When I saw his face standing behind the
screen door, I felt loathe run through me.
I
surveyed his looks: he was far taller than I am and he wasn't hairy like
me. His eyes were an ocean shade of blue. He reeked of expensive cologne
he probably nicked from one of the hotels he sleeps in. a huge
cheesy smile was pasted on his face---his red full lips stretching wide,
his dimples softening his looks. To make it short, he looked like a prick!
I heard Christine squealed when she saw
him. She hugged him enthusiastically, her arms thrown around his thick
neck. His grubby paws went up and down her back. Right then and there, I
wanted to kill her for
her treachery. She was mine and yet she had the nerves to let me see her
in a wanton display of affection for this stupid looking wide-eyed
bastard!
She went to where I was, with Mark
following behind her. She sat on the plush sofa and reached for me. She
scratched my ear and ran her fingers through my mouth. I felt shivers ran
through me. She's so beautiful I can't
help but gush. She's a goddess---my goddess!
I nuzzled her palm, licking it a bit. She let out a small a small giggle,
making my ears perk up in sheer happiness. She always laughs when I lick
her palms because that's her ticklish part, apart from others that is. The
guy, who she fondly calls Mark, looked at me with those girly big blue
eyes of his and patted my back. How I hated his touch! I wanted to bite
him mercilessly until he bleeds to death. I hate him! I hate him! He was
slowly stealing Christine's attention that was solely for me. He was
taking away my goddess from me and I don't want that-ever! For that, I
want to fill his veins with my rabies!
That's
right! I'm a friggin' dog! I'm Christine's most prized pet. I'm a Chou
whom she named wonderfully as Fiji.
I
feel blessed being named as such. I would have died had she named me
Rocky, Whitey or, shudders, Blackie. Eurgh! Bless her for thinking of Mt.
Fiji when she bought me. Right now, though, I'm pissed with her. I want to
give her well-tanned long legs a little scratch. Why does she have to meet
him? Why bring him in the house and make me see him? I've heard her dozens
of time utter his name. It makes me so sick to hear her say his friggin'
name!! What kind of a name is Mark, anyway? An ugly one, that is! Humans
have no taste at all!
I moved away from them and slumped on my basket, my head cradled on my
huge paws. Oh, this is heartbreaking! Seeing her laugh, making goo-goo
eyes with him, and their hands occasionally making contact are driving me
mad with jealousy. I feel as if a stake is pricking my heart. I rolled
over and over,
avoiding any glimpse of them but it was so hard as their voices fill the
air. I let out a whimper and shook my head. I shut my round black eyes and
tried to drown their sappy talks and concentrated on the days when it was
just the two of us.
*****
"Oh, Fiji," she giggled, picking
me up and sitting me on her lap. "I can't believe it! Mark's visiting
me for a week!" my ears perked up at the mention of the bastard`s
name. For the past weeks, I've grown to hate this man, as Christine did
nothing but talk to me about him over and over again! I leaned
forward and pressed my face on her tummy, feeling her skin beneath the
shirt.
"He's coming on Monday and will leave on Sunday! Just the thought of
him coming over is fantastic. But the fact that we'll be sharing the same
room, our bodies slapped together in my bed, is killing me! I'll have him
in my bed for 6 nights! ARGH!" she screamed, permanently damaging my
eardrums. I squirmed on her lap, wanting to claw her, hoping she'd stop
yakking about the ugly git.
She continued to tell me about mark for an
hour, occasionally petting my back and rubbing my ears. I lay there like
the understanding and sweet pet that I am even though I felt my heart
breaking into shreds. She was no longer mine. I no longer have her
undivided attention. Now I share the spotlight with Mark, and I have every
intention of making his stay unbearable.
I jumped out of her lap as I felt hot tears
burn my round black eyes. The tears almost blinded me, causing me to bump
my head on the hard coffee table. I winced with pain. But it was nothing
compared to the hurt my poor heart was going through. Not even a big bowl
of Pedigree can heal my wounded spirit. No one can.
