|
| PLEASE VISIT OUR SPONSORS |
|
PART 1 When I saw his face standing behind the screen door, I felt loath run through me. I surveyed his looks: he was far taller than I was 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 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 wanted 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 that place called Fiji when she bought me. Right now, though, I'm pissed with her. I wanted 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 times 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 were driving me mad with jealousy. I felt as if a stake was pricking my heart. I rolled over and over, avoiding any glimpse of them but it was so hard as their voices filled 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 look on her face. 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 on 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 time she's said it to me. In fact, she's told me she loves me bazillion times already yet today felt like the first. For a moment, I forgot all about Mark's impending visit and what pain it has already brought me. For a moment, whilst on 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 far from her for too long 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 chip 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 could 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-I'm-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, 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 anymore if they were watching me or not. 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 too 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 her 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 ran 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 does love me. She does. Because if she doesn'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 It was a rainy Sunday afternoon and someone's whimpering woke 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 you to 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 have 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 have 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. That's just the way it is. 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. |