More specifically, it was standing in front of a crossroads. The bustling crowd surrounding the cat, the harsh sound of cars speeding by, and the strong smell of smoke coming from the turbo did not bother it at all. It still had its eyes on him, as if waiting for him to arrive.
Dwayne was baffled. This was the first time he had encountered a cat that behaved like this. Thankfully, it did not recklessly cross the lane while the light was red.
Dwayne headed to the side street while pushing his bike. But he hadn't taken three steps forward when the cat, with all those cars driving at high speed, suddenly crossed the street.
"Aaahhh!!!" A young student on the side street screamed. "The cat!"
The white cat was running forward, and there was an incoming car...
Dwayne did not think twice. His body just acted out of instinct. He abandoned his bike and ran forward at top speed. The cars were honking, and people were screaming at him, but he paid no attention to it. He knew this was dangerous, but he didn't care. He just didn't want to see the cat that waited beside his bike every day die.
Dwayne did not know if it was his imagination, but the cat slowed down its pace. Its eyes looked over at him, and their eyes met.
"Wait!" Dwayne leaped forward and snatched the cat. The lights and blaring sound of the honking car filled his sight. Luckily, the car stopped. Its headlights were just a few inches away from him.
Dwayne still had not registered what was going on. His heart was beating loudly against his chest. His hands wrapped the cat securely against his chest. The car that stopped in front of him seemed to be a high-end car.
"Wow, a Maybach."
"The owner must be rich."
Someone murmured from the crowd.
Dwayne's ears were still ringing. He saw the car, and his legs almost collapsed beneath him. The black-tinted glass window rolled down. A man in a black suit, black gloves, and sharp eyeglasses came out. He looked from the window at first, seeing that Dwayne was standing just fine. He then shrank his head back inside.
"What happened?" A cold voice murmured from the back seat.
The man with glasses adjusted his gloves. "A boy ran in front and he was holding a white cat in his arms. He probably ran the red light to save it."
"Check if the boy is okay."
"Yes, sir." The man with glasses came out. His sleek hair was trimmed to the side. His gloved hand adjusted his glasses before he stepped forward and approached Dwayne.
"Are you okay?" The man looked at Dwayne from the tip of his curly hair down to his shoes, studying him meticulously. The boy seemed naïve and delicate. Although he seemed to be in a state of shock. The man could see how Dwayne's arms trembled as he held the white cat to his chest.
"Did the car hit you?" The man asked again, this time with a bit of impatience in his voice. The person inside did not want to waste time. It was better to settle this quickly.
"If you need money for hospital expenses, contact me using this business card." The man went straight to the point. Even though he had slammed the brakes in time and made sure the car did not hit the boy, he knew these types of people would ask for compensation. For him and the person inside, time was more important than money. Better to deal with them quickly and not waste another second.
Seeing the man stretch his hand out with the business card, Dwayne flinched. He hugged the cat tightly to his chest, as if the man would snatch the cat if he didn't hold on to it.
"N – no thanks." Dwayne bolted back to the side of the road without looking back, leaving the man and his business card behind. The man watched Dwayne pick up the bike he had abandoned earlier and walk briskly away. Not even once did the boy look back.
The man adjusted his glasses and tucked his business card back into his suit. He went back to the driver's seat.
"Sir, the boy ran away without accepting my business card. But he seemed to not be injured."
"Mhm." The man with the glasses glanced at the rearview mirror. The person in the back seat had his legs crossed with a tablet on his lap. Even inside his car, he was still dealing with work. The man with glasses looked away and started the car.
Meanwhile, Dwayne made sure he was out of sight. His legs were still a bit weak, and his hands wouldn't stop shaking. His breathing was a bit ragged. Dwayne stopped by a small park and sat on a bench to catch his breath. He fumbled in his backpack for his water bottle and drank half of it. The cat was sitting beside him, watching as he wiped his mouth.
"You looked so cool earlier." A small, cute voice of a child floated into his ears.
Dwayne looked up. There was no one around.
"Thank you for risking your life just to save me," the voice said again.
Dwayne frowned. His eyes scanned his surroundings, but there was really no one except him and the white cat. Was he so terrified that he began to imagine hearing a child's voice?
"Hello, Dwayne. I'm talking to you!"
Dwayne stiffened. The white cat slowly inched closer to him, and its cute front two paws climbed onto his lap.
"Are you still in shock? Was it really that terrifying? You weren't hit, right?"
Dwayne moved in a mechanical way. He could almost hear his neck creak when he looked down at the mysterious white cat speaking and calling his name.
"Dwayne? You look pale."
The ringing in Dwayne's ears did not stop; instead, it intensified. Ah, maybe he was just too exhausted. His sight spun, and he collapsed on the bench.