying to fight

00:46:29back. But I slammed him to the ground and kept hitting him until someone finally pulled me off.

00:46:33The end result was predictable. All of us were called into the principal's office. I thought my

00:46:37mom would be on my side. Instead, right in front of the principal and Chase, she sighed in annoyance.

00:46:42Honestly? What were you thinking? They weren't even wrong. Why would you hit someone over that?

00:46:46I tugged lightly at the sleeve of her coat. Mom, I said, barely above a whisper. She acted like she

00:46:51didn't hear me. Let's be real, she went on. You're not exactly pretty, and now you've got this

00:46:55terrible temper too. Even the bee skin you raised doesn't care about you. I don't know how I ended

00:46:59up with a daughter like you. Sometimes I wish Isabella were my child instead. That night,

00:47:03I cried my eyes out in Central Park. When I finally went home, my father greeted me with a sharp

00:47:07slap

00:47:08across the face. He said, I closed my eyes and fell into a heavy sleep. My messed up schedule left

00:47:15my

00:47:16mind blank when I woke up again. When I pushed the door open, I realized it was already dusk. Brian

00:47:21was out,

00:47:21but his presence lingered everywhere in the apartment. I grabbed a slice of pizza and forced

00:47:25myself to eat, then started packing up everything that belonged to me. There wasn't much really.

00:47:29After I got into college at 18, I was afraid my parents would treat Brian badly, so I took him

00:47:34with me. At my poorest, I could only afford a run-down studio apartment. He slept on the bed,

00:47:40and I took the couch. Brian was well over 6 feet tall, and he would bump his head every time

00:47:44he walked

00:47:45through the low doorway. So I worked nonstop, picking up every part-time job I could find, until I finally

00:47:50saved enough for a down payment on a small two-bedroom townhouse. Love has a way of making

00:47:54you feel like you owe everything. So I bought Brian more things than he could ever need.

00:47:59I never once considered that he didn't want any of it. This time I decided to give him what he

00:48:02actually wanted. Freedom. After I finished packing, I walked out of the home Brian and I had shared.

00:48:07The next morning, when the staff at the Bureau of Non-Human Affairs asked me for the third time if

00:48:12I

00:48:12was sure I wanted to terminate my bond with Brian, I still nodded. When a human dissolves a bond

00:48:17unilaterally. Financial compensation is required. I left the townhouse to him. At the office, Emily

00:48:22handed me the bond termination certificate, then hesitated before asking, Miss Emma, would you like

00:48:26to give this to Mr. Brian in person, or should we mail it on your behalf? I took out the

00:48:30letter I had

00:48:30rewritten over and over again the night before. Please mail it to him, I said, and include this.

00:48:35There were only two sentences in the letter. I am sorry Brian, I took you away without your consent.

00:48:40So this time, I am giving your freedom back to you. I walked out of City Hall, got into my

00:48:45car,

00:48:45and left Los Angeles behind. My new life would begin in Florida, somewhere by the ocean,

00:48:49waiting for warmer days ahead. Since my new job was as a lecturer, at a university in Miami,

00:48:54I rented a small beach house with a yard. The evening sea breeze carried a faint salty smell

00:48:58as I walked along the shore wearing a mask. The orange glow of the sunset was just right,

00:49:03soft and beautiful. I took a photo, then out of habit opened my iMessage chat with Brian.

00:49:07Scrolling up, it was nothing but messages from me. Photos of little trinkets I found at vintage markets,

00:49:12strange shaped clouds in the sky, the slow growth of a sunflower. He rarely replied.

00:49:16Most of the time, all I ever got back was a short dismissive. Yeah, the last message in our chat

00:49:22was

00:49:22from the day I heard the truth. I had asked him, where are you? I can come pick you up.

00:49:26He never

00:49:26replied. By then, he must have already received the bond termination certificate, and still,

00:49:31he could not even bring himself to say goodbye. All that was left in my chest was a dull spreading

00:49:35ache.

00:49:36After thinking it over, I realized my new life should not be tied to the past. So I changed my

00:49:40phone number, deleted my old Instagram, and created a new account. I packed my schedule as

00:49:45full as possible, just to earn a few nights of uninterrupted sleep. Some of the more outgoing

00:49:49college girls like to chat with me between classes. Professor Emma, why do you always wear a mask on

00:49:54campus? Because I'm not very pretty. Who said that? Oh my god, I swear I will shut them up. There

00:50:00is no

00:50:00such thing as an ugly girl. She sounded completely sincere, and the others around her nodded in agreement.

