A Werewolf Boy

Good morning, Sara.

Good morning.

Thank you.

It’s been a while since Winona last video-called.

I’m starting to worry about that girl.

Relax…

She’s just busy with school.

Maybe she’s busy with her boyfriend.

Speak in Tagalog.

Boyfriend?

Really?

Since when?

Thank you.

She’s in Manila to study.

Not to have a boyfriend.

No wonder she doesn’t seem to miss us anymore.

Don't say that.

Winona misses you. I’m sure of it.

Don’t stress yourself out.

Hello?

Ahh, yeah—Okay.

Ma, it’s for you.

Hello?

Yes, this is Sara Rodriguez.

I see.

All right. Thank you.

Ma! What did they say?

I need to go home.

To the Philippines.

- Grandma? - Hm?

How was your flight?

I just slept through it.

Mm…

You? How’s school going?

Gosh, Grandma, I can’t believe I almost failed our mid-sem practicals.

It’s so hard! Really!

The procedures are seriously super technical.

I swear.

My dear, the secret to learning is to practice.

Just keep practicing.

Practice over and over.

Got it, Grandma!

Oh, it’s mom.

Hi, mom!

Hi, Winona. Didn’t I tell you to call me once you picked up your Grandma?

Hi, honey!

Hi, Ma!

Ma, so, how was the flight?

Wait, are you driving straight home from the airport?

Didn’t I tell you to rest first?

You might strain yourself.

Dear, I’m fine.

I can manage. Don’t worry.

And besides, Mom, we’re already halfway there.

Just three more hours and we’ll be in Santa Monica.

Can you please relax, Mom?

Winona, listen to me. Be careful with your driving.

- Okay, mom. - You know the roads there are dangerous.

And you, Ma, don’t overwork yourself.

Don’t skip meals.

Don’t forget your maintenance meds.

Yes, Ma’am!

So annoying!

She's a broken record!

Grandma, I think it’s going to rain.

You used to live here?

Gran?

But only for a little while.

It’s so… old.

Like a haunted house.

Even back then,

it already felt like a haunted house.

People even said a…

creature lived there.

How old were you back then, Gran?

About your age.

Back when I was still as pretty as you, my dear.

But…

that was such a long time ago.

Hey!

Are you okay there?

Thank you! Ouch!

- It's muddy. Be careful! - Come on... Yes.

Dear, watch your head!

Thanks again for all your help!

I’m sorry, we have so many things to move.

It’s alright, that’s how it is. We’ll be neighbors now.

We help each other.

Sis, I’ll bring this inside, alright?

- Okay, Mi. - Oh, dear!

Leave the work to us. We'll take care of that!

I can handle this, Ma!

Just make sure you only lift the light stuff, okay?

- Yes, Ma. - What’s that?

- Something heavy. - Boy! Can you help us, please?

Psst! Hey!

- I'm fine... - Sara!

I’ll take this. You’re not supposed to get tired, remember?

Juancho.

Be careful! Just give that to me!

Wait, wait!

Give it here. Sorry, sorry!

For god's sake.

It’s practically rattling apart.

Just throw it out already. It’s so old.

That’s Papa’s guitar.

Don't be so rough with it.

Of course!

My princess.

There you are, Juancho.

Juancho, thank you so, so much.

We owe you all so much—

Ma!

Mrs. Romero,

didn’t I tell you?

It’s nothing. Whatever you need,

just tell me.

I’ll handle it.

Let me help you with that, Ma.

- Sara, please. Can you manage? - Oh, Sara.

- I got it, Ma. - Careful! My dear.

- Go ahead! - Careful!

Move to the side, move to the side!

Hey, rat. Hold this for me.

It's delicious!

Here, take some more.

I added more to the tinola.

Billy! Bella! Keep eating, okay!

I’m sure you’re exhausted!

Please help yourselves!

Goodness, those two eat so much!

They’ll definitely finish all your food!

Say thank you.

Thank you, ma'am!

No, we should be the ones thanking you!

- Thank you! - Thank you!

If you ever need anything--

We’re just over at the house.

Over by the goat farm.

A bit far, though.

Especially since your house is the only one in this area.

You know, we’ve lived here for so long,

but this is actually my first time stepping inside this house.

It’s really not as scary as people say.

Hey!

- Oh god! - Watch it!

Because you're eating too fast!

Sorry! Sorry about that.

Scary?

Well, it’s because…

the man who used to live here was a bit…

mysterious.

He lived here all by himself.

The old man.

And the only company he had...

was whatever he kept locked up in there.

Over at the barn. Locked inside.

And it would bark nonstop!

Barking!

Yes!

You mean like dogs?

Yes.

And wolves.

- Wolves? - Mm-hm.

Were those his pets?

We’re not sure.

But from what we could tell,

the old man seemed like some kind of doctor.

Like he was doing experiments.

Ahh!

He was a veterinarian.

I suppose!

Something like that.

But you know, one night,

he had a heart attack.

It took weeks before they found his lifeless body

right there in the shed.

But like I was saying earlier,

the house isn’t actually as frightening as people make it out to be.

It’s really quite lovely.

It feels so light.

It does.

Yes, my dear. It feels very light.

It’s peaceful here.

But honestly, I couldn’t have handled moving into this place

without Juancho’s help.

Juancho?

Yes, Juancho.

He can't hear very well, don't mind him.

Juancho is the young man you met earlier.

He’s the son of my husband’s business partner.

My husband asked him through the company.

Since he’s one of the co-owners of this property,

if we could stay here for a while.

- That’s how we were allowed to live here. - Is that so?

- Yes. - Hmm...

But your husband?

He stayed in Manila?

He's left us.

He passed away.