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If you asked Michael Olise whether he believed in magic, he would say no without a second thought.
Okay, maybe when he was eleven, he'd spent an embarrassingly long time waiting for an owl to deliver his Hogwarts acceptance letter. But he'd outgrown that phase years ago. At least, that's what he had believed. Because what was happening right now was forcing him to reconsider.
Michael Olise had turned into a cat.
When he woke up that morning, the bed seemed ridiculously huge, and his body was almost completely swallowed by the blankets. Confused, he tried to sit up. Instead, he slipped and landed on all fours.
...
Wait.
Four legs?
Michael froze.
No.
Absolutely not.
Stunned, he turned toward the full-length mirror beside his wardrobe. The reflection staring back at him made his brain stop working for a solid five seconds. The 1.84-meter-tall right winger for Bayern Munich was gone. In his place sat a tiny black cat, its sleek fur streaked with patches of deep purple. He sat there for a full five minutes. The cat in the mirror blinked every time he did.
I must be dreaming, he told himself, desperately trying to stay calm.
Another five minutes passed. The cat was still there. So, unfortunately, he wasn't dreaming after all. The good news was that Bayern were in the middle of the off-season, and he wasn't expected to start in any upcoming matches.
The bad news?
He was a cat. A rather stylish cat, admittedly. But a cat nonetheless.
In fairy tales, people didn't just wake up as animals for no reason. The Frog Prince had been cursed. The Beast had been cursed. There was always a witch, a curse, or some terrible mistake involved. Assuming he had somehow offended a random witch, which seemed highly unlikely, he still had another problem. Those stories usually ended with true love's kiss.
Michael didn't have a true love.
Okay, maybe he had a tiny crush on Jamal. But that was completely beside the point. Jamal was, as far as Michael knew, painfully straight. Which meant he was, for lack of a better word, doomed. Bayern would have to find themselves a new right winger.
And Michael...
Michael would probably spend the rest of his life meowing.
Honestly... that didn't sound all that bad.
Michael had always thought cats had the perfect life. They didn't have to work. They just had to exist, look adorable, and somehow food would magically appear in front of them. Unfortunately, life wasn't that simple.
If Bayern thought he'd simply disappeared without a trace, they might assume he'd breached his contract. His parents would probably end up caught in the legal mess.
That was... less than ideal. With considerable effort, Michael hopped onto the bedside table and began pecking at his phone with his little paws. After several mistyped letters and an accidental emoji, he finally managed to send a message.
SOS. Come quickly.
Five minutes later, the doorbell rang, making Michael jump. He wasn't expecting a package. That meant the person outside had to be Jamal.
Except...
That couldn't be right. Even without traffic, it took at least twenty minutes to drive from Jamal's apartment to his. Which left only two possibilities.
Either Jamal had somehow learned how to teleport...
Or he'd ignored every speed limit in Munich.
The doorbell rang for another two minutes before Jamal finally gave up waiting. He pulled out the spare key Michael had given him, unlocked the door, and hurried inside.
"Michael?" he called anxiously. "Mike? Are you okay?"
“Meow”
A tiny meow made Jamal stop in his tracks. He looked down. A small black kitten was sitting neatly by his feet. It was, without question, the prettiest kitten he'd ever seen. Its sleek black fur was streaked with deep purple, a color combination that immediately reminded him of Michael.
I didn't know Mike had a cat...
Jamal crouched down until he was eye level with the kitten.
"Hey there."
The kitten looked back at him.
Its expression...
...was strangely human.
More specifically, it looked deeply aggrieved. Like Jamal had personally provoked it in the worst way imaginable.
"Do you know where Michael is?" Jamal asked softly as he stroked the kitten's head. "He texted me saying it was an emergency."
Under normal circumstances, Michael would have rolled his eyes.
Who talked to a cat?
But under the current circumstances, he was oddly grateful that Jamal did. Without hesitation, Michael turned around, trotted toward the bedroom, then stopped and looked back to make sure Jamal was following before leading him to the phone on the bedside table.
Jamal looked at the phone.
Then at the kitten.
Then back at the phone.
Then back at the kitten.
He repeated the process five more times before finally managing to say,
"...What?"
The phone was already unlocked.
