Episode 6
‘Why? Why doesn’t she want anyone to see me……?’
Could it be because I look too silly?
It hurt, but if that was the reason, then I had no choice but to accept it. I was so tiny that even a small breeze could blow me away, and I looked too plain to catch anyone’s eye.
‘If only I were bigger and cooler, then Mamela would have already introduced me to her family…….’
Even though Mamela’s soft hand was touching me, I couldn’t act cute like usual.
I wanted to crawl under the bed and be alone. But instead, I forced myself to think calmly.
Whatever it was, Mamela still took care of my injuries with so much care.
So even if Mamela felt embarrassed to show me to others, I shouldn’t complain.
I must not feel upset toward Mamela, who was like a savior to me.
I licked Mamela’s hand as it tickled my chin.
Her face softened, and soon I heard her clear laughter. That bright sound made me feel a little better too.
“Aril, I’ll be back later.”
“Meooow……!”
I grabbed Mamela’s dress with my teeth and pulled.
‘Don’t go, Mamela. Play with me. Let’s play ball.’
But she slipped her dress out of my mouth and said,
“Aril, I’ll play with you later.”
She turned the doorknob. When the door opened, I ran faster than her and darted outside.
Startled, Mamela quickly picked me up and placed me back inside.
“No, you can’t. Why do you keep trying to go out?”
“Meow……”
I looked sadly at her serious expression.
This wasn’t the first time. Every time I tried to sneak out when she opened the door, she quickly caught me and put me back inside.
‘So it’s true…… she doesn’t want others to see me.’
When I sat down in defeat, Mamela looked uneasy, then closed the door.
I had promised not to be upset, but each time it happened, my chest sank again.
‘……No, I’m not upset! Let’s find something else to do. If I play, I’ll feel better.’
I stood tall and looked around. At least until Mamela came back, I had to play by myself.
Luckily, Mamela’s room was full of interesting things, perfect for exploring.
While wandering around the big room, my eyes landed on the desk.
‘Mamela always sits there and works so hard.’
Curious, I went closer. The desk was so big I had to stretch my neck just to look at it.
I hopped onto the chair and then onto the desk. Once on top, I looked around.
Papers with human writing were scattered everywhere.
‘Wow. Did Mamela write all this?’
Excited, I peeked at the nearest paper.
But soon my eyes lost their shine. The letters were so messy that I couldn’t believe it.
‘This…… is Mamela’s handwriting?’
There was no doubt—she always sat here with a pen. I flipped through a few papers and dropped them again.
It was terrible. Truly terrible handwriting.
The already complicated letters were even more tangled, making my head spin.
Was this really human writing? It looked more like alien symbols.
Turning my eyes away, I looked at the pen and ink bottle on the desk. I sniffed at them.
‘Ugh!’
What was that smell! My nose burned.
I covered my nose with my paw and frowned. Sometimes when Mamela wrote, I smelled a faint scent—this must have been it.
Rubbing my nose, I continued my search. I needed something fun until Mamela returned.
I ran around the desk, exploring.
Then I stopped in front of another paper. My eyes sparkled.
‘This doesn’t look like Mamela’s writing.’
The handwriting was elegant and neat. It looked even better than the printed letters I had seen in Mamela’s books.
‘Who wrote this?’
The letters were so perfect and regular that I stared in awe.
But soon my head began to feel heavy and foggy, like a white mist filling my mind.
‘It’s happening again…… why does my head feel like this?’
I often felt this strange pressure whenever I saw human letters or listened to their words. Maybe this time I could figure out why.
But just then, I heard Mamela’s footsteps.
My thoughts scattered, and I leapt off the desk and ran to the door.
When Mamela came in, I bounced happily. Today time had passed so quickly.
Finally, today, all the annoying bandages on my belly were removed.
The old bandages were piled to one side, while Mamela and Yona carefully checked my stomach.
But I didn’t care—I just licked my fur busily.
