As I worked with Ethan, I found myself opening up to him. I had never really had anyone to talk to before, especially not another werewolf who wasn't my grandma or the healer. Ethan was kind and easy to talk to, and I found myself telling him about my struggles to take care of my grandma and the recent robbery incident.
Ethan listened attentively, nodding along sympathetically. "That's rough, man. But you seem like you're handling it really well," he said. I shrugged.
"I'm just doing what I can. My grandma means everything to me." Ethan smiled.
"I can tell. You're a good guy, Kai." I felt a warmth in my chest at the compliment. I had never been called a good guy before.
"Thanks, Ethan. You're not too bad yourself."They spent the rest of the day working together, laughing and joking as they organized the shop and helped customers. When it was time to close up, Ashley thanked them both for their hard work and reminded them to be careful walking home.
As I walked out of the store with Ethan, he turned to me and asked if I wanted to grab a drink. I hesitated for a moment since I'm not used to hanging out with people outside of work, but something about Ethan made me feel comfortable. I agreed, and we ended up at a small bar in the village, where we sat at the counter and chatted over drinks.
I found myself opening up even more to Ethan, telling him about my hopes and dreams for the future. Ethan listened intently, nodding and offering words of encouragement. He told me that he believed I could do anything I set my mind to since I'm a hard worker and a good person.
His words made me smile, and I felt warmth in my chest again. I had never had anyone believe in me like this before.
"Thanks, Ethan. I really appreciate that," I said. Ethan thanked me for teaching him and said, "I really appreciate you taking the time to show me the ropes. I mean, I'm older than you and yet you're so patient with me."
I chuckled and replied, "Actually, I'm older than you. I know I don't look it, but I'm already 25." Ethan's eyes widened in surprise.
"Wow, I would have never guessed. You look so young!" He was surprised to hear that I was actually older than him despite my youthful appearance.
"You must have good genes or something." He chuckled.
"I don't know about that. Maybe it's just all the hard work I've been doing to take care of my grandma." Ethan nodded, understanding.
"Yeah, I get that. My family has been struggling too. That's why I needed this job." I nodded sympathetically.
"I know how that feels. It's tough out here for us regular folks." Ethan smiled gratefully.
"Thanks for being so cool, man. I'm really glad to be working with you." I smiled back.
"Likewise, Ethan. We're a team now." I nodded, feeling grateful for the bond that had formed between Ethan and me in such a short time.
It felt really nice to have someone to confide in and work alongside. For most of my life, I had always felt like an outsider, so having someone to share my thoughts and feelings with was a welcomed change. As we were walking back to our respective homes, I couldn't help but think about what Ethan had said about my patient teaching.
It was true that I had been surprised to find out that he was older than me, but I realized that age didn't define our abilities or worth. I was lost in thought when Ethan suddenly spoke up and asked, "Hey, Kai, have you ever thought about what you want to do with your life?"
I was caught off guard by the question and blinked before responding, "Um, not really. I've been so focused on taking care of my grandma and making ends meet that I haven't had much time to think about the future."
Ethan nodded understandingly, and I appreciated his empathy. "Yeah, I get that. But you know, you're a smart guy. You could do anything you wanted if you put your mind to it," he said. I laughed, feeling a little embarrassed.
"Thanks, Ethan, but I'm not that smart." Ethan rolled his eyes. "Don't be modest. I've seen how you organize the store and work the register. You're a natural at this stuff." I smiled, feeling a little boost of confidence.
"Thanks, Ethan. Maybe you're right. Maybe I could do something more."
Ethan grinned. "That's the spirit! You never know what opportunities might come your way." We said our goodbyes and headed off to our homes, but I couldn't stop thinking about what Ethan had said. Maybe it was time for me to start thinking about my future and what I really wanted out of life. After all, I had been playing it safe for too long, always putting my family first and neglecting my own desires. As I crawled into bed that night, I made a promise to myself to start exploring my options and figuring out what my true passion was.