A note filled the screen.
The cat is me. I'm Michael Olise.
Jamal stared at the screen in complete silence.
Okay.
He knew Michael wasn't the type to play pranks. Especially not ones involving emergency texts.
But this...
This was completely absurd.
It would have been far easier to believe that Michael had somehow orchestrated an elaborate prank, one that had sent Jamal speeding across the city and probably earned him at least five speeding tickets, than to believe Michael had actually turned into a cat.
"If you're Michael, roll over four times."
Jamal looked down at the kitten, still utterly bewildered.
The kitten rolled over exactly four times.
"..."
"If you're Michael, meow three times."
"Meow."
"Meow."
"Meow."
By now, Jamal was almost convinced.
One last test.
"If you're really Michael..." a grin slowly spread across his face. "Show me your belly."
Without a second thought, the kitten flopped onto his back and exposed his soft belly.
Jamal crouched down, unable to hide his smile.
"Good boy."
He gently rubbed the kitten's belly...
Then deliberately gave it a tiny pinch.
Michael froze.
...
He'd been tricked. With an indignant meow, he sprang to his feet, bit Jamal's finger, and marched away with his tail held high, refusing to spare him another glance.
Jamal chuckled softly and scooped Michael into his arms. The cat, who was, in fact, Michael, kept meowing in protest, repeatedly smacking Jamal's chest with his tiny paws.
"Ow, okay, okay." Jamal laughed. "I'm sorry, Mike. I just wanted to make sure you weren't pulling a prank on me."
"So... how did this happen?"
Jamal asked as he absentmindedly scratched under the kitten's chin. Michael instinctively leaned into the touch.
I don't know, he answered.
"Meow."
"..."
"Meow."
"..."
"Meow."
Jamal nodded thoughtfully.
"Right. I guess you don't know either."
Michael wasn't sure how Jamal had managed to understand him, but he wasn't about to question it. Anything was better than having to type with his tiny paws.
Grrr...
A loud growl came from Michael's stomach.
Right.
He hadn't eaten anything since he woke up. Jamal glanced down at him and chuckled.
"Hungry?"
Michael answered with a meow.
"Yeah, I figured." Jamal smiled. "What do you want to eat, Michael?"
He paused, thinking it over.
"I'm guessing cat food is out of the question."
Michael immediately meowed in agreement.
"But I don't think you should eat anything too heavily seasoned yet. As far as I know, that's not good for a cat's stomach."
"What about some chicken breast?" Jamal suggested. "That should be okay, right?"
Chicken breast would never make Michael's list of favorite foods. It was bland, dry, and painfully boring. The point was, he didn't exactly have many options. He let out a reluctant little meow.
"I'll take that as a yes." Jamal smiled. "I'll look up some healthier, and hopefully tastier, meals for you later. But for now, you'll have to put up with this, okay?"
Michael huffed but meowed once in agreement.
Jamal carefully set the kitten down on the kitchen counter before opening the cupboards with familiarity. He pulled out a frying pan and started preparing the meal.
Michael didn't like cooking. After leaving home and moving to Munich, he'd learned to do just about everything on his own. Cooking, however, was the one skill he refused to pick up. Ironically, his kitchen was fully stocked and surprisingly well-equipped, all thanks to a certain doe-eyed midfielder who constantly complained that Michael wasn't eating enough proper meals. In the end, Jamal usually ended up bringing groceries over and cooking for him anyway.
Truthfully, Jamal was a good cook, so Michael had never objected to the arrangement.
The aroma of freshly cooked chicken soon filled the kitchen. Although he'd initially had little interest in plain chicken breast, Michael found his mouth watering. Maybe being a cat had changed his taste buds.
Jamal set the plate down on the table before carefully shredding the chicken into bite-sized pieces with his fingers.
"There you go."
He held out a piece for Michael.
The kitten took it delicately from his hand.
"Well?" Jamal asked with a smile. "Is it good?"
Michael let out a content little meow that made Jamal grinned.
After polishing off the entire chicken breast, Michael felt his eyelids growing heavy. He looked up at Jamal, who was standing at the sink washing the dishes. The gentle sound of running water filled the apartment. Without realizing it, Michael curled into a little ball on the table. By the time Jamal turned around, the tiny black kitten had already fallen asleep.