00:50:05Just as indignant, I would laugh it off, and smoothly change the subject. Soon enough,

00:50:10they started talking about the beeskin they had at home. Then they asked me,

00:50:13Professor, what kind of beeskin do you have? I did not know how to explain everything that

00:50:17had happened with Brian, so I gave them a simple answer. He died. They fell silent for a long moment,

00:50:22until the bell rang, and class began. After that, during my two weekly lectures, students would often

00:50:26bring me little things. A Starbucks latte, a blueberry muffin, or a bar of Hershey's chocolate. I could never

00:50:31finish it all. That was when I started thinking about the little fox beeskin on

00:50:35campus, who survived by collecting recyclables. Beeskin were usually striking in appearance,

00:50:40and fox beeskin were among the most beautiful of all. But this one had deep criss-crossing scars

00:50:44covering both sides of his face. He was afraid of scaring the students, so he only came out late at

00:50:49night. That evening, when I left the lab and went looking for him, it started pouring. Out of nowhere,

00:50:54a figure darted toward me, a fluffy foxtail swaying behind him. I called out softly,

00:50:59Hey, little fox. Huh? The young beeskin turned around and noticed me, immediately lowering his

00:51:04head. He quickly covered his face with his hands. I'm sorry, ma'am. I must have misheard. Please

00:51:09don't mind me. The autumn rain carried a sharp chill. He was soaked through,

00:51:12water dripping steadily from his clothes. I looked at him and said gently,

00:51:16You don't have to hide your face. I've seen you around. I have hot water and a dryer in my

00:51:20office.

00:51:21Come upstairs and get warmed up. He hesitated, then slowly lowered his hands and nodded.

00:51:24Thank you, ma'am. Once we got into my office under the bright lights,

00:51:28I realized how young he was. Around 18 or 19, about the same age as my freshman. While he was

00:51:33showering, I went next door to the lab to ask about him. My colleague, Arthur, was always eager

00:51:38to talk, and he filled me in without hesitation. That little fox is named Finn. I heard he used to

00:51:43be incredibly good looking. His former handler tried to sell him to the red light district in the

00:51:47underground beast trade. He refused and even bit someone before escaping. During the escape,

00:51:52his face got slashed up. When the people from the black market saw he was disfigured,

00:51:56they beat him badly and threw him into the ocean. Lucky for him, the university rowing

00:52:00team pulled him out. Since then, he's been scraping by on campus, selecting recyclables.

00:52:05I asked, Where does he live? There's a rundown shed behind the hill on campus. Arthur frowned

00:52:10slightly. Emma, I heard your bee skin passed away. You're not thinking about adopting him, are you?

00:52:14I bit down on the straw of my hot latte and didn't answer. Arto's voice suddenly sharpened. He looks like

00:52:19there. Who would want to adopt him? His words overlapped with the voices from my past. She

00:52:23looks so plain. Who would ever like her? But why? We have hearts too. We want to love and be

00:52:28loved.

00:52:28Just the same. I looked at Arthur and said quietly, He isn't ugly. He's just been hurt. And he's kind.

00:52:34He's sweet. I've seen him share the food he collects with homeless people nearby. I've seen

00:52:38him donate his spare change to the Beastkin Protection Agency. So please, don't say things like

00:52:42that about him again. When I stepped out of Arthur's office, I saw Finn standing in the hallway.

00:52:46His blonde hair and tail were still damp. His eyes were brimming with tears. Feeling a little awkward.

00:52:51I changed the subject. If it's hard to do it yourself, I can help dry it. I took the towel

00:52:55and gently dried his hair and tail. Then used a hair dryer to finish the job. It was my first

00:53:00time

00:53:00drying a Beastkin's tail. And I was clumsy. I accidentally hurt him more than once and kept

00:53:04apologizing. Finn's face turned red. It's okay. I'm already very grateful to you. When I finally finished,

00:53:10I handed him a muffin and a latte. He didn't take them. After a long pause, as if gathering all

00:53:15his courage,

00:53:15he spoke again. Ma'am, I don't eat much. Could you adopt me? My hand froze mid-air. Finn continued.

00:53:22I know I'm not good looking, but I can cook, wash dishes, mow the lawn, I can get massages,

00:53:27and I know how to grow roses. I smiled, then took off my mask and met his eyes. But I'm

00:53:31not good

00:53:31looking either. Would you still choose me? Finn gently reached out and touched my cheek,

00:53:35his movements careful, almost reverent. You're very cute, he said softly. I want to go with you.

00:53:42My eyes stung. I blinked quickly, holding back the tears, and took his hand as we walked out of the

00:53:47lab building together. The rain had stopped, and just like that, I chose a family for myself.

00:53:51I completed the paperwork, and adopted Finn, just like he promised. He did everything beautifully.

00:53:56He kept the beach house spotless, filled the yard with blooming hydrangeas, and brought me hot,

00:54:01home-cooked lunches at the lab. Running those spectral analyses today nearly killed me. Arthur said as he

00:54:06wandered in from next door, shamelessly helping himself. He took a big spoonful of beef stew,

00:54:10and let out a low whistle. Damn, Finn can cook. This is incredible.

00:54:14Meanwhile, the one at my place does nothing but curl up on the couch and watch Netflix.

00:54:18Honestly, Arthur should've been grateful. Brianne could not cook at all. Then again,

00:54:22maybe he just never bothered to do anything like that for me.

00:54:25That night, I had the nightmare again. A memory buried deep in my mind. I was 17.

00:54:31Isabella and Logan went with me and Brian to Universal Studios Orlando. Halfway through the day,

00:54:36the park was hit by a sudden, indiscriminate attack. Explosions erupted from every direction.

