"Where's my bookmark?!"

I heard something land heavily on the dining table.

"Grace, this is the third time! I am not helping you find it, nope. We're already so late!"

She added something else, under her breath, and I was sure it sounded like 'Jungkook'.

It had only been over a week since both our promotions, and Steph hardly came home anymore, while I'd never been more laid back with life.

Working hours were the same, but the duties had been divided to make it easier for all of the Paediatric department. I did miss the busy casualty days once in a while, but it felt like a little vacation after those months of never-ending work.

Steph, on the other hand, started to work round the clock. Her schedule was erratic and there had been nights when she'd just jumped out of bed and rushed out, claiming she had a fresh new idea.

People watching would assume she was the doctor, and I was unemployed.

Right now, 'we' were late for yet another presentation.

"Grace? Grace, you're ready, aren't you? Don't forget to grab Mochi!"

Crap, I had forgotten all about him. Mochi was supposed to have his monthly check-up today.

Begrudgingly, I put my book down, making a mental note of where I'd dropped the story.

"Mochi! Mochi, come here, you fat cat!"

While Steph ran around gathering last minute supplies, I found the pudgy Maine Coon huddled behind the sofa. When I tried calling him over, he ignored me like I was an insignificant fly.

"That does it. Steph, I'm gonna manhandle him into the kitty carrier."

He refused to budge the first few times, and then with a stubborn yowl he let me carry him. That's when I noticed the reason for his refusal to move from the spot.

"Steph?! Steph, your cat was hiding my bookmark all this time! He was sitting on it!"

Steph peered around the corner, cocking her head to one side.

"That's a good kitty! Chop, chop, we're leaving NOW."

Mochi began to purr like a hungry stomach, in my hands.

"Hmph! In you go, King Mochi. If you sit on my bookmarks one more time, I'm never feeding you secret snacks again!"

That got him to comply.

Steph and I talked on the bus, about how we might need to get a car soon, now that our schedules were all over the place and we had more responsibilities piling up by the day.

Mochi sat calmly in his carrier, which was placed on Steph's lap. He was never that calm with me, and the thought of having to take him to the vet for the very first time had got me all wound up.

"Grace, relax. Just keep him inside the carrier at all times, apart from when he's in the examination room. That way he won't wander off."

"But Steph, you know he goes savage around me. It's like he enjoys making me chase him around. Are you sure you can't just take him after the presentation?"

"Grace, please. You know I've never asked you to take him. It's just that this is a big deal and I've no idea when I'll be done with the presentation. Besides Mochi has a fixed appointment that can't be postponed or preponed."

Steph looked upset. And I was being a whiny child. He was partly my cat, as well. Even if it was only one-fourths of a relationship that I shared with him.

"Okay. I got this, Steph. It might even turn out to be a bonding experience for the both of us!"

I lifted the kitty carrier to my face.

"Right, big fella?"

Mochi opened his eyes, just a slit, and shut them back.

I thought I saw his mouth curl at the sides a little. Almost like a smirk. An evil one.

Steph had a ton of papers and equipment to carry, so I decided to walk her there.

We had only crossed the main gate when Steph asked me to hand over everything, and to go on.

"But Steph, how are you gonna walk all the way till your building? That's too much stuff to carry on your own!"

I hefted Mochi's carrier, so that I was cuddling it like I would a child. Meh, force of habit.

"Don't worry. I can manage. Just go, you'll be late."

"Steph don't be stupid. Let me-"

A big black car pulled up next to us, diverting my attention. Steph suddenly looked nervous and I raised an eyebrow at her, but she wouldn't meet my eyes.

The driver's side window rolled down so I was no longer staring at my reflection, but at a guy.

A very familiar guy.

"Ju-"

Jungkook gave me a once over. He might have intended for it to be rude, but his hairstyle had tickled me too much to take offense.

"I told you I'm not getting into the car until you lose that ridiculous hairstyle."

He turned to Steph, an arrogant smile now worn.

"And when are you going to come out of your denial and just confess about how much you like it?"

Steph hadn't made eye contact with him either, but pretended to be sifting through her files as she spoke.

"About how much I like seeing you mimic my pre-adolescent hippy look? I don't think so."

By now, I was ready to pop out an F word or the H word, but my lower jaw was still hanging limply from having witnessed such an interaction.

Jungkook angled his head a little in my direction again, but making enough emphasis that it was me he was looking at.

"Your pet?"

