Episode 2: Behind the Disguise
1237 Words
I didn't know for how long I had walked, but exhaustion showed all over me. My body ached, and I felt tense. Maybe it was the sickness because my legs were so wobbly.
"One more, one more step." I urged, and pulled my legs. It was the sickness I had been keeping for about a week now, and the weakness from not eating due to starvation that got me this way.
The more I pulled the leg, the more I found my eyes opening. I had to be strong for myself, but there was no way I could.
The way my body shook showed that I had fallen into a deep trap with myself.
As I walked, my eyes couldn't open any more, my throat was patched, but the good thing was that I wasn't in the woods any more. I had entered into a modern part of the pack.
"R-restaurant…" I stammered, and stretched my hands as I slowly approached it. However, as soon as my hand grabbed the handle of the door, I fell on the ground, my eyes slowly blurring everything around me.
People came around, but their faces were almost unrecognizable, and my eyes finally went blank.
The next time I fluttered my eyes open, I groaned. The impact from the fall was a bit hard, and my body ached.
Just as I tried to get myself together, I heard a voice, causing me to shrink in fear.
"Don't be scared, I've got you covered."
I waited for my vision to clear up before I finally discovered the elderly woman who was beside me. She was obviously worried because her eyes stared at me with tender care.
"How are you feeling son?" She asked, and immediately tried my best to not freak out.
I pressed my lip, pondering on why she was calling me a guy when it suddenly hit me. I was putting on a guy's clothes.
"Fine ma'am, I'm fine thank you…" I responded with a neutral face. "Thanks for saving me."
She nodded. "It's nothing, but can I at least know your name, and what you are doing here? Do you have any family members I can help you contact? You seem to be unable to help yourself for now."
As soon as she said that, my heart drummed hard. My face turned, and I shook my head continuously until she noticed what I meant.
"Alright. You don't have them, or you don't want me to contact them. Which is it?"
I tried to make myself as sad as possible. "I don't want you to contact them." I paused for a few seconds and sighed. "I came from a very abusive family…please."
Immediately I said that, her eyes softened, and she sighed, using her hands to rub my shoulders.
"Oh my goodness you've been through a lot. I'm truly sorry about that. What's your name?" She asked with raised brows. I panicked. My eyes darted around. There was no name on my mind.
I thought for a while, so much so she had to tap me in order to get my attention.
"What's wrong? Don't tell me you don't recall your name. Do you need to be taken to the hospital?" Her eyes were filled with concern, and her heart drummed with worry.
My eyes widened. If I was taken there, she would be aware of what was happening to me right now, and the drastic switch I claimed.
Snapping my eyes over to another direction, I saw something, and my brain moved faster than light.
"T-Troy."
She furrowed her brows. "That's your name?" I nodded, and she sighed.
"Well Troy, I'm Rachel." She paused again, staring at me. Since you have nowhere to go. How about you rest up some more, and we'll figure that out together. How about that?"
I nodded that it was the best option, and I couldn't wait. At least, I wasn't married to a man twice my age.
A few weeks later, I was already helping at the restaurant. Aunt Rachael took me in as her son, since I was still disguising as a male, and showed me so many things. I couldn't be more grateful.
"Troy! Troy, guess what?!" She screamed, breathing hard, and I blinked. It had been a while since I had seen her this energetic.
"What?!" I said, unable to guess. My brain didn't have any thoughts right now.
I pressed my lips, pretending to ponder on it, but It seemed she couldn't wait because the news got to her.
"An important personality wants to throw her birthday party here tomorrow." She paused, took in a deep breath and continued. "She pleaded it was a late request, but she had prepared a list in the letter she needed."
I nodded. This was huge indeed. "Don't worry, everything is going to be set."
The next day, the restaurant was closed down for business due to the party going on there. I sat at a far distance, watching while the waiters served the girls at the party. They seemed to be having fun, and seeing this made me recall my life.
They might have been the same age as me, but why didn't I have an opportunity like this?
Time went by, and the party slowly started to die down. Everyone was going home, but a group stayed with the celebrant. "Was it just me, or was she drunk?" I squinted my eyes, watching them. For some reason I was concerned.
They waved goodbye to the elderly who took me in, and tried to hold the celebrant, but she shoved them off.
"I'm not drunk, I can clearly see everything that's going on," She argued, pulling her arms from her friend's.
They didn't argue, but exited together, and out of curiosity, I followed.
My face turned pale, and I noticed how she staggered towards the road. However, her friends didn't notice because they were too busy checking out something on their phones.
"No!" I spotted an upcoming vehicle, causing me to sprint. The distance between us was far, and I was worried I wouldn't make it, so I added a bit of effort, causing me to grab her hand in time.
Once I did, I pulled her so hard, we both fell, but at least she had a cushion landing because she landed on me.
"Are you alright?" I asked, and she blinked. The drunken state seemed to wear off a little when her life was threatened, and moved her hair out of the way, staring directly into my eyes.
"You save me…" She confirmed, and when I sighed, I asked her name to which she answered.
"Selina."
I nodded, and that was when her friends came rushing by.
"Oh my goodness. Thank you so much. We would have been in--"
I cut them short. "Just make sure you take care of her," I said, pushing myself up as I headed back to help with the cleaning.
The next day, I was busy as always when the ain't Rachael walked in with a white envelope in her hand.
"This came for you."
Creased lines appeared on my forehead, but I had no idea, so I collected it, tore it open, brought out the content and let my eyes do the rest.
My facial expression showed the shock, and I raised my head towards her.
"The alpha wants to see me." I panicked.
- Writer
