CATastrophe | WayV |

[2] Anything For You

Hendery glance at the huge clock that hung on the wall, the time read 10:57 pm. 'Why was Kun-ge taking so long? Did something bad happen? Should I go check?' He thought to himself. His phone suddenly vibrated in his pocket which gave him a scare. He laughed at himself while looking around nervously to see if anyone saw him. The caller ID read Ten. He quickly picked up the call.

"Hendery? How's everything? Is Kun with you? He couldn't pick up my call." Ten seemed worried.

"I think Kun's talking to the doctor right now. Don't worry too much, okay? We'll come back soon." He tried to reassure him as much as he could. "Louis will get better and he'll be able to play with his siblings again. Like they said, it's probably because he got plane sick. He'll be alright."

Ten was quiet for a moment. "Okay. We'll be waiting for you guys. Come home safely."

"Okay. See you soon."

Kun's steps were heavy as he walked out of the doctor's office. He held up the cat cage to his view, looked inside to see Louis spooning a stuffed toy while staring back at him with his round eyes. "Don't worry, I promise I'll take care of you." He whispered to Louis. He walked out to the hall where Hendery was waiting for him. His face lit up when he saw Kun carrying Louis.

"How is he? What did the doctor say? Can we take him home?" There was excitement in his voice which broke Kun's heart more.

"I'll tell you about it in the car. Let's go, it's late."

The tone in his voice made Hendery anxious, but he followed him to the car without asking further questions.

They sat in silence in the dark parking lot until Kun build up the strength to say what he needed to say.

"Louis is diagnosed with FeLV, Feline Leukemia Virus; the symptoms didn't show until he got on the plane."

"Leukemia? Isn't that like, like ca-cancer?" He had to force the last words out of his mouth.

"Yes. The doctor said although it's emotionally wreaking, with a good diet and medicine, he'll live up to another 2-3 years. He gave me a list of medicines he should take for now. He also needs to go for check-ups every month."

Kun felt a pain in his chest when he saw Hendery trying to process the information he had just received. He knows that he had always been cheerful and positive even when something unfortunate happens but he was still a young boy at heart. He could see that he was trying to hold back his tears. He reached out and pats his shoulder; there wasn't much he could do. He then decided it was best to go home.

They stopped at every pet pharmacy on the way home. They used as much Japanese as they could to ask about Louis' medicines. But they had either run out of it or had no stock left of the medicine they needed. But Hendery was determined to ask every pharmacy he could find. Kun checked his phone to 5 missed calls from Ten and some messages from the members. It was almost 1 in the morning.

"Should we go home? The members are worried about us." Kun stopped Hendery on his tracks.

"But what about the medicine?"

"We'll buy them tomorrow. Come on, aren't you tired?"

"Let me just ask a couple more, you wait for me in the car, it'll be faster if I go alone." He ran off before Kun could stop him.

"How can he still be so energetic?" He thought to himself as he retreated towards the car.

Hendery stood before the closed pharmacy. He cursed under his breath as he frantically look around. As he took a few steps back he saw an old sign with the logo of a cat. The arrow on the sign led to an alleyway on the side of the building. He followed the sign without hesitation. A left turn, then a right, another right, two lefts, he couldn't remember the sequence when he decided to go back. He took out his phone to call Kun when he heard a bell chime behind him.

He turned around to see an old man walking with the help of a stick. He wore traditional Japanese clothes and smoke heavily with his pipe. He looked tired and worn out. "Excu-" as the words left his lips, five cats appeared out of nowhere and followed the old man. They purred and danced as they rub their heads in his feet as he walked. Hendery was filled with amazement but was also a little scared of the unknown man.

"Sumimasen!" He called out to the mysterious man.

The man stopped but didn't turn around.

"Watashi wa yak- um, what's the word for.."

"Speak in Mandarin, young man. I can speak many languages." The man said as he took another heap on his pipe.

"Oh sorry. I'm searching for a pet pharmacy or something like that around here. I followed a sign that led me here. I really need to buy a medicine for my cat."

All of a sudden, the man eyes lit up in excitement and for a split second, Hendery thought he saw his eyes change to that of a cat's but quickly put the thought away.

"That's my sign. Yes, I put the sign there, yes, yes, it's mine. But why haven't you bought your cat with you?"

"He's in the car with my brother. Should I go and get him?"

"No, no, no, there's no need to bring more people. But tell me, what's wrong with the cat?"

"The doctor said he has cancer and that-"

The man took out his bag and fumbled through it without listening to what the boy said, "I have the perrrrrfect cure for you. I've given it to many many customers and they always say it had done miracles."

He giggled as he took out a small bag; the cats around him became frantic at the site of the bag.

"I promise you that your cat wouldn't be the same after you give him this." He held out the bag but quickly took it back. "Something as precious as this isn't free, you know?" He said mockingly.

"How much is it?" Hendery took out his wallet. "I'm sorry I don't have any cash with me, do you take card?"

"No, no, I don't want none of that." He thought to himself for a while. "Tell me your name and when I need the price I will come find you."

"My name's Huang Guanheng. I live-"

Before he could realize what happened, Hendery found himself standing a few feet away from their car, with a small bag in his hand.