Part 3

Grisella POV

'You're useless, you're not famous, hey, I don't love you, I'm leaving, I'm leaving.'

"Hahh," I woke up from my sleep. I had a terrifying nightmare just now. My eyes quickly swept over the surroundings. My bedroom window curtains are wide open; thick cloudy clouds look up there. I took a deep breath and exhaled roughly. The dream still feels real. Even when I sleep, I still feel the wound.

The clock showed nine in the morning, the air was cool, but my body was drenched in sweat. It's not fair; I forced myself to fall asleep so that I would forget everything. But why do wounds still greet me even in dreams? Pain. My whole body now feels sore and sore. I have a small bandage on my arm. I'm sure they were injection marks. I stood slowly, even though it felt heavy, I stepped into the mirror.

"Look at you now, Grisella," I said, staring at the reflection of my face in front of the mirror. My appearance was so shabby; my eyes were swollen from crying. My hair is messy again. I rarely take care of myself. I don't use skincare or daycare anymore. My mom opened the door of my room, showing me a smile, "Are you awake, dear?".

I nodded with a smile. Even if it's just a faint smile. My mom told me that she had prepared breakfast for me. The little attention that my mom always gives me. I asked my mom to wait for me at the dining table because I wanted to shower first. The sweat that wet my forehead had even weighed my hair down. I'm not comfortable.

When I have breakfast with my parents at the dining table, there is almost no conversation. Even though my parents asked me to talk. I just answered them by nodding my head or shaking my head. I don't know since when the backyard balcony became my favorite place. The forest hypnotized me. The pine trees whispered to me so that I could go in there. My eyes closely pay attention to the tree by a tree that is there.

"You're choosing which tree has strong branches so you can hang yourself tightly there, right?" said Maria. Her arrival didn't surprise me at all. I'm getting used to it. I just nodded, admitting the question Maria asked me, "You always know everything," I answered.

"You haven't given up on committing suicide yet? Are you sure of your decision for that?" asked Maria again. she sat beside me. In comparison, my eyes are still staring at the forest trees there. Is it true that suicide is a decision? I am not sure. It's not a decision, but more like I've given up hope and killed myself. I think it's the best way for me.

"Yeah, I want to end my life? That will make me very calm, "I replied, smiling blandly. I heard Maria chuckled, annoyed at my answer. My eyes are now turning to Maria, while Maria casually puts on a mocking smile at me "Come on, that's a cowardly act," said Maria. I rolled my eyes lazily.

"You just don't feel what I feel," I replied, maria taunts. My eyes exude the irritation I feel. It's true. Maria doesn't understand how I feel. Wounds lodged in my heart at this time. it is not easy to make my feelings recover and return to the fullness

"How about I say, I've been through worse things than you feel right now. But look, I'm still enjoying my life. Life is too precious to waste. Who knows what gifts you will receive in the future," Maria said firmly.

For a moment, I was silent. Indeed there are still gifts that I will receive when my life is destroyed like this. When Maria talked about skills, I thought of my novel book which I would give to Maria. "Hey, I have something for you, maybe you can say a gift," I said and rushed into my room.

I rummaged through several piles of books and documents, choosing the most suitable novel to be read by Maria. "Here it is," I said, finding the story. Then my eyes accidentally stared at my bedroom window, and I saw a glimpse of someone standing behind a tree. I narrowed my eyes to see more clearly. Yeah, someone is standing behind that tree.

I rushed back to my seat in the backyard. Unfortunately, when I got to the backyard, the person standing behind the tree was gone. I wrinkled my forehead; it seems like I could not see the wrong "who was that?" I asked Maria

"What do you mean? No one. There's only me. Who else is here?" said Maria. My heart told with certainty that I saw someone behind those trees. But if Maria didn't know the person standing behind the tree either, I wouldn't be able to say anything else. "What is that?" Asked Maria again, pointing at the book I was holding

"hah? Oh, this is my novel. Could you read it? This is for you," I handed the novel to Maria. She screamed with joy while reading the title of my book. His face looks very appreciative of my book. It reminds me of how my fans appreciate my every work. but now my fans have disappeared, even some of them may hate me

"Grisella, will you go with me tonight. You have to leave the house for refreshing. There is a café around here. It's called a lotus café. You will like it," said Gisella. I nodded in agreement.

*********

Maria said that lotus café is the only café that is always busy with visitors in this city. Although there are still a few more cafés in several places, somehow Lotus Café has its charm.

I also proved it myself, when Maria and I entered the café there was something different, I think. The design is not too fancy but more classic. All interiors are made of fine wood, seem natural. Some trees even grew, and they weren't artificial trees, more like grafted plants.

Uniquely, the smell of candles is scattered everywhere because there is a small shelf hanging on the table; that's where the candle is. What caught my attention next was the painting of a wolf, which was quite large on the right side of the café wall. Again I saw a wolf painting. Looks like the people here like the wolves in the forest there

"You better order this and this, I'm sure you'll like it," said Maria showing me the menu. I took her advice. My eyes swept back to every corner of the café room. I feel still not satisfied admiring the atmosphere of this café. The light is medium but gives the impression of a peach-orange color that is not too dark. In my opinion, because this cafe is located in the city center, that's why many visitors choose to come here.

