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Colet used to think hindi siya meant maging fur mom.
Not because she hated animals.
She was just nine years old nung pinabili siya ng nanay niya ng toyo sa tindahan ni Aling Tessie. It was only a few houses away. Madali na 'yun.
Until she passed the rusty gate with the chained aspin that everyone in the neighborhood knew.
That afternoon, the chain wasn't enough.
She remembered hearing the bark before she saw the dog.
Then she ran.
Tiny slippers slapping against the concrete, soy sauce completely forgotten as tears blurred her vision.
"Mama! Hinahabol ako ng aso! Mama! Tulong!!!"
She screamed for help, crying so hard she couldn't even breathe properly.
The dog eventually stopped chasing her.
But the fear never really did.
For years afterward, she wouldd cross the street whenever she saw a dog. Friends who owned pets learned not to tease her with them. If a cat rubbed against her leg, she'd freeze until it walked away.
It wasn't hatred.
Just... fear.
A fear that settled somewhere deep inside her and quietly stayed there.
Now—
Colet blinked awake as morning sunlight spilled across their bedroom.
Something warm was pressed against her side.
She looked down.
Bambi.
Their corgi.
The little dog was sprawled on his back, tiny paws twitching as if he were chasing something in his dream, snoring ever so softly.
Colet couldn't help but smile.
"Ano nanaman kaya panaginip mo?" she mumbled.
Bambi didn't even flinch.
Careful not to wake him, she slipped out of bed, stretched until her back cracked, and shuffled toward the kitchen.
She stopped halfway.
Jhoanna was already awake.
Still wearing one of Colet's old university shirt, hair tied into a messy bun that was already falling apart.
She crouched beside a row of food bowls.
"Okay... kumain na muna kayo."
Five cats somehow appeared out of nowhere the moment they heard her voice.
Mochi meowed impatiently.
Pepper kept weaving between Jhoanna's legs.
Tofu had somehow climbed onto her shoulder.
Cloud was pawing at her shirt.
And Sesame—
"...hala ka, uy!"
Sesame had successfully crawled onto Jhoanna's back while she laughed helplessly.
"Eto ka na naman, pag ikaw nahulog jan, seven nalang buhay mo!"
The cat proudly refused to move.
Jhoanna laughed so brightly that even the sleepy house seemed to wake with her.
The cats purred.
Bambi finally wandered into the kitchen, tail wagging furiously.
The whole place was alive.
Warm.
Messy.
Noisy.
Home.
Colet leaned against the doorway.
She didn't say anything.
She just watched.
She couldn't remember when exactly they ended up with five cats.
The original plan had been one.
Then one became two because "kailangan niya ng playmate, wala siyang kasama kapag wala tayo rito."
Then three because "inaabuso siya sa dati niyang bahay, kung nakita mo lang 'yung situation siya nung ni-rescue namin siya."
Then four because "temporary lang 'to, love."
Then five because—
"Look at his face, love!!!"
Apparently, that was enough.
Then somehow...
Bambi happened.
Colet still insisted she hadn't agreed.
Jhoanna insisted she absolutely had.
Neither of them could prove it anymore.
"Love?"
Jhoanna finally noticed her.
"Aga mo na-gising, parang 3AM na nung naramdaman kitang tumabi sa'kin."
Colet simply hummed.
She walked over and sat beside her on the floor.
"Hirap pala pag american client, dis oras nang gabi nagpapa-revise ng report."
Almost immediately—
Two cats abandoned Jhoanna.
One settled on Colet's lap.
Another curled against her thigh as though it belonged there.
Colet instinctively rested her hand on the orange one's back.
Gentle.
Without thinking.
Jhoanna caught the moment.
Click.
Her phone camera echoed through the room.
Colet looked up.
"...Ano?"
Jhoanna giggled while checking the photo.
"Wala."
She turned the screen around.
There was Colet.
Hair sticking up everywhere.
Still half asleep.
A cat loafing comfortably on her lap.
Another rubbing against her arm.
Bambi sitting loyally beside her feet.
"Kala mo hindi hinabol ng aso dati eh, oh."
Colet groaned.
"Oh, shut up."
Jhoanna laughed louder.
"I remember nung first year tayo."
"Wag mo na ikwento."
"Sabi mo pa dati, nung binigyan kita ng flyer 'I don't think I can ever own a pet.' pero tinaggap mo 'yung number ko nung sinabi ko na baka magbago pa isip mo."
"I know."
"'Baka atakihin ako sa puso.'"
"I know."
"'Please don't let your cat touch me.'"
"I know."
Jhoanna couldn't stop smiling.
"And now..."
She gestured dramatically at the tiny crowd surrounding Colet.
"Look at you."
Colet looked down.
The cats really had chosen her.
Again.
She absentmindedly scratched behind Mochi's ear.
The cat immediately leaned into her touch.
"...Traitors."
"Ming."
The cat ignored Jhoanna completely.
"See?"
Jhoanna laughed.
"They love you."
Colet clicked her tongue.
"I tolerate them."
"Mhm."
"I do."
"Mhm."
"I don't baby talk them."
"Mhm."
"..."
"..."
"Who's mama's handsome little corgi?"
Jhoanna burst into laughter.
"Tingnan mo!"
Colet covered her face.
"Shut up."
"I heard that."
"I slipped. Bugso ng damdamin."
"You literally used your baby talking voice."
"I don't have a baby voice."
"You absolutely do."
Colet sighed dramatically.
"...Don't tell the girls at work."
"My lips are sealed."
Jhoanna leaned closer.
Then gently kissed her.
"Good morning, love."
Colet smiled into it.
"Good morning."
She lingered there, their noses brushing, lips barely apart.
Before giving Jhoanna one last soft peck.
Years ago, when she was nine, being chased by that dog became one of those memories she thought would stay with her forever.
And maybe it always would.
Some memories never really leave.
But every morning now...
She woke up beside a snoring corgi.
She shared breakfast with five impossibly spoiled cats.
She watched the woman she loved smile as if kindness was the most natural thing in the world.
Turns out, fear could become a core memory.
But so could this.
And if she had to choose one memory to carry with her for the rest of her life—
She'd choose waking up here.
Every single time.
END.