A cup of coffee can do numerous miraculous things.

 

A cup of coffee can reduce a person's possibility to acquire diseases that can risk a person's life; hence, coffee can make you live longer.

A cup of coffee contains massive amounts of antioxidants. It is proven in a study, that the antioxidants present in fruits and vegetables is just the same as the antioxidants found in coffee.

 

 

To Maine, a cup of coffee is practically her rock.

 

 

Her seemingly endless 8 hour shift in St. Francis Veterinary Hospital is filled with a series of dog bites and cat scratches, horrific cases of mange on abandoned pets, and feces. 

Lots and lots of feces. 

A small boost from a cup of coffee is a must for her to get through the day. 

Although, despite the chances of dying of rabies, and inhaling the repulsive stench of animal waste, Maine loved her job. The cup of coffee was just something she got used to when she was still studying in college. The thick books on her desk and fast approaching due dates of thesis stressed her out, only to cling on the energy providing liquid she can buy for just 25 cents. As soon as she graduated and passed her board exam, her logical need for coffee started to get less and less. But coffee became a habit, and she tells herself everyday to change her coffee addiction to tea. She tends to forget.

The sound of her heels clicking against the tiled floor echoed in the hospital's hallway, her pace becoming quicker as she hears her assistant's voice from the front desk, talking to a pet owner who just came in.

Before heading to the front desk to meet the pet owner, Maine fixed her hair band to keep her bangs away from her eyesight. The clicking of her heels returned.

 

 

------

 

 

"He lost her appetite.. It's been three days, Doctor Gomez.", the pet owner explained. 

Maine retrieved her vision from the poor Dalmatian to the pet owner. The pet owner introduced herself as Paris, she looked like she was only in her junior high school. "Do you feed him dog food or table food?" Maine questioned as she stepped forward, coming closer to the confused and frightened dog. 

A few questions were thrown to Paris, and detailed answers were thrown back to Maine. By listening to the pet owner's experience with the dog's behaviour and with a few basic tests on the dalmatian, the dog turned out to be positive in Parvovirus. It was best to confine the dog for further treatments.

Maine and her assistant stood in front of the metal table where the shaking dalmatian sat. The assistant held the huge dog down, holding out its left arm for Maine to insert the IV Catheter. Slowly but surely, Maine directed the needle to the dog's leg. 

 

Then suddenly..

 

The pet owner let out a nervous screech as she ran towards her dog holding it down. She shouted at her dog for being a "bad boy" and that he needed to behave in front of the doctor.

 

The dog peed on Maine's face.

 

The dalmatian was so nervous that it jumped up and stretched his legs before letting out a disgusting piddle.

Maine wiped her face with the tissue her assistant gave her. She had a huge smile on her face. After all, this wasn't the first time it happened to her. In fact, this was the third time today. 

It wasn't like she didn't expect this to happen; gosh no it was beyond that. When Maine enrolled University, she had it all listed. All of the possibilities. 

 

Bitings... Check.
Touching creepy animals... Check.
Observing feces... Check.
Getting peed on... A huge red check.

 

She expected all of this to happen. And she loves it. It was something that made her love her job even more. The unusual activities she gets to practice enlightened her to write the words "Veterinary Medicine" under the "Name of Course" in her application for admission. 

 

It was the best choice she has ever made.

 

 

-------

 

 

There were only two of them in the elevator. 

 

Maine clutched her shoulder bag; her sides leaning against the cold metal wall of the elevator. The two passengers' reflection can be seen on the surface of the elevator door. The reflection was a bit fuzzy due to the metal's old looking luster, but a person can still distinguish a person's reflection. It was her next door neighbour, Park Chanyeol.

Park Chanyeol was very tall.. first thing that was obvious. If you also stand next to him a little closer, you can inhale his scent of pepperoni pizza. 

"Still working at Domino's, Yeol?" Maine initiated the conversation to which Chanyeol only hummed in reply. "You haven't ordered cheesy bacon pizza for 2 weeks." he replied with a grin on his face. He's thick Korean accent can still be discerned. Despite moving to Las Vegas from South Korea two years ago, Chanyeol still struggles in speaking English fluently. The rhythm of his tongue was still out of place; confusing dictions and pronunciations creating a sound a bit distant to the actual words. But Maine can understand Chanyeol. That's the only thing that matters.

With Maine standing next to Chanyeol, she couldn't help but notice their skin color. Maine was wearing a v-neck white shirt while Chanyeol was sporting a red muscle tee, their arms were bare and, due to the small size of the lift, awfully close to each other. The female's tanned skin looked a shade darker when close to the Korean's arm. Chanyeol was pale; like milk. 

Maine was born with tanned skin and she loves it. Being a Filipino means having natural sun kissed skin, which seems like everyone in Las Vegas aims to achieve. She didn't want to look pale like Chanyeol. But she must say, Chanyeol's skin looked smooth like a baby's bottom.

The elevator made a soft 'ding' before the door opened. The monitor showed the number '5'; It was their floor. 

"Got a bit tired of pizza. Decided to eat pasta instead." Maine inserted her key unlocking the door. She looked to her right seeing Chanyeol searching his pockets for his keys. 