Christine snapped out of her trance when
she heard me yelp. She ran to me and rubbed my head, a worried face on her
look. She wrapped me in her long arms, cuddling me so close to her.
"Fiji," she purred, puckering her
red bee-stung lips. "Aww, my poor baby. Does it hurt?" she
asked, stroking me in a light-feathery manner. She then draped my front
legs on her shoulders, my head resting on her square
shoulders, while her fingers continued to caress my white/brownish fur. I
let out an inward sigh, my insides shaking with happiness. The things she
makes feel! I swear, she's got a tight hold on my leash. I hate her for
turning me into this wussy dog. Yet, I love her, too, for turning me into
a mush. ARGH! She's got a way of making me feel crazy. A little touch, a
little smile, a little kiss sends me "to the moon and back."
I turned my head slightly to the left so
that my nose and mouth were nestled in her jugular. Every so often I would
stick out my tongue to taste her. I know, I'm too perverted to be a dog. I
might as well be a real man. I
heard a giggle escape her throat and I nuzzled some more. But what she
said made me stop abruptly.
"I love you, Fiji," she murmured,
her fingers meshing with my fine hairs. It wasn't the first she's said it
to me. In fact, she's told me she loves me for a bazillion time already
yet this time it felt like the first. For a moment, I forgot all about
Mark's impending visit and what pain it has brought me already. For a
moment, whilst in the crook of her neck, I found stillness. I was happy. I
was in dog's heaven and I love it!
I wanted so much to say it back; I was
physically hurting not being able to utter it aloud. For once, I wanted to
be a human being even for just five minutes so I can tell her I love her
and maybe steal a kiss or two. Or maybe even more! Instead, I squirmed off
her touch and leapt from her lap to the marble floor, my arse swaying as I
ran around the room in merriment, and every so often I would growl in my
mightiest, most macho voice ever! I was that insanely, deliriously happy.
And when I heard her laugh, I knew she understood my message. I ran back
to her again as I couldn't stand being too far from her and settled in
front of her. She stood up and slumped on the cold floor beside me,
picking me up as her lips came down to touch my lips for a brief
encounter. I licked her face again and again. Oh, the euphoria of love! I
think I'm in dog's heaven now and I really have no idea how to come back
to earth anymore.
PART 2
But now I feel like I'm in hell. My body's heating up with jealousy, fury
and evil thoughts. I let out a hiss, showing my fangs to Mark as I look up
at him, mustering all my strength to appear scary and downright hideous. I
caught a glimpse of myself on the huge mirror and I looked convincing.
Hell, I even scared the living daylights out of me. He must be scared of
me! HAH!
NOT! Instead, he let out a smile and reached for me to pat my back. What
is it with this man? Doesn't he know I'm a deadly Chou who eats men out to
steal my girl? A loud growl escaped from my belly as anger started to
consume me again. I was all poised to bite his pale chubby right hand when
Christine came in, her hair flying in disarray, carrying a plate full of
chocolate chip cookies, my absolute favorite. You'd think Pedigree or Alpo
are my favorite stuffs in the world but nothing, and I mean nothing,
compares to her chewy, melt-in-your-mouth chocolate cookies!
As soon as Mark got hold of his cookie, he
tore half of it and placed it in front of me. I was tempted to scoff it
immediately but I didn't. if I did, it would show weakness, that such a
small thing like a cookie can buy me.
But my stomach was really protesting. And my nose was succumbing to the
smell of the cookie waiting for me. I slumped down, my nose sticking out,
trying to content myself with its smell. Perhaps, if I stick with the
Look-Eating-Not-Eating campaign, Christine will pay attention to me and
stop making goo-goo eyes with Mark. But she didn't look at me. She was so
wrapped up talking to him. She doesn't even notice, you silly mutt! Now go
and take that cookie before some rodent eat it before you do, my dog brain
screamed.
So I did. I didn't care if they were watching anymore. I want that cookie.
