Rumble The thunder rolls over my head as I jog to the open car door my driver holds. I would pick today to leave my umbrella at the museum. My hair is dripping onto the seat as I slide in. I settle in a bit and flick my wrist to get some of the rain off of my hands. At least I missed the worst of it. Almost as soon as my driver claps the door shut the rainfall becomes a sheet of white water on the window. The good part about this, there is nobody following and taking photos of me today. I smirk to myself as I reach into my jacket for my smokes and lighter. Thankfully they aren't wet.
I let my head fall back into the head rest and blow out the long drag I just took from my cigarette. The rain is pounding on the roof, and lulling me to sleep. My eyes slide shut until they snap back open remembering the burning Marlboro in my hand. I finish it just as my car stops at a red light. I roll my window down to flick the rest. The rain subsiding just enough for me to see a tiny orange... something. I squint into the rain...
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It's a tiny wet kitten. My heart melts. The little thing is huddled against the curb barely keeping a few drops of rain off. The car starts to move again, and I stick my head out of the window not caring that I'm getting wet. I pull my head back in.
"Yah!" I tap on my driver's shoulder, "turn around."
He jumps a little, but does as I ask. He grumbles a bit as he turns around. I instruct him where to stop. The rain is breaking up right as we pull up to the spot I saw the orange ball. I look hard, but don't see it. Frowning now, I scramble out into the street and look.
"I hope he didn't run off," I mumble as I look around.
I take just a few steps. In the doorway of a shop is the soaked orange ball. He's picking bits of food from a piece of garbage. I approach him slowly, making little noises. I don't want to scare him away. Golden eyes snap up to watch my approach.
"Easy," I slowly crouch walk to him, "let's get you warm ok?"
Either he doesn't believe me or doesn't speak Korean, because he darts to my right. I lunge and trip over my own feet, but get a grip on his scruff. Not an easy thing to do since he's squirming and wet. He's protesting and, "mewing," when my driver trots up.
"Are you ok? I saw you trip," he asks before noticing what I'm holding. "Oh did you make a friend?"
I tuck him into my jacket out of the rain and we walk back to the car.
"Yeah, an angry and wet friend," I chuckle as he starts poking me with his claws under my jacket.
The rain begins again in earnest just as we're climbing back into the car. I pull the orange fluff from my chest and look him over closely.
"Who are you and where is your mom and siblings little one?" I smile into his whiskered face and he sniffs at my nose. "Now you're doing aigoo huh?"
I look him over to make sure he isn't injured or hurt. Oops, not a him, she's a her. I smile again and my phone rings. I set her on the seat and she timidly starts exploring.
"Yeoboseyo?"
"Yah, hyung," Ji Yong starts, "what are you doing now? Let's eat together."
I ruffle the kitten's head and it rolls over to bat at my hand.
"I can't now. I'm playing with my new girlfriend," I snicker.
Ji Yong is silent for a moment then.
"Yeah right. What's her name?"
I pet her tiny head and she starts to purr.
"Jeoj Eun," I grin.
"Wet? Her name is wet? Are you making this up because it's raining and you don't want to go out?"
"Yah! I said I'm with my girlfriend. Really, I'll send you a photo later."
We hang up and I arrive at my home. I take in my new, "girlfriend," and let her get familiar while I find us both something to eat. I stroke her head while she devours her tuna, and think it's nice to have someone to come home to.
After we're both cleaned up and ready for bed I send a photo of us both to Ji Yong with the caption, "Me and my girl." He sends one back of him and Ai in the same pose. I smile and fall asleep with an orange fluff ball purring in my ear.
