- 4 weeks ago
Category
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PeopleTranscript
00:05Emily's really good to you.
00:06Why are you so cold to her?
00:07Who asked her to be good to me?
00:09Nathan, you're seriously taking her kindness for granted.
00:11Thank her?
00:12Fine.
00:13If she hadn't grabbed me first that day, I'd be with Sophia right now.
00:16Can't blame him.
00:16Even though they're sisters, Emily looks way too plain compared to Sophia.
00:19I suddenly remembered that night 13 years ago.
00:22The spark in Nathan's eyes when he first saw Sophia, brighter than the stars.
00:26That was why I chose him, and the start of his resentment.
00:28A dull pain hit me hard.
00:3013 years of walking on emotional tightrope collapsed.
00:32I sat frozen on the living room sofa until midnight.
00:35I kept picking up the mirror, staring at the round-faced girl with dull skin inside it.
00:39The more I looked, the uglier it seemed.
00:41I shoved the mirror away in disgust, only to pick it up again moments later.
00:44I thought of Sophia's bright, radiant smile.
00:47I lowered my head and let the wave of inferiority swallow me whole.
00:50The sound of the door opening broke the silence.
00:52Nathan walked in, reeking of alcohol.
00:54He barely glanced at me before turning toward the bedroom.
00:56I wiped my tears with the back of my hand, stood up, and for the first time grabbed his tail.
01:01Don't touch me.
01:02Just like the first time I tried to touch his horns.
01:04I used to think it was natural dragon aloofness.
01:06Turns out it was pure disgust.
01:07Even after I rescued him and cared for him devotedly for 13 years, I laughed at myself bitterly.
01:13So people who aren't beautiful don't deserve sincerity.
01:15Tears fell without warning.
01:17When I looked up, I was alone.
01:18An immense, silent despair wrapped around me.
01:20I couldn't stop remembering those school garden parties.
01:23I would carry a big pot of beef stew and find Nathan in the yard.
01:27Nathan, can you come with me to the school garden party this time?
01:30No.
01:30But a lot of people bring their bee skin.
01:32No.
01:33If you want someone to go with, adopt a new one.
01:36So I always went to the garden parties alone.
01:38I stood in the corner, watching Ethan, who had the same face as Nathan, smile so gently at Sophia.
01:43Sophia?
01:44Do you want that little bear plush?
01:45Sophia would nod with a smile, stand on her tiptoes to touch his horns.
01:48And Ethan would always bend down to make it easier for her.
01:51I watched like a thief, longing for Sophia's life, terrified of being discovered.
01:55Just as I was about to leave, Kevin and his gang shoved me to the ground.
01:58I panicked.
01:59Well, if it isn't our class genius Emily, why didn't your little beasting tag along with you today?
02:04Emily's beastling and Sophia's are twin dragons.
02:07The good looking one got the beauty, while the other got stuck with the plane sister.
02:09What a shame for him.
02:10I started backing away, only to see Nathan, who had refused to come with me,
02:14walking towards Sophia with a cone of ice cream.
02:16He handed it to her, and my breath caught.
02:18As if sensing something, Nathan glanced in my direction.
02:21But nothing happened.
02:22I wasn't sure if Nathan had seen me.
02:23But one thing I knew for certain, the next second he turned and left with Sophia and Ethan.
02:28Seeing this, Kevin laughed viciously.
02:30Your beastling doesn't want you at all.
02:32He's fucking embarrassed to be seen with you in public.
02:35Rage surged through me.
02:37I couldn't take it anymore.
02:38Gritting my teeth, I swung at the lackey and knocked him down.
02:42Kevin lunged at me.
02:42I pinned him and beat him, too.
02:45In the end, I was called to the principal's office.
02:47I thought my mom would stand up for me.
02:49Instead, she complained right in front of the teacher and Kevin.
02:52Why did you have to hit him?
02:53Your classmate didn't say anything wrong.
02:55Mom, you're not good looking to start with, and your temper is awful.
03:00Even the beastling you raised doesn't like you.
03:02How did I ever give birth to such a pathetic nerd?
03:05Sometimes I wish Sophia was my only daughter.
03:07I don't remember how I ran out of the office.
03:09I only remember crying in the park all night.
03:12When I got home, my father slapped me across the face.
03:15How did I end up with such a useless daughter?
03:17I sat in the living room the entire night.
03:19When the first rays of sunlight came in, I instinctively shrank away.
03:22Only when I curled up in my dimly lit bedroom did I feel a sliver of peace.
03:26I closed my eyes and fell into a deep sleep.
03:29My reversed sleep schedule left my mind blank when I woke up.
03:32After a brief moment of emptiness, endless self-loathing and loneliness swallowed me again.
03:37I pushed open the door and realized it was already dusk.
03:40Nathan had gone out, but his scent filled every corner of the house.
03:43I ate a piece of bread without tasting it, then packed up everything that belonged to me.
03:47There wasn't much of my stuff anyway.
03:49After I got into university at 18, I escaped my family home.
03:52I was afraid my parents would mistreat Nathan, so I brought him with me.
03:56Nathan always kept the same attitude, neither accepting nor rejecting.
04:00Of course, that wasn't entirely accurate.
04:02He would reject my touches, my hugs.
04:04When I was poorest, I could only afford a single room.
04:07He slept on the bed, I slept on the sofa.
04:09Nathan was over 6 feet tall and kept bumping his head in the tiny rental.
04:13So I worked day and night until I could buy a small, 3-bedroom apartment.
04:17I thought I only had Nathan.
