Episode 9. Mamela’s Family
When evening came, I remembered how Mamela had suddenly left the room.
“Maybe she went to eat dinner?”
While crunching on my food from the bowl, I frowned.
“The more I eat this, the worse it tastes…”
Still, I comforted myself. Mamela would definitely give me a tasty snack later. So I kept eating just to fill my belly.
But even after finishing, Mamela still hadn’t returned.
“Is she eating really slowly today?”
I licked and smoothed my fur while staring at the door. But even after finishing my grooming, Mamela didn’t come back.
“…Why isn’t she here yet?”
I started pacing in front of the door. Usually by this time, I would have already gotten my snack and be rolling around on the sofa.
Slowly, I grew more serious.
“What if something happened? What if she choked on her food or something?”
I shook my head. No, thinking unlucky thoughts was bad. Mamela would come back soon. I just had to wait.
I grabbed my toy fish and jumped onto the cushions, trying to distract myself by playing.
But even while clawing the toy, I glanced at the door. Even while biting it, I glanced. Even when I kicked it away, I glanced again.
“I can’t stop worrying…!”
Finally, I dropped the toy and sat in front of the door, staring at it helplessly.
“When are you coming back, Mamela…?”
My tail and ears drooped. That’s when I heard running footsteps in the distance. The weight and rhythm—I knew it was Mamela!
Excited, I jumped up and ran to the door, eyes sparkling.
Then suddenly—bang! The door flew open.
“Mamela!”
“Meow!”
I had been too close to the door, so it smacked me right in the face and knocked me down flat.
“Mamela?”
She looked around, not noticing me at first.
“I’m sure I heard Aril’s voice…”
Then she finally looked down and saw me squashed on the floor. Her eyes widened.
“Aril, what’s wrong? Are you hurt?”
“Meow…”
I gave a weak cry. My head hurt where the door hit me, but more than pain, I felt relief.
“At least Mamela’s safe…”
I wobbled back up and licked her hand. Hm? Her hand tasted sweet, with a little crunch.
“…Wait a second.”
I sniffed her hand, then circled around her, sniffing everywhere. There was another faint smell mixed with hers. A smell I’d smelled before.
Then I remembered.
“Oh—it’s her family’s scent!”
It was so clear now. Mamela’s scent was soft, like powder. But this other scent was cool, fresh, and sharp.
I sighed inside.
“I want to meet them… just once.”
It was early morning.
Rain had fallen through the night, and droplets sparkled on the window in the sunlight. I yawned lazily while lying on the sill.
Mamela was sitting on the sofa, reading a book with a pink cover. Her cheeks were slightly red as she focused hard.
“What’s so interesting about that book?” I wondered.
I turned back to the window. The trees were greener, and the birds chirped happily after the rain. Everything looked fresh, like something good was about to happen.
Then I noticed someone leaving the front gate below.
My eyes widened immediately.
“Mamela…?”
I looked behind me. Mamela was still on the sofa, reading.
So that wasn’t her. But—his hair was the same soft golden color as hers.
It was a tall man, with shorter hair than Mamela’s, and long confident strides.
“That must be her family. I’m sure of it.”
I pressed myself against the glass, desperate to see him properly.
“If only he’d turn around…”
From behind, I imagined he must look like Mamela.
But when he stopped and slightly turned his head, I froze.
I had expected a gentle, cute face like Mamela’s. Instead, his features were sharp—strong jaw, straight nose, cold eyes without a trace of a smile. His golden hair glowed warmly, but his expression was icy.
The shock made it impossible to look away.
“What’s he thinking about…?”
As I stared, he suddenly looked straight toward me.
I panicked, stumbled backward, and rolled onto the floor with a thud.
“Aril, are you okay?” Mamela asked in surprise.
But I couldn’t even hear her. My heart was racing wildly.
“Did he see me? Why did he look this way…?”
My body tingled strangely, hot and trembling.
When I dared peek out the window again, he was gone. So was the carriage at the gate.
“…He left already?”
Disappointed, I stared at the flowers he had touched earlier.
Later that afternoon, Mamela returned carrying a big bundle of flowers, smiling more brightly than usual.
“Look, Aril! My brother gave me a present before leaving on his trip.”
“Meow?”
She placed the pink flowers in a glass vase, still smiling happily.
“These flowers were raised with holy water. They’re rare and special, and they help calm the mind.”
I sniffed one. When my paw touched the petal, a strange blue light flashed before my eyes. A wave of energy rushed into me, startling me so much that I pulled back at once.
“What… was that?”
I buried myself in Mamela’s arms for comfort. She didn’t seem to notice anything unusual. She just kept smiling.
I gazed up at her and thought:
“Is she really this happy just because her brother gave her a gift?”
Then I looked at the flowers again, remembering his cold yet shining face.
It felt strange.
Maybe it was only because he was Mamela’s family—but I couldn’t help wanting to know more about him.
