Her heart was filled with an unusual joy this morning despite the million and one reasons why she should be worrying. She woke up and smiled, her eyes brightened up, beaming with excitement. Kate stretched for a while and got out of bed, walked over to the window and parted the curtains. She shut her eyes and inhaled deeply, grinning in glee as the early morning sun kissed her face. She turned on the stereo and Beautiful day by Jaime Grace came up, a song she vibrantly danced to while singing along, even in the shower. Her elder sister Gloria was already used to this routine each time Kate was in a cheerful mood.
After a short while when she was done, Kate, as usual, rushed downstairs to have breakfast with her sister who later couldn’t count how many times she’d almost choked on her meal as a result of Kate’s praises of her cooking and the silly jokes she cracked. Gloria smiled joyously seeing her little sister in that rare state of sheer exhilaration and wished every day could be like that, peaceful and normal. But then again, she knew she was wishing for the impossible because she’d given up ‘normal’ the very day she found out her little sister was a blood thirty howling beast cursed to transform into her true form every full moon. With that came lots of unusual happenings, threats, and dangerous adventures. Let me enjoy this while it lasts. She thought to herself.
They were running late for work and there was a long queue of vehicles on the road with impatient drivers yelling at each other, cursing and calling each other names.
The atmosphere changed when someone blared his horn loudly and another driver honked as well. Ironically, the blend of the two sounds formed an awkwardly cool rhythm and soon other drivers began to chip in, honking melodiously, with style. A group of high school kids rushed to the middle of the road snapping and clapping rhythmically, as they danced to the tunes of the car honks. Pedestrians stopped to watch the kids dance. Even the traffic warden joined to shake his body while doing his job.
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Smiley faces took out their phones and started filming. There was an immediate drift in the rhythm when a roadside Disc Jockey clasped his headphones on and added a harmonious beat. The audience cheered. The sisters exchanged glances and laughed at the events that looked like a scene from a musical. Gladness hovered over the air. The traffic soon cleared and everyone went about their businesses.
Later that day at the office while working, Kate noticed that Alex was secretly staring at her and she loved that feeling. His countenance said he wanted to walk up to her and say something, but he clearly didn’t have the courage. She decided to help make things easy for them both, so she turned to him and smiled. He reciprocated the gesture and waved. That was the opening he needed. In no time, he summoned the courage to advance towards her desk and ask if she would like to have lunch with him. “Took you long enough,” she replied.
They went out, had some snacks, fed some pigeons, and talked for a while, both so cheerful and vibrant. He’d never seen her so happy, at least not in a long time. They took funny pictures by a fountain and she filmed him playing soccer with some kids in the street. They strode downtown chattering and laughing aloud as they ate ice cream. It wasn’t until a little girl who was passing by with her mum told them that they looked good together that they realized they’d been holding hands all this time. Kate thanked the girl and winked at her. Alex was shy and tried to slip his hand out of hers but she held on tight.
“You’re not getting off that easy,” she smiled at him. Kate now sighted a crowd gathered around a busker as he performed his own cover of I don’t care by Ed Sheeran and Justin Bieber. “Oh, that’s my song!” she dragged him by the hand and ran to the busker’s spot where she joined him to sing along and dance irrespective of the audience watching. Alex smiled as he filmed her.
He realized that instant just how much he loved her. As she danced, her prime focus was him, and he was completely smitten by her, especially when a gentle breeze theatrically blew her hair backward and her white dentition was revealed by her contiguous smile.
Her performance drew more people to the busker’s spot and many were encouraged to support his talent. His hat was filled with cash and coins. ” Ladies and gentlemen, you have been a wonderful audience, don’t forget to toss a coin for this young talent,” Kate dramatically addressed the crowd as they cheered and supported with what they could spare.
Before the busker would give his gratitude, she slipped away through the crowd. Alex couldn’t hide his surprise at all. This was a whole other side of Kate he’d never seen before.
