Page 41 of Primal Bonds 1
But even as I said that, I knew already how stupid I must sound. I had already seen that beastkin could work a normal job, just like any humans, contrary to what the institute had brainwashed us into thinking. Chase had hired Frances and Janet, and Janet had told me there were other doctors and nurses and scientists working in the clinic, too.
“Of course there are lots of jobs available for beastkin like us,” Lan said. “If you want, I can introduce you to my boss.”
“Really?” I asked. “Would you really do that? I don’t know what type of job it is, but as long as I get to make some money…”
Lan chuckled and wrapped his arm around my shoulders. “No problem. I’ll ask him and see if you could join our team. Hey, I’m starving. You want to get a bite or something?”
I nodded. “Yeah, sure.”
“Cool,” Lan said. “My treat because I have a job and get paid.”
I smiled. “Thanks, Lan.”
Lan took me to a burger restaurant, and the moment we stepped through the door, I felt both nervous and excited at the same time. This would be my first time getting food from a burger joint.
Standing there with caps on our heads and masks covering the lower halves of our faces, I wondered if we looked suspicious to others. I felt a few people eyeing us, and Lan said, “Just ignore them, but if you want to get them off your back, you can do this.” He turned to a bunch of guys sitting around one of the tables and snapped, “What you lot looking at?” Then he pretended to cough loudly. “Hate this fucking flu.”
Those guys returned to eating their meal, and I nearly burst out laughing. Turning back to me, Lan winked. “Works every time.”
“Can you pass that off in the summer though?” I asked.
He shrugged. “Just mention you got back from the lower hemisphere part of the world, I don’t know, like New Zealand? They say winter is really shit down there.”
New Zealand, eh? I had only ever heard of such a place, and I wondered if I’d get to travel there one day. Yeah, well, a beastkin could only dream.
“So, what do you want?” Lan asked, pointing to the series of delicious-looking burger pictures on the kiosk screen.
“That one,” I said, pointing to a set that came with a beef burger, a side of French fries, and a medium size Coke.
“That one, awesome,” Lan said. “And I’ll get this one. Chicken is my favorite.”
“Don’t you love all sorts of meat though?” I asked.
“Yep,” Lan said. “But this week, chicken is my favorite. Next week it’ll be steak, I think.”
I smiled. “You can never make up your mind, can you? When it comes to food.”
“Well, to be honest, all food is too good so there shouldn’t be a favorite, right?” he said, chuckling.
After Lan paid by swiping his credit card, which I wished I’d have one of my own one day, we waited for our order.
After receiving our food, we sat on the side curb of the backstreets and ate our meals. My beef burger tasted great, and as I sank my fangs in, a load of flavor played havoc inside my mouth. I sighed, feeling so much bliss.
“You like that, eh?” Lan asked, a smile on his lips.
I nodded. “First time ever eating a burger.”
“Yeah, well, I can remember my first time, too,” hesaid. “It was the most awesome thing. My boss bought it for me and it’s one of my best memories. I keep it here.” He patted his left chest. “Sometimes I bring it up, just to remind myself how lucky I am.”
I nodded. “I’m so glad we met again, Lan. Now, I just need to find Aka and Kuro.”
He nodded. “And then the team is back, and again, I’m the odd one out being a wolfkin.”
“What’s wrong with you being a wolfkin?” I said. “You’re the cool and athletic one among us four. When it comes to fighting, you’re the best.”
“You’re not so weak yourself, Shiro,” Lan said.
“But I am weak.” After all, I couldn’t even stand up to the officers when we got beaten up.