Chapter 1

Chapter 1

On a typical Sunday night. Kids screaming outside, neighbors being loud, and cars screeching as they zoom by. All kinds of noises blending into the chaos of the evening, signaling the slow, dragging end of the weekend.

Meanwhile, in my room…
"Ahh… nghnnn… FUCK!!!"
I screamed at my TV in frustration, the rage bubbling up in my chest as my fingers instinctively clenched around my controller before—
THUD!
The controller hit the floor.
I stood up, taking deep breaths, my hands on my hips as I tried to cool down. The loss stung. Badly. I hated when I got stuck on a level, especially when it felt like the game was just out to make my life miserable. I muttered a string of curses under my breath as I bent down, picking up my poor abused controller and turning off the game in defeat.
“Whatever. Stupid game.”
The room felt eerily quiet now, the only sound being the hum of my ceiling fan and the distant, muffled voices outside. I flopped onto my bed, back first, staring up at the ceiling as the weight of my frustration pressed down on me.
Then—
A soft thud. A familiar presence.
Warm paws landed gently on my stomach before a soft, fluffy body nestled itself against me. A low, rhythmic purr filled the silence, vibrating through my chest like a soothing hum.
I blinked, my frustration melting in an instant.
"Aww, hey pretty girl~”
My voice softened as I instinctively reached out, wrapping my arms around her small body. She was warm, her fur like velvet against my fingers as I buried my face into her soft coat. Mari, my beautiful gray cat, always had a way of making everything better without even trying.
I felt her purr intensify, her tiny head nudging against my chin as if she was responding to my mood.
I let out a giggle, squeezing her a little tighter. “You pity me for my lack of skills, huh? Hehe, at least you're here to keep me sane.”
She gave a slow blink, her greenish-yellow eyes half-lidded as if to say, Of course I am.
I smiled, pressing a soft kiss to the top of her head.
The night dragged on outside, the world noisy and restless. But inside this tiny room, wrapped in the warmth of Mari’s presence, everything felt… okay.
For now.