04:18Even if he was a bit cold, he was still my little dragon that I had rescued.
04:22Love often feels like owing someone, so I bought him so many things.
04:25I never imagined he didn't want any of this love at all.
04:28I decided to set him free.
04:30I liked walking.
04:31Nathan liked walking too, but he never liked walking with me.
04:33Only when Sophia was out with Ethan would he join me.
04:36I should have realized it sooner.
04:38Nathan's tail was usually drooping lazily, his pupils dull and uninterested.
04:42Only when Sophia appeared would his dragon tail wag excitedly in tight circles,
04:46while his vertical pupils contracted sharply with clear eagerness.
04:49I used to think he just missed Ethan.
04:51A car horn pulled me out of my memories.
04:53I looked up blankly and saw other beastkin picking up their owners.
04:56That warmth I had never experienced.
04:58I stood there alone, like a clown watching someone else's happy performance.
05:02Are you sure you want to end the adoption with Nathan?
05:04I nodded.
05:05Terminating as a human required financial compensation.
05:08I left the three-bedroom apartment to him.
05:10Miss Emily, do you want us to deliver this to Mr. Nathan, or will you handle it yourself?
05:14Please deliver it for me, and give him this as well.
05:16The letter had only two sentences.
05:18Sorry Nathan, I took you away without your consent.
05:21So this time, I'm setting you free.
05:24I walked out of the Beastkin Affairs office, got in the car, and left the city.
05:28My new life would be by the sea, waiting for spring.
05:31My new job was lecturer at a coastal university.
05:34I rented a small sea-view courtyard.
05:36The evening sea breeze carried a salty tang.
05:39I wore my mask while walking along the shore.
05:41The orange sunset was perfect.
05:43I took a photo, and habitually opened my chat with Nathan.
05:47Scrolling up, it was all my one-sided messages.
05:49Cute trinkets, strange clouds, blooming flowers.
05:52He rarely replied.
05:54A short, hmm, was usually all I got.
05:56The last record stopped on the day I overheard the truth.
05:59I asked him, where are you?
06:01I'll come pick you up.
06:02He still hadn't replied.
06:03He should have received the termination certificate by now, right?
06:06Yet he wouldn't even say goodbye.
06:08Only a heart full of dense, aching bitterness remained.
06:11I thought about it, and decided my new life shouldn't be tied to the past.
06:15So I changed my phone number, and created a new social media account.
06:18Sleep was impossible that night.
06:20The night air was cool as water.
06:21Moonlight pouring down.
06:23This was my favorite time.
06:24After my mom publicly tore open my scars in the office that year,
06:28Kevin started mocking me about being ugly without restraint.
06:30Emily is just an ugly bookworm.
06:32Even her own mother doesn't like her.
06:34I couldn't argue back because it was the truth.
06:36I could only wait for nightfall, hiding in the darkness to cry in secret.
06:40Back then, Nathan would always stand in the yard.
06:42After I cried on the balcony, he would still be standing there.
06:45I once mistook it for his silent companionship.
06:47Now I realize he was probably just like me,
06:50using the darkness to cover his own sadness.
06:52Besides teaching at university, I had my own research project.
06:55After finishing, I would run a lap along the beach before coming back to write.
06:58I filled every hour of my schedule to earn nights without insomnia.
07:04Professor, why do you never take off your mask?
07:08Because I'm not good looking.
07:10Who said that?
07:11I'll tear their mouths apart.
07:12There's no such thing as an unattractive girl.
07:14The girls spoke with genuine passion,
07:16and the others looked ready to fight on my behalf.
07:18I would laugh and steer the conversation to another topic.
07:20Then the students started talking about their own beastkin.
07:23Professor, what kind of beastkin do you have at home?
07:26I didn't know how to explain my complicated history with Nathan,
07:29so I just said,
07:30He passed away.
07:32I'm so sorry.
07:33After that, during the two big lectures each week,
07:36students would always bring me milk tea, cake, or chocolate.
07:38I couldn't finish it all,
07:39so I thought of the little wolf beastkin who scavenged around campus.
07:43Beastkin were striking,
07:44and wolf beastkin looked even more handsome.
07:46But this little wolf on campus had many deep and shallow scars across both sides of his face.
07:50He was careful not to startle the students,
07:52so he only came out after dark.
07:53When I came out of the lab that evening to find the little beastkin,
07:56it happened to start raining.
07:57A shadowy figure slipped out cautiously,
07:59his bushy wolf teeth flicking into view.
08:01Little wolf.
08:02Huh?
08:03The autumn rain was cold.
08:04Sorry, miss.
08:05I was just trying to get out of the rain.
08:07I didn't know anyone was here.
08:09The young wolf beastkin was completely soaked.
08:11You don't have to cover your face.
08:13I've seen you before.
08:15I have a dryer in my office.
08:17Come up and dry off.
08:18He hesitated for a moment, then nodded.
08:19Thank you, miss.
08:20Under the bright office lights,
08:22I saw he was very young,
08:23around 18 or 19,
08:25same age as my students.
08:26While he showered,
08:27I went next door and asked colleagues about him.
08:30His name's Lucas.
08:31I heard he used to be really handsome,
08:32so his old owner tried to sell him
08:34to the underground black market for that kind of dirty work.
08:37But he fought back hard,
08:38bit someone,
08:38and escaped.
08:39His face got messed up while he was running away.
08:42When the black market guys saw he was ruined,
08:44they beat him and tossed him into the sea.
