RUBYIn less than two hours, the house was already full, with two more guests added. Wyatt and Alan. For Alan, it had been a while since I saw him. He was busy with work, patients, seminars, and more, according to Helen, so when he got free time, it was better for him to use it with my best friend."Cat will pee and poo, and she's trained to do it in the litter box," Wyatt explained in front of Cookie's litter box. She had just poo, so Wyatt used the chance to teach my son how to clean it up. It is an old-style box without a fancy modern tool. Because of that, he taught Austin to do it the traditional way."It stinks," Au commented as W buried the poo, then picked it up with a shovel and tossed it into a plastic bag.Alan added to the lesson as Helen and I made breakfast. "Poo normally stinks. That's why you need to bring a plastic bag wherever you go with Cookie in case she poos midway. You have to clean up, or people will be disturbed by the smell."Austin winced but still gave a no
RUBYI couldn't believe this. I met the kitten I had saved five years ago. And look at her now. She's a beautiful, grown-up cat, her eyes glimmering with life I once protected."I still can't believe this." My voice echoed softly, the disbelief swirling through my mind. Yet Cookie's purring was comforting and real, grounding me in the present as Helen's stories danced around us."Believe this, okay?" Helen said beside me. We were sleeping, not in my bedroom but on the sofa in front of the TV. It's a magic sofa that can be used as a regular sofa and change into a sofa bed. It's pretty big for two of us, and most importantly, it's comfortable. That was why we would always sleep here during Helen's visit. "Now, sleep. It's almost midnight." She continued, turning her body to the side to search for comfort.I glanced at the clock, and she was right. It was half to midnight. I should sleep, or I would run out of energy tomorrow. Wyatt and Alan would come, and with the cat's presence, it wo
HELEN"Thanks for the drive," I said to the man dropping me off through the rolled-down window. It was Wyatt behind the steering wheel, and next to him was my dearest boyfriend, Alan.Yes. Alan agreed to go with me to visit Ruby and Austin.Oh, it was going to be a beautiful weekend."We will come in the morning. Have a good night, love." Of course, it wasn't Wyatt replying to me. It was Alan. We had shared a quick kiss before I stepped out of the car, and now was the time to say goodbye."And take care of Cookie." Wyatt chimed in when I was about to answer Alan.So I guessed I would wave goodbye to both of them. "Okay. Good night, everyone." Then I took a step away from the car toward Ruby's house. Soon, I heard the car leaving once I was already in her doorway.Anyway, the Cookie Wyatt meant was none other than his mother's cat, which Wyatt borrowed for a week. Cookie was brought to teach Austin to befriend and take care of a cat. Ruby told me that Austin was talking nonstop about a
RUBY"Today we found a kitten in the schoolyard," Austin began, starting storytime with Wyatt. This had become a regular occurrence since Wyatt requested it weeks ago, though it had shifted to a video call. It always started right after dinner and could end minutes or hours later. If Austin insisted on talking more, they would continue until bedtime."Oh, really?" Wyatt asked, curiosity flickering despite the tiredness on his face. "What does it look like?""It's cute and has orange fur like Garfield," Austin mentioned, referring to a character on the cartoon he watched. "But it's small, Uncle, and it looks weak. The voice is also tiny. The meowing sounds like crying, too." He described the best possible.Wyatt nodded. "It must be left after being born.""Miss Khan said so." Miss Khan was one of the teachers. "But Uncle, why is the mother being bad by leaving it alone?"Well, the question time came again. Austin had asked the same thing on our way back home from school before. The sto
WYATTI was aware that Foster had spread a nasty rumor about us. About me having an affair with Tina, causing me to divorce Ruby. Even far before that, they told people that Logan had set up marriage with Foster--Tina and me--which died down when I married Ruby. Still, they kept whispering that I was actually in love with Tina, and I just made fun of Ruby. And when the divorce happened, it was like a confirmation of their crazy theory.Then why did I let it happen?I didn't. Every time people ask about Tina and my relationship, Logan always replies the same way. Logan never intended to tie the knot with Foster, aside from the business matter. It was getting worse since the incident, and my family learned the truth. We cut off any kind of relationship with Foster. We even requested not to include Foster at the same event we attended.It should be like that, even though sometimes it didn't go according to plan. Tonight was an example."Tina Foster here."I heard Bugh clear, so my head s
WYATT"We arrive, sir," Ron said from the driver's seat after the car came to a complete stop. We were in front of a five-star hotel, one of the best in the world, which unfortunately wasn't part of Logan. And we were here not for a meeting or any related work — or, yes, if you consider the party as part of it. After all, attending a party was part of work, so it could be called a business party.I nodded in acknowledgement. "Text me if you start feeling bored," I uttered as I opened the door. A hotel staff member soon approached me.Ron chuckled. "Why should I feel bored, sir? It's a party," he replied, clearly knowing what I meant. Still, he went with his act."I don't know. Maybe because it's a boring party," I replied. Then I stepped out of the car without waiting for his response. But I could hear him laugh before he followed me and left the car key with the hotel staff."I will stick with you at this party until it ends," Ron spoke beside me. A smile already plastered on his fac