Seventh Meow - Consoling

A sing-song voice could be heard in the dead of night. Slow footsteps kissed the asphalt road of the heavily silent streets of Yaki. Only the two blinking street lights gave hope amidst the blinding darkness and only the human carrying the said tune gave life to the emptiness. Humans living in the area were already slumbering on their beds as time pointed its hand at 2 am, already past midnight.

Tap. Tap. Tap. The sound of clicking added to the serene band. A man could be seen hovering his hands over his phone. He stopped singing. Fast tappings could be heard, then he stopped as he pressed a red button.

"You're dialing Idol Saint..."

"The number you have dialed is unattended. Please try again later. "

"C'mon, Saint! Answer the damn phone! I changed my mind, I still don't want to go home. I need someone to talk to. " He dialed the number again only to receive the same reply. He tsked in frustration.

Moments later he heard a vibration from his phone signifying a new message have arrived. He immediately opened it.

From: Idol Saint

Time Sent: 2:01am

Damn man! You're still awake at 2 am? What do you want? I am on a date with a hot chick.

Anthony almost rolled his eyes as he scoffed. Shutting his phone, he sighed. "Fuck girls, fuck romance! " Frowning, Anthony kicked a pebble hindering his way.

Massaging his forehead, he felt his head spinning. He thought, 'Must have been the liquor already kicking into my senses. '

It must be because of the liquor that courage kicked him, making him do things he never believed he could do.

"I don't have friends, Saint's busy so I should go home then? " A bitter smile formed in his lips as he walked groggily.

He lopsidedly smiled as he finger-combed his messy black turf. "Guess, I should buy 6 bottles of soju then! Yey! Let's get drunk! " Anthony tried to be jolly but he knew it's all fake.

He wanted adrenaline. He wanted something challenging. He wants something he'll be proud of and shocked at the same time the moment he'll open his eyes the next morning.

He lifted his head to the sky only to see the numerous stars blinking luminously as if blinking at his absurd wish. "Stop being antagonistic for once, okay? I know it's fiction to hope that someone as weak as me would do something bizarre. But, hey! I need a change! I need to escape! The liquor helped me, for once, to give me what I wanted. " Anthony pointed at the sky angrily; face and ears colored red as a lone tear escaped his eye.

Using the sleeve of his jacket, he wiped his tears, smirking to himself, "Should I pick a fight on my way to the soju store? A fight would be useful for my story." Nodding, he inserted his hand in his pocket as he strolls the dark road.

"Tell me, why are you still here? Anthony rubbed his eyes as he poured his bowl full of cereal with milk, staring blankly at the teary-eyed man seated face-to-face with him at his dinner table.

The man is wearing an oversized grey shirt with a 'me iz cute nyahaha' print on it which he stole from Anthony's closet. Due to the size difference, the shirt exposed his right cream-colored bare shoulder and perfectly hid his curves and his injuries. His cheeks stained pink, eyes puffy from crying as he hugged two yellow tabby kitties, he even consoled the animals while weirdly meowing like he seemed to understand the cat's language. But what's even weirder is that he's still wearing his cat-ear props and tail.

"Hey! Answer me!" Anthony's voice raised as he pointed his milk-coated spoon at the poor guy. The guy shivered as his body shook in fear, muffled whimpers escaped from his lips as he desperately embraced the kitties.

"D...Don't hurt me, please. . . Stay here, he's there, he'll..." The man paused and hiccuped. He stood from his seat, still hugging the kitties, and despite his wounds, he bowed three times as he wept.

"I...I am sorry...I am sorry! I endangered your life and I ate your yummy fish fillet yesterday. I...won't do it again, please let me stay, please." The man's voice sounded hoarse as he cried and begged. He almost kneeled on the ground but due to his injuries, bending his knees would cause him pain. As he cries, the kittens start to wail as well, seemingly begging Anthony to consider.

Even after saving him and bringing him to his house yesterday, the man still looked scared and uneasy even occasionally checking the window and freaking out to sounds he heard; crying and hiding under the covers of Anthony's bed. The only thing that calmed him a bit was eating the leftover fish fillet from Anthony's refrigerator and a warm glass of fresh milk that Anthony intended to save for himself.