08:46Luckily, some students pulled him out,
08:48and he's been living off scraps around campus ever since.
08:51Where's he staying?
08:51There's a shed on the hill behind the school.
08:53Emily, I heard your beastian passed away.
08:55You're not actually thinking of adopting him, right?
08:57He's so ugly.
08:59Who would want to adopt him?
09:00His words overlapped with the old mockery I used to hear.
09:03She looks so ordinary.
09:04How could anyone like her?
09:07But why?
09:08We also have hearts that want to love and be loved.
09:11Hayes, Lucas isn't ugly.
09:12He's just been hurt,
09:13and he's kind and adorable.
09:15I've seen him share the food he scavenged
09:16with the little beggars outside school.
09:18I've seen him donate money to the beastkin school.
09:20So please,
09:22don't talk about him like that anymore.
09:24When I came out of my colleague's office,
09:26I saw Lucas standing in the hallway.
09:28His hair and tail were still wet.
09:29His eyes glistened with unshed tears.
09:33I awkwardly changed the subject.
09:36If it's hard for you to do it yourself,
09:38can I help dry you?
09:39I took the towel and dried his hair and tail,
09:42then used the hair dryer.
09:43It was my first time drying a beastkin's tail,
09:45so I kept making clumsy mistakes and apologizing.
09:48It's okay.
09:49Thank you so much, miss.
09:50After I finished,
09:51I offered him the cake and milk tea.
09:53He didn't take them.
09:54After hesitating for a long time,
09:56he spoke again,
09:57voice low but steady.
09:59Miss, I don't eat much.
10:01Could you adopt me?
10:02I know I'm not good looking,
10:03but I can cook,
10:04wash dishes,
10:05clean the house.
10:06I can also give massages
10:07and take care of flowers.
10:09But I'm not good looking either.
10:11Would you still choose me?
10:13You're very cute, miss.
10:15I want to go with you.
10:16My eyes stung.
10:17I blinked back the tears,
10:19took Lucas's hand,
10:20and left the lab building.
10:21The rain had stopped.
10:23I finally had a home
10:24and someone just like me.
10:25Who is that wolf?
10:27My newly adopted beastin.
10:29What about me?
10:31We already terminated the adoption.
10:33You're abandoning me.
10:35For that ugly mutt?
10:37Thirteen years ago,
10:39Sophia and I found
10:40two frozen little dragons
10:41in a blizzard.
10:42They lay collapsed in the snow.
10:43I scooped up Nathan.
10:44Sophia took Ethan.
10:45For thirteen years,
10:47I cared for Nathan
10:47with all my heart.
10:48Every morning,
10:49I woke early
10:50to make his breakfast.
10:51On his birthdays,
10:52I picked gifts a week ahead.
10:53When he felt down,
10:54I sat by the fireplace
10:55with him in silence.
10:56Until the day I accidentally
10:57overheard his conversation
10:59with other beastkin.
11:00Emily's really good to you.
11:01Why are you so cold to her?
11:03Who asked her to be good to me?
11:04Nathan,
11:04you're seriously taking
11:05her kindness for granted.
11:06Thank her?
11:07Fine.
11:08If she hadn't grabbed me
11:09first that day,
11:09I'd be with Sophia right now.
11:11Can't blame him.
11:11Even though they're sisters,
11:12Emily looks way too plain
11:14compared to Sophia.
11:15I suddenly remembered
11:15that night thirteen years ago.
11:17The spark in Nathan's eyes
11:18when he first saw Sophia,
11:20brighter than the stars.
11:21That was why I chose him
11:22and the start of his resentment.
11:23A dull pain hit me hard.
11:25Thirteen years of walking
11:26on emotional tightrope collapsed.
11:27I sat frozen on the living room sofa
11:29until midnight.
11:30I kept picking up the mirror,
11:31staring at the round-faced girl
11:33with dull skin inside it.
11:34The more I looked,
11:35the uglier it seemed.
11:36I shoved the mirror away in disgust,
11:38only to pick it up again moments later.
11:39I thought of Sophia's bright,
11:41radiant smile.
11:42I lowered my head
11:43and let the wave of inferiority swallow me whole.
11:45The sound of the door opening
11:46broke the silence.
11:47Nathan walked in,
11:48reeking of alcohol.
11:49He barely glanced at me
11:50before turning toward the bedroom.
11:52I wiped my tears
11:52with the back of my hand,
11:54stood up,
11:54and for the first time
11:55grabbed his tail.
11:56Don't touch me.
11:57Just like the first time
11:58I tried to touch his horns.
11:59I used to think
11:59it was natural dragon aloofness.
12:01Turns out it was pure disgust.
12:03Even after I rescued him
12:04and cared for him devotedly
12:05for 13 years,
12:06I laughed at myself bitterly.
12:08So people who aren't beautiful
12:09don't deserve sincerity.
12:10Tears fell without warning.
12:12When I looked up,
12:13I was alone.
12:13An immense,
12:14silent despair
12:15wrapped around me.
12:16I couldn't stop remembering
12:17those school garden parties.
12:19I would carry a big pot of beef stew
12:20and find Nathan in the yard.
12:22Nathan,
12:23can you come with me
12:23to the school garden party this time?
12:25No.
12:26But a lot of people
12:27bring their bee skin.
12:28No.
12:29If you want someone to go with,
12:30adopt a new one.
12:31So I always went
12:32to the garden parties alone.
12:33I stood in the corner
12:34watching Ethan,
12:35who had the same face as Nathan,
12:37smile so gently at Sophia.
