Narration:
Matt pedaled down the street, the pet carrier balanced securely in the front basket of his cycle. The breeze ruffled his hoodie as he glanced down at Candy inside.
Just as he was turning onto the clinic street, another cycle screeched to a halt in front of him, nearly making him crash.
Matt (annoyed, sarcastic):
"Nice of you to finally show up."
Narration:
It was Chris, standing at the corner like he'd been waiting all morning to make a dramatic entrance.
Chris (panting slightly, brushing his hair back):
"Now I'm here. That's what matters, isn't it?"
Matt (rolling his eyes):
"Yeah, sure. Let's pretend you didn't vanish for two hours."
Narration:
They reached the street where the clinic was located. Both hopped off their bicycles and parked them by the fence. Chris carefully lifted Candy's carrier from the basket.
Narration:
As they walked side by side toward the vet's building, Matt suddenly froze. Up ahead, casually strolling down the sidewalk, was Emma.
Narration:
Matt instinctively loosened the mock headlock he had around Chris, stepping back. Chris, holding the pet carrier, kept walking toward Emma.
Narration:
Emma looked up briefly, spotting Chris. Her eyes flicked down again, unsure how to react.
Matt (grinning as he caught up, teasing):
"Looks like someone had a good time out there. How was it?"
Emma (smiling shyly, brushing her hair behind her ear):
"It was fun, actually."
Matt (casual tone, lowering his voice a bit):
"I almost called you yesterday, you know."
Emma (tilting her head, curious):
"Oh? Why?"
Matt (awkward, scratching the back of his neck):
"It's Candy… threw up like three times last night. I had no clue what to do."
Emma (concerned, glancing at the carrier and back at Matt):
"Is Candy okay now?"
Matt:
"Seemed fine after a long nap, but I thought a check-up wouldn't hurt."
Emma (nodding, gently smiling):
"Yeah, totally. That's normal around this season. Just make sure Candy eats right and rests. It should be fine."
Matt (relieved):
"Thanks. I'll text you after the appointment?"
Emma (grinning slightly):
"Sure. Take care."
Narration:
Emma continued walking down the road. Matt turned back and noticed Chris standing beneath a tree, still holding the carrier.
Matt (grumbling, loud enough for Chris to hear):
"You can drop the act, you know. Just be together already. I can't take this anymore."
Chris (quietly):
"Why? She looks happy now. Just let her be."
Matt (flicking his head toward the clinic):
"Enough of the moping. We're here. Come on—inside, now."
Narration:
The waiting room smelled faintly of antiseptic and lavender air freshener. Chris and Matt sat side by side, the pet carrier between them on the floor. Candy shifted restlessly inside, letting out a low grumble.
Receptionist (perky):
"Hi! What brings you in today?"
Chris (holding the carrier, looking worn and mildly traumatized):
"Candy threw up. Like... four times. Maybe five."
Matt (nodding solemnly):
"And looks half-dead.
Receptionist (unfazed, nodding like she hears this every hour):
"Alrighty! Just fill this out, please."
Narration:
She handed them a clipboard as if they'd been parents for years. Matt took it with the hesitation of someone facing a tax form.
Matt (scanning the form, frowning):
"Breed? Age? Last check-up? Shots? What is this, cat Hogwarts admission?"
Chris (shrugging):
"We literally only know the name".
Matt (deadpan):
"If not for Emma, we'd be calling this one 'Hey You With The Whiskers'."
Narration:
They scribbled in "Candy" under Name and then stared helplessly at the rest of the form. Eventually, the receptionist returned and took it, squinting.
Receptionist (smiling politely):
"Uh… this is just the name?"
Chris (grinning sheepishly):
"Adopted stray. Still figuring things out."
Receptionist (genuinely touched):
"Aww. Sweet. Head on in, then. Second door on the left."
Narration:
They trudged into the waiting room like reluctant contestants on a vet-themed reality show. The vet, a calm middle-aged man in a coffee-stained coat, greeted them with a nod.
Vet (smiling faintly):
"Take a seat."
Narration:
Chris gently placed Candy's carrier down between them. The vet leaned forward, folding his hands.