I scoffed loudly at that, but no words followed. What was I supposed to say to that?! And to JEON JUNGKOOK!

Steph rolled her eyes, and walked past his window to the backseat. She dumped all her stuff in there and turned to me.

But before she could say anything, I spoke up.

"You, have a lot of explaining to do Stephanie Puhn. We'll start with your boss' attitude and wet look."

Steph tried so hard not to grimace and blush at the same time, and failed.

Badly.

That gave me some satisfaction.

"Now, bye. I'm going to the hospital. To do my job. As a doctor! Don't play, I mean, work too hard, Ms. Puhn!"

I made sure to stalk off after that statement and the sudden jostle caused Mochi to let out an annoyed protest.

Despite that little show, inside, beneath all that layers of sarcasm, I freaking couldn't wait to roast every single detail out of Steph.

But I had to. For the sake of a certain fluffy, yet savage cat who I could swear was some sort of shadow assassin in his past life.

It was an added bonus, that the hospital I worked at, had a functioning vet available 24*7.

So I checked in and left my stuff in the doctors' room. I decided to change into my scrubs after I was done.

"Hey JP, where do you think you're going?"

Minho had resorted to calling me that nickname ever since the promotion, standing for Junior Paediatrician. I couldn't deny that it made me feel a little taller.

"I have a date. So I'm gonna be running a little late."

He scowled and smiled, a very Minho expression.

"Then, dare I make you wait, and erm, ask for his name to....state?"

I burst out laughing at his awful attempt to rhyme.

"Well since you tried so hard, you can see him for yourself. Come along!"

Minho was more than impressed at my choice of a date. And surprisingly, my date immediately began kissing up to him as well.

"Who's a cute kitty?" And Mochi purred in answer, eyes drooping in a relaxed manner.

"Maybe you should take him to the vet, Minho! He's so well behaved with you!"

"Oh, no, no, no. I'm a one man army at the out patients today. Everyone else has their hands full. So you,"

He placed Mochi back, but not before planting a fat kiss on the happy cat's head. Mochi never even let me cuddle.

"finish taking care of this pretty boy and then get your butt back here as soon as possible. I'll be needing your help."

I tried my pouty face with him, but he just flicked my forehead and walked off. Stupid, mean Minho. Everybody was being mean to me today.

I walked to the vet's office, grumbling to myself. Since, well, Mochi couldn't care less.

There weren't many people waiting around so I gave Mochi's health card at the counter, picked a cue number and sat down with the rest of them.

The nurse called a cue three numbers away from mine, at which a guy with a chicken, got up from his seat and walked into the doctor's office.

A particularly sad and old looking bulldog was sitting next to my chair. I gave him a head rub and he licked my hand in return, making my mood better instantly.

I pulled my phone, deciding to read something to wile the time away.

I was halfway through a very tense chapter on Grim Lovelies when I heard the nurse call my name. I'd written it down in the patient attendance list.

"Dr. Grace, you'll be going in next, once the gentleman inside is done."

I nodded and smiled in thankyou. Mochi had been exceptionally well behaved following his encounter with Minho. I should remember to tell Steph about it.

I picked up his carrier, it suddenly felt very light, and my heart began to pick up the pace. I angled it so that that latch was facing me, wide open.

"Shit."

I didn't close the latch after Minho put him in.

"Shit, oh shit!" He was definitely in the carrier when I brought him in. It was a good thing, the doors of the clinic were heavy. So the only possibility of where Mochi could be, was inside the clinic.

I asked the lady with the sweet bulldog and she gave me a slow nod that could have even meant that she didn't understand what I was asking.

The other guy, opposite to me, didn't see anything as he had been reading a magazine the whole time too.

I chided myself for being so unaware of my surroundings and suddenly remembered mum for having said a similar thing when I got lost in my books.

My frantic behavior probably caught the nurse's attention, and she ushered me over.

"He's an orange Maine Coon cat. Real healthy. Golden brown eyes. He's got a tag but it's probably hidden underneath his fur. His carrier was left unlatched and-"

"Wait, doctor, the cat you just described is yours? I saw him walk into the examination room with another gentleman and I thought he was the owner."

I forgot everything else and just barged into the examination room. The only thought plaguing my mind: Steph and a very sharp knife.

"Mochi! Mochi, where are you?!"

"Erm, I'm right here?"

Since a cliffhanger was requested!! Not much of one, but this chapter needs to be split too, so!

Any guesses who that is? He. He. He. He. Heeee.

Clue : He's not a cat (^o^)/