Jamal chuckled softly.
Careful not to wake him, he scooped the sleeping kitten into his arms and carried him to the living room. He gently laid Michael down on the sofa before draping a small blanket over him. Only after making sure Michael was comfortable did he pull out his phone and open a search engine.
Why did a human turn into a cat?
The search didn't give Jamal many useful answers. The situation was simply too ridiculous to have any reliable information. Most of the results were nothing more than folklore, fantasy stories, or anonymous theories.
Still, one idea kept appearing over and over again. According to those theories, a person could be transformed by feelings they had suppressed for far too long, especially unspoken love.
If that was true...
Then the only way for Michael to become human again was to confess to the person he had a crush on. The thought left Jamal feeling strangely uneasy. Not because he thought Michael couldn't do it.
But because...
He had a huge crush on Michael himself. It wasn't exactly a secret, either. Literally everyone on the team knew.
Everyone except Michael. Jamal hadn't been subtle in the slightest. He brought Michael flowers. He cooked for Michael, something he hadn't even done for his own mother.
Sorry, Mom.
He found excuses to drop by Michael's apartment. He texted him good morning and good night. If Michael so much as mentioned wanting something, Jamal somehow had it in his hands within two days.
And somehow...
Michael still hadn't figured it out. Or perhaps he had, and was simply too nice to reject him outright.
That... honestly felt even worse.
While Jamal was lost in thought, a tiny meow came from beneath the blanket. Michael had woken up. The little kitten stretched lazily, his back arching before he blinked sleepily at his surroundings. He still didn't seem used to his new body. After a brief moment of confusion, his gaze landed on Jamal. Without hesitation, he padded over, gathered himself, and leapt gracefully into Jamal's lap as though it were the most natural thing in the world.
"Did you sleep well?" Jamal asked, absentmindedly running his fingers through the kitten's impossibly soft fur.
Michael let out a satisfied little meow before his attention shifted to the phone still resting in Jamal's hand.
"Oh, this?" Jamal glanced down at the screen. "I was reading a bunch of conspiracy theories."
He laughed awkwardly.
"I mean, they're probably nonsense. But one of them keeps showing up."
Jamal scratched the back of his neck.
"It says the curse can only be broken if you kiss your true love."
The room fell silent. Michael slowly lifted his head and looked at Jamal. Then he let out a small, dejected meow.
"I know it's hard to confess to your crush," Jamal said softly. "But according to this, the feelings don't have to be mutual."
He forced a small smile.
"So... you could just send them a quick text. It should be enough."
He tried to keep his tone light, almost teasing. But the smile never quite reached his eyes.
Michael turned to look at him.
But it would be awkward... and I don't want to lose you just because of my stupid crush, Michael thought.
Jamal met the kitten's gaze. For a moment, he could almost swear Michael looked... conflicted. Whoever that person was, Michael seemed to care about them deeply. An unfamiliar pang of jealousy twisted in Jamal's chest.
Jamal forced the jealousy back down and smiled.
"It's okay if you don't want to," he said gently. "These are just theories anyway. We'll figure something else out."
He gave Michael a gentle scratch behind the ears.
"We're in the off-season, so we've got time. I'll help you, okay?"
Michael looked at him for a long moment before giving a small nod. But there was one problem they couldn't avoid. That afternoon, both Jamal and Michael were supposed to attend Bayern's team meeting over Zoom. Jamal set his laptop on the coffee table and adjusted the webcam before placing a soft cushion beside him.
"There," he said. "You can lie here comfortably."
When Jamal joined the meeting, chaos was already in full swing. Alphonso, shirtless with a coconut in one hand and a tropical beach virtual background behind him, was laughing so hard he could barely breathe. On another tile, Manuel Neuer and Joshua Kimmich appeared to be having an unusually serious discussion. Almost no one noticed Jamal logging in.
Almost.
Vincent Kompany looked up from his screen and spoke over the noise.
"Hello, Jamal. Have you seen Michael? I've been trying to reach him, but he hasn't replied to any of my messages."
Jamal froze.
"...Uh."
