About Cats & Sunsets

chapter: t w o

The next time Milo saw the cute stranger he was way too distracted by a small bundle in his arms, to recognize him.

On his way back home, he heard a weird shattering noise followed by a high-pitched meowing coming from trash cans in a dirty alley. Having no heart to pass the for help crying meowing, he stopped and found a tiny kitten. She had dirt all over her light fur and was way too small to be left alone outside, or worse in a dirty trash can.

He had wrapped up the scared kitten and decided to bring it to the closest vet. He couldn't leave her alone like this! 

So now Milo was standing in front of the counter talking to an annoyed secretary who was trying to make him understand that without an appointment he would have to wait an hour or more. Breathlessly - he ran there - he was still trying to convince her that the small bundle in his arms should be helped immediately, when he heard someone cough slightly behind him.

He turned around, ready to snap at the person behind him that he was not done with the secretary yet, but realized just in time that the boy, nearly Milos age, was wearing white working clothes and a name tag, where he could clearly read:

Jules, Veterinary Assistant

Said boy looked sympathetically down to the meowing blanket bundle in his arms and then to the secretary. "It's okay. I am already back from my break, I can take care of these two.", he assured her. She just responded with a slightly grumble and a pointed look.

Relieved Milo let out a breath he didn't know he was holding and took in the rest of the appearance of the boy.

Simple plain jeans, a long white tee under his also white Shirt, which was clearly part of his work attire. Black hair, which was overgrown a bit so now it was nearly touching his lashes. On his ears multiple Earrings were dangling.

"Would you follow me?", blue eyes pierced right through Milo whose eyes grow in recognition.

"Yes, yeah sure." he rambled and followed the boy. "Thank you by the way. I didn't want to let her wait any longer, she doesn't look like being anywhere near to a good shape."

Great. He finally was able to talk to the boy he had to think about the whole last week and all he could manage was ramble nervously. 

"No problem. You can call me Jules. I assume you are not much younger than me?"

"I just turned 20." - "And my name is Milo", he added after a while, his head still a mess.

Jules nodded and pointed to the table in centre of the treatment room they just entered.

"Just sit her down here and let's have a look at her"

The meowing got louder, when it was no longer near the warmth of Milos body and Jules carefully opened the blankets. The frightened kitten which appeared was trembling because of fear and the cold. Jules cooed and slowly approached her.

During the check-up where Milo felt like standing in the way and managed to answer Jules questions without going into full 'gay-mess-mode'. Also, he had more than enough time to not only admire Jules big and soft hands moving slowly to not scare the kitten or his appliance in general but also his gentleness towards the small creature.

The felines - Milo learned was a lady - white fur was now clean and shiny again. She stopped meowing and was trying to fight the thermometer Jules was currently using to measure her temperature.

"So. All done." Jules finished and pet her head while looking at Milo again after what felt like an hour.

"This little lady is about 5 months old and has no registered owner. You have luck and can be very happy that she has no major diseases or injuries. She doesn't seem to have stayed long wherever you found her. You should come back though for another check-up in a month so I can check her data again. She is malnourished and should get fed regularly, so she can come to powers again."

Milo nodded." Thank you so much for helping me- or us!"

Carefully Jules placed the cat with the blanket into his arms. "No problem. You can leave now but make sure to make an appointment next time! Lari doesn't like it when someone disturbs her holy organized calendar. But you should have noticed that already."

Jules smirked and Milo tried not let the cat fall because GOD even this look was making him a weak man. He felt a very faint blush making his way to his cheeks.

"Yeah. I will. Thanks again." Awkwardly Milo stood for another second in his place before understanding that Jules now probably had to clean the room and will not accompany him to the door. "Then bye and see you again"

He rushed out of the room, hoping the next time he sees Jules he would be able to hold a real conversation without stumbling over his words.

His way home was surprisingly easy and Milo guessed that the cat - ugh he should give her a name - had fallen asleep in his arms. Opening the door to his apartment was not easy but manageable and carefully he let her down on his pillow, what seems to have woken the kitten up who stuck out her head from under the blue blanket and curiously sniffed the air.

"Awww little one. You are safe here.", absently he petted her head while opening the internet on his phone to search for a fitting name for his new companion.

"Snowy, Coco, Pearl, Faith, Daisy.." he read out loud and he could see his new friend scrunching up her tiny pink nose. She didn't seem convinced.

"OH, Got it!", he tuned and faced the white fur bundle. "Your name is going to be Seonmi!"

At that she perked up and meowed contently.

"Well then that is settled. What do you think about a cup of tea and Netflix?" he asked her while she was already getting comfortable in his nest of pillows.

Milo would have never guessed to run the same way to the vet twice in not even 3 hours.

His Netflix watching and cuddle session with his new found friend had ended pretty abrupt, when his landlord was angrily knocking on his door. Not only his pissed face but also his red rimmed eyes had scared Milo to death, not to mention the following screaming about violating the apartment contract and threats about throwing him out in an instant if the ""furry piece of fucking garbage""-his words not Milos, wouldn't leave the house immediately.

How his landlord could react to Seonmi allergic without being near her was a mystery to Milo who didn't know if he should admire or fear the old man.

The sun had already set and silently Milo prayed that Jules was still there, because there was no way the secretary would help him.

Out of breath, for the second time today, he hastily entered the vet. When he catches a glimpse of familiar black hair and concerned blue eyes, he almost stumbles in gratitude.

Still panting he breathlessly tells Jules: "I need your help".