She baked it. It's my absolute favorite. So what if she deliberately baked
it for Mark and not for me? It's still a cookie. At least, I still have my
cookie. Unlike Christine…she's no longer mine and it was getting harder
and harder staying in this "in-love" position.
PART 3
Day in and day out, I felt sick to my tummy
every time I see them. I really had no choice because they're all over the
place. Even in my sleep, they're invading my dreams! Damn! Why can't they
just leave me alone? Stop rubbing it in my face that I no longer have
Christine.
It was already Thursday and I'm so weary. Christine and Mark spent their
days going out to the mall, watching soppy romance while cuddled up in the
sofa. I even saw them making out! So now they're a couple? Great! Just
great!
I yelped with pain. I realized I was scratching my balls to hard. Damn
this habit. Why the hell do dogs scratch their balls anyway? Is it a macho
thing? I can't understand it but it's been a habit now so I guess I'll
forever
scratch them without fully comprehending what it is for. Ok, back to
Christine and Mark. I think they're in love. The feelings are mutual. I
wanted to be happy for her because finally, he loves her. But I couldn't.
That jealous side of me didn't want her to be happy with him. God, why
didn't I became a man? Why? It could have been me with her. It could have
been me kissing her tasty lips. It could be me with her right now in the
room, moaning like a mad man. WHAT? Moaning?
I scrammed to her room and pressed my ears
on the door. I could hear both of them breathing heavily and moaning like
there was no tomorrow. I could hear them calling each other's name. I
think I know what they're doing. I've seen it in the telly before,
numerous times in fact because Christine wants to watch saucy films.
They're probably writhing under her black silk sheets, their bodies
drenched in sweat while kissing each other profusely. I let my head drop
and walked away.
You're not a human being. Stop thinking
about Christine. She's got Mark now. He's a human being and that's
something he is and you're not. Stop doing this and move on. There are
others, you know. And those others are
DOGS, not human beings, my head screamed. I shook the voices away. I was
in my basket, crumpled in a tight ball, my heart bleeding. They had sex.
They had sex, my mind echoed. He had claimed her body and soul. I, on the
other hand, haven't claimed anything. Once, I thought I had claimed her
love. But hearing her moan in pleasure, perhaps, told me even that love I
thought she gave me now no longer exists. I was all alone now…all I have
now is my plastic bone and my basket. I don't have Christine's love
anymore. What's the point of staying here? So without thinking more, I
jumped out of my basket. I managed to get out of the house because someone
stupid forgot to lock the gate. I ran without knowing where I was going
and never looked back.
PART 4
Guess where I am now? It's now Saturday and
I left last Thursday. Take a friggin' wild guess where I am now. Did I
hear you say France? Perhaps, New York? Hmmm…or Australia. WRONG! I'm
back at Christine's. So, you're thinking, why did I came back, right? I
didn't.
I couldn't really find my way out of the village so I loitered around,
running to the farthest street, sure that I've traveled far. I slept in a
wet smelly box. I looked horrid, I know. I could smell myself and I didn't
like it at all. I stared down at my paws and saw how grimy they were. And
at that instant, I wished I were back home, home to Christine, wrapped in
her warm arms. NO! I screamed. She doesn't exist anymore. Your life with
her is over. This is now your life, living in the dumpster.
And as I lay on my left side, I thought of her again and how her eyes get
smaller when she laughs; how her smile brightens her entire face; how her
boisterous laugh sounds heavenly to my ears; how her arms feels around my
body when she picks or hugs me. Now all I have are the memories. That
thought makes me so sad. And so for the very first time in my life, since
I've been born, I cried. I cried and cried and cried until I feel asleep.
When I woke up, I could hardly see as my
tears dried up and formed a film around my eyes. I rubbed my eyes with my
paws and peed on the box. I leapt out of it and started my walk again. I
needed to find a better place to stay.
I must have been walking for around fifteen
minutes when I heard running steps. My ears perked up more when I heard my
name being called. I saw Christine running towards my direction with Mark
behind her. Instinctively, I run to her welcome arms. I forgot about my
anger, my jealousy and my intention of finding another home.
