The Frog and The Beast

The Beast Chapter 6

For the rest of the night and into the morning, I sat in my room, listening to the clock chime, anxiously awaiting my uncle's arrival while dreading his reaction when he finally saw me like this. Truthfully, he probably wouldn't make an effort to check on me anytime soon. I had at least until the school called him about my numerous absences.

In the meantime, I isolated myself in my room, doing my best to avoid the outside world. I left my laundry outside the door for Ur to handle and instructed her to leave all my meals at the threshold as well. She did as she was told and would occasionally check in on me, probably to make sure that I didn't kill myself or something. I could hear her soft voice through the door, filled with concern. "Mr. Glen, please let me know if you need anything. I'm here for you." But I couldn't face her. I couldn't even let her see me like this.

Finally the day came when the school called my uncle about me skipping so many days and I heard him knocking on my bedroom door.

"Glen, open up!" He demanded. "I want to talk to you! Your principal called me about you missing school and while I was on the air, no less! Do you know how humiliating that is?"

For the remainder of the night and into the early morning, I sat in my room, listening to the clock's relentless chimes, anxiously awaiting my uncle's arrival while dreading his reaction when he finally saw me like this. Truthfully, he probably wouldn't make an effort to check on me anytime soon; I had at least until the school called him about my numerous absences.

In the meantime, I isolated myself, doing my best to avoid the outside world. I left my laundry outside the door for Ur to handle and instructed her to leave all my meals at the threshold. My days blurred into a haze of despair, replaying Kagura's words over and over in my mind.

"Two years to find true love," I muttered to myself, the weight of that challenge pressing down on me like a heavy blanket. "As if that's even possible."

I had no idea where to begin. The thought of approaching anyone, let alone a girl, felt utterly impossible. I had spent so long building a reputation based on looks and charm, and now I was reduced to a creature that inspired fear and disgust.

Ur continued to care for me, leaving meals at my door and occasionally checking in. I could hear her soft voice through the door, filled with concern. "Mr. Glen, please let me know if you need anything. I'm here for you." But I couldn't face her. I couldn't even bear the thought of her seeing me like this.

Finally, the day arrived when the school called my uncle about my absences, and I heard his urgent knock on my bedroom door.

"Glen, open up!" he demanded. "I want to talk to you! Your principal called me about you missing school—and while I was on the air, no less! Do you have any idea how humiliating that is?"

I didn't respond. Words eluded me in that moment, so I chose to let my actions speak for themselves. Summoning my courage, I placed my clawed hand on the doorknob, slowly turned it, and opened the door, revealing the transformation I had undergone.

His reaction was... annoyance.

"What the... why are you dressed like that?" he asked, incredulous.

Of course, he thought it was just a costume. Anyone would.

"This is me, Uncle Nathaniel," I said softly. "It's not a mask. It's my face."

He stared at me for a moment before bursting into laughter. "Ha-ha, Glen. I don't have time for this."

Oh please, did he really think I'd waste his time over a joke? But I tried my best to stay calm. I knew if I got upset, I'd begin to growl and snarl, to paw the floor like a caged beast.