00:54:42Logan shielded Isabella while I grabbed Brian's hand and ran for the exit. We were near the eastern

00:54:47side of the park, but the flying debris still cut into everyone. We were only steps away from the exit,

00:54:53when it was blown apart right in front of us. At the time, I had been running ahead and never

00:54:57noticed what happened in that instant. But in the dream, I saw it clearly. Both Logan and Brian threw

00:55:02themselves toward Isabella without hesitation. I was left alone, collapsing into rubble and dust,

00:55:08with no one caring whether I lived or died. Logan and Brian were only relieved that Isabella was safe.

00:55:13Later, I lay unconscious in the ICU for days. My parents and Brian stayed by Isabella's side,

00:55:19comforting her as she cried from the shock. A voice echoed in my mind, mocking me.

00:55:23Emma C, no one in this world loves you. It came from everywhere, repeating itself over and over,

00:55:29surrounding me until I could not escape it. In the dream, my soul seemed to float above. Crouched down,

00:55:34clutching my head as I tried to argue back. That's not true. That's not true. Then, faintly,

00:55:41someone grabbed my hand and pulled me forward. A voice said, Emma, that's not true. Everyone deserves

00:55:46to be loved. I woke with a start. The first thing I saw was Finn sitting at my bedside, wiping

00:55:52the cold

00:55:52sweat from my forehead. His face tight with worry. When he saw my eyes open, he finally let out a

00:55:57breath.

00:55:58Tears slipped down my face before I could stop them. Finn, can you hold me? He climbed onto the

00:56:03bed and pulled me into his arms. I clung to him like a child, pouring out everything I had been

00:56:07holding inside. Finn gently patted my back, murmuring soft reassurances. I did not have

00:56:12to worry about him snapping at me to leave him alone. I did not have to worry about him brushing

00:56:16me off and disappearing into distractions. And I definitely did not have to worry about him

00:56:20looking at me with cold indifference. I want to hear a song, I whispered. Finn hummed softly.

00:56:25You are my sunshine, my only sunshine. You make me happy when skies are gray. With Finn taking care

00:56:30of me, I started getting better, little by little. The sunlight was especially bright today. Finn and

00:56:36I were in the backyard, hanging sheets out to dry. We ended up laughing and playing around on either

00:56:41side of the fabric, the breeze lifting it between us. Then someone called my name from beyond the

00:56:45fence. Emma. I turned around. Brian was standing there. The hanger slipped from my hand and fell

00:56:51straight onto the grass. Finn noticed the shift in my expression, immediately, and stepped in front

00:56:56of me without hesitation. I tugged lightly on the hem of Finn's flannel shirt. It's okay. I know him.

00:57:01Go take care of the blue crabs in the kitchen. I just need a minute to talk to him. We

00:57:05walked over

00:57:05to a wooden bench by the shore. The ocean breeze tangled my hair. I forced a small, awkward smile.

00:57:10It's been a while, Brian. He stared at me, his voice cold. Who is that fox? My new fostered bee

00:57:16skin.

00:57:16Brian. Brian and Logan were twin wolf bees kin that my cousin Isabella and I rescued from the

00:57:21underground bees trade. Back then the two of us stood there staring at those filthy little wolf

00:57:26pups. And without even needing to say much we each decided to adopt one. I took Brian, Isabella took

00:57:33Logan. 13 years passed in the blink of an eye. All that time, I believed that even if Brian didn't

00:57:39like me, he would at least feel grateful that I had saved his life. That illusion shattered.

00:57:43The day I accidentally overheard him. Talking to some other bee skin. Someone asked.

00:57:50Emma's been really good to you. Why are you always so cold to her?

00:57:54Who asked her to be good to me? You've got it good. And don't even realize it.

00:58:01Good? Then I guess I should thank Emma properly. If she hadn't taken me first,

00:58:04me'd be the one with Isabella right now. I mean makes sense. Compared to Isabella the

00:58:08head cheerleader Emma's just, nothing special. A dull ache spread through my chest. Every feeling

00:58:14I had held onto for Brian over the years quietly disappeared. When I got home I sat on the living

00:58:19room couch until well past midnight. Again and again, I picked up a mirror, staring at the girl

00:58:25reflected in it. I had always thought I looked average but now the longer I looked, the worse it

00:58:29seemed. With a surge of disgust I tossed the mirror aside. All I could see in my mind was Isabella's

00:58:35radiant, effortless smile. I lowered my head and let the weight of my own insecurity swallow me home.

00:58:40The sound of the front door opening broke the silence. Brian walked in,

00:58:44reeking of bourbon. Barely sparing me a glance before turning toward his bedroom.

00:58:48I wiped my tears with the back of my hand and stood up. For the first time I reached out.

00:58:51Trying to grab his tail. My hand was immediately slapped away. He stepped back, his face full of

00:58:56irritation. Don't touch me. It was exactly the same reaction as the first time I had tried to touch his

00:59:02wolf ears. Even after I had taken him in, and cared for him with everything I had for 13 years.

00:59:07A bitter laugh slipped out of me. So if you're not pretty, even your sincerity isn't worth anyone

00:59:12taking seriously. I didn't even notice when my tears began to fall, one by one, onto the hardwood floor.