Every pair of eyes turned toward him. He glanced down at the tiny black kitten curled up on the cushion beside him. Then, with the expression of a man who had completely given up on pretending today was normal, he gently lifted the kitten into the frame.
"...So..."
"This is Michael."
A beat of complete silence followed.
Then the entire Zoom call erupted into laughter.
Alphonso was laughing so hard he nearly dropped the coconut in his hand. Wiping tears from his eyes, he pointed at the screen.
"Dude..." he wheezed. "I know you're down bad for Michael, but naming your cat after him is a bit much, don't you think?"
"N-No, that's not what you think," Jamal stammered, his face flushing. "This really is Michael. Michael Olise."
He looked around the call desperately.
"You can... ask him if you want."
A beat passed.
"I swear I'm not crazy."
"...Alright," Neuer said cautiously. "If you're really Michael, meow five times."
The kitten meowed.
Five.
Perfectly counted.
A few people on the call straightened in their seats.
Kimmich frowned.
"If you're Michael..."
He paused for a second.
"Blink ten times."
Without hesitation, the kitten blinked exactly ten times. Nobody laughed anymore.
Then Thomas Müller suddenly leaned into Neuer's camera, having apparently wandered over to his side.
"Mikey!" he shouted. "Meow twice if you love me!"
The kitten didn't move.
Instead, he stared at Müller with an expression of pure disgust. A second later, he slowly turned his head away.
"...Yep," Kimmich said with a nod. "That's definitely Michael."
"So... how did this happen?" Kompany asked at last.
He looked as though he'd just seen a ghost. Then again, considering that his star right winger had somehow turned into a tiny black kitten overnight, he had every reason to be.
"We don't know," Jamal admitted. "Michael doesn't remember anything that could've caused this, and the internet wasn't much help."
He scratched the back of his neck awkwardly.
"The only thing we found was... well..." He glanced at Michael before continuing. "Apparently, confessing to your true love is supposed to turn you back into a human."
The call fell strangely quiet. Jamal could've sworn he saw at least ten people simultaneously clap their hands over their mouths, desperately trying not to laugh. None of them succeeded.
Especially Müller.
Jamal could hear his cackling even through Neuer's microphone.
"Fortunately, it's the off-season," Kompany said calmly. "That buys us a little time."
He folded his arms.
"You have one week. Do whatever you can to help Michael return to normal."
"If he's still... a cat after that, I'll have to report this to the board and discuss our next steps."
His expression softened.
"Being a cat can't be easy for Michael," Kompany said. "Jamal, I want you to look after him. Is that clear?"
"Yes, sir!"
The moment the meeting was officially over, the call descended into chaos.
"Can I see Michael again?" Alphonso leaned so close to his camera that only half his face was visible. "He's so cute!"
"I've got a whole box of cat toys at home," someone offered. "Should I bring them over?"
"I'm on vacation, so I can't come visit," another teammate complained. "Jamal, you have to send us lots of pictures of Michael."
"And videos!" Müller shouted. "I want videos!"
Michael buried his face in Jamal's hoodie, his tail swishing back and forth in full view of the camera.
"I can send you pictures and videos," Jamal said with a smile. "But Michael..."
He glanced down at the kitten curled up against his hoodie.
"...he's a little overstimulated right now, so I don't think having too many people come over is a good idea."
The meeting ended with a chorus of groans as Zoom's forty-minute limit finally kicked everyone out.
Yeah.
One of the biggest football clubs in the world was using the free version of Zoom. For Michael, though, it was nothing short of a blessing. The moment the call disconnected, he sprang onto the coffee table and smacked the laptop with one tiny paw.
"Meow!"
Jamal couldn't help laughing.
"I know, I know. They were a bit much."
When Jamal checked his phone, he found a message from Neuer.
Manu: Mind if I stop by later to check on Michael?
Jamal glanced down at the kitten, relayed the message, and, after receiving an approving meow, replied with a simple Sure.
With that settled, he headed into the kitchen to start making dinner for the two of them.He figured Michael had probably had enough chicken breast for one day, so he decided to cook salmon instead. After they finished eating, the doorbell rang. Jamal peered through the peephole. Standing outside were Neuer, Kimmich, and,of course,Müller. But there was one person he hadn't expected to see.