Mamela squinted and said,
“The wound was so deep, but it healed without even a scar. It’s been only about a month.”
“Maybe it’s because he’s still a kitten and heals faster?” Yona suggested.
“I don’t know……”
“…I didn’t want to say this, but maybe that vet really was a quack,” Yona added.
“See? I told you.”
Once they finished, I stared at Mamela’s cute face and drifted into thought.
‘Come to think of it, my body has felt strange lately.’
Since the wound healed, a fresh energy had been flowing through me.
It was cool and clear, like dawn air, sweeping away all my bad thoughts.
‘Maybe it’s just because I’m healthy now?’
While I pondered, Mamela patted my back.
“Aril, you can go play now.”
The moment I had been waiting for!
I jumped down and shook myself.
‘Wow, this feels amazing……!’
Without the bandages, my body felt light, free, almost like I could fly.
Excited, I ran around the room like a wild foal, playing hunting games.
“Meow!”
So refreshing!
But Mamela suddenly grabbed me midair. My legs paddled helplessly before I stopped.
When I calmed down, I saw the room was a complete mess.
‘……When did it get so messy?’
I glanced at Yona, who just smiled tiredly. Poor thing—today’s cleanup would be tough.
“Ah, miss,” Yona suddenly said, clapping her hands.
“Hmm?” Mamela tilted her head.
“Sir Ansel said he had something to give you. I’ll go fetch it.”
“Alright.”
Taking the pile of old bandages, Yona left.
Mamela and I sat on the sofa with a new toy—a cream-colored yarn ball.
I raised my paw seriously. Mamela watched me with tense eyes.
I breathed in deeply.
‘Now!’
My eyes flashed as I attacked the yarn ball. My speed left only afterimages!
Soon, the yarn unraveled, revealing a small box inside.
I flipped the lid open. Inside was a piece of meat. I quickly bit into it.
Mamela clapped in delight.
“Aril, you really do give your all if snacks are involved!”
I rubbed my nose proudly.
This was all thanks to removing the bandages. It had been like training with heavy weights—now I was strong and fast!
‘If I look in the mirror now, I’ll look so cool.’
Confidently, I went to the mirror.
But when I looked……
The kitten in the reflection was still the same. Tiny, silly-looking.
“Meooow……?”
My face froze. Nothing had changed at all.
‘……Why?’
I trembled with frustration and glared at the mirror.
I puffed hot breath on it, then kicked it lightly with my paw.
But—crack! A spiderweb crack spread across the glass.
“…!”
Shocked, I stepped back.
‘W-what? I barely tapped it!’
Panicking, I glanced back. Luckily, Mamela was looking elsewhere and hadn’t noticed.
Relieved, I turned away, pretending nothing happened.
But just as I was about to jump down, the outside suddenly grew noisy.
A strong wind blew in through the open window.
Blue curtains flapped wildly, and papers scattered through the air. The gust almost lifted my small body away.
I clung desperately to the desk edge.
‘Is Mamela okay?’
I turned my head—and saw a handkerchief rising into the air.
It had purple flower embroidery. The handkerchief Mamela always carried.
It lifted higher, caught in the wind, about to fly away.
‘No! Come back!’
I dashed and leapt toward the window. Mamela shouted something, but her voice was drowned out by the storm.
The handkerchief fluttered close.
I jumped and caught it in my mouth.
‘Got it……!’
Relief washed over me—until I saw Mamela’s face twisted with fear.
Before I could wonder why, my body dropped downward.
“Aril!”
Her scream echoed.
My stomach lurched as I fell. My nose twitched—strangely, I smelled something familiar.
A faint scent like Mamela’s, and a glimpse of pale blond hair below.
But the next moment, I crashed into thick bushes.
Dizzy stars filled my vision. Five? Seven? I couldn’t tell.
Then, through the haze, something pulled my mind back to focus.
“Mamela?”
It was a low voice right beside me.
