Cupid's Dilemma

Khaotang and Mimi To The Rescue

"I am not going in there!" Tay refused vehemently.

If the posters plastered on the clinic's glass windows were not enough to deter him from going inside, the sounds emanating from within provided a more powerful imagery that turned his legs into blocks of lead.

"My uncle owns this clinic and he's a really good doctor. He can check the condition of your arm and if he finds that you need to see a specialist then he can just drive us there" New pointed at the black sedan parked outside of the building .

"I should have known that you were going to take me here" Tay groaned.

He was familiar with all the establishments around their school's neighborhood and yet he still believed New's story of a nearby medical center, one that he wasn't aware of.

New simply shrugged and went inside the clinic without waiting for the other to follow him.

A cat that looked like it had far too many helpings of breakfast sat languidly on top of a cluttered desk. When the door chime sounded, it lifted it's head reluctantly before letting it fall back on its paws in a show of disinterest.

A man shouted from somewhere within the clinic as New proceeded to sit casually behind the messy table to pet the still indifferent feline.

After a few seconds, Tay materialized from the entrance looking cautiously around for New. But as he was inspecting the dimly lit room and its bare furnishings, a ball of black fur rushed towards him in mad chaos.

Tay did not have enough time to prepare himself before the yapping madness lunged at him with so much fervor that he could not hold his panic and started running around the small expanse of the office to escape. He shrieked for New who hurriedly came to his aid by gathering the ball of fur in his arms.

"Khaotang!" a harried man emerged from an adjoining room "I am sorry. I am really sorry. He bolted while I was trying to- oh New!"

The man eyed his nephew with surprise before his attention was caught by the boy standing fearfully on top of one of his swivel chairs.

"Get down from there! It's too dangerous" he shouted in caution as the chair squeaked from the quivering boy's movements.

"Uh huh. You might lose mobility on your last functioning limbs" New deadpanned as Khaotang struggled to break free from his hold in an apparent attempt to throw itself to a terrified Tay.

"I'm allergic to dogs" Tay pleaded meekly to the tall man who he noticed was wearing an unruly doctor's coat.

The man acted quickly and reached for the pup in New's arms to take it to one of the clinic's enclosures.

Left alone, New flashed a small knowing smirk at Tay before offering a hand to help him get down from the chair.

The humiliated boy eyed the hand with suspicion but took it nonetheless just as the disheveled man from earlier reappeared and assessed the two young men with an exasperated look.

"New, how many times must I tell you that I am a veterinarian. I treat sick animals, not humans" the man sighed through an explanation that he has delivered to the boy hundreds of times before.

"But Lee, you have a more extensive knowledge on how to treat human afflictions than any ordinary citizen I know so I am appealing to your conscience to help my friend here who is suffering from inexplicable pain brought about by a sprained arm" New countered with a cheeky smile.

Lee shook his head in disbelief but made no attempt at a retort as he's fully aware of how persistent his nephew can be. Instead, he approached the other boy to examine his injured arm.