00:59:18By the time I looked up again, I was alone in the living room. My thoughts drifted, as they always

00:59:23did. Back to high school and the annual fall homecoming carnival. I used to bring a big box

00:59:28of Texas's barbecue, and find Brian in the backyard. Brian, will you come to the carnival with me this

00:59:33year? He'd lift his head out of the pool, water dripping from his hair. No. But a lot of people

00:59:39bring

00:59:40their bee skin with them. No. If you want someone to go with you, go adopt another one from the

00:59:45shelter.

00:59:45So every year, I went alone. I would stand off to the side, watching Logan, who had the exact same

00:59:52face as Brian, yet always wore the gentlest smile. He would ruffle Isabella's hair and ask,

00:59:58Isabella, do you want that teddy bear? She'd nod with a bright smile, rising onto her toes to reach

01:00:04for his wolf ears. And Logan would always bend down for her, patient and indulgent. I watched him like a

01:00:10thief, quietly craving the life Isabella had. But one time, Chase and a few of his buddies shoved me

01:00:15onto the grass. His voice was dripping with mockery. Well, look who it is. Emma, a straight-A

01:00:21nerd. Where's your little bee skin? Didn't feel like coming out with you? One of his friends snickered.

01:00:26Her bee skin and Isabella's are twin wolves, right? The older one ended up with the prom queen,

01:00:31and the younger one got stuck with an ugly duckling. I refused to back down. Gritting my teeth,

01:00:36I pushed myself up and swung my fist straight at his friend's face. He went down hard. Before he could

01:00:41even react, Chase lunged at me, trying to fight back. But I slammed him to the ground and kept

01:00:46hitting him until someone finally pulled me off. The end result was predictable. All of us were called

01:00:50into the principal's office. I thought my mom would be on my side. Instead, right in front of the

01:00:55principal and Chase, she sighed in annoyance. Honestly? What were you thinking? They weren't even wrong.

01:00:59Why would you hit someone over that? I tugged lightly at the sleeve of her coat.

01:01:02Mom, I said, barely above a whisper. She acted like she didn't hear me. Let's be real. She went on.

01:01:08You're not exactly pretty. And now you've got this terrible temper too. Even the bee skin you raise

01:01:12doesn't care about you. I don't know how I ended up with a daughter like you. Sometimes I wish Isabella

01:01:16were my child instead. That night, I cried my eyes out in Central Park. When I finally went home,

01:01:21my father greeted me with a sharp slap across the face. He said. I closed my eyes and fell into

01:01:28a heavy

01:01:28sleep. My messed up schedule left my mind blank when I woke up again. When I pushed the door open,

01:01:33I realized it was already dusk. Brian was out. But his presence lingered everywhere in the apartment.

01:01:38I grabbed a slice of pizza and forced myself to eat. Then started packing up everything that belonged

01:01:43to me. There wasn't much really. After I got into college at 18, I was afraid my parents would treat

01:01:47Brian badly. So I took him with me. At my poorest, I could only afford a run-down studio apartment.

01:01:54He slept on the bed. And I took the couch. Brian was well over six feet tall. And he would

01:01:58bump his

01:01:58head every time he walked through the low doorway. So I worked nonstop, picking up every part-time job

01:02:03I could find. Until I finally saved enough for a down payment on a small two-bedroom townhouse.

01:02:08Love has a way of making you feel like you owe everything. So I bought Brian more things than he

01:02:13could ever need. I never once considered that he didn't want any of it. This time I decided to give

01:02:17him

01:02:17what he actually wanted. Freedom. After I finished packing, I walked out of the home Brian and I had shared.

01:02:22The next morning, when the staff at the Bureau of Non-Human Affairs asked me for the third time

01:02:26if I was sure I wanted to terminate my bond with Brian, I still nodded. When a human dissolves

01:02:31a bond unilaterally, financial compensation is required. I left the townhouse to him. At the office,

01:02:36Emily handed me the bond termination certificate. Then hesitated before asking,

01:02:40Miss Emma, would you like to give this to Mr. Brian in person? Or should we mail it on your

01:02:44behalf?

01:02:44I took out the letter I had rewritten over and over again the night before. Please mail it to him,

01:02:48I said, and include this. There were only two sentences in the letter. I am sorry Brian,

01:02:53I took you away without your consent. So this time, I am giving your freedom back to you.

01:02:58I walked out of City Hall, got into my car, and left Los Angeles behind. My new life would begin

01:03:02in Florida, somewhere by the ocean, waiting for warmer days ahead. Since my new job was as a lecturer,

01:03:08at a university in Miami, I rented a small beach house with a yard. The evening sea breeze carried a

01:03:12faint salty smell as I walked along the shore wearing a mask. The orange glow of the sunset was

01:03:17just right. Soft and beautiful. I took a photo, then out of habit opened my iMessage chat with

01:03:21Brian. Scrolling up, it was nothing but messages from me. Photos of little trinkets I found at

01:03:26vintage markets. Strange shaped clouds in the sky. The slow growth of a sunflower. He rarely replied.

01:03:31Most of the time, all I ever got back was a short dismissive. Yeah, the last message in our chat

01:03:36was from the day I heard the truth. I had asked him, Where are you? I can come pick you

01:03:40up. He never replied.