Vet:
"Alright. So… who's the owner?"
Narration:
They both looked at each other. Blinked. Looked back at the vet. Blinked again.
Vet (clarifying patiently):
"Meaning, who's in charge of feeding, walking, cleaning, panic attacks...?"
Chris (immediately pointing):
"Him."
Matt (betrayed):
"Bro."
Chris (calm):
"I'm just the cool uncle."
Candy lies stretched out on the table, clearly not thrilled. The vet runs a hand gently over her side, frowning with clinical focus.
The vet gently presses Candy's belly with practiced fingers, his brow tightening just slightly.
VET (calmly):
"Hm. Okay. So definitely avoid noodles. Way too salty for cats, especially instant stuff."
MATT (awkwardly):
"I didn't know. I'm new to this. I thought a little wouldn't hurt…"
VET (still pressing):
"Yeah, sodium poisoning's no joke. But…"
(He pauses, leans closer to Candy's side, and presses again—more focused this time.)
"…sometimes it's not just the noodles."
He pulls back, thoughtful.
VET (to nurse through the door):
"Can you prep the portable ultrasound? Bring it in, please."
MATT (blinking):
"Wait, is it serious?"
VET (now oddly casual):
"Just want to rule out a few things.
He clicks his pen, then suddenly looks up at Matt.
VET (casually):
"Has the cat been more affectionate lately? Like rubbing on furniture more? People? Any… kneading behavior?"
MATT (thrown off):
"…I mean, it's a cat. Don't they do that anyway?"
VET:
"Appetite increased recently? Or… kind of moody?"
MATT(muttering to chris):
"…Are you asking if my cat has mood swings?"
Matt stares, fully unsure if this is a vet visit or a psychological interview.
CHRIS (quietly to matt):
"Right? What's he on about?"
VET (without blinking):
"Possibly. Sensitivity to touch? Vocal changes?"
MATT (under his breath):
"What even is this line of questioning…"
CHRIS (half-whispering, unsettled):
"Okay, but seriously… what if he's sensing something? What if being in that body—left like, I don't know—traces?"
Matt side-eyes him.
MATT:
"You think the vet is psychic?"
CHRIS:
"Not psychic. Just—like. What if Candy still smells like me? Spiritually."
MATT:
"Bro."
The vet finishes prepping the table just as the nurse rolls in the ultrasound machine.
NURSE (cheerful):
"All set."
VET (focused):
"Alright, let's take a look."
He applies gel and presses the probe to Candy's side. The machine beeps, the screen flickers—little shapes, faint pulses.
The vet squints, then smiles.
VET (turning to them):
"…Well. That explains the vomiting."
Matt leans forward.
Vet (scribbling casually):
"You guys know her cycle?
Chris (frowning):
"Cycle?"
Matt (genuinely confused):
"You mean like… a bike?"
Vet (blinks once, then exhales through his nose):
"…No. I mean, any idea when her last heat cycle was?"
(Chris and Matt just stare at him. Blank. Alarmed.)
Chris:
"Her? What do you mean her?"
Matt:
"Cycle of what? You're saying she… bleeds?!"
Vet (deadpan, now realizing what he's dealing with):
"Okay. Is there a parent, guardian, … anyone… who knows more than you two?"
Matt (still confused):
"About what? The vomiting blood?"
Vet (rubs his temple, muttering):
"No. Not that."
(Just then, the nurse peeks through the doorway, catching the tension.)
Nurse (gently, to the vet):
"They adopted her. Stray. Just last week."
Vet (nodding, finally understanding):
"…Right. That makes more sense now."
Narration:
Matt stumbled slightly, about to protest, but stopped himself. He shifted awkwardly in his seat and grabbed the water bottle beside him.
Vet (jotting down notes):
"Alright. So, I'm guessing you guys don't know how long she's been pregnant?"
Narration:
Chris, mid-sip, froze. Then—
Chris (spitting out the water):
"Pregnant?!"
Vet (calmly, like it's Tuesday):
"Yep. Definitely pregnant."
The ultrasound screen blinked softly. The vet's calm words still hung in the air:
"Yep, definitely pregnant."
Silence.