Rain-slicked asphalt mirrored the streetlights, each droplet a tiny, shimmering star on the dark canvas of the road.
Aki's hand held the camera steady, staring into the reflective depths. His gaze was distant, lost somewhere beyond the watery surface of the road. The world outside him faded, replaced by the silent hum of his own thoughts. He didn't blink, didn't stir, until the roar of a passing bus shattered the stillness, pulling him back to the harsh reality of the night.
He rubbed his forehead, then massaged his tired eyes, a familiar ache settling behind the eyes. His heterochromia causes problems. One eye with striking golden color with fiery red center contrasting sharply with his left's light brown eye. It made bright flashes and harsh lights unbearable. He always carried sunglasses.
Rising from the cold bus stop bench, he stepped into the rain, heading for the other side of the street. Then, like a phantom, a drunken man appeared in the middle of the road. His face, drenched and glistening, was split by a wide, unsettling smile, a bottle clutched in one hand. Aki knew him, knew him too well.
In the next heartbeat, a bus struck the man. It didn't stop. It just sped away, leaving the man on the road.
Blood.
Blood that screams of a monster.
A tide of red blood seeped across the white zebra crossing, reaching for Aki's feet. He didn't flinch. He stepped through it, his gaze locked on the crumpled form of the dead man, and walked on, never once looking back, never once considering help.
A mournful cry, the sound of a cat, made him turn. The body lay sprawled on the pristine white stripes being swallowed by a shocking crimson, except for the small, untouched patch where the cat stood.
Aki knew him.
His body froze. He knew what the cat was thinking. A tightening sensation gripped his chest as the black cat took a silent step forward, its unblinking green eyes fixed on Aki. Then another. Aki's breath caught in his throat. A sudden, crushing weight pressed down on his chest, a sensation he'd never experienced before. He stumbled back a step. The cat didn't stop, its green gaze unwavering as it drew closer to him. His heart hammered, threatening to burst, and the air seemed to vanish from his lungs.
Suddenly, he opened his eyes. The eyes color shifted, the fiery red receding to its usual golden hue. He could breathe again. His entire body was slick with sweat, and a familiar weight on his chest made him feel disoriented, almost surreal.
Blackie.
Of course, he'd forgotten he had a cat now.
"Heavy, aren't you?!" Aki exhaled slowly, trying to calm his racing heart. His voice was hoarse, burdened with the lingering echoes of nightmares and the actual weight of his cat.
"Meow," Blackie responded, as if understanding.
Aki chuckled softly, reaching to pet the cat's back. He took a deep, steadying breath, his fingers tracing through Blackie's soft fur. Then, with Blackie jumping down, he rose from the bed.
Blackie's eyes, a vibrant green, were identical to those from his nightmare. They stared at each other for a long moment, a silent exchange broken only by a soft meow. Aki sighed, a weary sound. He finally got up, heading for the shower, pausing only to give Blackie some food. The room was already filled with all the cat parent essentials – toys, bowls, a climbing tree – but he felt utterly drained from the nightmare.
He picked up his eyeglasses and unfolded the newspaper. A small headline caught his eye: "Road accident due to heavy rain." Aki slowly lifted his head, half-folding the paper, and stared blankly into the distance. He wondered if he should be surprised. Placing the paper down, he leaned back into the sofa cushions.
Blackie jumped onto his lap, settling directly on the news of the accident, its gaze fixed intently on the headline. Aki noticed the cat's peculiar focus and, feeling a strange mix of unease and curiosity, he asked, "Are you aware of my nightmares?"
Aki chuckled, a small smile playing on his lips as he patted Blackie. 'You sure are weird!'
He was curious about his cat's apparent awareness. He knew animals could sense changes in their owners, but could they truly connect it to something as intangible as a nightmare? A nightmare that wasn't even about a living thing?
Just then, a familiar sound—the click of the door unlocking with a password—pulled him from his thoughts.
Noah.
Aki was surprised. 'Noah! What's up?'
Noah usually only visited on his days off, and today wasn't one of them.
''What's up?' Really?!" Noah's voice was sharp with frustration.
Aki stared blankly, completely lost as to what had upset him.
Noah sighed, seeing Aki's clueless expression. 'You texted me saying you were running a fever last night. So I came to check again.'
Aki was dumbfounded. 'I did?!'
'You don't remember?' Noah's surprise was evident.
Aki racked his brain, but nothing came to him.
'You got back here yesterday from my home,' Noah explained, a hint of exasperation in his voice, 'I knew you'd catch a fever since you were drenched. So I called to check, but you didn't answer. After a while, you texted 'I have got a fever. Help.' So I came and saw you, stupid, went to bed with your drenched clothes on! Your cat was caged! How irresponsible can you be?!' Noah finished his scolding in one breath.
Aki silently checked his phone while Noah spoke. There it was—a text sent to Noah. But no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't recall bringing Blackie home from the vet, nor sending that message.
Noah continued to set out food, his reprimands flowing freely.
Aki sat, absorbing every word without a sound.
A Quiet Meal and a Familiar Comfort
After finishing the meal Noah had prepared, their conversation drifted to the news in the newspaper.
Noah had always been there for Aki, a constant presence even when Aki wasn't always present for him. Noah never complained. He understood Aki's need for space, never prying, simply waiting for Aki to open up. And when Aki did share, no matter how strange his stories were, Noah listened. Though Aki sometimes felt Noah struggled to believe him, he knew Noah always gave his words importance and respect, unlike others who offered only fake sympathy.
'What's the name of the cat?' Noah asked, breaking the comfortable silence.
Aki smiled. "Blackie."
'I knew you'd name him something easy,' Noah's disappointment was evident in his voice, 'But to think you wouldn't pick something this obvious, given his color, was stupid of me.'
'Well, it's black!' Aki tried to reason, but Noah ignored him, instead doting on the cat. "You poor baby! You're so unlucky to have a master like him. You poor baby!"
Aki was confused. Why would Noah say that when he'd just brought home all the toys, food, and necessities for the cat? Still, Aki couldn't deter Noah.
"So unfortunate! How insincere are you to name him something so easy!" Noah continued, clearly trying to irritate Aki with the simplicity of the name.
'Okay! Okay! You name him!' Aki finally relented, understanding Noah's true intention was to change the cat's name.
'Seriously! Can I!? May I?!' Noah's enthusiasm was infectious. Seeing it, Aki smiled. 'Like you would let me keep that name!'
Noah's smile widened. 'That's true!'