Upamecano.
Michael's teammate from the French national team.
When Jamal opened the door, Kimmich was carrying an armful of cat toys, while Neuer had a large bag of groceries slung over one arm.
"Hello, Bambi! We're here to visit!" Müller announced cheerfully.
Before Jamal could even step aside, Müller had already squeezed past him and disappeared into the apartment. A minute later, everyone had set their bags down in the living room when Müller reappeared. In his arms was a tiny black kitten. Fresh scratches decorated both of his hands. Michael let out a deeply aggrieved meow toward Jamal. His once perfectly groomed fur was now sticking out in every direction. Everyone burst into laughter. Jamal simply opened his arms, and Michael immediately wriggled free from Müller's grasp before jumping straight into them.
"Wow..." Neuer whispered, staring at the tiny kitten. "He really does look exactly like Michael."
The others nodded in silent agreement.
After exchanging a few updates, Upamecano stood.
"I need to talk to Michael. Alone."
The little kitten looked up at him in surprise, but after a moment, he climbed obediently onto Upamecano's shoulder. They stepped outside, leaving Jamal with Neuer, Kimmich, and Müller. An uneasy silence settled over the room. Neuer was the first to speak.
"Jamal... first of all, I want you to know that none of us are judging your feelings for Michael."
Jamal lowered his eyes but said nothing. Neuer sighed quietly.
"But from what you've told us, Michael needs to confess to the person he loves."
"..."
"If that's really the only way to turn him back..."
He paused before continuing.
"Then I need you to let him go."
Jamal's fingers tightened around the edge of the sofa.
Neuer continued gently.
"I know that's painful to hear."
"But if this isn't resolved within a week, the club will have to get involved. Once it reaches the board, none of us knows what they'll decide."
"The media, doctors, lawyers... it could become something far beyond our control."
"So... if Michael really loves someone else..."
He looked Jamal straight in the eye.
"...please don't stop him from seeing that person."
Müller moved over and sat beside him, giving Jamal a reassuring pat on the back.
"It's going to be hard, Bambi."
His usual grin had disappeared.
"But sometimes life forces you to make a choice, and... I think this is one of those moments."
He sighed quietly.
"We'll be here for you, no matter what."
Müller glanced toward the door where Upamecano had disappeared with Michael.
"We all know how much you love him."
"But Michael's a sensitive person."
"When the time comes... please don't make it harder for him than it already is."
Jamal stared silently at the floor. A long moment passed before he managed to whisper,
"...Okay."
A few minutes later, Upamecano returned. Cradled in his arms was a very dejected-looking kitten. Michael's ears drooped, and he kept his gaze fixed on the floor. Without saying a word, Upamecano gently stroked the top of his head before passing him to Müller.
"Oh..." Müller cooed dramatically. "Little Meowchael is sad~"
Michael didn't even bother glaring at him this time. Neuer and Kimmich exchanged a glance before standing up to leave.
"Oh, and the cat toys are from Tah and Luis," Neuer said, nodding toward the pile in the living room.
"We also picked up some salmon, chicken breast, eggs, and vegetables."
"You should try to keep Michael on a regular feeding schedule."
"And if anything comes up, call us."
Kimmich smiled reassuringly.
"None of us have any plans next week. We'll come over whenever you need us."
"Yeah... thanks."
Jamal walked them to the door. Before leaving, Neuer pulled him into a brief hug and gave his back an encouraging pat. The apartment fell quiet once the door closed. When Jamal returned to the living room, Michael was sitting silently on the sofa, completely lost in thought.
Earlier, outside the apartment.
Upamecano sat down on a bench with the tiny kitten perched on his shoulder. For a while, neither of them made any sounds. Then Upa broke the silence.
"I guess you don't want to talk about this whole true love thing."
Michael lowered his head.
"I won't force you."
Upa smiled faintly and gently rubbed behind the kitten's ears.
"But I do want to tell you one thing. If this curse is real... maybe it's not here to punish you. Maybe it's telling you to stop hiding."
Michael stayed perfectly still.
"You've always been like that. You keep everything to yourself. Your worries. Your feelings. Even when they hurt."
He looked at the tiny kitten with a soft smile.