12:38Sophia?
12:39Do you want that little bear plush?
12:41Sophia would nod with a smile,
12:42stand on her tiptoes
12:43to touch his horns,
12:44and Ethan would always bend down
12:45to make it easier for her.
12:46I watched like a thief,
12:48longing for Sophia's life,
12:49terrified of being discovered.
12:51Just as I was about to leave,
12:52Kevin and his gang
12:53shoved me to the ground.
12:54I panicked.
12:54Well, if it isn't our class genius Emily,
12:56why didn't your little beasting tag
12:58along with you today?
13:00Emily's beastling and Sophia's
13:01are twin dragons.
13:02The good-looking one got the beauty,
13:03while the other got stuck
13:04with the plane sister.
13:05What a shame for him.
13:06I started backing away,
13:07only to see Nathan,
13:08who had refused to come with me,
13:10walking towards Sophia
13:10with a cone of ice cream.
13:11He handed it to her,
13:13and my breath caught.
13:13As if sensing something,
13:15Nathan glanced in my direction.
13:16But nothing happened.
13:17I wasn't sure if Nathan had seen me,
13:19but one thing I knew for certain,
13:20the next second he turned
13:21and left with Sophia and Ethan.
13:23Seeing this,
13:24Kevin laughed viciously.
13:26Your beastling doesn't want you at all.
13:28He's fucking embarrassed
13:29to be seen with you in public.
13:31Rage surged through me.
13:32I couldn't take it anymore.
13:34Gritting my teeth,
13:35I swung at the lackey
13:36and knocked him down.
13:37Kevin lunged at me.
13:38I pinned him
13:39and beat him too.
13:40In the end,
13:41I was called to the principal's office.
13:43I thought my mom
13:43would stand up for me.
13:44Instead,
13:45she complained right in front
13:46of the teacher and Kevin.
13:47Why did you have to hit him?
13:48Your classmate didn't say anything wrong.
13:51Mom,
13:51you're not good looking to start with
13:53and your temper is awful.
13:55Even the beastling you raised
13:56doesn't like you.
13:57How did I ever give birth
13:58to such a pathetic nerd?
14:00Sometimes I wish Sophia
14:01was my only daughter.
14:02I don't remember
14:03how I ran out of the office.
14:05I only remember crying in the park
14:06all night.
14:07When I got home,
14:08my father slapped me across the face.
14:10How did I end up
14:11with such a useless daughter?
14:12I sat in the living room
14:13the entire night
14:14when the first rays of sunlight came in.
14:16I instinctively shrank away.
14:18Only when I curled up
14:19in my dimly lit bedroom
14:20did I feel a sliver of peace.
14:22I closed my eyes
14:23and fell into a deep sleep.
14:24My reversed sleep schedule
14:26left my mind blank
14:27when I woke up.
14:27After a brief moment of emptiness,
14:29endless self-loathing
14:30and loneliness
14:31swallowed me again.
14:33I pushed open the door
14:34and realized
14:34it was already dusk.
14:35Nathan had gone out,
14:36but his scent filled
14:37every corner of the house.
14:39I ate a piece of bread
14:40without tasting it,
14:41then packed up everything
14:42that belonged to me.
14:43There wasn't much
14:43of my stuff anyway.
14:44After I got into university
14:46at 18,
14:46I escaped my family home.
14:48I was afraid my parents
14:49would mistreat Nathan,
14:50so I brought him with me.
14:51Nathan always kept
14:52the same attitude,
14:53neither accepting
14:54nor rejecting.
14:55Of course,
14:56that wasn't entirely accurate.
14:57He would reject my touches,
14:59my hugs.
15:00When I was poorest,
15:01I could only afford
15:02a single room.
15:03He slept on the bed,
15:04I slept on the sofa.
15:05Nathan was over 6 feet tall
15:06and kept bumping his head
15:07in the tiny rental,
15:08so I worked day and night
15:10until I could buy
15:10a small 3-bedroom apartment.
15:12I thought I only had Nathan.
15:14Even if he was a bit cold,
15:15he was still my little dragon
15:16that I had rescued.
15:17Love often feels like
15:19owing someone,
15:19so I bought him
15:20so many things.
15:21I never imagined
15:22he didn't want
15:23any of this love at all.
15:24I decided to set him free.
15:25I liked walking.
15:26Nathan liked walking too,
15:27but he never liked
15:28walking with me.
15:29Only when Sophia
15:30was out with Ethan
15:31would he join me.
15:31I should have realized
15:32it sooner.
15:33Nathan's tail
15:34was usually drooping lazily,
15:35his pupils dull
15:36and uninterested.
15:37Only when Sophia appeared
15:39would his dragon tail
15:40wag excitedly in tight circles,
15:41while his vertical pupils
15:43contracted sharply
15:44with clear eagerness.
15:45I used to think
15:45he just missed Ethan.
15:47A car horn pulled me
15:48out of my memories.
15:48I looked up blankly
15:49and saw other beast kin
15:50picking up their owners.
15:51That warmth
15:52I had never experienced.
15:53I stood there alone,
15:55like a clown
15:55watching someone else's
15:56happy performance.
15:57Are you sure you want
15:58to end the adoption
15:59with Nathan?
16:00I nodded.
16:01Terminating as a human
16:02required financial compensation.
16:04I left the 3-bedroom
16:05apartment to him.
16:06Miss Emily,
16:07do you want us to deliver
16:07this to Mr. Nathan?
16:08Or will you handle it yourself?
16:10Please deliver it for me
16:11and give him this as well.
