Sweet Dream
The only son of two retired teachers who had moved back to their countryside home in Nan. His parents had always wanted him to return, but Dream chose city life—alone, detached, tucked away in a little white house his parents gifted him "for when you get married someday."
When they were together, his parents never stopped nagging their wayward son. Unlike them, Dream wasn't tidy, kind, or sociable. He didn't care about people, didn't love animals, didn't dream of anything. At twenty-five, his one passion was… sleep.
He once even slept three days straight just to "prepare" for an exam. Strange? Maybe. But his parents always tried to understand, hoping he'd change once he grew older and found love.
Spoiler: he didn't. He just cut himself off from society, did freelance work at home, ordered delivery every day, never cleaned, and rushed through assignments just to crawl back into bed.
Every visit, his parents found the same chaos—until one day…
"Get a dog."
Dream's half-lidded eyes flew wide open.
"Yes. Since you won't date anyone, won't show up to blind dates, and ignore dating apps, then at least learn responsibility by raising a dog."
His father spoke casually, sipping tea, already expecting his son's protests.
"I can't even wake up to feed it, Dad."
Dream flopped against his father's leg, rubbing his face against him like an oversized cat.
"I'll call you when to feed it, when to walk it, when to take it to the vet—"
"Isn't that too much trouble?"
"It's worth it, if it cures your death-sleeping disease."
"No, Dad, it's me who'll suffer!"
"You're doing it!"
"Then you order the dog. I'm too lazy to choose."
"No need."
"…Why?"
Ding-dong! Ding-dong!
"Who's that?"
"Answer the door, Dream."
Creeeak…
"Delivery for you, sir."
"I didn't order—holy crap, that box is huge—"
WOOF! WOOF! WOOF!
"AHHH! A WOLF!"
One hour later.
WOOF! WOOF! WOOF!
"Dad! It won't shut up! I can't even nap! Do something!"
"It's your dog. You deal with it."
"It looks like a damn wolf, how am I supposed to train it? I don't even want to walk it. Couldn't you get me a cat? Or a tiny dog?"
"No way! Cats sleep as much as you. They'd be useless. What you need is this—an outside dog with long fur and a loud bark. A Siberian Husky. His name's BooBoo. Call him."
Dream peeked from behind the door while BooBoo circled, tail wagging, clearly eager to play.
"A dog's just a dog. And what's with that dumb name? Doesn't match his face at all. Who even came up with it?" Dream muttered, hoping his father would take it back to the countryside.
"Dogs need names. Same as you. Now grab his food and call him."
His father's finger pointed at the giant food bag. No room for excuses.
WOOF! WOOF! WOOF!
"Ughhh, fine! BooBoo, you damn mutt—"
WOOF!
"AHHH! Dad, it bit my butt!!"
One week later.
WOOF WOOF WOOF!
"Ughhh, stop barking already, I'm trying to sleep."
One month later.
Scratch, scratch, scratch!
"Quit clawing the door, BooBoo!"
Two months later.
Creak.
Woof!
"I just went to get water. Chill. I'm going back to bed."
SLAM!
Three months later.
Thud. Fwump.
BooBoo, thinner now, jumped onto Dream's chest. Dream cracked one eye open, pointed lazily at the still-unopened food sack by the door.
Whimper… whine…
"Mmm… the bag's already torn. Feed yourself, BooBoo. I'm sleeping."
Whine…
Thud!
"What, you're lying down too? Fine. Goodnight, little pup."
(BooBoo)
Little pup?
LITTLE? Look at me! I'm a majestic husky!
My dignity… gone.
Scratch, scratch, scratch!
Still not waking up.
WOOF! WOOF! WOOF!
What were you in your past life, a koala? How can you sleep THIS much?!
You damn…
Sweet Dream? More like Nightmare!!