Days After You's

Chapter 4 - The Good Man

Nothing has changed so much from my days after I decided to start breakfast at home. My prejudice about eating with Stella would be awkward and not entirely wrong, because even though Stella sometimes talks about this and that about the food she made or some of the things she did the day before, he was more likely to dissolve into his own thoughts without saying anything. We kept quiet more often and stopped talking when there was nothing more to talk about. It was quite awkward, but gradually it wasn't as bad as it was in my shadow anymore, at least the good food had a hand in making me forget it.

Even if something is different, it's Stella who lately has a new habit. I realized after watching him do it for a week. Every morning after breakfast, when I went up to pick up my things in the room, he would rush out and return before I left. At first he said he only went to dispose of garbage because the janitor hired by the apartment management never showed up for two days, but now he even brought a food box with him.

"Stella, are you still taking out the trash yourself? Should I tell the management about the janitor?"

"Eh, no need, the janitor came yesterday. I just want to throw away some of the ingredients that were left behind in the refrigerator and carry this," Stella said as she lifted the food box in her hand.

My eyebrows shot up, "What's that?"

"Tupperware."

"I know, I mean the contents."

"Oh, this is cat food. Whiscus."

"Cat food?" I tilt my head, "..are you feeding the neighbor's cat or what?"

Stella shook her head, then continued with a smile, "If you are curious, would you come down together? You go to work too."

Since it was time to leave, I just agreed. Stella and I went down to the parking lot basemant. On the way to the elevator, we passed by a couple of grandparents who had also lived on the same floor as me for a long time. There are only two units per floor, so I definitely remember them as my only neighbors here. They said hello and as they have always done since the first time I came home married, they prayed for us to continue and the like, we just greeted briefly and thanked them.

"They're very friendly" said Stella, "When I'm old, I want to be like them."

I glanced at him. Not understanding why he was suddenly interested in discussing it. Grandparents obviously just want to make small talk.

"Why? You don't know the real people, they were just being polite."

"But being polite is a good thing, right?" timpal Stella in a carefree tone and I did not answer anymore. Stella is such a person, I realize she always looks positively whatever happens around her. Unlike me who is more often skeptical. I thought we weren't cut out.

Stella and I arrived at the basemant after a few minutes in the elevator. The quiet situation caused every echo of our steps to be heard clearly. Stella directs her steps to the site of a temporary dump located at the inner end of the basemant. There were some janitors who greeted Stella kindly but once they turned towards me, they immediately seemed disinclined to even say a word.

Stella gave a small trash can in her hand to one of the officers and turned towards me with a smile, her hand gesturing for me to follow her again to the other side. Before long, he asked me to stop while he approached a cardboard box located a few meters ahead, picked it up and showed it to me.

My breathing stopped for a moment. There were four kittens with various kinds of black and white stripes sleeping soundly in the cardboard. They're still very small. I don't know who could have put or abandoned them here.

"When I threw it away a few days ago, I accidentally heard this little 'meow-meow' from the cardboard, when I saw these cute kids crying starving, crying, I don't know who left here I don't know either" Stella said, "Because of pity, me and usually the janitors feed them."

Stella stood not so far away but also not so close, I could only see the heads of the tiny cats whose arms began to awaken from our chatter. At first I was surprised by his attitude that took distance, but the words he said next immediately answered my astonishment while confirming what had crossed my mind.

"I want to keep them but I know you're allergic to cat dander and don't do it."

So he knows. I looked at him doubtfully, "...Do you know where my allergies come from?"

"Your father told me."

Daddy's? I don't think he ever cared about me unless it was related to a company matter. When I was a child, a cousin once brought his pet cat home and I who was tired of being told to learn to continue playing with him. It didn't take long for my body to react, from itching, sneezing, swollen eyes to inflammation to attack me so badly. I remember seeing my mother frantically taking me to the hospital and calling my father who was in the office at the time, I don't know how the exact answer you gave me but I remember you ending up scolding her with the words 'Your son is sick and you're just thinking about your relationship with your business partner?!'

Old memory. Although I still wonder why you and Stella can talk about my allergies or why you like Stella so much that you give her all this information, now that's not the case.

"Then, why don't you just take them to the shelter?"

"The plan does want that. But if it is like that..when anyone wants to adopt, later they can be separated from each other right? When I thought so, it felt sad."

I—I don't know how to respond. He treated the kitten like a human child. He wanted to help them but at the same time he also did not want them to separate from his brother, which then made him undo his intention to take them to the shelter.

Stella, are you serious?

I frowned at the damp cardboard where the cats were. Uh, they should be moved out of there immediately.

"Take them to the vet and put them in a proper shelter. It would be great if someone adopted them, they would have a home. Separated is better than being abandoned in such a cold and dark place."

"But..." Stella tilts her head. He was still hesitant to take the kittens off.

I let out a sigh, a softening reflex to persuade Stella, "Stella, you want to help these poor kittens, don't you?"

Stella nodded.

"Then you know what to do. Follow my advice and take them to a more decent place."

Stella still stared doubtfully for a few minutes until finally nodding resignedly. I know one of the reasons why he wouldn't take the kittens to the shelter was because he was the one who didn't want to separate from them, these few days he must have been so happy to be able to feed them every day. But what else, he knows which is better.

It was still the same morning, because I was the main reason Stella couldn't take care of the kittens and that convinced her to make the decision, I accompanied him to a veterinarian and a shelter that was not so big but could be said to be more than adequate. For Stella a big shelter wouldn't be able to pay enough attention to 'cute kids' because they're busy with other animals so I'm just following her.

"I will visit them as often as possible" Stella said as she and I had just left the shelter. Her footsteps were light and her tone was cheerful. I just nodded in response.

"Luiz, thank you for bringing me here."

"No need to thank you, this is nothing."

The shelter that Stella and I went to was located right in front of a highway that forbids parking by the side of the road, because it was a new time until I had to park the car on a field that was not so far from the shelter building. When I walked back, I accidentally scanned my steps and Stella who often had a different tempo. Whether I'm the speed or he's the slow one, I end up slowing down my pace to match his.

"I hope whoever adopts those cute kids is a good person" Stella said, holding her hair in the wind.

I glanced at him for a moment, "They're not humans or your children, why do you keep calling them 'cute kids'?"

Stella looked up and smiled widely, "All the funny ones are my children!"

I really don't understand Stella. His nature which is sometimes too bright often makes me want to avoid it. We didn't fit in but on the other hand he was a good guy. I don't like Stella but I don't hate her either.

...****************...

Bonus:

Rio: Morning everyone. Because Mr. Luiz had a little business, for a while my morning briefing was in charge.

Manager A (who always idolizes Luiz): Hmm, what business sir?

Rio: Taking the cat :)

Manager A and other managers: ....