16:12The letter had only two sentences.
16:14Sorry Nathan,
16:15I took you away
16:16without your consent.
16:17So this time,
16:18I'm setting you free.
16:19I walked out of the
16:20Beastkin Affairs office,
16:22got in the car,
16:22and left the city.
16:24My new life would be
16:25by the sea,
16:26waiting for spring.
16:27My new job was lecturer
16:28at a coastal university.
16:30I rented a small
16:31sea view courtyard.
16:32The evening sea breeze
16:33carried a salty tang.
16:34I wore my mask
16:35while walking along the shore.
16:37The orange sunset
16:38was perfect.
16:39I took a photo
16:40and habitually opened
16:41my chat with Nathan.
16:42Scrolling up,
16:43it was all my
16:44one-sided messages.
16:45Cute trinkets,
16:46strange clouds,
16:47blooming flowers.
16:48He rarely replied.
16:50A short,
16:50hmm,
16:51was usually all I got.
16:52The last record stopped
16:53on the day I overheard
16:54the truth.
16:55I asked him,
16:56where are you?
16:57I'll come pick you up.
16:58He still hadn't replied.
16:59He should have received
17:00the termination certificate
17:01by now, right?
17:02Yet he wouldn't even
17:03say goodbye.
17:03Only a heart full of
17:05dense,
17:05aching bitterness remained.
17:07I thought about it
17:08and decided my new life
17:09shouldn't be tied to the past.
17:10So I changed my phone number
17:12and created a new
17:12social media account.
17:14Sleep was impossible
17:15that night.
17:15The night air was cool
17:16as water,
17:17moonlight pouring down.
17:19This was my favorite time.
17:20After my mom publicly
17:21tore open my scars
17:22in the office that year,
17:23Kevin started mocking me
17:24about being ugly
17:25without restraint.
17:26Emily is just an ugly
17:27bookworm.
17:28Even her own mother
17:29doesn't like her.
17:30I couldn't argue back
17:31because it was the truth.
17:32I could only wait
17:32for nightfall,
17:33hiding in the darkness
17:34to cry in secret.
17:36Back then,
17:36Nathan would always
17:37stand in the yard.
17:38After I cried on the balcony,
17:39he would still be standing there.
17:41I once mistook it
17:42for his silent companionship.
17:43Now I realize
17:44he was probably
17:44just like me,
17:45using the darkness
17:46to cover his own sadness.
17:47Besides teaching at university,
17:49I had my own research project.
17:51After finishing,
17:51I would run a lap
17:52along the beach
17:53before coming back to write.
17:54I filled every hour
17:55of my schedule
17:56to earn nights
17:57without insomnia.
18:00Professor,
18:00why do you never
18:01take off your mask?
18:03Because I'm not good looking.
18:05Who said that?
18:06I'll tear their mouths apart.
18:08There's no such thing
18:09as an unattractive girl.
18:10The girls spoke
18:10with genuine passion
18:11and the others
18:12looked ready to fight
18:13on my behalf.
18:13I would laugh
18:14and steer the conversation
18:15to another topic.
18:16Then the students
18:16started talking
18:17about their own beast kin.
18:18Professor,
18:19what kind of beast kin
18:20do you have at home?
18:22I didn't know
18:22how to explain
18:23my complicated history
18:24with Nathan,
18:24so I just said,
18:25he passed away.
18:28I'm so sorry.
18:29After that,
18:30during the two big lectures
18:31each week,
18:31students would always
18:32bring me milk tea,
18:33cake, or chocolate.
18:34I couldn't finish it all,
18:35so I thought of
18:36the little wolf beast kin
18:37who scavenged around campus.
18:38Beast kin were striking,
18:39and wolf beast kin
18:40looked even more handsome.
18:41But this little wolf
18:42on campus had many deep
18:43and shallow scars
18:44across both sides
18:45of his face.
18:46He was careful
18:46not to startle the students,
18:47so he only came out
18:48after dark.
18:49When I came out
18:49of the lab that evening
18:50to find the little beast
18:51kin,
18:51it happened to start raining.
18:53A shadowy figure
18:53slipped out cautiously,
18:55his bushy wolf teeth
18:55flicking into view.
18:57Little wolf.
18:58Huh?
18:59The autumn rain was cold.
19:00Sorry, miss.
19:01I was just trying
19:01to get out of the rain.
19:03I didn't know
19:03anyone was here.
19:04The young wolf beast kin
19:05was completely soaked.
19:07You don't have
19:07to cover your face.
19:08I've seen you before.
19:10I have a dryer in my office.
19:12Come up and dry off.
19:13He hesitated for a moment,
19:14then nodded.
19:15Thank you, miss.
19:16Under the bright office lights,
19:17I saw he was very young,
19:19around 18 or 19,
19:20same age as my students.
19:22While he showered,
19:23I went next door
19:24and asked colleagues about him.
19:25His name's Lucas.
19:26I heard he used to be
19:27really handsome,
19:28so his old owner
19:29tried to sell him
19:30to the underground black market
19:31for that kind of dirty work.
19:32But he fought back hard,
19:33bit someone,
19:34and escaped.
19:35His face got messed up
19:36while he was running away.
19:37When the black market guys
19:38saw he was ruined,
19:39they beat him
19:40and tossed him into the sea.
19:42Luckily,
19:42some students pulled him out,
19:43and he's been living off scraps
19:45around campus ever since.
19:46Where's he staying?
19:47There's a shed on the hill
19:48behind the school.
