What Does Your Ideal Type Look Like? -1-
"You damn dog! Right there!!!"
Grrrrowl!
"I said right there!"
Another peaceful day in the young lady's room. She was playing tag with Gomtangi. Even after a full month since I brought him home, there was no sign of them getting along—they were too busy growling at each other.
Gomtangi had the unopened chocolate packaging clenched in his mouth and was bouncing madly across the bed, while the young lady stretched out desperately to catch him. He'd snatched the snack I'd prepared for her. She stared at him with the look of someone who'd lost the world.
"You mutt! Give it back right now!"
Spitting harsh words, she strained with all her might to grab him. Every time she got close, he'd leap off the bed to the floor; when she gave up, he'd hop back up and wag his tail. Maybe he took after the guy who found him, because he was a pro at teasing.
"You mutt! Hand it over!"
Grrrrowl...!
Gomtangi was straight-up tormenting her. Like that Turkish ice cream vendor from my past life who dangled chewy treats just out of reach, he kept prancing in front of her eyes with a "Gonna catch me? Nah, you won't?" vibe. It was pissing me off just watching.
Huff... huff...
Gomtangi panted heavily. After a month of force-feeding his scrawny frame with meat, the animal enlarger treatment had worked wonders—he plopped down on the floor with a waddle. The young lady pointed accusingly at him.
"Ricardo, this won't do! Let's rub him down with bean paste!"
Saying brutal things right in front of her pet. I covered Gomtangi's ears and told her,
"Bean paste on our lovable Gomtangi? He'll get hurt hearing that."
"Gomtangi or whatever, he's annoying!"
Her eyes were spinning—she meant it. She scratched her head at Gomtangi, who was eyeing her with a look that screamed he'd turn her into actual dog stew if she kept it up. To calm her down in place of the oblivious mutt, I pulled a chocolate from my pocket.
She eyed it with a fierce glare.
"One? As if!"
Even in this mess, her greedy honesty made me chuckle. Pretending I couldn't resist, I pulled out a second one. Since I brought him home, it was my responsibility.
As the two chocolates settled into her angry arms, she flashed a bright smile and gave a thumbs-up.
"Hiet!"
Why's she praising that spot?
I was the one who gave them. Ignoring her misplaced approval, she patted the bed beside her.
"Meat! Come here!"
Woof!
"Huh?"
Gomtangi wagged his tail naturally, hopped onto the bed, and dropped the stolen chocolate next to her.
"Good boy!"
She ruffled him wildly. The two of them grinned like con artists who'd hooked a sucker. Watching their wicked smirks, I wondered,
Did I just get played...?
She pulled jerky from her pocket and fed him piece by piece.
That pig.
Betrayal stung. Like owner, like dog—their teasing game was top-tier.
"Haa... Fooled again."
Rubbing her throbbing forehead, she shot me a sassy look.
"Your fault for falling for it."
"...Fair enough."
She was dropping life's harsh truths.
A month had passed since finals. A month since the new family member arrived and I punched Mikhail. During that time, someone from the academy had visited, and she'd bawled her eyes out seeing her clean arm. An unforgettable month slipped by.
We hadn't been busy at all that month. No chores, no motivation. Life's truth: spend what you've earned. Retirement funds? Future me's problem. So we lounged like bums.
Debts paid off too. After all that hard work, our empty wallets would forgive a little slacking.
With the bum's reluctance to work, I flung myself at the young lady's lap as she sat on the bed.
Squish.
A bit firm, but the pleasant give of her thighs cradled my head. Her lap pillow was world-class—no supreme being could top it. Two years ago, it was even softer and squishier, but her immobile legs had been skin and bones.
Worried about straining her frail legs, I angled my head awkwardly. They were that delicate.
So bony... nothing but bones.
Before she could see my bitter look, I buried my face under her massive chest. Didn't want her seeing me mope.
Someday, I'll make you walk.
Staring at my bandaged palm, I resolved. Rehabilitation Touch. Our only hope right now. I clung to it, but certainty eluded me. Her body might be too damaged. No guarantees I could heal her.
Unlike my gloom, my pillow stared down with a bored expression.
"Heavy."
"No brains, so I'm light."
"More than me...!"
"Commoner head—weighs nothing."
She whined and tried shoving my head off, but my stubborn hold on prime real estate won out. No sensation in her lower half, but she clearly hated the lap-sitter. I nuzzled her skirt and grinned.
"Just a bit."
"Eek...!"
"Lemme lie here a little."
She sighed deeply and focused on her chocolate. That month of play had brought plenty of changes.
Mikhail's aura awakening made front-page news, and the rewards for that day's heroics stirred the empire. No envy here. Fame's a hassle. Trekking to the capital? Nah. For a medal and a handshake with the academy head? Waste of time.
Unless they paid big. I'd rather view maples with her.
Watching chocolate smear her lips, I thought, Come to think of it, we skipped the maple viewing.
Forgot amid Mikhail's drama and Gomtangi's arrival. This year's leaves were stunning. I turned to the window. Some had fallen, but enough color remained.
I sat up and looked at her.
She was feeding Gomtangi jerky.
"Grow big and tasty..."
Oblivious to her sinister plot, he rolled belly-up on the bed, chomping happily.
"Young lady."
She flinched at my sudden call.
In a stiff voice, "I didn't give him anything!"
She hid the jerky behind her back fast. The packaging poked out, but I played dumb, gazing out the window.
"Can you spare some time today?"
"Time? I'm busy."
Bum claiming a packed schedule. Her squirrely face cracked me up.
"Gotta nap too."
"Cockroaches incoming."
"Nah. He eats 'em all."
"..."
His suspiciously voracious appetite earned a nod.
"He does catch 'em well."
"Yeah. So I can nap."
"C'mon, just one day."
Pointing to the sunny view, "Perfect for a hike today."
"Hike?"
"Yeah."
She peered out long and hard. Hamel Mountains ablaze in red and gold widened her eyes.
"Too much hassle."
Brutally honest as ever.
"Why? Fresh air, good food."
"No. You'll tire pushing me up there."
Her concern for her butler warmed me. Smiling, I rolled up my right sleeve. Pale skin, dotted with dark scars—but healed, no pain, no black magic rot.
She poked it.
"All better?"
"Yep."
"Hmm..."
A month since showing her, and she still worried. Still applying ointment and bandages, distrusting my word. Past betrayals lingered.
I flexed to prove it, but she poked more, frowning.
"Still looks painful."
"It's fine."
"You're a liar, Ricardo. Can't trust you."
Guilt hit hard.
After a beat, I scooped her up princess-style, ignoring her polite refusal. Butlers override owners.
At her squirms, "Let's go. Maple viewing."
She eyed me. "We got money?"
I shot back a worry-not look. "Hiking's free."
"Ooh...!"
She beamed. Permission granted.
Before leaving, she giggled. "Then booze!"
"Pardon?"
"Never tried it... Let's drink! Booze!"
Grinning mischievously, she tugged my collar.
Alcohol, huh. Her first time here... Scary if she got wasted, but her innocent smile wore me down.
"Just one bottle, then."
"Yay!"
Worried, I warned, "FYI, I'm a booze whale?"
"Whale?"
"I drink like a beast."
"Ooh..."
She puffed her chest proudly. "Me too!"
Bad vibes all around.