Meow Meow

He wasn't kidding when he said my tasks would be menial. My days were filled with accompanying him anywhere he went, updating his schedule when needed, and informing him about the events he needed to attend. Whether it be a family gathering, a meeting with friends, or other social activities. He occasionally went to his father's company, where he worked as an intern to get some first-hand experience by the time he took over the company when his father retired. The family has its own driver, so I rarely had to drive the car and take him to places personally. Only if the driver had his day off, just like on the first day of my job, was ill or if Mr. CEO didn't want to drink and drive, so he asked me to pick him up after he was done partying. He was considerate enough to not want to bother their driver so early in the morning since he had a family. I don't have one, so he doesn't have any scruples about bothering me. I don't flatter myself that he has faith in me not telling his father about all his shenanigans. I just think that sometimes he should try to live as other people his age do without all the expectations and the responsibilities of his family.

As it turned out, he is younger than I expected. He will only go to university next September which makes him eighteen years old now. Or maybe closer to nineteen, depending on his date of birth. That explains his youthful charisma and short-tempered nature. If only...

Alright, maybe it's just me trying to let him have a carefree life, since who knows what the future holds. I don't know why I'm here and when I can go back to where I belong but there is one thing I'm sure of. This is the exact same building where I'll live with my parents ten years from now. I don't know what made them sell their house and let it be rebuilt and divided into several smaller apartments. One of which will eventually be rented out, when we finally decide to move after our previous landlord increased the rent. But I do know that something's gonna happen and in case it's nothing positive, he should might as well enjoy himself while he can.

Suddenly, I heard loud laughter which made me look in the direction where the sound came from. As I looked through the car window, I saw him coming out of the club surrounded by skimpily dressed women of his age and even some men. Most of them were clearly wasted and he wasn't far from that either. I continued to look through the lowered car window, while he was walking towards a small park in merry spirits. Well, actually, it looked more like dancing than walking. At one point he almost fell over which made me get out of the car in a hurry. I slammed the door behind me and rushed over. Luckily, he didn't hit his head but I wanted to make sure he won't.

As I approached them, one of the girls was picking leaves from a tree claiming to be a vegetarian and thus can only eat salad. While another one said she wasn't but still joined her in eating the leaves anyway. And the rest... Well, they weren't better either. Including him. He was just laughing and cracking silly jokes but there came a point where I could sense some vague tiredness in his eyes as he sat down on one of the benches. He sat there for a while with his head lowered, looking at the ground and I was hoping he was not thinking of eating grass.

A few minutes passed by when he suddenly raised his head and said:

"Did you hear that? Did you hear that?" He asked the others in an over-the-top cheerful voice.

He squatted down, looked under the bench, and then when he didn't find what he was looking for, he fumbled his way to the bushes and continued his search there. When he almost fell in one of the bushes I decided that it was about time to call it a day and go home. I walked over and squatted beside him.

"What are you looking for?"

"I heard a Meow Meow. I want to find it." I had literally no idea what he meant until I saw his eyes light up with joy as he saw something underneath the branches and pulled out a black cat.

"Oh, you meant a cat. Great. Now, let's go home," I told him almost like telling a child to quit playing in the playground because it's time to leave.

Hearing this, he scooped up the little animal, put it in his arms, and stood up.

"I don't think the cat can come with us."

"If the cat can't, I won't either," he said with a sulky face.

"Whatever." I gripped his arm with one hand and navigated him toward the car. When we passed by the others, I told them that the party was over since this one needed to rest. They seemed to be disappointed but didn't try to make him stay.

I thought getting him in the car would be a hassle but it was surprisingly easy. To be fair, dealing with the cat will be much harder. I pretty much doubt that his father will be overjoyed to see an animal roaming around in his house. But I didn't dare to bring this up and instead listened to his drunken babble. The cat didn't seem to mind, even purred a little as he stroked its back.

I didn't say anything but even in his drunken state, he must have realized that bringing a cat home might not be such a great idea after all. Since as soon as he stepped out of the car, he hid the poor animal under his jacket. He was even considering putting it under his shirt but the cat wasn't willing.

I thought he would immediately go upstairs with his newly found friend to sleep but as it turned out he had other ideas. He carefully got the cat out from under his clothes put it down on the carpet in the living room and sat beside it.

"I don't think that's such a good idea. Maybe it isn't even house-trained."

"I don't care," he said which somehow angered me. Of course, you don't, I thought. It won't be you, who has to clean up the mess if it isn't. But I didn't say anything. I just stood there and watched in stunned silence as he played with the cat. He seemed to be the least harmful drunk I have ever met.

I just hope that when he finally graduates and starts to actually work at his father's company, his assistant's job will also include more challenging tasks than buying him coffee and sending him lunch. Not that it concerns me. I am definitely not planning to stay that long. Even if he pays well. Or rather, his father.

I decided I was not needed here anymore, so I turned my back to leave but he immediately noticed it.

"Waity wait. Meow Meow is hungry. You need to feed him. If you don't feed him, Meow Meow will be angry and will scratch your face."

"It's your cat. Not my responsibility," I said bluntly, taking advantage of the fact that he wasn't sober yet.

"So, you would let it starve? Do ya hear that Meow Meow? Cruel daddy wants you to starve," he pouted which made him look childish and I started to lose my patience.

"Alright, I'll find something in the kitchen, just don't make this face. You look stupid like that. And you better go to your room before someone sees your little friend. I'll take the food up to your room."

His eyes lit up immediately upon hearing this. He picked up the cat and stood up quickly. He wobbled a bit but he wasn't drunk enough to actually fall over. Maybe I should have helped him to go upstairs but I didn't. I went straight to the kitchen, took the milk out of the fridge and when I found a smaller cup, I poured milk in it until it was full. I put the remaining milk back in the fridge and silently prayed that no one to notice the new visitor.

I went up the stairs slowly and very carefully, so as not to spill the milk. I thought I was lucky since I wasn't seen but when I was walking in the corridor leading to the rooms, I suddenly heard Mr. Liu's voice behind me and I froze.