19:49Emily,
19:49I heard your beastion passed away.
19:51You're not actually thinking
19:52of adopting him, right?
19:53He's so ugly.
19:54Who would want to adopt him?
19:55His words overlapped
19:56with the old mockery
19:57I used to hear.
19:58She looks so ordinary.
20:00How could anyone like her?
20:02But why?
20:04We also have hearts
20:05that want to love
20:05and be loved.
20:07Hayes,
20:08Lucas isn't ugly.
20:09He's just been hurt,
20:10and he's kind and adorable.
20:12I've seen him share the food
20:13he scavenged
20:13with the little beggars
20:14outside school.
20:15I've seen him donate money
20:16to the Beastkin School.
20:18So please,
20:19don't talk about him
20:20like that anymore.
20:21When I came out
20:22of my colleague's office,
20:23I saw Lucas
20:24standing in the hallway.
20:25His hair and tail
20:25were still wet.
20:26His eyes glistened
20:27with unshed tears.
20:30I awkwardly changed
20:31the subject.
20:33If it's hard for you
20:34to do it yourself,
20:35can I help dry you?
20:36I took the towel
20:37and dried his hair and tail,
20:38then used the hair dryer.
20:40It was my first time
20:41drying a Beastkin's tail,
20:42so I kept making
20:43clumsy mistakes
20:44and apologizing.
20:45It's okay.
20:45Thank you so much, miss.
20:47After I finished,
20:48I offered him the cake
20:49and milk tea.
20:49He didn't take them.
20:51After hesitating
20:52for a long time,
20:53he spoke again,
20:54voice low but steady.
20:56Miss,
20:56I don't eat much.
20:58Could you adopt me?
20:59I know I'm not good looking,
21:00but I can cook,
21:01wash dishes,
21:02clean the house.
21:03I can also give massages
21:04and take care of flowers.
21:05But I'm not good looking either.
21:07Would you still choose me?
21:10You're very cute, miss.
21:12I want to go with you.
21:13My eyes stung.
21:14I blinked back the tears,
21:16took Lucas's hand,
21:17and left the lab building.
21:18The rain had stopped.
21:19I finally had a home
21:21and someone just like me.
21:24Don't touch me.
21:25Just like the first time
21:25I tried to touch his horns.
21:27I used to think
21:27it was natural dragon aloofness.
21:29Turns out it was pure disgust.
21:30Even after I rescued him
21:32and cared for him devotedly
21:33for 13 years,
21:34I laughed at myself bitterly.
21:36So people who aren't beautiful
21:37don't deserve sincerity.
21:38Tears fell without warning.
21:39When I looked up,
21:40I was alone.
21:41An immense,
21:42silent despair
21:43wrapped around me.
21:44I couldn't stop remembering
21:45those school garden parties.
21:46I would carry a big pot
21:47of beef stew
21:48and find Nathan in the yard.
21:50Nathan, can you come with me
21:51to the school garden party
21:52this time?
21:53No.
21:53But a lot of people
21:54bring their bee skin.
21:55No.
21:56If you want someone to go with,
21:58adopt a new one.
21:59So I always went
21:59to the garden parties alone.
22:01I stood in the corner
22:02watching Ethan,
22:03who had the same face as Nathan,
22:04smile so gently at Sophia.
22:06Sophia?
22:07Do you want that
22:07little bear plush?
22:08Sophia would nod with a smile,
22:10stand on her tiptoes
22:11to touch his horns,
22:12and Ethan would always bend down
22:13to make it easier for her.
22:14I watched like a thief,
22:15longing for Sophia's life,
22:17terrified of being discovered.
22:18Just as I was about to leave,
22:20Kevin and his gang
22:20shoved me to the ground.
22:21I panicked.
22:22Well, if it isn't
22:22our class genius Emily,
22:24why didn't your little
22:25beasting tag along
22:26with you today?
22:27Emily's beastling
22:28and Sophia's
22:29are twin dragons.
22:29The good looking one
22:30got the beauty,
22:31while the other got stuck
22:31with the plane sister.
22:32What a shame for him.
22:33I started backing away,
22:35only to see Nathan,
22:36who had refused
22:36to come with me,
22:37walking towards Sophia
22:38with a cone of ice cream.
22:39He handed it to her,
22:40and my breath caught.
22:41As if sensing something,
22:42Nathan glanced in my direction,
22:43but nothing happened.
22:44I wasn't sure
22:45if Nathan had seen me,
22:46but one thing I knew
22:47for certain,
22:47the next second he turned
22:49and left with Sophia
22:50and Ethan.
22:51Seeing this,
22:52Kevin laughed viciously.
22:53Your beastling
22:54doesn't want you at all.
22:55He's fucking embarrassed
22:57to be seen with you
22:58in public.
22:58Rage surged through me.
23:00I couldn't take it anymore.
23:01Gritting my teeth,
23:02I swung at the lackey
23:03and knocked him down.
23:05Kevin lunged at me.
23:06I pinned him
23:06and beat him too.
23:08In the end,
23:08I was called
23:09to the principal's office.
23:10I thought my mom
23:11would stand up for me.
23:12Instead,
23:13she complained
23:13right in front of the teacher
23:14and Kevin.
23:15Why did you have to hit him?
23:16Your classmate
23:17didn't say anything wrong.
23:18Mom,
23:19you're not good looking
23:20to start with
23:21and your temper is awful.
23:22Even the beastling you raised
23:24doesn't like you.
23:25How did I ever give birth
23:26to such a pathetic nerd?
