The Frog and The Beast

The Beast Chapter 15

Many people my age would relish the chance to skip school entirely, eager to escape the monotony of dull classes and uninspiring teachers. However, I've discovered that life without school can be surprisingly dull. Without the structure of school, a job, or any meaningful activities, I found myself longing for a sense of routine and normalcy. While I enjoyed tending to the garden, it wasn't enough to fill the void. Although returning to traditional school wasn't an option for me in my current situation, I realized there were alternative ways to pursue an education.

So one day, I picked up the phone and called Nathaniel. That's all he was to me now—just Nathaniel. Not my uncle, not my mother's brother.

"What is it?" His voice dripped with irritation when he answered.

"We need to talk," I replied.

"Glen, I'm in the middle of—"

"You always are. I promise I won't take long. It'll be quicker to listen to me than to argue."

"Glen, I know you don't want to be there, but it's for the best. I've tried to make you comfortable—"

"You dumped me here."

"I'm doing what's best for you. I'm protecting you from the stares, from people who might try to exploit this situation—"

"That's a load of nonsense! You're just trying to protect yourself. You don't want anyone to know about me."

"Glen, this conversation is over."

"No, it's not! Don't you dare hang up on me! If you do, I'll go to NBC and give them an interview. I swear, I'll do it right now."

That gave him pause. "What is it you want,Glen?"

"First of all, I've decided to start using my real name again—the one you made me change just to spite my parents. And second, I want a tutor."

"A tutor? You were hardly a star student before."

"Things are different now. I have nothing else to occupy my time. Besides, I don't want to feel stupid and unattractive. I can't change my looks, but at least I can improve my mind."

"Fine. Anything else?"

"No."

"I'll have my secretary start looking for tutors tonight. Until the tutor arrives, don't call me back."

As expected, he hung up without even a goodbye. Moments like these made me question how he and my mother could possibly share the same blood.

Fortunately, Nathaniel was quick on his feet. A week later, the tutor arrived. When I answered the door, I was greeted by a tall man in his late twenties, a major geek, yet was surprisingly good-looking. He wore a sharp suit and sleek black sunglasses. Beside him stood a beautiful white dog.

"Gray," Ur called out. "He's here."

I took a deep breath and stepped into view.

"Hello, Gray," he greeted with a warm smile. "I'm Jellal, Jellal Fernandes."

He didn't scream at the sight of me, which was a point in his favor. However, he didn't seem to look directly at me either; he was gazing just to the side.

"I'm over here!" I waved, trying to catch his attention. "I know I'm not exactly a sight for sore eyes, but you could at least look at me when we talk."

"That's actually not possible for me," Jellal replied.

"And why is that?" I asked, puzzled.

"Because I'm blind."

He removed his glasses, revealing foggy yet intelligent eyes, and I noticed a tattoo etched over one of them. I had never imagined someone would choose to tattoo their face.

"Oh... I'm sorry," I said. "I didn't realize. But honestly, I'm not surprised; Nathaniel probably didn't want anyone to see me like this. By the way, will your dog be living here too?"

"Yes, this is Plue. He's my seeing-eye dog," I said, introducing my loyal companion.

"Would you like to sit down? Do you need any assistance?" he offered.

"Thank you, but no. I can manage just fine," I replied.

With a cane I hadn't noticed before, he navigated around the sofa and took a seat. Plue continued to glare at me, as if he sensed I might pose a threat to his master. A low growl rumbled from the dog's throat.

"So, what did Nathaniel tell you about me?" I inquired.

"He mentioned you were an invalid who required home teaching to keep up with your studies. I gather you're quite the serious student."

"That's one way to put it. Actually, I don't have a disease or disability, per se. I'm... uh... how do I explain this? I have hair all over my body, a tail, and I possess fangs and claws."

"Pardon my bluntness, but I'm blind, not stupid. If you're trying to play games—"

"I'm not trying to pull your leg. What I'm saying is the truth." I rolled up my shirt sleeve. "Here, feel my arm."

Jellal hesitated before touching my arm, then recoiled in surprise. "That's your... it's not just a coat you're wearing or something?"

"Feel it. There are no seams." I turned my arm so he could explore underneath. "And please, don't ask me how this happened; you wouldn't believe—"

"A witch did this to you, right?" he interjected.

I paused, taken aback. He was the first person to ever arrive at that conclusion. Everyone else I'd encountered had always tried to rationalize it in a more logical manner.

"Really? How did you know that? Wait, are you saying you actually believe in witches and everything that comes with it?"

"Absolutely. I believe in them, and I'm quite familiar with their influence."

"But how? I mean, how is that even possible—"

"I can explain," Ur said. "I wanted to ensure you had a tutor who could truly understand your problem, so I went online to search for someone who believed in this magic. I came across a recommended website—a chat room where people shared experiences similar to yours. Through that community, I discovered Mr. Fernandes and sent his resume to Mr. Grisham's secretary. I knew he would be eager to hire a blind tutor."

"In that case, thank you for your assistance, Miss... um..." Jellal began, hesitating.

"Milkovich. Ms. Milkovich. But you can call me Ur," she replied with a warm smile.

"Thank you, Ur. I truly appreciate it. I've been struggling to find work since I lost my sight," he admitted, his voice tinged with vulnerability.

Curious, I asked, "So what led you to believe in all of that?"

Jellal turned to face me, following the sound of my voice. "I majored in literature, history, and culture in college, so studying myths, lore, and fairy tales was a significant part of my coursework. When I was assigned an essay on the history of magic users and witchcraft, I decided to investigate an old, abandoned tower that was rumored to be the home of a witch. I didn't believe the rumors were true, but I thought I might uncover some artifacts or old documents. To my surprise, it turned out that the rumor was indeed accurate."

"You mean there was a witch in there?"

"Yes, but it didn't unfold the way you might expect."

"What do you mean?"

For a brief moment, his expression clouded, as if a profound sorrow he had been battling was on the verge of consuming him. But he quickly brushed it aside.

"Long story, I'll save it for another time," he said. "Now, when I was hired, Mr. Grisham mentioned that money was no object and brought up the possibility of providing you with a credit card. Any chance we could put that to good use now?"