"Oh my God, Fiji! You scared Mark and
me! We've been looking for you everywhere. I'm so glad I found you!"
she picked me up and kissed me, her face buried in my fur. She couldn't
care less if I smelt like a garbage can. She didn't care of I was soiling
her pristine white shirt. She didn't care. All she cared about was having
me back. I snuggled close to her, tears accumulating in my eyes.
"Come on, Christine," Mark said.
"I'll carry him for you. You look so tired." She didn't argue.
Instead, she handed me to him. I resisted. But when I saw how fatigued she
looked, I gave in and let him hold me.
As we walked home, I felt my anger and jealousy dissipate. I was no longer
mad at Mark for coming into our lives. I was no longer jealous of him
because she's got Christine. I was, in fact, happy that she's in love. I
was
happy because she do loves me. She does. Because if she didn't I wouldn't
be here in Mark`s arms, feeling so secured than I have ever been. And when
I think of it now, this is exactly where I want to be in.
PART 5
So my little running away act didn't work
out. Hey, I'm not complaining.
I've finally come to realize that humans belong with humans and dogs
belong with dogs. That's just the way it is.
It was a rainy Sunday afternoon and
someone's whimpering waked me up. I rubbed my eyes and let out a huge
yawn. I looked at the couch and saw Christine wrapped in Mark`s arm,
crying. I could faintly make out what they were talking about.
"Shh…stop crying," Mark
shushed, stroking Christine's back.
She wheezed and buried her face in his chest. "I can't help it! I
don't want to let you go."
"I don't want to go either but I have
to. I have my work." He wiped her tears away gingerly. "But that
doesn't mean we can't keep in touch."
She fell silent, her sobs more controlled.
"Say this isn't over, Mark. Say that what we've shared for the past
days won't fade after you go. Say that what we had is special and that
it's not just one short affair."
He took her face in his hands and smiled
faintly, a sad look on his eyes.
"It's not over, Christine. This is far from over. This is just the
beginning for us. We can make it. You mean a lot to me and what we've had
is so special. And I'm sure we'll share more memories because I intend to
be with
you for a long time."
Her lips stretched into a sad smile, her
eyes shining brightly. "I was hoping you'd say that." He laughed
and pulled her close to him, his lips crashing down to meet hers. Time
stood still and nothing else mattered. Not
even me, I'm sure. But I didn't mind. This was their special moment and
I'm letting them have it.
Mark grabbed his bags and started for the
car that will drive him to the airport. He was going back to Ireland, back
to his home. I felt sad. I know I was mean at the start but I will do miss
the guy. He has given my
Christine a new sparkle in her eyes. And I will forever be grateful to him
for that.
I tugged at the leg of his pants and he
looked down and smiled. "Hey, you," he said, crouching down to
rub my ears. "Be a good boy and take care of her while I'm gone, ok?
I'll come back as soon as I get a break from my job. So for now, I'm
entrusting her to you, ok?" he was talking to me as if I'm a human
being, as if we have something special between us. I barked three times to
let him know I understood him. He smiled. I think he understood me, too.
Christine picked me up and kissed me.
"Bye, Mark," she whispered as Mark boarded the car. "I'll
see you soon."
Mark waved goodbye to us and then he was
gone.
But I knew he'd be back soon.
Christine locked the gate and entered the
house. She placed me down on my basket. I could tell she was tired and not
in the mood for playing. So I just slumped on my basket and watched her
stare in space. I smiled at my stupidity for the past few days. How could
I possibly run away? How could I possibly think of hurting mark and her? I
was so stupid-all because I was so jealous. I growled as I scratched my
ears. I'm okay now. I've come to realize that humans belong with humans
and dogs with dogs. But it doesn't mean I don't love her anymore or that I
love her less now. In fact, I love her even more. She's still mine. She'll
forever be mine no matter how many guys she loves. And I'll forever be
hers.