23:28Sometimes I wish Sophia
23:29was my only daughter.
23:30I don't remember
23:31how I ran out of the office.
23:32I only remember crying
23:33in the park all night.
23:35When I got home,
23:36my father slapped me
23:37across the face.
23:38How did I end up
23:39with such a useless daughter?
23:40I sat in the living room
23:41the entire night.
23:42When the first rays
23:42of sunlight came in,
23:44I instinctively shrank away.
23:45Only when I curled up
23:46in my dimly lit bedroom
23:47did I feel a sliver of peace.
23:49I closed my eyes
23:50and fell into a deep sleep.
23:52My reversed sleep schedule
23:53left my mind blank
23:54when I woke up.
23:55After a brief moment
23:56of emptiness,
23:57endless self-loathing
23:58and loneliness
23:59swallowed me again.
24:00I pushed open the door
24:01and realized
24:02it was already dusk.
24:03Nathan had gone out,
24:04but his scent
24:05filled every corner
24:05of the house.
24:06I ate a piece of bread
24:07without tasting it,
24:08then packed up everything
24:09that belonged to me.
24:10There wasn't much
24:11of my stuff anyway.
24:12After I got into university
24:13at 18,
24:14I escaped my family home.
24:15I was afraid my parents
24:16would mistreat Nathan,
24:18so I brought him with me.
24:19Nathan always kept
24:20the same attitude,
24:21neither accepting
24:21nor rejecting.
24:22Of course,
24:23that wasn't entirely accurate.
24:25He would reject my touches,
24:26my hugs.
24:27When I was poorest,
24:28I could only afford
24:29a single room.
24:30He slept on the bed,
24:31I slept on the sofa.
24:32Nathan was over six feet tall
24:34and kept bumping his head
24:35in the tiny rental.
24:36So I worked day and night
24:37until I could buy
24:38a small three-bedroom apartment.
24:40I thought I only had Nathan.
24:41Even if he was a bit cold,
24:43he was still my little dragon
24:44that I had rescued.
24:45Love often feels like
24:46owing someone,
24:47so I bought him so many things.
24:48I never imagined he didn't want
24:50any of this love at all.
24:51I decided to set him free.
24:53I liked walking.
24:54Nathan liked walking too,
24:55but he never liked
24:55walking with me.
24:56Only when Sophia was out
24:58with Ethan would he join me.
24:59I should have realized it sooner.
25:01Nathan's tail was usually
25:02drooping lazily,
25:03his pupils dull
25:04and uninterested.
25:05Only when Sophia appeared
25:06would his dragon tail wag
25:07excitedly in tight circles,
25:09while his vertical pupils
25:10contracted sharply
25:11with clear eagerness.
25:12I used to think
25:13he just missed Ethan.
25:14A car horn pulled me
25:15out of my memories.
25:16I looked up blankly
25:17and saw other beastkin
25:18picking up their owners.
25:19That warmth
25:20I had never experienced.
25:21I stood there alone,
25:22like a clown watching
25:23someone else's happy performance.
25:25Are you sure you want
25:25to end the adoption
25:26with Nathan?
25:27I nodded.
25:28Terminating as a human
25:29required financial compensation.
25:31I left the three-bedroom
25:32apartment to him.
25:34Miss Emily,
25:34do you want us to deliver
25:35this to Mr. Nathan
25:35or will you handle it yourself?
25:37Please deliver it for me
25:38and give him this as well.
25:39The letter had only
25:40two sentences.
25:41Sorry, Nathan.
25:42I took you away
25:43without your consent.
25:44So this time,
25:45I'm setting you free.
25:46I walked out of
25:47the Beastkin Affairs office,
25:49got in the car,
25:50and left the city.
25:51My new life would be
25:52by the sea,
25:53waiting for spring.
25:54My new job was lecturer
25:55at a coastal university.
25:57I rented a small
25:58sea-view courtyard.
25:59The evening sea breeze
26:00carried a salty tang.
26:02I wore my mask
26:02while walking along the shore.
26:04The orange sunset
26:05was perfect.
26:06I took a photo
26:07and habitually opened
26:08my chat with Nathan.
26:10Scrolling up,
26:10it was all my
26:11one-sided messages.
26:12Cute trinkets,
26:13strange clouds,
26:14blooming flowers.
26:15He rarely replied.
26:17A short,
26:17hmm,
26:18was usually all I got.
26:19The last record stopped
26:20on the day I overheard
26:22the truth.
26:22I asked him,
26:23where are you?
26:24I'll come pick you up.
26:25He still hadn't replied.
26:26He should have received
26:27the termination certificate
26:28by now, right?
26:29Yet he wouldn't even
26:30say goodbye.
26:31Only a heart full of dense,
26:33aching bitterness remained.
26:34I thought about it,
26:35and decided my new life
26:36shouldn't be tied to the past.
26:37So I changed my phone number,
26:39and created a new
26:40social media account.
26:41Sleep was impossible
26:42that night.
26:43The night air was cool
26:43as water,
26:44moonlight pouring down.
26:46This was my favorite time.
26:47After my mom publicly
26:48tore open my scars
26:49in the office that year,
26:50Kevin started mocking me
26:52about being ugly
26:52without restraint.
26:53Emily is just an ugly bookworm.
26:55Even her own mother
26:56doesn't like her.
26:57I couldn't argue back
26:58because it was the truth.
26:59I could only wait
27:00for nightfall,
27:01hiding in the darkness
27:01to cry in secret.
27:03Back then,
27:03Nathan would always
27:04stand in the yard.