"The woman's name is Ms. Anna; she founded this cafe" Maria pointed to a middle-aged woman who was preparing a drink at the bartender's table. From her face, she seems to have a motherly character. "Hmm, you know? Every two times a month, Anna will visit several orphanages and make donations there; she will also tour the city and help those in need, whether in terms of food, clothing, or money. That is why city dwellers are busy talking about its name. As a result, this café is famous in various corners of the city. Including going out of town," Maria told about Anna enthusiastically.

"really?" I replied, amazed. Maria again explained to me that Anna also did not have children, while her husband had died. Maria said Anna's husband died fighting for power. "You mean fighting to overpower is like fighting over land ownership?" I asked Maria.

"No, it's not like that. Like who's the most powerful. After Anna's husband lost, he fell ill. It was because the wounds on his body couldn't heal properly. I do not know. There is still a mystery behind it all, but Anna doesn't want to talk about it. I sighed, so amazed at Anna "I admire her. She's a strong woman. She can still live in one city with her husband's enemy," I said.

"Hahaha, it's already a risk for her. It should be normal for a wife to become a mate." Maria smiled. I wrinkled my forehead. I also don't understand the term 'mate', but when I asked Maria for an explanation about this mate, our chat stopped because a man arrived in my shirt and Maria.

"Hi, I'm Dennis," said the man immediately stretched his hand to me. I just nodded without holding the man's hand, that's the man Maria showed me at that time. The son of the landlord, "yeah, I'm grisella," I replied. Although awkward, Maria tried to break the ice.

 "Okay, so are you comfortable staying at Mrs. Angela's house? I mean your new home, "Dennis asked me small talk. I also explained what I liked about the house. How I am very comfortable sitting in the backyard of the house. Not to mention the view of the forest that looks cool, "You're right, the forest here is soothing. Only the residents I don't like," said Dennis in response to my story

"You mean forest dwellers like wolves?" I asked curiously. Dennis nodded. I also told Dennis how I heard the wolf howling when I got to the house "oh, so they welcomed you? They are the disgusting people pretending to be heroes," said Dennis with an irritated expression.

"People? Hahaha, you speak as if they are human; they are only wild animals that live in the forest," I replied, smiling. I don't understand why Dennis should say that wolf is like a people.

"Your smile is beautiful; I think you're not good at smiling," Dennis praised me. I blushed at being praised like that by a man I just met. "You're still adjusting your body to the air around here?" asked Dennis, changing the topic of conversation

 "Yeah, it's very cold here; I can't be too cold; I get fever easily," I answered with excuses even though I keep my skin from coming into contact with other people. That's why I started wearing covered clothes. If I remember, I never wear short jeans again, or even a tank top when I leave the house. It's different if you stay in the place.

Dennis also asked me to tell you about my life, as he was known to the people as the landlord's son. Even though he has another side that not many people know. Dennis loved painting. For him, image is the best way for him to feel like himself without holding the title of the son of the landlord.

********

"I'll often visit, okay," my mom hugged me warmly. Time has never passed, it's time for my parents to return home. After quite a long debate, I also accepted freely their decision to visit me every time my father was off work. Saturday and Sunday to be precise. I don't understand. Back then, why was I able to separate the house from my parents? I even have my own house. But now it feels like being alone at home makes me feel lonely.

"Okay, see you later," I said, hugging my mom for a moment. She reminded me to take my medicine regularly; my mom also begged Margaret da Maria to monitor my condition, "I already think of her as my child," said Margaret assured my mom. The breakup drama lasted quite a while, then my mom and my dad left.

As usual, I sat back down on the backyard balcony. the best place for me from this house. "I like your book, is there more?" Asked Maria, who sat beside me. I was amazed because Maria finished reading my book quickly. Maria said she finished reading my novel in just one night.

 "Okay, I'll give it to you later" I smiled happily seeing Maria so enthusiastic about reading my book, I suddenly remembered some things about this city. like in the lotus cafe there is a wolf painting, in this house, there are also wolf paintings, and in some corners of the town there are also bars about wolves, not to mention the wolf's howls that I often hear lately "Maria, is there a mystery in this city?" I asked

 "What kind of mystery?" answered Maria

"I often hear wolf howls, and I feel something different, you know. like the howling of the wolf calling me, am I still sane? "

"What? Hahahaha, you must have had nightmares every night", sneered maria.

"No, I didn't sleep. Besides, this house has a wolf painting, in the Lotus cafe too. And in several places, I also saw a wolf painting. What's the matter with the wolf in this city."

"Okay, not as bad as you think. This is just a legend that has been passed down from generation to generation in this city. It used to be said that before a shape-shifter clan inhabited the city. Over time, humans need more land. So the clan gave this city to humans, and humans built everything here. That is why we cherish the wolf."

"You mean the shape-shifter clan is like," I said a little doubtfully.

"Yeah, they are humans who can turn into wolves, like werewolves, you know," Maria immediately answered my doubt.

"That's impossible, they're not real, right?"

"Hahaha, I told you it's a legend. Believe it or not, we can only respect. Come on, show me your novel, "said Maria, changing the topic of conversation. My heart is somehow interested in hearing this werewolf story, there is an idea that pops into my head to make this legend the script for my latest novel, but I'm not sure about it. Were werewolves real?