1

When I woke up, a beam of warm sunlight hit my face. It's morning. I yawn as I rub my still-sleepy eyes. Mornings are the worst! I've had to learn self-control because if I don't, I'll be right back under my warm, comfy blankets. I'm always sleepy. It's a fact. But thankfully, there's this thing they call coffee. Without it, I would be a sleepy mess.

I slowly walk down the stairs into the kitchen, where the coffee machine is already waiting for me. I get my cup, put it into the machine, and press the button. I wait as the intoxicating aroma hits my nostrils. Ah, I just love the smell of coffee. I love how rich it is, especially after I add my milk. It may be a bit weird, but that's just my favorite smell in the whole world. The coffee machine makes a loud sound, and I already know my cup of brown goodness is ready. I pour in my milk and watch as the brown color quickly lightens, as does its flavor. I take a sip—and quickly another. And ah... the cup is empty. I have a bad habit of drinking or eating things way too quickly when I like them. I don't really know why; I just do.

After mourning my now-empty cup of coffee, I run back to my room and change into my uniform. It's time to go to school after all. I get to the bus stop. It's a nice spring day. The wind gently plays with my hair as I wait at the bus stop with four other people I see almost every day: an elderly couple, always holding hands, and two kids. But they're not important since I've never even talked to them.

The bus arrives. Unhurriedly, I go up its steps and tell the driver where I want to go as I hand him my coins. Sometimes I wish I could just walk in and sit down without interacting with anyone. I don't really like small talk or talking to cashiers—it makes me nervous. I'd say I fit into the socially awkward category. I'm no good at small talk since I don't know what to say when there's nothing to say!

It's a miracle, but there's a vacant seat in the back—next to it sits a pretty girl with the most beautiful green eyes, reminding me of green apples. She's listening to music with expensive-looking headphones and staring out the window, even though there's nothing interesting to see. Her backpack has lots of badges and a cute keychain in the shape of a cherry.

"Is this seat taken?" I ask uncertainly.

The girl takes off her headphones and looks at me with her big eyes. The music she was listening to leaks out, and I can hear an indie-sounding band playing. The song is at the part where the riff hits. It's a pretty song, full of emotion I can't quite put my finger on.

"Oh no, it's not. Feel free to sit down," she says with a smile and a friendly tone.

I blush a little. It's not every day a pretty girl like her talks to me! I return her smile and slowly sit down. Throughout the ride, I sneak little peeks at the girl sitting next to me. Her eyes are closed, and it seems she's living through the music flowing from her headphones right into her ears. It makes me happy seeing people enjoy themselves. I like how genuine their smiles are when they're doing what they love, fully immersed in their happy moment. It fills me with joy.

The bus stops at my stop, and we both get up and step off. While walking down the bus steps, I hear a little rattle and something fall to the ground. When I look down, I realize—it's the girl's keychain! I quickly look up, trying to find her with my eyes, but no luck. She's gone.

There is not a single trace of the girl left—except for the keychain, of course. I catch myself staring at it in my hands. The red cherry might be pretty, but that's no excuse to be late for class! I bite my itching cheek, put the keychain into my already-full bag, and hurry to school.

I step into the classroom, already filled with students talking and studying. There's also a significantly small girl with short black hair, doodling in her notebook. The cover is filled with stickers, mostly cute animals and hearts. Her name is Mita. I've never talked to her, but I'd really like to! She seems cool.

I sit down at my desk. It's a bit beat up from previous students, but it's like my safe space in this school. I mostly never leave the classroom, except to go to the bathroom. I get my stuff ready for the lesson—pens, notebook, and textbook. My notebook looks more like a sketchbook. Drawing helps me pay attention in class. I don't really know how it works; it just does. I love creating my own characters—it's so relaxing to come up with how they look.

The bell rings. Time to try to pay attention!

The bell rings again, signaling the end of the lesson. Ah... finally! I really needed to pee. I hate having to tell my teacher that I need to go to the toilet—it's too embarrassing, with other students listening. I make my way to the hallway and slowly head to the bathroom.