"You don't have to be so... I don't know... nonchalant all the time."
"If you love someone..."
"...tell them."
"Maybe they'll reject you."
"Maybe they won't."
"But at least you'll know. And if anyone dares to make fun of you..." Upa snorted. "I'll call Kylian."
A tiny huff escaped Michael despite himself.
"There you go. I like that face better."
Michael slowly buried his little head into Upamecano's palm.
Upa chuckled quietly as he stroked the soft fur.
"Don't be afraid of loving someone, Mike. You've got one of the kindest hearts I've ever known. And I believe that you will be fine."
The thought of confessing to Jamal had never truly crossed Michael's mind. That was simply who he was. Whenever he cared about someone, he buried those feelings in the deepest corner of his heart and kept them there. As long as he could stay by Jamal's side, he was happy.
Friend.
Teammate.
Best friend.
Whatever he was to Jamal didn't really matter. Just being allowed to remain in his life was enough. Until this happened. This ridiculous curse had turned everything upside down.
Seeing the tiny kitten looking so dejected, Jamal couldn't help letting out a small laugh. He was heartbroken too. But somehow, Michael looked almost too adorable to stay serious around.
"Don't think so much," Jamal said softly, gently scratching beneath the kitten's chin. "Your tiny little cat brain isn't built for overthinking."
The kitten immediately let out an indignant meow.
"My brain isn't little."
Jamal could almost hear the words.
He chuckled.
"Alright, alright. I take it back."
He carefully scooped Michael into his arms and carried him to the bedroom. Jamal tucked the blanket loosely around the tiny black kitten.
"I'll sleep in the living room tonight."
"If you need anything, just come find me, okay?"
Michael looked at him for a long moment before giving a quiet little meow. After that, Jamal settled onto the sofa. Normally, he fell asleep within minutes. His teammates had taken advantage of that more times than he could count, doodling all over his face whenever he dozed off during training camps. Tonight, though, was different. His eyes were closed, but his mind refused to rest. Neuer's words kept replaying over and over again. Of course he knew what the right thing to do was.
For Michael.
For the team.
If letting Michael go meant he could become human again, then Jamal would do it.
He had to.
But knowing what was right didn't make it hurt any less. He couldn't bear the thought of Michael smiling so gently at someone else. Looking at someone else with that quiet warmth in his eyes.
And...
Kissing someone else with all the love he had kept hidden for so long.
Half an hour later, Jamal was finally drifting off, his eyelids growing heavier by the second. Then he heard the bedroom door creak open. A minute later, something soft landed beside him on the sofa.
Michael.
He knew it had to be. But he was too tired to open his eyes. For the next ten minutes, Jamal could feel Michael lingering beside him. The tiny kitten shifted his weight every now and then, as though he wanted to do something but couldn't quite make up his mind. Then Jamal felt something soft and furry brush gently against his lips. His drowsy mind snapped awake almost instantly. A heartbeat later, he felt the tiny kitten turn around, as if preparing to flee.
Jamal's eyes flew open. Before Michael could take another step, he reached out and gently caught one of the kitten's paws. The faint glow of the streetlights filtering through the curtains was just enough for him to make out Michael's face. His eyes widened in pure shock. Then, realizing he'd been caught, Michael immediately tried to pull his paw free from Jamal's grasp.
Jamal didn't let him escape.
Before Michael could wriggle free, Jamal scooped the kitten into his arms and held him tightly against his chest. A grin spread across his face, his eyes lighting up with unmistakable joy.
"...Did you just kiss me?"
Michael froze.
Jamal laughed, almost breathless.
"Michael... you kissed me."
He looked down at the tiny kitten in disbelief before his smile grew even wider.
"You like me, don't you?"
His voice softened into something hopeful.
"...You have to like me."
He looked into the kitten's eyes. Jamal felt his chest tighten. He couldn't hold it in anymore.
"...Because I love you so much, Michael," he whispered.
Michael's mind went completely blank.
The only reason he'd kissed Jamal was because he wanted to outsmart the curse. He thought that maybe, just maybe, if he kissed the person he loved, he would turn back into a human without ever having to confess. Without risking losing Jamal. He'd been certain Jamal was asleep.
