100 Memories ? (1/2)

Dust Ball felt a lump in her throat as memories flashed across her head, ”The first breath felt a little choking, yet it was rather comfortable. And then I took my second breath, many cats around me had already fallen to the floor, but I continued taking in a few more sniffs.

I just felt that all my unhappiness and sorrow had evaporated and I felt so happy. I didn't want to think about anything, and I didn't want to do anything.”

Zhao Yao sighed as he heard Dust Ball's voice in his head, ”What happened after that? How long did you use the catmint for?”

Dust Ball lowered her little head and replied, ”I began using it on a daily basis after my first encounter with catmint. My entire body felt uneasy when I go one day without it.”

Zhao Yao continued asking, ”So you became friends with the big cats?”

”No,” Dust Ball replied with tears in her eyes, ”After a few months, I wasn't contented with simply sniffing it. I took a bite every time I saw it. One day, the cats in basement realized that I had been secretly eating the catmint and chased me away.

I had no other options but to find catmint in other neighborhoods. Over that period, I relocated 20 times. Whenever the big cats realized that I had been secretly eating the catmint, they would chase me away. The cycle repeated itself for every district. I had to relocate myself every two weeks.”

Zhao Yao asked out of curiosity, ”Didn't you try to kick your addiction?”

Dust Ball only shook her head and replied, ”I did try to kick it. It was difficult enough for a tiny cat like me to survive in the wilderness. Coupled with my addiction, I did not even have time to hunt for food, and I grew thinner by the day.

However, I just couldn't overcome my addiction. Every day I was in pain. However, one sniff of the catmint would elevate me from hell to heaven, albeit ephemeral. At that moment, I was infinite.

One day without sniffing the catmint and my entire body would be in agony. I did not want to groom myself or wash my face. I didn't even want to eat or drink until I found my catmint.”

Dust Ball sank into despair as she covered her tiny face with her little paws, ”After getting exposed to Celestial Beats, all my bodily aches and pains have slowly disappeared. I thought I had kicked my addiction to catmint; I really didn't know …”

Zhao Yao began scratching the bottom his chin as the crisp and clear female voice rang in his head, he reflected, ”Because of dwarfism, her bones, muscles, and nerves have been suffering every day. The catmint was able to alleviate somewhat her pain which ended up as a dependence on it.

When she met me, she was surrounded by the inaudible frequency from Celestial Beats and temporarily stayed clear from catmint, until today.”

Zhao Yao brought the food bowl to Dust Ball and said, ”Do you want to take a sniff of it?”

Dust Ball nodded her head vigorously. She craved for the catmint in Zhao Yao's hand, ”Just let me take one sniff; one sniff would do. I can let the customers touch, caress and even hug me. They don't even have to put on any gloves.”

Zhao Yao sighed as he carefully lay the catmint on the floor. In her eyes, the catmint was equivalent to the most delicious food in the universe as she sprinted towards it. She stuck out her tongue and began to lick the catmint frantically.

Dust Ball's loyalty had also increased by one point because of Zhao Yao's action.

”This cat …” Zhao Yao stared at the catmint in his hand and mumbled, ”Such a pity that it can only be used against Dust Ball temporarily. It seems like other cats are not attracted to it.”

Zhao Yao raised his head to see Matcha busy chasing after Roly Poly. Matcha yelled, ”How dare you pluck away my fur!”

Apparently, Matcha, Mango, Roly Poly, and the other cats were not addicted to catmint. They had even forgotten the comfort which they had enjoyed a while ago.

Zhao Yao began to aimlessly browse through different websites as he waited for the café's opening time.

Currently, the café opened for business at ten thirty am. Shi Yu and Baiquan would take this time to clean the cat litter box and counter top to ensure that it was ready for the day's business.

It was a lot more relaxing for Zhao Yao and the cats. They just had to wait for the clock to strike ten thirty.

Elizabeth was licking the fur on her belly, just like how a model would put on makeup before a fashion show. She had to ensure that she was in her best form before the customers came. After completing her 'makeup', she took her phone out and went on the internet.