Chapter Text

Why'd I do it?

`“Bro Xavier, how the heck did you end up with a 95% on your math test!”

“Maybe if you had studied when I told you to, you also would have gotten a good mark.”

“Yeah, no thanks.”

As Anthony and I walked down the street in hopes of reaching our houses before noon, I couldn’t help but notice something that caught my attention.

A cat was sitting on a step at the convenience store. It had beautiful white fur that looked like snow, and ocean blue eyes.

Before I knew it, I found myself walking over towards the extraordinary-looking cat and sat down next to it.

“Hi there, kitty, where’s your owner?”

The cat then purred and circled me. I couldn’t help but chuckle in amusement.

“What’s your name?” I asked in hope of a response, but nothing came out of the kitten’s mouth.

 

“Dude, that's a cat. It’s not just going to reply to you. Even though you have such outstanding grades, you still don’t know that animals can’t talk?” Anthony questioned me with a yawn.

“Let’s go home, man, just leave the cat.”

I took a glance at the cat, shook my head, and picked it up.

“Why would I just leave a cat here, especially when it probably has no owner?”

Anthony groaned and signaled with his hand for me to come.

“I’ve decided that I’m going to keep this cat,” I said with determination in my eyes.

“Yeah, yeah, must be nice living all alone, just hurry up now, would you? It’s getting late.”

As I entered my house, I took off my shoes, hung my coat, and placed my bag in the living room. Placing the cat down, I then yawned and headed over to the washroom.

 

“I’ll be back, kitty, just hold on.”

The cat then followed me into the restroom and waited while I finished washing my face.

“Seems like you really didn’t want to wait for me to be done,” I say and smile with a chuckle.

“That reminds me, I haven’t yet given you a name. Hmm, how does Sky sound?”

The cat purrs in approval and circles around me once more.

“Haha, you sure do like doing that. Come, let’s go sleep, Sky.”

 

My alarm blares, and the sun shines through my curtain. I glance down and find Sky sleeping on my chest like an angel sent down from heaven.

Oh, right, that reminds me. I haven’t read my bible in a while.

Just then, a soft purr breaks my thoughts and catches my attention.

“Oh, good morning, Sky. How are you?”

Oh gosh, I really need to stop talking to a cat like this.

“I’ll just guess that you’re doing okay.” I stand up, turn off my alarm, and walk towards the washroom. Before I know it, I find myself stretching in a way that reveals my abs.

Just great, I barely got any sleep because Anthony didn't want to go home as soon as school ended—him and his stupid soccer club.

It took me roughly an hour to get ready for school. At least Sky’s purrs gave me motivation. Looking down, I spot Sky meowing.

“Aw, I’m sorry Sky, but I can’t take you to school with me. You’re just going to have to wait for me to be done, okay?” I say as I reach down to pet the upset cat.

“You can just sleep for the time being, alright?” I exit my apartment and lock the doors. Following my usual footsteps to go to school, I ended up running into the man I didn’t even feel like seeing.

“Anthony, seriously-frick you and your stupid soccer club! I couldn’t sleep at all because of you.”

“You’ll be fine, Xay, just thug it out, do what I do,” Anthony says, cocky as ever.

Yeah, I’d rather not.

“No, thank you,” I shot out as fast as my mind could process.

At the end of the day, I pack all of my things and change my shoes in the locker room. Before I know it, a group of girls surrounds me.

“Hey Xay! How’s your day going?”

Ugh, it’s this chick again. I really don’t wanna talk to her. Maybe I can just pretend not to hear her and slip away!

“Xayyy, do you seriously not hear me?” She continues. “Answer me Xay Xay boo boo bear~”

“Ugh, stop it, Madison. Calling me Xay is bad enough, so don’t even think of adding the boo boo bear part to it.” I push myself to stand up.

Madison closes my locker for me and looks me in the eyes.

“Xay, let’s go on a date! You and me, tonight!”

I’d rather die continuously like Diavolo from Jojo's.

“Sorry, can’t. I’m busy today.” I say firmly.

“Then tomorrow?!”

“Nope. Busy tomorrow as well.”

“Then how about-” Just then, for once, I feel glad to see Anthony. I run over to him and push him towards Madison.

“Here! Ant is free tomorrow and the day after that! Take him! Well, bye now!”

Hehe, have fun, Anthony. This is my payback. Before Anthony and Madison could say another word, I was already long gone down the hallway.

 

That might have been the first time that Anthony has been useful in my entire life.

“Sky! I’m home!” My voice echoes in my home, but no reply. Idiot, cats can’t talk back to you! Placing my backpack on my living room couch, my eyes scan the rest of my apartment.

“Sky?” Just then, I hear a loud yawn coming from my room. “W-who’s there! I uhh… Have a weapon!” I say, threatening the intruder.

While frightened, I swiftly walk towards my room and take a peek through the tiny gap in the door.

There’s definitely someone here.

The door creaks as I take extremely quiet footsteps and place myself right in front of my bed.

“Who are you!?” I ask while yanking the blanket off the person’s face.

I might have good grades, but emotions? Not my strong suit. Still, in that moment, I felt something completely new.

The sleeping beauty stirred, his lashes fluttering before he yawned. As he stretched, warmth rushed to my face.

What is this feeling? Wait—focus. I still need to figure out who this guy is.

“Who are you?” I ask, staring at the boy who looks about my age. His skin was pale as snow, his hair glimmering like sunlight, and his eyes the color of the ocean.

He was...

beautiful.

The mystery boy stood and began to circle me, and I stumbled back. His movements—graceful, measured—felt strangely familiar, like Sky’s.

Tall, lean, perfectly balanced—he looked as though creation itself had taken its time.

He finally stopped in front of me, stepping closer until I froze. I squeezed my eyes shut, bracing for the worst—but instead, he rested his head on my shoulder and pulled me into a tight embrace.

“Meow.”

Huh? Meow? What is he, a cat? The man then continues purring on my shoulders and licks my cheeks.

“H-hey! W-what do you think you’re doing?”

He keeps licking me, then pauses, meeting my eyes with a strangely calm look—almost tender. My breath catches.

Why’s he looking at me like that? I can feel heat rising to my cheeks as my thoughts scramble.

 

“Oh man, I’m still tired. That hug sure woke me up a little bit, though.”

I freeze in freight. Where’d that sound come from?

“Your name’s Xavier, right? What type of food do you have in this place? Chicken?”

Who's talking? There's only me and this stranger here. think to myself as I look around.

“Hello? I’m talking to you, man.”

“AH!”

“The heck are you screaming for Xavier?”

“Who are you?! And how do you know my name!”

“It’s me? Sky? The cat you took in literally yesterday.”

“You’re not a cat, though!”

 

The strange man sits down on my bed and starts stretching again. What on earth is happening?

“Watch this—and don’t freak out, alright?”

In an instant, the young boy vanishes, and a small cat appears in his place.

The cat hops off the bed and begins circling me, just like it always does. Then, mid-step, it disappears—and the same boy reappears out of nowhere.

“See? I’m Sky.” He grins, sniffing me playfully before leaning his full weight against me.

“You smell so nice. Can you hug me like this every day from now on?”

I blush again, surprised by how easily he can fluster me with a compliment I should be used to by now.

“Obviously, I smell nice; my fragrance costs me a fortune.” I find myself yelling.

Sky completely ignores me and walks throughout my apartment, leaving me stranded in my room.

Just what have I gotten myself into?