27:05After I cried on the balcony,
27:06he would still be
27:07standing there.
27:08I once mistook it
27:09for his silent companionship.
27:10Now I realize
27:11he was probably just like me,
27:13using the darkness
27:13to cover his own sadness.
27:15Besides teaching at university,
27:16I had my own research project.
27:18After finishing,
27:19I would run a lap
27:19along the beach
27:20before coming back to write.
27:21I filled every hour
27:22of my schedule
27:23to earn nights
27:24without insomnia.
27:27Professor,
27:28why do you never
27:28take off your mask?
27:30Because I'm not good looking.
27:33Who said that?
27:34I'll tear their mouths apart.
27:35There's no such thing
27:36as an unattractive girl.
27:37The girls spoke
27:38with genuine passion,
27:39and the others
27:39looked ready to fight
27:40on my behalf.
27:41I would laugh
27:41and steer the conversation
27:42to another topic.
27:43Then the students started
27:44talking about their own beastkin.
27:45Professor,
27:46what kind of beastkin
27:47do you have at home?
27:49I didn't know how to explain
27:50my complicated history
27:51with Nathan,
27:52so I just said,
27:53he passed away.
27:55I'm so sorry.
27:56After that,
27:57during the two big lectures
27:58each week,
27:59students would always
27:59bring me milk tea,
28:00cake, or chocolate.
28:01I couldn't finish it all,
28:02so I thought of
28:03the little wolf beastkin
28:04who scavenged around campus.
28:06Beastkin were striking,
28:06and wolf beastkin
28:07looked even more handsome.
28:09But this little wolf
28:09on campus had many deep
28:11and shallow scars
28:11across both sides
28:12of his face.
28:13He was careful
28:13not to startle the students,
28:15so he only came out
28:15after dark.
28:16When I came out
28:17of the lab that evening
28:17to find the little beastkin,
28:19it happened to start raining.
28:20A shadowy figure
28:21slipped out cautiously,
28:22his bushy wolf teeth
28:23flicking into view.
28:24Little wolf.
28:25Huh?
28:26The autumn rain was cold.
28:27Sorry, miss.
28:28I was just trying
28:29to get out of the rain.
28:30I didn't know
28:31anyone was here.
28:32The young wolf beastkin
28:33was completely soaked.
28:34You don't have
28:35to cover your face.
28:36I've seen you before.
28:38I have a dryer in my office.
28:40Come up and dry off.
28:41He hesitated for a moment,
28:42then nodded.
28:42Thank you, miss.
28:43Under the bright office lights,
28:45I saw he was very young,
28:46around 18 or 19,
28:48same age as my students.
28:49While he showered,
28:50I went next door
28:51and asked colleagues about him.
28:52His name's Lucas.
28:54I heard he used to be
28:54really handsome,
28:55so his old owner
28:56tried to sell him
28:57to the underground black market
28:58for that kind of dirty work.
28:59But he fought back hard,
29:01bit someone,
29:01and escaped.
29:02His face got messed up
29:03while he was running away.
29:04When the black market guys
29:06saw he was ruined,
29:07they beat him
29:07and tossed him into the sea.
29:09Luckily,
29:10some students pulled him out,
29:11and he's been living off scraps
29:12around campus ever since.
29:14Where's he staying?
29:14There's a shed
29:15on the hill
29:15behind the school.
29:16Emily,
29:17I heard your Beastkin passed away.
29:18You're not actually thinking
29:19of adopting him, right?
29:20He's so ugly.
29:21Who would want to adopt him?
29:23His words overlapped
29:24with the old mockery
29:25I used to hear.
29:26She looks so ordinary.
29:27How could anyone like her?
29:30But why?
29:31We also have hearts
29:32that want to love
29:33and be loved.
29:34Hayes,
29:34Lucas isn't ugly.
29:35He's just been hurt,
29:36and he's kind and adorable.
29:38I've seen him share
29:38the food he scavenged
29:39with the little beggars
29:40outside school.
29:41I've seen him donate money
29:42to the Beastkin school.
29:43So please,
29:45don't talk about him
29:46like that anymore.
29:47When I came out
29:48of my colleague's office,
29:49I saw Lucas standing
29:50in the hallway.
29:51His hair and tail
29:51were still wet.
29:52His eyes glistened
29:53with unshed tears.
29:56I awkwardly changed
29:57the subject.
29:59If it's hard for you
30:00to do it yourself,
30:01can I help dry you?
30:02I took the towel
30:03and dried his hair and tail,
30:04then used the hair dryer.
30:06It was my first time
30:07drying a Beastkin's tail,
30:08so I kept making
30:09clumsy mistakes
30:10and apologizing.
30:11It's okay.
30:11Thank you so much, Miss.
30:13After I finished,
30:14I offered him the cake
30:15and milk tea.
30:15He didn't take them.
30:17After hesitating
30:18for a long time,
30:19he spoke again,
30:20voice low but steady.
30:22Miss,
30:22I don't eat much.
30:24Could you adopt me?
30:25I know I'm not good looking,
30:26but I can cook,
30:27wash dishes,
30:28clean the house.
30:29I can also give massages
30:30and take care of flowers.
30:32But I'm not good looking either.
30:33Would you still choose me?
30:36You're very cute, Miss.
30:38I want to go with you.
30:39My eyes stung.
30:40I blinked back the tears,
30:42took Lucas's hand
30:42and left the lab building.
30:44The rain had stopped.
30:46I finally had a home
30:47and someone just like me.
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