chapter 2
It was literal hell in the morning. Since I had left one of the windows open last night, all the honking, screaming, and just in general all the loud noises outside was coming in through the window. On top of that, my alarm clock was going off and the beeping was giving me a headache, and Zelda wouldn't leave me alone. Eventually she got annoyed and flashed her tail in my face and it hurt. What have I done
to deserve this? Even all my neighbors were making a lot of noise. What was up with everyone today? It was only 7:45 in the morning and the city was alive like as it it were rush hour. What made everyone leave their houses this early in the morning today? For all I know, there is no big event going on in the city today, so I have no idea why everyone was out on the streets already. When I am walking to the bus stop, there aren't many cars on the street; even in the bus, only about four to five people on it, excluding me.
Exhaustion washed over me as I forced myself to get up from my comfy covers and mattress. I promised myself that I would get sufficient sleep last night, and it feels like I didn't even get a blink. Looking at myself in the mirror was like looking at a living dead. My hair was a mess, -and could be easily compared to a haystack- I had dark circles under my eyes, my eyes looked a bit fogged, and I seemed pale. It wasn't under debate, I was going to take a shower before eating breakfast today, because I looked like I had gone down to hell,walked through it, and came back to the over-world.
The water that ran down my body after I got into the shower, was cold, refreshing, and thankfully, comforting. The moment it touched my face it woke me up well, but probably wouldn't last long until I felt tired again. I scrubbed hard as my hair and body, making sure I had no grease in my hair and no dirt on my skin even though I haven't gone out of my apartment since last night, after I took a shower. The amazing feeling of cool water down my body must have felt too good that I stayed under the shower head for too long, and the water was suddenly getting steamy hot. I must have wasted all the cool water and now the hot water was taking its place, that or Zelda was flushing the toilet on purpose, somehow remembering that if you flush it, the water gets steaming hot.
"Fuck!" It slipped out of my mouth before I could bite my tongue. A patch on my chest started to get red, from the encounter with the hot water. Quickly, I turned off the water and got out, warmth overcoming me. I once read in a book that if you take a shower with cold water, when you get out, you will instantly get warm, and if you bathe in hot water, you usually feel cold once you get out. After knowing that, I tend to take a shower with cold water more than with hot water. With the white towel in my hand, I dried my face first and then rubbed it through my hair a couple of times, then dried my chest and back, and continued with the same process all the way down. I wrapped a towel around my waist as I looked at Zelda, sighing. "I know what you did. That wasn't very nice, Zelda." She only meowed in response, trying to act all innocent.
Zelda led the way as I got out of the bathroom, putting the towel in the hamper in my room. I wore a simple t-shit that had one of my older brothers favorite bands, MCR - also known as My Chemical Romance - and blue skinny jeans. I only bothered to put on socks before walking into my living room, to head to the kitchen. I walked past Zelda's bowl, knowing Zelda liked to eat 'off my plate' in the mornings. The Savanna cat just looked at me, sitting on the counter by the stove, waiting for me to make breakfast and take out something from the frying pan when she thinks I'm not looking.
Taking out a bowl, milk, a fork, and a couple of eggs, I turn on the electric stove and put on a pan to let it heat. Zelda, knowing the routine for eggs, walked across the counter, avoiding the stove, and going to the draw were I held utensils to eat, she took out a spoon, meowing to get my attention. "I know I know." I grabbed Zelda and the spoon, walking over to the fridge to get some butter. Putting Zelda on the floor, I start to make the eggs. I try not to laugh as I see Zelda getting back onto the counter, of coarse. Trying to make her not pick of the frying pan was hard, so I just turning my back on her to make toast, knowing that just telling her not to do such thing wouldn't work.
After the breakfast was made, I grabbed a plate and a small ice cream bowl. I filled both with eggs, and I put two whole toasts on the plate, and half of a crumbled toast in the bowl. The bowl was set right across from me as I sat down, Zelda plopping onto the dining table to eat from the bowl. It was quiet while we ate, apart from Zelda's purring and the ticking of the clock. The noise from the outside world was muffled by the walls, seeming like as if it were the faint music I had heard the night before. The light that came through the glass wall was pretty, you could see the people, cars, and buildings, not having to worry of all the noise.
The apartment was very modern, and for something like this, is expected to be a million bucks for this little apartment, but it was just a few thousand. White and grey walls, mahogany wood floorboards, one big glass wall to look out into the city... it was a nice place to live, it was calming, and comfy for a single guy in college and his small fluffy cat. I never really imagine myself with someone, I think of myself as, asexual, but I know I'm completely wrong with that. I find women attractive, yes, but sometimes when I could classify myself as heterosexual, I find men extremely attractive. If I had the time to love someone apart from my cat, I would date, but, it's hard work. I want to travel the world with Zelda and take pictures of amazing places, open my eyes to other things, but if I date, I couldn't do that. I couldn't allow myself to fall in love.
Once when Zelda was done with her breakfast, I grabbed her bowl along with my plate and washed them. She followed me, her tail and head held up high like always. It was a nice day, and looking at my phone, it looked like the weather was starting to drop now that the year was coming to an end. The hot sun of yesterday wouldn't be compared to the sun in summer, but the sun in September is still hot if there is no wind. I walked to the sofa and went to my messenger bag, to look for my book that I am currently reading, and took it out. The book is called Four Swords, an adventurous book with puzzles and cliffhangers that always keep you on edge. So far, that has to be my favorite book. I proceeded to put on my light purple coat, and I grabbed Zelda to put on a small sweater that Red had knit for her. She seemed to like it, since it was pink or whatever, but even better, she could keep warm in the cool air.
