KNOCK KNOCK.A voice followed."Tobey, dear, here's your breakfast. Open the door."
It was his mother, outside.
"I just woke up… Just put it outside the room." His voice was still groggy.
A pause.
"I might be a villain to you, but I'm not a monster. I'm coming in."
WHAT THE HELL WAS HE SUPPOSED TO DO NOW?!His brain went full DEFCON 1.
Step 1: Toss the frog container under the bed.
Step 2: Yeet his wet underwear under the bed.
Step 3: Grab a fresh T-shirt, wipe himself down, toss that under the bed too.
Step 4: New underwear on.
Step 5: DIVE UNDER THE BLANKET.
One second passed.Then another.
OH.
SHIT.
Step 6: He forgot the bedsheet rope.
Tobey shot up like a man possessed.
Step 7: Rip off the blanket.
Step 8: Shove the bedsheet rope behind a carton.
Step 9: DIVE BACK UNDER THE BLANKET.
The door handle turned. His fate was seconds away.
Thinking fast, he knocked over his pen stand—on purpose.
The door creaked open.His mom stood there, holding a tray.
"What was all that?"
Tobey, voice way too calm: "Just took a big yawn and knocked the pen stand."
…No hesitation.
Not even a blink.
Damn.
This kid lies like it's second nature.
"Okay… now get out of bed and eat your breakfast." She was eyeing him now.
"Just put it on the table. I'll eat it after a small nap."
Mom narrowed her eyes. "Eat it before it gets cold, or you'll have to face my wrath."
Sharp hissing sound hissssssss, followed by a sudden movement.
Loud cat meow
Both heads turned.
Soft cat purring, followed by slow paw steps.
A familiar furry guest wandered into the room, purring softly.
Tobey gulped.
The cat stared.
Not just any stare—a stare of vengeance.
[Narrator shift]To understand this moment, we must go back in time.Hours ago, this innocent feline had been minding its business, hiding from the rain—Then it was grabbed.Launched.Yeeted through the air like a furry missile.For no reason.Absolutely no damn reason.
Now?The culprit stood right in front of it, thinking a blanket would protect him.
Cat, inner monologue:"You. You son of a—"
Mom smiled, "Oh, hey, Mr. Kitty! How are you now?"
The cat purred—because of course, it did.But the death glare never left Tobey.
"Amm… Mom… where did you get that cat? Wait—why is there a cat in the house?!"
The stare intensified.The war had begun.
"This is…" She paused.Then—
Sharp hissing sound hissssssss, followed by a sudden movement.
The cat launched itself onto Tobey's bed.
Loud startled gasp HAAAH!
Tobey leaped from the bed, blanket flying off—exposed.
Then—The cat calmly strolled toward him.
Soft purring sound prrrrrrrr…
Tobey's brain?
Crashed.
What.
The.
Hell.
Mom: "Aww, he likes you! …Also, why are you half-naked?"
Too much data.
System overloaded.
His eyes went fuzzy.
Mom crossed her arms. "Young man, explain."
Tobey's mental CPU overheated.
Blue Screen of Death.
THUD.
He disconnected from reality.
"TOBEY!"
Mom panicked, rushing to him.
"Do you have a fear of cats?! Are you allergic?!"
But Tobey?
He was already elsewhere.
He was being cradled like a princess—by a giant humanoid frog.
The frog was crying.
"Prince… don't die on me! What will I tell the king?!"
Tobey, weakly:"Tell him… I fought to the bitter end… The hells are calling… Let me go…"
PAK!
Loud, echoing slap.
Damn.
That was cold.
Tobey blinked, dazed.
"Oh, it's you, Mother… Hi."Pause."Oh yeah… I did my dishes. Now let me sleep."Flopped right back on the bed.
Mom stared.
Then—Sprinted out the door.
Mother, breathless, bursting into Father's room:"Tobey just fainted!"
Father, still in bed:"…Was he just waking up?"
"Yes! You need to see him!"
Father calmly stretched. "Honey… did you surprise him somehow?"
"Umm… yes, I guess."
He sighed. "Would you like to explain?"
She did.
Every. Last. Detail.
Father nodded.
"Yeah, don't worry. He got excited and fainted."
She hesitated.
"But…"
He looked at her—then smiled.
"Don't worry, sweetie. Come here."He patted the bed.
Shalit stepped forward…Paused.
Then sat on the floor—right at his feet.
He blinked.
She rested her head against his leg like it was nothing.
"…You do know I meant the bed, right?"
"I know." Her voice was soft.
He opened his mouth, then closed it.
Warmth crept across his face.
His hand drifted to her head.
Fingers moved gently through her hair.
Shalit stayed close.
"You're doing your best with him," he whispered.
She didn't answer—just leaned closer.
Silence.
Soft.
Safe.
Then—
"Why do you treat him like this?" Her voice was small.
Rick raised a brow.
"You said it's illegal to beat kids."
"But mental pressure lasts longer…" she whispered, eyes distant."It leaves a mark on the soul."
Rick's fingers slowed.He hesitated.
"…You make it sound like you're the one being treated that way—"He cut himself off.
"I didn't mean that. I just… I know what you went through. But we're okay now. We've got a kid. And a cat."
"…Bella."
"…Pardon?"
"The cat. Bella."
He smiled.
"Yeah. Bella. So… how else do I teach a five-year-old manners without this?"
Shalit pouted, pressing her forehead into his leg.
"But isn't this overboard?"
"Nah. I'm watching him. Always."
She sighed. "When did I ever say I didn't trust you?"
Rick paused.
His fingers brushed her cheek.
She looked up—barely.
Their eyes met.
His hand trailed her face.
Shalit didn't move.
Rick leaned in—
Then WHAM, she panicked and shoved him.
THUD.Flat on his back.
"I didn't mean to do that!"
She hovered over him, breath shaky.
Rick stared.
A blush.Then—she lay beside him.
Her head on his arm.
Fingers curled into his shirt.
Face hidden against his chest.
Rick, teasing:"You want a kiss but you're too shy to ask."
"Mmm-mm."
"Yuh-huh."
"Nuh-uh."
"Yuh-huh."
"…Stop looking at me like that."
Rick grinned.
"So you admit it?"
Shalit huffed, hands on her face.
"…Come closer." she whispered.
Rick leaned in—
BANG BANG BANG
Tobey, yelling from outside:"Hey! Where's the sugar?!"
Shalit sat up like she'd been zapped.
Rick groaned.
"…Tobey."
"Perfect timing, as always."
Tobey: "I need it for my brain!"
Rick, rubbing his temples:"I really should've kept a better eye on him…"