Saving a Cat

The truth was Li Nuxie went to Town G to look for inspiration for her latest design collection. Town G is a mixed of rural and urban life. A thousand of miles away from the glamorous life of City S. And while she loved the lush forest and wide plains, she still chose to live in the town center because she still needed some modern things to finish her project.

Li Chanying went back to City S a week ago as Li Nuxie tried to finish all her dealings. She looked around the apartment she had been occupying for the last six months. For the standard of City S, the apartment complex was a prudent type with its white façade. Aside from the occasional plants that adorned selected apartment doors, the complex was pretty much bare.

Suffice to say, the world that Li Nuxie was living in for the last six months was something that does not enter the line of sight of City S people. However, for the people of Town G, the apartment is considered as a luxury. One of her neighbors was the daughter of a town official. This woman always bragged about how she can afford to live in this apartment complex. Well, Li Nuxie cannot blame the woman for she was born and spent her whole life in Town G.

Despite that, the woman was good to her, even bringing her around the town the first time she set foot in Town G. Li Nuxie pulled her travelling bag towards the exit. The wheels were creating a screech against the cemented pavement.

"Li Nuxie!"

Li Nuxie turned around and was almost knocked down when the woman threw her arms around her. She frowned, thinking that her mindset was a bit strong today. She was just thinking about this woman a while ago and her she came. Hugging her like a snake. Pardon, Li Nuxie does not have anything against the woman. She was just not good with adjectives.

"Hey, Su Mencha," Li Nuxie tried to remove Su Mencha's hand.

"You're leaving already? You didn't even say goodbye to me," Su Mencha complained like an abandoned wife. Her arms remained glued to Li Nuxie.

"I don't like goodbyes," Li Nuxie answered. "Please remove your arms. It's hot, you know?"

"Can I visit you to City S then?" Su Mencha asked as she took a step back from Li Nuxie.

"Your father will allow you to go?"

Su Mencha's lips became a thin line, her eyes became rebellious. "No matter what, I will go to City S in the future."

Li Nuxie opened her sling bag and gave something to Su Mencha.

"This –" Su Mencha looked at her. The calling card shone against the sun. Although it looked simple, one touch of the card and it can be said that the owner is not ordinary.

"Give me a call when you go over there," Li Nuxie took a deep breath. "I need to go. The train will be leaving in a hour."

Su Mencha nodded. The corner of her eyes glistened from unshed tears. Li Nuxie sighed. This was why she always hated goodbyes. She doesn't like to see tears and longing.

The train trip back to City S took eight hours despite the fast speed. That day, almost all of the cabins were empty so Li Nuxie sprawled herself on the seat. She wore a distressed jeans and a loose white shirt with a cup of coffee embroidered at the left chest part. It was the latest design from the Ying Design Limited, Li Chanying's brainchild.

From afar, she looked like an average lady. However, to a discerning eye, the elegant aura that surrounded her was unmistakable. The pencil in Lu Nuxie's hand danced against the white paper, creating masterpieces for people she thought that deserved her works. Her eyes were too focused on the papers that she barely heard the cabin door opened.

The City S Train Hub is located in the north of the city. It was thirty minutes away from the city center. As expected, the hub was buzzing with people from different walks of life. Li Nuxie frowned as her ears tried to familiarize with the sounds that she escaped from six months ago. She walked towards the arrival gate, a decision was slowly forming in her mind.

The taxi brought her to a five storey building. It was an old building but the location was near the man-made lake of City S. The building was the location of Li Nuxie's favorite café. It was on the top floor. The walls were made of glass that provided the patrons and those who accidentally got lost a breathtaking view.

Li Nuxie belonged to the last group. She discovered the One Cup Coffee by accident when she got lost while playing hide and seek with her brother and cousin. She was bawling her eyes out when an old lady approached her. At first, she want hesitant but she saw the lady's ginger cat and the teachings of her grandma flew in the air. After that, she was grounded for a month. All because she chose the ginger cat over her grandma's teachings.

A smile formed in Li Nuxie's lips as she rode the elevator. Twelve years ago just felt like yesterday. The old woman was a patron in the coffee shop but they never saw each other after that incident. The barista she befriended told her that they visit the shop at different times. They never crossed paths even if they visit on the same day.