01:03:42By then, he must have already received the bond termination certificate. And still,

01:03:46he could not even bring himself to say goodbye. All that was left in my chest was a dull spreading

01:03:50ache. After thinking it over, I realized my new life should not be tied to the past. So I changed

01:03:55my phone number, deleted my old Instagram, and created a new account. I packed my schedule as

01:04:00full as possible, just to earn a few nights of uninterrupted sleep. Some of the more outgoing

01:04:04college girls like to chat with me between classes. Professor Emma, why do you always wear a mask on

01:04:09campus? Because I'm not very pretty. Who said that? Oh my god, I swear I will shut them up.

01:04:14There is no such thing as an ugly girl. She sounded completely sincere. And the others around her

01:04:19nodded in agreement, just as indignant. I would laugh it off, and smoothly change the subject.

01:04:24Soon enough, they started talking about the bee skin they had at home. Then they asked me,

01:04:28Professor, what kind of bee skin do you have? I did not know how to explain everything that had

01:04:32happened with Brian. So I gave them a simple answer. He died. They fell silent for a long moment,

01:04:36until the bell rang, and class began. After that, during my two weekly lectures,

01:04:40students would often bring me little things. A Starbucks latte, a blueberry muffin, or a bar

01:04:45of Hershey's chocolate. I could never finish it all. That was when I started thinking about the

01:04:49little fox bee skin on campus, who survived by collecting recyclables. Bee skin were usually

01:04:53striking in appearance, and fox bee skin were among the most beautiful of all. But this one had deep

01:04:58criss-crossing scars covering both sides of his face. He was afraid of scaring the students,

01:05:02so he only came out late at night. That evening, when I left the lab and went looking for him,

01:05:07it started pouring. Out of nowhere, a figure darted toward me, a fluffy foxtail swaying behind him.

01:05:12I called out softly, Hey, little fox, huh? The young beast skin turned around and noticed me,

01:05:18immediately lowering his head. He quickly covered his face with his hands. I'm sorry, ma'am,

01:05:22I must have misheard. Please don't mind me. The autumn rain carried a sharp chill. He was soaked

01:05:27through, water dripping steadily from his clothes. I looked at him and said gently, You don't have to

01:05:31hide your face. I've seen you around. I have hot water and a dryer in my office.

01:05:35Come upstairs and get warmed up. He hesitated, then slowly lowered his hands and nodded.

01:05:39Thank you, ma'am. Once we got into my office under the bright lights,

01:05:42I realized how young he was. Around 18 or 19, about the same age as my freshman. While he was

01:05:48showering,

01:05:48I went next door to the lab to ask about him. My colleague, Arthur, was always eager to talk,

01:05:53and he filled me in without hesitation. That little fox is named Finn. I heard he used to be

01:05:58incredibly good looking. His former handler tried to sell him to the red light district in the

01:06:02underground beast trade. He refused and even bit someone before escaping. During the escape,

01:06:07his face got slashed up. When the people from the black market saw he was disfigured,

01:06:11they beat him badly and threw him into the ocean. Lucky for him, the university rowing team pulled him

01:06:16out. Since then, he's been scraping by on campus, selecting recyclables. I asked, where does he live?

01:06:21There's a run-down shed behind the hill on campus. Arthur frowned slightly. Emma,

01:06:25I heard your beastkin passed away. You're not thinking about adopting him, are you?

01:06:29I bit down on the straw of my hot latte and didn't answer. Arthur's voice suddenly sharpened.

01:06:33He looks like that. Who would want to adopt him? His words overlapped with the voices from my past.

01:06:38She looks so plain. Who would ever like her? But why? We have hearts too. We want to love

01:06:42and be loved. Just the same. I looked at Arthur and said quietly, he isn't ugly. He's just been hurt.

01:06:47And he's kind. He's sweet. I've seen him share the food he collects with homeless people nearby.

01:06:52I've seen him donate his spare change to the Beastkin Protection Agency. So please,

01:06:56don't say things like that about him again. When I stepped out of Arthur's office,

01:07:00I saw Finn standing in the hallway. His blonde hair and tail were still damp. His eyes were brimming

01:07:04with tears, feeling a little awkward. I changed the subject. If it's hard to do it yourself,

01:07:08I can help dry it. I took the towel and gently dried his hair and tail, then used a hair

01:07:13dryer to

01:07:13finish the job. It was my first time drying a Beastkin's tail, and I was clumsy. I accidentally hurt him

01:07:18more than once and kept apologizing. Finn's face turned red. It's okay. I'm already very grateful

01:07:23to you. When I finally finished, I handed him a muffin and a latte. He didn't take them. After a

01:07:28long pause, as if gathering all his courage, he spoke again. Ma'am, I don't eat much. Could you

01:07:34adopt me? My hand froze mid-air. Finn continued. I know I'm not good looking, but I can cook,

01:07:39wash dishes, mow the lawn, I can get massages, and I know how to grow roses. I smiled, then took

01:07:44off

01:07:44my mask and met his eyes. But I'm not good looking either. Would you still choose me?

01:07:48Finn gently reached out and touched my cheek. His movements careful, almost reverent.

01:07:53You're very cute. He said softly. I want to go with you.

01:07:57My eyes stung. I blinked quickly, holding back the tears, and took his hand as we walked out of

01:08:02the lab building together. The rain had stopped, and just like that, I chose a family for myself.

01:08:06I completed the paperwork, and adopted Finn. Just like he promised. He did everything beautifully.