I open the door and step in. The toilets at my school are thankfully pretty clean, but it's always necessary to bring your own toilet paper—the dispenser is never refilled. (Where does all the money for the school go?) I take another step and pass the mirrors. Heh? I could swear I see something weird on my face in the reflection. I step back to make sure I'm not hallucinating. There are lines on my cheeks... no. Not lines. My heart skips a beat. And there it is: a set of whiskers on my cheeks. WHAT?!

I lean in closer, mouth open in horror, hands trembling, heart racing like a racing car. There are WHISKERS. ON. MY. CHEEKS.

The doors open, and Mita stands leaning against them, holding her colorful sketchbook. Her expression is calm, even bored.

"Huh..." she says flatly. "So it finally happened."

I stand still, shocked. Not knowing what to do or say, I reach out to touch the whiskers.

"I wouldn't try it if I were you. They're sensitive," Mita says without looking up, doodling in her sketchbook.

I stop mid-air and turn my head to the door, where Mita is still calmly drawing.

"What is happening to me?" I ask, voice trembling.

Mita finally takes her eyes off the page. "Well... how do I say it? You're a cat. Well, half a cat. Or something like that. Yes."

I give her a puzzled look.

"Look," she continues, snapping her sketchbook shut. "I know it's hard to believe. You might think I'm pulling a prank, but believe me—I'll explain everything when you're ready. Oh, and here!" She hands me something from her pocket: a surgical mask. It looks brand new. "You'll need this," she says.

I head back to the classroom, mask on, still nervous someone will see my whiskers. I'm still shocked. It's not every day you find out you're half human, half cat.

If what Mita said is true, there must be more people like me living in this world. But how did Mita know about me? Wait—how did she know I was half cat before I did?!

I get so distracted with my thoughts that I don't see someone in front of me, and my head collides with theirs.

BAM!

"Oh! I'm so sorry!" I blurt out. And there she is—the girl from the bus, standing right in front of me. Her long, glossy hair shines in the hallway light.

"Oh, we meet again!" she says with a tone so sweet I might get diabetes.

"Hi! ...Long time no see. Right?"

The girl smiles, and when she's about to say something, she pauses. I'm flustered. Just when my world flipped upside down, I ran into the girl from the bus.

"What's up with the mask? Got a cold?"

"Oh, um... something like that. Yeah."

(Ahhh! I hope she won't find out!)

"Is that so? Hope you get better. Anyways, I never told you my name, have I? It's Mio. Nice to meet you." She gives me her hand with a warm smile that could melt Antarctica.

"It's very nice to meet you. I'm Cleo," I say, smiling as best I can, worried it might look fake.

"Cleo. What a pretty name! Well, I have to go—class soon. Sooo... see you later!"

"See you," she softly yells, running down the hall to her class.

She goes to my school??? The girl from the bus?! Mio... even her name is pretty. Just saying it makes my cheeks red like cherries... Oh! The keychain! But she's gone.

The rest of the lessons drag on forever. I couldn't even doodle, too nervous my mask might slip. Thankfully, no one noticed, but I got a scare when the teacher asked me about the mask. I blurted out that I had a "whi-flu." It was nerve-racking, and I sat back, red-faced, with burning whiskers.

When the bell rang, I quickly put my stuff in my bag and went to my locker to change shoes, hoping I wouldn't collide with anyone again.

But of course, luck isn't on my side today.

"Hey!" a sweet voice calls.

It's Mio, waving and smiling at me. I freeze. Her backpack is missing the cherry keychain.

"Want to walk to the bus together? Maybe sit next to each other?" she asks casually, her green-apple eyes shining in the afternoon light.

From the corner of my eye, I see Mita showing me a page in her sketchbook with a big X drawn on it. It seems almost comical and makes me smile.

"I take that as a yes then!" Mio says with a happy, playful grin.

She grabs my arm and drags me to the school exit.

"Wait! I still have my school shoes on!"

We step out of the gates and start walking. Her holding her backpack by its handles reminds me of the cherry keychain, but just as I reach for my shoulder bag, a familiar figure appears, leaning against a tree with her signature sketchbook.

"Got somewhere to go?"