It is occasional for me to take out Zelda with me to the park. She didn't wonder out in public places, she gets a bit scared, so she likes to be with me in my coat pocket and stick her head out and watch the scenery. One last thing I did was put her toy mouse in another pocket of my coat so she could keep herself entertained while I read.
When I walked out through the glass doors, there I saw Green again, this time with a green coat though.
"Good morning" he said, and I nodded at him, knowing that he understood it as a 'good morning' from me. The street seemed to calm down since this morning, so it was less noisy. Zelda started to purr halfway to the park, guessing that she liked the warmth from the pocket of my coat. She wiggled in there for a bit until she was more comfortable, closing her eyes to take a nap. Thanks to Zelda being a small cat, she wasn't heavy at all, she could be classified as a kitten. That's how small she was, so her weight isn't even noticed.
The park wasn't full of pedestrians, only a few kids and their parents by the play. Some road their bikes and some jogged, getting their morning exercise done. A couple were playing with their dog by throwing a frisbee and letting him run to go fetch it to bring it back to them, just to do it all over again. The used to be green grass started to seem to tint to a lighter green, showing that it was slowly dying from the change of season. I sat down by a clear bench the and opened my book, taking out my glasses to read. Zelda seemed to notice the movement had stopped and awoke, climbing out of the pocket onto the bench. With her awake, I took out her mouse toy and she began to play while I read, hearing occasional squeaks from the toy.
I was at a part where the hero was trying to defeat a big eyeball, when I started to feel a bit strange. I had barely noticed that I was getting tired until I could barely keep my eyes open. 'I'm sure it wouldn't hurt if I took a small nap. Besides, Zelda wouldn't run away.' The chance of getting mugged here was also very low, so there was nothing to worry about. I closed the book, bookmarking it first before closing, and I sent Zelda a quick glance. She seemed occupied as she laid, looking at the sky with a few clouds, and her usual purring. My eyes closed without any other delay, and I let myself drift off.
At first I saw darkness, it was silent, but then I saw colors. There was a sanctuary, full of grass and flowers on the sides. There seemed to be a pedestal with something sticking out of it. Then there was a figure dressed in green who walked up to it, and took out the object in the pedestal, which seemed to be a sword. Soon the clad in green was four separate people. They all looked like the green clad, but with different facial expressions and clothes. Blue, red and purple/violet, was what the colors of the clothes they wore. It seemed like tunics, yet not the roman kind. They wore white undershirts and pants, with brown boots. They also wore a weird looking cap that matched the color of their clothes. They were all blond and there eyes were all blue.
The shadow of the green clad seemed to move, and smirk maliciously, something twisted and horrid. It moved on its own, not mimicking the movement of the owner it belonged to did. It was like as if it were a completely different person, like as if it a person itself. It looked at me then, and it spoke words to me. It left me confused, it left me befuddled actually.
"Excuse me, sir. Hello?" It said. Wait, that didn't seem right. But there wasn't any more time to think, the colors of the dream washed away as I opened my eyes to the bright light. Everything looked blue tinted, and it bothered me. I blinked my eyes a few times before I let them focus as I looked to the floor, before I saw a pair of black converse right across from where I sat. "Excuse me." The voice said again. I looked up to see a young man, in his twenties. He had purple hair about three piercing in each of his ears, with what I think is called 'snakebite' piercings under his bottom lips, a cigarette hanging from between his lips. He had pale skin and I could tell he had a few tattoos. He wore a lack coat with black pants. He was holding a dog leash in his hand, which held a playful looking husky that was looking at me. I finally looked up to meat his gaze, his blue eyes that looked like that could belong to a wolf.
"Does that happen to be your cat up in that tree?" He pointed over to a tree where indeed there was a cat on one of the branches and a dog barking at the base of the tree, at the cat. It only took a few moments for me to recognize the cat.
"Zelda!" I called, standing up quickly. The man made a face that showed that he had got the answer he was looking for. His dog pulled on his leash, following me, though I didn't pay attention. All I was thinking was how I was going to get that dog away from that tree. I looked at the dirty dog, he seemed like a stray. "Shit." It slipped as he looked at me, his eyes seemed crazy.
"Yo, scram before I have your ass" the man from before said in a demanding voice, kicking in the direction of the dog. It looked once at him and ran off quickly, like as if the man was his master. Zelda was ever quick enough to jump off from the branch she was perched on to my shoulder, while her back arched and she hissed.
"Thank you." I said as I turned to the man.
"Don't mention it. I just saw the cat, and I knew it had to belong to someone 'cause it was wearin' somethin' around her neck along with the sweater, and no one else was doin' anythin' about it. You were asleep so I though she was yours. Might not wanna 'leep when you have your cat out in public." His phone rang and he took it out, starting to walk away, putting a hand up that was holding his dogs leash as is saying 'bye' while he put the phone to his ear with his free hand.
Sighing, I ran a hand through my hair. It wasn't even mid day and all this has happened. Enough excitement for one day.