01:08:11He kept the beach house spotless, filled the yard with blooming hydrangeas, and brought me hot,

01:08:16home cooked lunches at the lab. Running those spectral analyses today nearly killed me. Arthur

01:08:20said as he wandered in from next door, shamelessly helping himself. He took a big spoonful of beef stew,

01:08:25and let out a low whistle. Damn, Finn can cook. This is incredible. Meanwhile,

01:08:30the one at my place does nothing but curl up on the couch and watch Netflix. Honestly,

01:08:34Arthur should have been grateful. Brianne could not cook at all. Then again,

01:08:37maybe he just never bothered to do anything like that for me. That night, I had the nightmare again.

01:08:43A memory buried deep in my mind. I was 17. Isabella and Logan went with me and Brian to

01:08:48Universal Studios Orlando. Halfway through the day, the park was hit by a sudden,

01:08:53indiscriminate attack. Explosions erupted from every direction. Logan shielded Isabella,

01:08:58while I grabbed Brianne's hand and ran for the exit. We were near the eastern side of the park,

01:09:03but the flying debris still cut into everyone. We were only steps away from the exit, when it was

01:09:08blown apart right in front of us. At the time, I had been running ahead and never noticed what

01:09:13happened in that instant. But in the dream, I saw it clearly. Both Logan and Brianne threw themselves

01:09:18toward Isabella without hesitation. I was left alone, collapsing into rubble and dust,

01:09:23with no one caring whether I lived or died. Logan and Brianne were only relieved that Isabella was

01:09:27safe. Later, I lay unconscious in the ICU for days. My parents and Brianne stayed by Isabella's side,

01:09:33comforting her as she cried from the shock. A voice echoed in my mind, mocking me. Emma C,

01:09:39no one in this world loves you. It came from everywhere, repeating itself over and over,

01:09:44surrounding me until I could not escape it. In the dream, my soul seemed to float above,

01:09:48crouched down, clutching my head as I tried to argue back. That's not true. That's not true. Then,

01:09:55faintly, someone grabbed my hand and pulled me forward. A voice said, Emma, that's not true.

01:10:00Everyone deserves to be loved. I woke with a start. The first thing I saw was Finn sitting at my

01:10:05bedside,

01:10:06wiping the cold sweat from my forehead, his face tight with worry. When he saw my eyes open,

01:10:11he finally let out a breath. Tears slipped down my face before I could stop them.

01:10:15Finn, can you hold me? He climbed onto the bed and pulled me into his arms. I clung to him

01:10:20like a child,

01:10:20pouring out everything I had been holding inside. Finn gently patted my back, murmuring soft reassurances.

01:10:26I did not have to worry about him snapping at me to leave him alone. I did not have to

01:10:30worry about

01:10:30him brushing me off and disappearing into distractions. And I definitely did not have to

01:10:34worry about him looking at me with cold indifference. I want to hear a song, I whispered.

01:10:38Finn hummed softly. You are my sunshine, my only sunshine,

01:10:42you make me happy when skies are grey. With Finn taking care of me,

01:10:45I started getting better, little by little. The sunlight was especially bright today.

01:10:50Finn and I were in the backyard, hanging sheets out to dry. We ended up laughing and playing around

01:10:55on either side of the fabric, the breeze lifting it between us. Then someone called my name from

01:11:00beyond the fence. I turned around. Brian was standing there. The hanger slipped from my hand

01:11:05and fell straight onto the grass. Finn noticed the shift in my expression, immediately, and stepped

01:11:10in front of me without hesitation. I tugged lightly on the hem of Finn's flannel shirt.

01:11:14It's okay. I know him. Go take care of the blue crabs in the kitchen. I just need a minute

01:11:18to talk

01:11:19to him. We walked over to a wooden bench by the shore. The ocean breeze tangled my hair. I forced

01:11:24a

01:11:24small, awkward smile. It's been a while, Brian. He stared at me, his voice cold. Who is that fox?

01:11:29My new fostered beeskin. Brian and Logan were twin wolf beeskin that. My cousin Isabella and I

01:11:35rescued from the underground bees trade. Back then the two of us stood there staring at those filthy

01:11:41little wolf pups. And without even needing to say much we each decided to adopt one.

01:11:45I took Brian. Isabella took Logan. Thirteen years passed in the blink of an eye. All that time,

01:11:52I believed that even if Brian didn't like me, he would at least feel grateful that I had saved his

01:11:56life. That illusion shattered. The day I accidentally overheard him talking to some other beeskin.

01:12:03Someone asked. Emma's been really good to you. Why are you always so cold to her? Who asked her

01:12:10to be good to me? You've got it good. And don't even realize it. Good? Then I guess I should

01:12:17thank

01:12:17Emma properly. If she hadn't taken me first, me'd be the one with Isabella right now. I mean,

01:12:21makes sense. Compared to Isabella the head cheerleader, Emma's just nothing special. A dull ache spread

01:12:27through my chest. Every feeling I had held onto for Brian over the years quietly disappeared.