She raced him to an amusement park just across the street and beat him to the gate. Of course, she did, a werewolf’s speed and agility were ten times that of a human’s. A few seconds later he caught up with her.
“Jesus! You’re so fast.” He spoke amidst heavy breaths as he bent over, both hands on his knees.
They chuckled.
A rollercoaster echoed the shrill screams of those who dared to ride it. Adults and kids alike.
“That looks fun,” Kate said to him.
He looked at her, then at the rollercoaster with all those people screaming, and said with finality;
“No. There’s no way in hell I’m gonna ride that thing,” Alex turned to leave but she seized his hand, firmly. Her hold was so strong that he couldn’t pull out of it even if he tried. He wondered at her strength.
“Oh, c’mon, don’t be such a wuss!” she dragged him and ran towards the damn thing.
“Please don’t make me do this- I’m afraid of heights!”
She ignored his shrill and laughed.
To her, the ride was amazing, exciting, and fun but it was quite the opposite for Alex. It was a rather terrifying and unwholesome experience he would certainly never try ever again no matter the persuasion or pressure. He’d embarrassed himself, screaming at the top of his voice all the way through even as Kate caught the whole thing on camera.
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When they finally got off, his head was spinning and his knees quaked, he felt nauseated but held it in, struggling not to throw up.
“You can do it, buddy. Just try not to think of something disgusting…like a watery poop,” she said. That instant, he ran to a nearby bush and vomited. She laughed hard.
“That’s it, let it out. Let it all out. “Kate rubbed a hand over his back.
He rinsed his mouth moments later and swiped a hand over his lips;
“Happy now?”
She nodded gently with an annoying but undeniably cute smile.
They walked to a pedestrian bridge and paused there, both resting their arms on the railing they leaned against.
“You know, you should smile more often,” Alex said, looking into her eyes.
“Really, why?” she gave a flattering grin with a glimmer of something that looked like a blush.
“Because when you do, the whole world stops and stares for a while.”
She cocked an unbelieving head at him with raised brows. “Alexander Johnson, did you really just use a Bruno Mars line on me?”
“You should’ve just let me have it.” He slapped a hand on his forehead in dismay. She laughed.
“Seriously you just ruined my big moment,” Alex said amidst chuckles.
“I’m sorry. It’s one of my favorite Bruno Mars songs, so it’s kinda hard not to know the lyrics”. Her face lit up elegantly.
As their giggles slowly faded, he cast a serious romantic look at her as she avoided eye contact.
“You’re beautiful, Kate,” he said softly.
The words came at her so suddenly and caught her off guard. The smile she wore gradually disappeared, replaced by something else. Not anger, not pain, or disgust. Something that made her heart race. He recognized that look and knew this was his chance, if only he could dare to kiss her. He moved closer and with a finger, he gently dressed a stray hair strand to the back of her ear as she fixed her gaze on him. At that moment, nothing else mattered, she only wanted to enjoy this peace. His thumb slowly ran along her lower lip feeling it tremble at his touch.
Alex leaned closer, ready to plant a kiss on those soft cherry lips he’d felt. He came so close and she didn’t push him away, obviously, she wanted him to kiss her and he would have if her phone hadn’t vibrated loudly and interrupted the process. He knitted his lips and balled a fist in discouragement especially when she pulled away to check her phone. It was a text from Gloria and it read;
Come home right now. The pack needs you.
Her alpha red eyes glowed for a second knowing what awaited her at home.
“Everything all right?” he asked.
She hesitated before replying with a voice so calm that it was impossible to detect the rage boiling inside her.”I have to go. See around, Alex.”Kate walked away.
And just like that, the day that started out as a musical was about to end in a brutal battle between the alphas of two different werewolf packs. A blood bath it would be.
Author: Samuel Francis
Seems like the pack was her 1st priority that she had to abandon such a beautiful moment…. really???