After all, the guy slept like a sloth. Once he was out, nothing short of the apocalypse could wake him. Or so Michael had thought. What happened next stunned him even more.
Jamal confessed to him.
He looked at Michael with so much love in his eyes that it almost hurt to look back. Those warm, doe-like eyes were fixed entirely on him, as if Michael were the only person in the world. Too many emotions crashed into him all at once. He was overjoyed. Jamal loved him. Jamal actually loved him.
But then...
Why hadn't he turned back into a human? The thought struck him like a bucket of cold water. His happiness, confusion, hope, and panic tangled together until he couldn't think straight. He simply stared at Jamal, completely speechless.
Then it hit him. He hadn't confessed. Michael looked straight into Jamal's eyes and gathered every ounce of courage he had.
"I..."
"Meow."
"I..."
He shook his tiny head and tried again.
"Love..."
"Meow."
His heart pounded.
One last time.
"You."
"...Meow."
The moment the last meow left his mouth, a warm golden light burst from his tiny body. Jamal instinctively tightened his hold as the kitten suddenly grew heavier in his arms. Soft black fur melted away like mist. Tiny paws stretched into trembling fingers.
Within seconds, the little black kitten was gone. In his arms was Michael Olise. Very much human again.There was only one small problem. Michael was completely naked. Jamal's face instantly turned bright red.
"O-Oh!"
He scrambled for the throw blanket on the sofa and hurriedly wrapped it around Michael before pointedly looking away. Michael, meanwhile, still seemed completely dazed. He blinked several times, staring at Jamal with the exact same bewildered expression he'd had as a kitten only seconds ago. Jamal couldn't help smiling. He leaned forward and gently kissed the tip of Michael's nose.
"Mike..."
"I heard your confession."
His grin widened.
"So..."
"You're my boyfriend now."
Michael finally seemed to come back to his senses. His face flushed scarlet. He hurriedly pushed against Jamal's chest, creating a little distance between them.
"W-Wait..."
His voice came out hoarse from not having spoken all day.
"You can't just decide that on your own."
Jamal blinked innocently.
"...Can't I?"
Michael stared at him for a long second before letting out an exasperated sigh.
"I never said yes."
A grin slowly spread across Jamal's face.
"But you confessed."
"I meowed!"
"You meowed 'I love you.'"
"..."
"...That still counts."
Michael covered his burning face with the blanket. Jamal pulled him into a gentle hug.
"I love you so much, Michael."
A small smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
"So... please love me too, okay?"
Silence.
Then, from beneath the blanket, came a tiny, almost inaudible voice.
"...Okay."
Extra:
The next morning, Jamal snapped a picture of himself and Michael having breakfast together and dropped it into the Bayern group chat.
Phonzy: OMMMMGGGGGG 😭😭😭 SO YOU WERE MICHAEL'S CRUSH???
Jamal: 😏
Neuer: Congratulations. And... sorry if what I said yesterday upset you.
Jamal: It's okay, Cap. 😂
Müller: Our little Bambi has a boyfriend now. He's all grown up.
Tah: EXCUSE ME?????
Tah: WHERE ARE MY CAT PICTURES???????
Luis: WHERE ARE THE PHOTOS OF OLISE PLAYING WITH THE TOYS I BOUGHT HIM??????
Jamal: Sorry guys.
Jamal: This is all you're getting.
He attached a single photo.
It was Michael, still in his kitten form, fast asleep on a soft cushion with his tiny belly shamelessly on display.
Min-jae: CATLISE 😭😭😭
Min-jae: I NEED MORE CATLISE.
Phonzy: BROOOOO THAT'S THE CUTEST THING I'VE EVER SEEN 😭😭😭 GIVE US MORE.
Tah: RELEASE THE CATLISE ARCHIVES.
Luis: JUST ONE MORE PHOTO PLEASE I'M BEGGING.
Jamal smiled to himself before muting the group chat. Then he slipped his phone into his pocket and returned to breakfast.
The truth was...
He had hundreds of photos of Cat Michael.
Sleeping.
Yawning.
Curled up in his lap.
But no one else was ever going to see them. Contrary to popular belief...
Jamal Musiala was an incredibly possessive boyfriend.