And So on.

Surprises

The day started as usual for Albie. He woke up to the familiar quiet of their apartment, knowing Lila had already left for her shift at the café. The sun streamed gently through the curtains as he rolled out of bed, stretching before heading to the kitchen. As expected, Lila had left a steaming cup of coffee on the counter—just the way he liked it, with a hint of vanilla.

Carrying the cup to his desk, Albie settled into his chair and opened his laptop. He scrolled through emails and checked the usual platforms for any updates, hoping for a new commission or some kind of work to occupy his day. But as luck would have it, today was one of those rare days when he had no pressing tasks, no projects to complete. He let out a small sigh, a mix of relief and boredom.

Normally, a day like this would mean lounging around the apartment, maybe binge-watching some MeTube videos or getting lost in a cozy crafting game. But today felt different—he felt restless. The idea of spending the entire day indoors seemed almost unbearable. Maybe it was the clear sky outside, or just the need for a change of pace, but he decided that a walk in the park was in order.

Albie was a bit of an enigma. Despite his laid-back exterior, he had a soft spot for cute things—teddy bears, adorable keychains, even baby hippos and puppies. But this love for all things cute was complicated by the secret he carried: the power to transform into a cat. It wasn't something he could control easily, and it often made him wary of getting too close to certain situations—especially those involving animals.

As he walked through the park, he was hyper-aware of his surroundings, his anxiety simmering just below the surface. Every rustling leaf, every stray thought, seemed like it could trigger his transformation. He moved cautiously, hoping to avoid anything that might spark his powers uncontrollably.

But then, as if the universe had a sense of humor, he spotted an elderly lady approaching with a small white Chihuahua cradled in her arms. The sight of the tiny dog made his heart swell with affection, and the urge to reach out and pet it was almost overwhelming. Yet, he knew better. Getting too close could be disastrous.

Albie clenched his fists, his body tensing as he struggled to maintain control. The lady noticed his strange behavior, her eyes narrowing as she slowed her pace. Albie's face contorted with the effort to resist, and he must have looked like he was on the verge of a meltdown. The lady quickly hurried past him, her steps growing quicker with each passing moment. She must have thought he was having some sort of episode, and by the time she was safely past, she was practically running.

Albie let out a breath he didn't realize he'd been holding, relieved that the encounter hadn't turned into a full-blown disaster. But as he continued on his way, the awkwardness of the moment lingered, a reminder of just how unpredictable his life could be.

---

At the café, Lila stood behind the counter, casually wiping down the already spotless surface. It was one of those slow days, where the hours dragged on, and the sound of the espresso machine seemed to echo in the stillness. Her coworkers, Carol and Helen, were both lounging near the back, chatting idly as they sipped on some iced lattes.

"Hey, Lila," Carol called out, her voice laced with curiosity. "So, what's the deal with you and Albie? You've been seeing him for a while now, right?"

Helen leaned in, her eyes sparkling with intrigue. "Yeah, spill the tea! We're dying to know. What's he like? What does he do?"

Lila paused for a moment, glancing at the clock on the wall as if hoping for a sudden rush of customers to save her from the impending interrogation. But the café remained quiet, and she realized there was no escape. With a small, resigned smile, she walked over to join them.