Will she see her today, she mused. As the elevator door opened, the distinct aroma of grounded coffee beans assaulted Li Nuxie's senses. She took a step inside, her traveling bag in tow. The tables and chairs remained the same just like the last time she went there. Almost all of the seats were occupied. However, no one seemed to notice her. It was all perfect for Li Nuxie. After all, she was not the type who basked in limelight.

"Miss Nuxie," the barista who was serving another customer greeted Li Nuxie. A smile was plastered on Li Nuxie's face. She nodded slightly before occupying the seat facing the lake. Almost as always, the seats near the edge of the building were left unoccupied. But it was her favorite part.

"One cup of macchiato, please," she told the barista.

"Right away, Miss."

Li Nuxie's eyes roamed around the coffee shop. The sporadic sounds coming from the customers have given her a sense of calm. A few minutes later, a cup of macchiato was placed on the table.

"Thanks," she looked up and saw the barista from earlier.

"Long time no see, Miss Nuxie."

"Indeed. The business is good?" She asked as she stirred the coffee. She was not in mood to talk. However, she doesn't want to be rude.

The barista nodded, apparently getting what she was hinting at. "Enjoy your macchiato, Miss Nuxie."

"As always," she replied, appreciating the barista's quick intelligence.

While Li Nuxie was enjoying her macchiato, on the other side of the building, a ginger cat was busy pacing back and forth at edge. The old lady has done everything in her capacity to rescue the cat. But she was just an old lady and being a cat rescuer was not something she had dreamt of in her younger life.

"Maki, stop moving," the old lady told the cat while she bent her back, trying to reach the cat with her umbrella. However, a cat is cat and stubborn at that. It kept moving and moving while the meow sound has dominated that part of the building. "Are you sure you are Suchi's kitten? You must be adopted. How come I didn't see Suchi gave birth to you?" the old lady continued to ramble.

If people will hear the old lady, they will think that she was a senile one, talking to a cat while bending. But Li Nuxie was amused when she heard the old lady. After she finished her coffee, she decided to take the stairs going down. At the fourth floor, she heard an old lady rambling to someone which turned out to be a cat.

Li Nuxie cleared her throat. The old lady turned around sharply. The cold eyes were in contrast to the doting voice she heard a while ago.

"Outsiders are not allowed here," the old lady told her.

"Oh sorry, I took the stairs going down and I heard you talking to your cat. I thought you might need help," Li Nuxie explained, unfazed by the strict demeanor of the old lady. Compared to her grandma, the old lady's expression was that of a saint.

The old lady's eyes slightly twitched, obviously tempted to accept Li Nuxie's offer. After a while, she went to the side, indicating for Li Nuxie to do whatever she needed to do to rescue the cat.

Li Nuxie put her traveling bag against the wall before walking towards the railing. As she bent outside, she saw the ginger cat pacing back and forth. The meow sound didn't cease.

The old lady looked at Li Nuxie as she dangled her one leg outside the railings. The decisive grip on the railings coupled with determined eyes made the old lady raised her eyebrow. Although the girl in front of her wore a simple shirt and tattered jeans, she knew that it was from the latest collection of Ying Design Limited. Her granddaughter was wearing the same shirt albeit a different design the last time they met.

"Hey ginger cat, be a good cat and come to me," Li Nuxie said, inwardly cringed on how she communicated with the stubborn mammal. "Meow, meow," she imitated the cat. Still, the cat continued to shy away from her. Li Nuxie rolled her eyes. She was not a catnapper for goodness sake. "Meow, I don't have the time in the world to dangle here so you better come here," she glared at the cat.

The old lady suddenly laughed. "Hey, young lady. If it was that easy to talk to my cat, then I wouldn't need your help."

Li Nuxie can feel the blood rushing to her face. Without thinking, she extended her arm towards the cat and grabbed its neck like a mother cat will do. The cat tried to scratch her but she was faster with her threat. "Try scratching me and you'll find yourself in my kitchen tonight," she whispered harshly.

There must be a miracle because the cat stopped struggling as Li Nuxie gave it to the old lady with a smile.

"Thank you," the old lady looked at Li Nuxie, a small smile was on her lips as she held the cat in her one arm.

Li Nuxie went back inside as if nothing happened. However, the trickle of sweat in her forehead betrayed what she had gone through.