Still feeling overwhelmed, I decided to make breakfast at home—something I rarely did due to my 8-to-5 work schedule. However, now that I've been fired, I have more time. It's disheartening to know that even skills can't beat personal connections anymore. I should have known better when I saw How smug Ivory a female assistant was about getting the managing director to fire me after we had a little dispute, How ironic. I wish the situation were based solely on professional merits rather than personal connections because I knew I was more skilled. Despite the organization's claims of maintaining straight and corruption-free policies. I wonder if the CEO knows everything that happens in the company. Having gotten over that, I began to reflect on what had happened last night. "Was it the influence of the beer I drank?" I wondered. "Nah, I don't think so." Talking to myself has always been something I enjoy, and this time was no different. I thought deeply, but some details just weren't adding up. I remembered that after I had that can of beer, I stopped drinking it because I didn't like the taste. I then decided to go for a walk. Perhaps, under the influence of alcohol, I got lost in my thoughts and wandered aimlessly until I found myself at a mountain. Then some rather unusual things occurred, and I found myself questioning whether they were real, merely a dream, or perhaps hallucinations brought on by alcohol. I was puzzled about how I ended up with a tattoo and who might have dyed my hair. A headache was starting to form, so I decided to invite Gwen over, hoping that this was all just a prank she had orchestrated. About an hour later, the doorbell rang, announcing Gwen's arrival.
"Hey there! I brought some treats—whoa! What happened to your look?" Gwen exclaimed, still adjusting the nylon bags she was carrying. I silently hoped she was just putting on a show as I helped her bring the bags into my apartment.
"Did you go grocery shopping?" I inquired, glancing through the variety of snacks she had brought, impressed by the abundance. "You got quite a bit—was this all for just me?"
"Not at all! I'm staying for a few days, so I got us snacks to last until then. But seriously, you haven't yet addressed my question. You never mentioned any plans to change your appearance," Gwen responded as she settled down and gestured for me to join her.
"That's the issue, Gwen. I did not make any changes! If I tried to explain, you would likely consider me to be a bit out of touch," I admitted while popping open a can of soda from the snacks.
"Come on, just tell me what happened!" she urged curiously. I proceeded to recount the events as best as I could, noticing her expression shift to one of exaggerated concern.
"Liv! What if—before you dismiss me as overreacting, take a moment to consider. I genuinely believe you might be turning into… a witch," she whispered the last two words rather childishly. I couldn't help but roll my eyes at the suggestion, though I had to admit that at this point, there seemed to be no other reasonable explanation. I quietly removed my hoodie to show her the tattoo "Oh my goodness!! It's real!" she exclaimed just completely buying my story.
"Hold on—" she said as she quickly brought out her phone and took a picture of my back before showing me. "Oh no, this is the same flower from my dream!..maybe it's real" I said after staring at the picture for like twenty seconds.
"Hehe I said it, you're definitely turning into a witch" Gwen confirmed and for a moment I believed her. "The tattoo is also not a recently painted one rather a a decade-old magical tattoo" she continued her voice tinged with playfulness.
"What if try rubbing oil and see if it comes off like those temporary sticker tattoos," I said as my eyes sparkled with hope' " anything that works for you girl…but I'm still gonna believe it's magical and you're a witch!" she said with a giggle as she followed me to my room to get the oil.
"Time to prove you wrong hehe," I said almost jumping with joy. Half an hour later I rolled on the bed dramatically as I vented " We tried everything! Olive oil, cold cream, alcohol, and even forceful scrubbing!! And yet not one ink disappeared" I was tired and scared. "I don't wanna become a witch Gwen… what do we do?!" I said almost bursting into tears
"Babyy don't cry" Gwen comforted, "Yunno my grandma believes in things like this and she has a whole collection of books about supernatural beings…shall we go check it out?" she suggested and honestly I felt I had no other choice.
"Like I have a choice. Let us set off tomorrow, your grandma lives on the outskirts of the city right?" I asked as I looked for a nail cutter in the drawer of my vanity table.
"Yes, that's a good plan… Let me give her a call to inform her of our trip!" Gwen said as she stood up to make the phone call. I nodded as I sat back down after finding the nail cutter, I started from my thumb, and by the time I finished cutting my long ash-colored nails, I saw how they re-grew almost immediately. "Gwenn!!" I screamed as she made her way back seemingly done with the call.
"Liv what's wrong?!" She screamed back before I gestured for her to come closer. She immediately sat on the bed and arched her body towards me "What?".
"What kind of sorcery is this?!" I asked as I clipped my fingernail again and it immediately grew back. "Oh my flipping gawd!!" Gwen exclaimed as shocked as I am. "You can't tell me you still don't believe me when I say this is some supernatural shit!" She added her hands grabbing her hair at each side.
"Before I forget, my grandma is traveling to our hometown tomorrow morning so she gladly accepted our visit, saying we could housekeep… meaning we have the house to ourselves so we can conduct our tests in peace" she said as she gave a cheeky smile.
"What tests?" i asked with skepticism. I know how crazy Gwen can be so her smile at that moment could never be something good. "Ohh baby, we'll find out tomorrow" she said a little mysteriously.