Since I Found You
Like a Cat

The night is getting late. The atmosphere was completely silent. It's almost like there's no life around Vlad's housing estate. The sound of wind was clear. Terpenes foliage of shady plants, which are near houses and lakes.

I don't know what time it was. However, Vlad still opened his eyes. She was awake because of a disturbing dream of her night break. As a result, the Russian man was unable to continue sleeping. A pair of blue irises belonging to Vlad, staring at the ceiling of the room in a dim atmosphere. The blonde haired man floated in the past. Actually, about a year ago.

Vlad closed his eyes. A sweet memory, though not as beautiful as it seems.

“Bella,” he said quietly accompanied the shadow of a beautiful face that flashed in memory. A hot scene between himself and a brunette woman, helped make Vlad feel more anxious that night. However, suddenly the sight of the shahdu disappeared. Replacing with the sound of repeated gun eruptions. Blood and pain. It all feels so real.

“Amputation is the best way.”

The voice has always been ringing in Vlad's ears to this day. Reminds him that he is no longer a man with perfect physical condition. Slowly, Vlad's hand touched his thigh, then descended to his knee. It's hard for that handsome guy to do that.

“No.” Vlad opened his eyes immediately. “Damn you!” maki that guy who was somehow meant for whom. He clenched his hands. Resisting the anger he could never escape.

......................

It was a bright morning when the sun began to shine. The sound of birds singing was heard from a distance. The warm light, entering and through the glass window of Vlad's room which was accidentally not covered by a curtain. He hit a handsome face that had started to open his eyes.

"Good morning" said the familiar voice in Vlad's ears. "I brought you breakfast."

Vlad. The tail of his eyes caught the plump, long-haired figure, who was putting a tray on the table. "Why are you here? I haven't called you," the protest was flat.

"Because it's breakfast now. Come on, get up" Altea said. He stood not far from the bed where Vlad lay.

"It's still too early for breakfast" the blond man argued. He corrected the blankets, then closed his eyes again.

"Now it's eight o'clock. I'm waiting for you to call. Turns out you're still sleeping" Altea said. "Do you want me to help you in the bathroom?" bargained for.

Suddenly, Vlad opened his eyes again. He glanced back at the young lady who was still standing in her position earlier. Vlad was about to protest. But he kept that thing down. The man felt lazy to talk a lot. Vlad chose not to respond.

"Hows it? Are you gonna sleep all day?" Altea continued to focus on the shoulder-haired figure, who was still at home lying on the bed. "You can either wake up on your own or need me ...."

"Can you keep your mouth shut?" jerk Vlad suddenly. His tone was very rude. "You're so annoying!" The man snorted annoyed.

Altea who had shown a calm attitude, changed immediately. The twenty-three-year-old woman's beautiful paras is getting serious. One bad side Vlad looks on. That surprised him enough. Altea stood staring at Vlad who did not care. "alright. I'll be in the room if you need anything" the young woman said. He turned around, then walked towards the door.

For Altea, such a clash was no longer a strange thing in his daily life. He lived a hard life on the streets. Not only harsh words, sometimes he had to witness or accept violent acts from the surrounding people.

Almost a year. Nothing has changed at all. Vlad lived a life so monotonous. Sometimes, Vlad reminisced about the times where he was still able to move normally and freely. Walk and run. Doing whatever he wants. Enjoying life with all the busyness that makes it feel much more comfortable.

Vlad sighed softly, then tried to get off the bed. With just one leg, he walked half-jumped onto a wheelchair, then sat comfortably there. Like yesterday, Vlad would spend the whole day staring out the window.

Without Vlad noticing, time continued to crawl towards noon. Altea went back into the room to pick up a tray containing an untouched breakfast menu at all. The girl complained softly as she grabbed the tray from the table. Altea went straight out of there without speaking at all.

An hour later, the girl came back in with a new tray containing a lunch menu. He placed it carefully on the table, not far from where Vlad was. “I hope you eat it this time. I was sad when I had to throw away such fancy food. There are a lot of people out there who are willing to fight, just for the sake of a burger. Millions more in poor and developing countries have to die of hunger because there is no food at all. After all, Miss Ignashevich had prepared all this lovingly. Can't you appreciate your mother's efforts?"

Altea's speech was successful in attracting Vlad's attention. He looked at the girl, albeit with a cynical look. “Nobody asked you to bring me a meal,” he said.

“Your mother told me!” Altea had to throw out a high-pitched sentence. It felt like he was no longer able to endure the turmoil of his heart. “Your mother is very worried about your situation. I often saw him pensively in front of the door of this room, without daring to enter. I don't know what kind of kid you are? I'm really mad. Not a week to see your attitude, it feels ...." Altea clenched his hands. Resisting anger in the chest.

“The world seems unfair. I lost my mother at a young age. All this time, I always wanted a mother to be present in my life. However, look. You have a mother, but you're wasting her. We just change places." Altea clucked slowly.

“You want to switch places with me? You're willing to have a mother, but have to lose your leg?” sahut Vlad cynical.

“I was even willing to lose everything to get a mother who sincerely loves me,” Altea replied firmly. “You have a nice house. A kind and loving mother. Had I been you, I would have died happy.”

Finished saying so, Altea immediately turned to leave Vlad just like that. He did not stop condemning men in wheelchairs with such selfish nature.

However, Altea had to stop at the doorway, as Vlad exclaimed at him.

“Don't act like you understand me the most, Miss! It's easy to say you're willing to lose everything when you never feel the loss of a leg! You never feel when you are on the verge of death!” vlad Sentak.

Altea turned back. Facing Vlad with a calm smile. “I never felt the loss of a leg. However, I'm sure you've never felt the loss of someone you care about forever. Just so you know, Mr. Ignashevich. Being left for dead by mother feels worse than just being on the verge of death,” he replied calmly.

“Oh, one more thing you should know. I was on the verge of death many times. My friends even consider myself like a cat that has nine lives. However, I was never weak and locked myself in my room. Especially blaming fate. I prefer to rise and fight!” firmly Altea.

That's when Vlad learned one thing. The life that the girl had, was not a common thing that a servant had. When he was still healthy with perfect physical condition, Vlad had met many people with various characters. He can judge the character of the people he interacts with.

That is what makes Vlad feel confident, that the girl who is currently his nurse, is not someone from the labor distribution foundation. Especially when Altea said that he often faced death.

Slowly and carefully, Vlad forced him to rise from his wheelchair. The handsome gondrong-haired man stood on only one leg, making Altea stunned. The girl noticed Vlad who turned out to have a tall and strapping posture. That guy is so dashing. His pair of blue eyes were glowing and looked beautiful, but looked sharp. So piercing. Vlad slightly raised his chin. He raised a haughty look at Altea.

“Say. Who are you exactly?” the man's hiss, which instantly made Altea freeze.