01:12:32When I got home I sat on the living room couch until well past midnight. Again and again, I picked

01:12:38up a mirror, staring at the girl reflected in it. I had always thought I looked average but now the

01:12:43longer I looked, the worse it seemed. With a surge of disgust I tossed the mirror aside. All I could

01:12:49see

01:12:49in my mind was Isabella's radiant, effortless smile. I lowered my head and let the weight of my own

01:12:53insecurity swallow me whole. The sound of the front door opening broke the silence.

01:12:57Brian walked in, reeking of bourbon, barely sparing me a glance before turning toward his bedroom.

01:13:02I wiped my tears with the back of my hand and stood up. For the first time I reached out,

01:13:06trying to grab his tail. My hand was immediately slapped away. He stepped back,

01:13:10his face full of irritation. Don't touch me. It was exactly the same reaction as the first time I had

01:13:16tried to touch his wolf ears. Even after I had taken him in, and cared for him with everything I

01:13:21had for

01:13:2113 years. A bitter laugh slipped out of me. So if you're not pretty, even your sincerity isn't

01:13:27worth anyone taking seriously. I didn't even notice when my tears began to fall, one by one.

01:13:32Onto the hardwood floor. By the time I looked up again, I was alone in the living room. My thoughts

01:13:37drifted, as they always did. Back to high school and the annual fall homecoming carnival. I used to

01:13:42bring a big box of Texas's barbecue, and find Brian in the backyard. Brian, will you come to the

01:13:47carnival with me this year? He'd lift his head out of the pool, water dripping from his hair.

01:13:53No. But a lot of people bring their bee skin with them. No. If you want someone to go with

01:13:58you,

01:13:59go adopt another one from the shelter. So every year, I went alone. I would stand off to the side,

01:14:05watching Logan, who had the exact same face as Brian, yet always wore the gentlest smile.

01:14:10He would ruffle Isabella's hair and ask, Isabella, do you want that teddy bear?

01:14:15Huh? She'd nod with a bright smile, rising onto her toes to reach for his wolf ears.

01:14:20And Logan would always bend down for her, patient and indulgent. I watched him like a thief,

01:14:25quietly craving the life Isabella had. But one time, Chase and a few of his buddies shoved me onto the

01:14:30grass. His voice was dripping with mockery. Well, look who it is. Emma, a straight-A nerd.

01:14:36Where's your little bee skin? Didn't feel like coming out with you? One of his friends snickered.

01:14:40Her bee skin and Isabella's are twin wolves, right? The older one ended up with the prom queen,

01:14:46and the younger one got stuck with an ugly duckling. I refused to back down. Gritting my teeth,

01:14:51I pushed myself up and swung my fist straight at his friend's face. He went down hard. Before he

01:14:56could even react, Chase lunged at me, trying to fight back. But I slammed him to the ground and

01:15:00kept hitting him until someone finally pulled me off. The end result was predictable. All of us were

01:15:05called into the principal's office. I thought my mom would be on my side. Instead, right in front of

01:15:09the principal and Chase, she sighed in annoyance. Honestly? What were you thinking? They weren't

01:15:13even wrong. Why would you hit someone over that? I tugged lightly at the sleeve of her coat. Mom,

01:15:18I said, barely above a whisper. She acted like she didn't hear me. Let's be real. She went on.

01:15:22You're not exactly pretty. And now you've got this terrible temper too. Even the bee skin you raise

01:15:27doesn't care about you. I don't know how I ended up with a daughter like you. Sometimes I wish Isabella

01:15:31were my child instead. That night, I cried my eyes out in Central Park. When I finally went home,

01:15:35my father greeted me with a sharp slap across the face. He said, I closed my eyes and fell into

01:15:43a

01:15:43heavy sleep. My messed up schedule left my mind blank when I woke up again. When I pushed the door

01:15:48open, I realized it was already dusk. Brian was out, but his presence lingered everywhere in the

01:15:53apartment. I grabbed a slice of pizza and forced myself to eat, then started packing up everything

01:15:57that belonged to me. There wasn't much really. After I got into college at 18, I was afraid my parents

01:16:02would treat Brian badly. So I took him with me. At my poorest, I could only afford a run-down

01:16:07studio

01:16:08apartment. He slept on the bed. And I took the couch. Brian was well over six feet tall. And he

01:16:13would bump his head every time he walked through the low doorway. So I worked nonstop, picking up

01:16:17every part-time job I could find. Until I finally saved enough for a down payment on a small two

01:16:22-bedroom

01:16:22townhouse. Love has a way of making you feel like you owe everything. So I bought Brian more things than

01:16:27he could ever need. I never once considered that he didn't want any of it. This time I decided to

01:16:32give him what he actually wanted. Freedom. After I finished packing, I walked out of the home Brian

01:16:36and I had shared. The next morning, when the staff at the Bureau of Non-Human Affairs asked me for

01:16:40the

01:16:41third time if I was sure I wanted to terminate my bond with Brian, I still nodded. When a human

01:16:45dissolves a bond unilaterally, financial compensation is required. I left the townhouse to him. At the office,

01:16:51Emily handed me the bond termination certificate, then hesitated before asking,

01:16:55Miss Emma, would you like to give this to Mr. Brian in person, or should we mail it on your

01:16:58behalf?

