Chapter 4

“You’re kidding me?” she asked, putting the poster down the table. She stifled her laughter, as I shrugged in response. “You’re seriously taking your werewolf fantasy that far. Seriously, since when did you stop taking your medications?” she sarcastically said and I shifted my hand and snatched the poster from the table.

“I didn’t stop taking my medications, Val.” I chuckled, folding the poster and slid it back inside the pocket of my denim jacket. “I mean, these people won’t be offering a huge amount of money if it’s not true.”

“And they’re offering that amount because it’s impossible to find a werewolf,” she pointed out that had me thinking. “Come on, Porsche, we’ve talked about this. Werewolves don’t exist. Or if they do, they’re extinct.”

“I know, I know.” Sighing in defeat, I rolled my eyes and continued, “I just thought that I’ll give this a try. Maybe I’ll get something in my fantasy.”

She threw me a glare, and it was apparent on her face that she wasn’t liking the idea of my pursuing this belief. I couldn’t blame them. I had never encountered someone in this town who believed in such a thing as I was. Not until I found this poster, encouraging the existence of werewolves. Were people unsettled or even baffled when they saw this thing hanging on that wall? Or did they just laughed it off because that organization is filled with delusion? I was aware that I was appearing insane for telling people what I was continuously seeing, just like what my psychiatrist had told me before, nevertheless, I knew what I saw, and I was completely sane when that thing appeared.

“Stop it,” Valerie mumbled with her tone filled with dominance. “I can’t let you do that, Porsche. It’s bad for your health and you’re not taking your medications for nothing.”

I reluctantly nodded and realized that she had a point. I would just pretend like I knew nothing about the werewolves and convince myself that it was just my hallucinations.

“Okay, I won’t,” I complied, having no choice but to give in with her request.

Valerie immediately tugged a smile, shifting her hand to grab the purse on the table. Zipping it open, she dug her hand inside and pulled out a piece of card before sliding it towards me. My gaze drifted down and noticed that it was a business card so I took and examined it.

“I don’t want something bad for you, Porsche. Since I just recently got promoted in my job, I’m going to help you in our company,” she offered while I was just sitting there, completely confused.

“I— I’m only a high school graduate,” I pointed out as the heat started to rush to my face in embarrassment.

“I know that and I will back you up. You don’t need to worry, just prepare for the interview, okay?”

I swallowed at her offer, and the sweat in my hands almost drenched the paper card I was holding. 

For the past years, I had been reluctant to apply for a job in a company due to my lack of education. I didn’t step into college because I had to take my medications and we didn’t have enough money to pay the tuition in college. That had also been the reason why I was forced to work at an early age, only managing to be a waitress in different restaurants for the past years. I wasn’t paid well, and the salary I received wasn’t enough to fund my college. And now, being offered to work in a huge company was intimidating and more like, nerve-racking. 

“I’ll take this into consideration,” I said, nodding in approval.

~*~

I pulled the door open, stepping inside the house, and lingered my eyes around to find Aunt Odessa. Sauntering towards the kitchen area where the aroma of lemon filled the entire vicinity, I spotted my aunt bent in front of the stove. She grabbed the potholder on the counter, before gripping the hot surface of the oven handle below the stove and pulled it open.

I took my denim jacket off and tossed it on the chair before approaching Aunt Odessa on the counter. As if she felt my presence, she immediately turned around to face me, plastering her usual bright smile.

“Hey,” I muttered and leaned my back against the counter. “What are you cooking for lunch?”

The smoke came out of the oven, with the intoxicating aroma of mixed garlic and lemon dominating the entire kitchen. As I inhaled the smell, my stomach began to growl and Aunt Odessa stifled her laughter. I sheepishly smiled in return and peered inside the oven.

“Lemon chicken. I figured to cook something special for you.” She closed the oven again and hurled the potholder on the countertop. “It’s not done yet so you can change your clothes first before we eat.”

Despite my getting fired from my job and hardly coping up with adulthood, Aunt Odessa never failed to show her appreciation which I totally admired from her. She never blamed me for my shortcomings, rather she encouraged me to stay resilient. Though we weren’t privileged in life, I considered myself as fortunate for having someone like her. She was the best person I could have aside from Valerie.

“I just have good news for you,” I started.

“What is it?” 

“Valerie invited me for a job interview,” I proudly announced, causing her lips to curl to a grin of excitement.

“That’s great, Portia. What job did she offer?” she asked.

“I’m not so sure but it’s in her company. She recently got promoted and she invited me to apply for the job so I can get an interview. This will be fun.” I turned around, walking towards the chair to grab my denim jacket.

“Good for her. Tell Valerie I said congratulations. And maybe invite her for dinner because that calls for a celebration,” Aunt Odessa replied and I nodded in response.

“I’ll inform her.” I moved closer to the wall partition before saying, “And by the way, aunt, someone’s rewarding half a million dollars to find a dog. I might also consider that offer.”

Winking, I walked away from the kitchen and climbed my way upstairs.