Realizing his mistake of shouting and remembering how the man barely escaped from death yesterday. Anthony shook his head and apologized. "I should be the one apologizing, sorry for shouting at you. I should have considered what happened. " Two green teary eyes blinked continuously, eyes that screamed cuteness and Anthony couldn't stop himself from staring.

It's the same green teary eyes he saw yesterday and the same owner of the forest orbs he had 'rescued' yesterday.

He decided to take a shortcut route to the soju shop. The shortcut route which anyone who has the right mind would never dare to choose. Aside from it's a dark alley full of drug addicts and other hooligans who live there, 60% of the crime rate tends to happen there from drugs, rape, violence, and even murder. It is also the favorite spot of the now infamous serial killer circulating in town.

Yellow tape is sealed across the alley's entrance. Black caps lock sign saying, "CRIME SCENE: DO NOT CROSS. " Anthony stared at the sign for a couple of seconds before a rebellious smile crept into his mouth. He lazily removed the yellow tape as he hummed an upbeat song, moments later he started rapping as he walked inside the alley.

A welcoming smell of iron registered in his nose. It is so strong that he immediately covered his nose with his hands. The alley was eerie quiet, too quiet. Like there's no sign of life at all.

"Hello, who wants to fight with me? " Anthony's voice echoed and nullified the deafening silence.

"I'll treat you soju if you do! " he added as he laughed.

He walked sluggishly, unaware of the wet liquid coating his shoes and how it created a weird sound. "Hey fuck you! Answer me you lowlife imp! " He chuckled to himself, if he had a mirror now he would surely look smug and proud.

As he ventured further, his ears could register screams. He raised his brow as he giggled. "Yey! A fight! " he hiccuped afterward. He started to run into that direction, almost tripping.

But what he saw forced all the alcohol to leave his body. Waking him from his drunken state. A masked figure dragging a helpless guy by the hair, blood is dripping from the person's body, oozing like lava from his bruises. The guy continued to scream and beg for mercy but not even a little bit of it was given to him.

The person seemed to notice him, green tired eyes seemingly pleading. Anthony couldn't move a muscle. He's frozen in shock and trying his very best not to faint or vomit on what he is seeing. "H... Help...me, please. " Tears continued to flow from the guy, tears of desperation as he screamed again when his captor slammed his body on the cement.

Anthony felt his knuckles tightened, he wanted to save the guy but his foot betrayed him, glued on his spot.

"Move, move, move..." he whispered onto himself, gritting his teeth.

"Move, please." He accidentally kicked debris from his side, the man's captor stopped on his awful torture, bloodshot eyes stared at Anthony's golden orbs making him gulp and tremble. "You...You looked...You..."

"A...Are you okay? Do you want cereal with milk? " A voice brought him back to reality. He shook his head multiple times as he tried to remember what had happened next but he couldn't remember. All he could remember is that he carried the guy to his house as well as the kittens inside a plastic bag.

But one thing is certain. The captor's eyes...The red bloody eyes pierced through his soul and it wanted to kill him.

"H...Hey, Notice me..." A spoon waved into his sight, making him stand from his seat from shock.

He saw the man owning the green eyes innocently staring at him as he ate Anthony's cereal straight from the bowl, like a cat eating his meal. He even licked the milk like what cats do.

He breathes in and out, stopping himself from saying anything or cursing at the man. He knew the man would cry again and he couldn't afford to be guilty the second time around.

"So tell me, what's your name? And do you have a place to stay? " he asked the guy who is busy munching Anthony's supposed breakfast.

The guy stopped munching, face messy with bits of chocolate and milk. He pointed at the cereal box on the table and shook his head to say no.

Anthony stared at the box with the brand name printed on it. A bulky man with a trident and mermaid's tail. A blue font letters saying, "

"So Aegir's your name? "

A nod.

"So where would you stay? " The man blinked and smiled.

"Here! You saved me. You can save me again, right? " Aegir flashed a beautiful eye. Tail waving from side to side.

HELL NO!