01:16:59I took out the letter I had rewritten over and over again the night before. Please mail it to him,

01:17:03I said, and include this. There were only two sentences in the letter. I am sorry Brian, I took you

01:17:08away

01:17:09without your consent. So this time, I am giving your freedom back to you. I walked out of City Hall,

01:17:14got into my car, and left Los Angeles behind. My new life would begin in Florida, somewhere by the ocean,

01:17:19waiting for warmer days ahead. Since my new job was as a lecturer at a university in Miami,

01:17:24I rented a small beach house with a yard. The evening sea breeze carried a faint salty smell

01:17:28as I walked along the shore wearing a mask. The orange glow of the sunset was just right,

01:17:32soft and beautiful. I took a photo, then out of habit opened my iMessage chat with Brian.

01:17:37Scrolling up, it was nothing but messages from me. Photos of little trinkets I found at vintage markets,

01:17:41strange shaped clouds in the sky, the slow growth of a sunflower. He rarely replied,

01:17:46most of the time. All I ever got back was a short dismissive. Yeah, the last message in our chat

01:17:51was

01:17:51from the day I heard the truth. I had asked him, where are you? I can come pick you up.

01:17:56He never replied. By then, he must have already received the bond termination certificate. And

01:18:00still, he could not even bring himself to say goodbye. All that was left in my chest was a dull,

01:18:05spreading ache. After thinking it over, I realized my new life should not be tied to the past. So I

01:18:10changed my phone number, deleted my old Instagram, and created a new account. I packed my schedule as

01:18:15full as possible, just to earn a few nights of uninterrupted sleep. Some of the more outgoing college

01:18:19girls like to chat with me between classes. Professor Emma, why do you always wear a mask

01:18:24on campus? Because I'm not very pretty. Who said that? Oh my god, I swear I will shut them up.

01:18:29There is no such thing as an ugly girl. She sounded completely sincere. And the others around her

01:18:34nodded in agreement, just as indignant. I would laugh it off, and smoothly change the subject.

01:18:39Soon enough, they started talking about the bee skin they had at home. Then they asked me,

01:18:42Professor, what kind of bee skin do you have? I did not know how to explain everything that had

01:18:47happened with Brian. So I gave them a simple answer. He died. They fell silent for a long

01:18:51moment, until the bell rang, and class began. After that, during my two weekly lectures,

01:18:55students would often bring me little things. A Starbucks latte, a blueberry muffin, or a bar

01:18:59of Hershey's chocolate. I could never finish it all. That was when I started thinking about the

01:19:03little fox bee skin on campus, who survived by collecting recyclables. Bee skin were usually

01:19:08striking in appearance, and fox bee skin were among the most beautiful of all. But this one had deep

01:19:13criss-crossing scars covering both sides of his face. He was afraid of scaring the students.

01:19:17So he only came out late at night. That evening, when I left the lab and went looking for him,

01:19:22it started pouring. Out of nowhere, a figure darted toward me, a fluffy foxtail swaying behind him.

01:19:27I called out softly, Hey, little fox, huh? The young bee skin turned around and noticed me,

01:19:32immediately lowering his head. He quickly covered his face with his hands. I'm sorry, ma'am,

01:19:37I must have misheard. Please don't mind me. The autumn rain carried a sharp chill. He was soaked

01:19:41through, water dripping steadily from his clothes. I looked at him and said gently,

01:19:45You don't have to hide your face. I've seen you around. I have hot water and a dryer in my

01:19:49office.

01:19:50Come upstairs and get warmed up. He hesitated, then slowly lowered his hands and nodded.

01:19:54Thank you, ma'am. Once we got into my office under the bright lights,

01:19:57I realized how young he was. Around 18 or 19, about the same age as my freshman. While he was

01:20:03showering,

01:20:03I went next door to the lab to ask about him. My colleague, Arthur, was always eager to talk,

01:20:08and he filled me in without hesitation. That little fox is named Finn. I heard he used to

01:20:13be incredibly good looking. His former handler tried to sell him to the red light district in

01:20:17the underground beast trade. He refused and even bit someone before escaping. During the escape,

01:20:22his face got slashed up. When the people from the black market saw he was disfigured,

01:20:26they beat him badly and threw him into the ocean. Lucky for him, the university rowing team pulled him

01:20:31out. Since then, he's been scraping by on campus, selecting recyclables. I asked,

01:20:35where does he live? There's a run-down shed behind the hill on campus. Arthur frowned slightly.

01:20:40Emma, I heard your beastkin passed away. You're not thinking about adopting him, are you?

01:20:44I bit down on the straw of my hot latte and didn't answer. Arto's voice suddenly sharpened.

01:20:48He looks like that. Who would want to adopt him? His words overlapped with the voices from my past.

01:20:52She looks so plain. Who would ever like her? But why? We have hearts too. We want to love and

01:20:57be

01:20:57loved. Just the same. I looked at Arthur and said quietly, he isn't ugly. He's just been hurt. And he's

01:21:02kind.

01:21:03He's sweet. I've seen him share the food he collects with homeless people nearby. I've seen

01:21:07him donate his spare change to the Beastkin Protection Agency. So please, don't say things

01:21:12like that about him again. When I stepped out of Arthur's office, I saw Finn standing in the hallway.

01:21:16His blonde hair and tail were still damp. His eyes were brimming with tears.

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