"Left it again at the pizza place, huh?" A soft chuckle left Maine's lips. Chanyeol wasn't impressed.

The tall guy hissed at his very common mistake before going back to the elevator and pressing the silver button. Maine turned the doorknob and walked in.

 

Her apartment was small and dull. She had just moved in 6 months ago and she still hasn't gotten any free time to decorate her apartment. In front of her was a small space with 1 bedroom at the left side of the apartment. The bare walls were painted with a faded shade of Army Green and the floor was covered in Cream colored carpet. She ought to remind herself again to post pictures and decorations to her wall. She also doesn't have much furnitures in her apartment. Just a few everyday needs to get through the day. She ought to remind herself to buy more furnitures.

But there was one thing that brings light in her dull and quiet apartment; no it wasn't the light bulb.

"Mochi!" Maine called for her pet dog. Moments later and she can hear a soft bark coming from her bed room. The mixed breed dog ran towards Maine with its tail wiggling showing joy and excitement. To Maine, she was only gone for 8 hours. But to the canine, it felt like eternity.

The pet was only 3 months old. Maine had difficulty in searching for the right apartment 6 months ago. Most of the apartments she found perfect regarding on spacing and location didn't allow pets, not even a fish. So she settled in a small apartment situated at the far end of the city but not too far from the hospital. The space of a house didn't matter to Maine anyway. What's the use of a big apartment if there is no light to uplift you? 

After petting the canine, Maine sat down on the small couch to rest. She can still smell the faint stench of urine sticking on her skin. In her mind, she imagined what her mother would tell her if she went home to their house back in the Philippines smelling like dog piss. It would be full of shouting and disappointment.

 

Her parents never liked her life choices. 

 

Right from the beginning Maine has always felt unappreciated. From learning how to ride a bike in an early age to topping the National Veterinarian Board Exam, her parents still overlooked her. She grew up feeling she had the weight on her shoulders and that she only wanted her parents to be proud of her even by just one thing. With a bank account containing only 1150 dollars, she bought a plane ticket to Las Vegas.

 

"I will not study accountancy, mom." Maine retorted. She was getting tired.

"I already signed you up in University. You start by next month." 

"No!"

There were so many shoutings and plates breaking. The house was filled with anger and disgust. It was never a home. It was only a four walled infrastructure where Maine learned how to walk and speak. It never felt like home.

A home is a place where people loved each other with all their might. A home is a place where you can feel tenderness just by stepping foot in one. A home is a place where a family loved each other. But this wasn't a home.

"Did you even hear what I said mom? I topped the board exams! I came in Top 6. I have tons of letters from different hospitals, national and international, yet you still have the nerve to tell me I have to study accountancy?" Maine shouted in disbelief. She was tired.

She was always tired. 

"And what will you do for the rest of your life? Take care of dogs?" her father was the next one to argue.

"I already bought a ticket to Las Vegas." Maine was not taking any today. "I'm leaving tomorrow. By the time I get back here-"

"You're not coming back here, young lady." her father stood up from his seat as he stared daggers onto Maine's face. "Once you leave this house, you're never coming back."

Maine felt the daggers; a different one. She swore she could physically feel her heart breaking inside her rib cage. It was like her world was finally crumbling down in front of her two parents. Her eyes stung with water forming inside of it, but the pain was nothing close to her parents kicking her out of their family. Was it even a family? 

 

"My flight is at 5pm."

 

------

 

Somewhere in the other part of the city, Do Kyungsoo sat in a coffee shop not too far away from his flat. He had a cup of Iced Americano in his left hand and a music notebook in his right. 

His friend, Baekhyun, personally asked him to manage his coffee shop just for the day. He first rejected his friend's favor due to his lack of interest in managing a coffee shop. He's also just lazy and annoyed. 

But when Baekhyun explained it was an emergency regarding his dog's epileptic seizures, Kyungsoo accepted the favor and decided to help his friend by sitting behind the desk for 6 more hours. It was supposed to be his day off, get a cup of coffee from his friend's coffee shop and read his musical notes that he'd been studying to teach to his students next Monday. Every other day of the weekdays, he works as a piano teacher at the Music Warehouse. Being a pianist was far from his childhood dreams, but it was better that he thought.

The coffee shop was slow today. It was a warm day in Las Vegas and the people would rather get ice cream or milk shakes. And to be honest, Kyungsoo would've gone out to eat ice cream as well. But his favourite ice cream place was just across the coffee shop and he couldn't imagine what Baekhyun's reaction would be seeing his best friend go to another place besides his. As soon as Kyungsoo entered the coffee shop, he was greeted by a frantic Baekhyun taking his green apron off of him. When the bell rang, Baekhyun felt relieved seeing his round eyed friend in the doorway. 

"Kyungsoo-ah! Quick wear this apron!" 

 

And now here he is.

 

Kyungsoo checked his watch one more time expecting an hour has passed even though it has only been 10 minutes. A groan escaped his lips.

 

 

---------

 

 

Maine clicked the end call button then sat back on her seat. She was on the phone with a pet owner asking if she can be hired as a personal Veterinarian for their pet. Maine was first hesitant at the offer, she never planned in becoming a private Vet; she wanted to work in a hospital. But when she heard the amount of money she will receive, how could she say no? She needed financial support in order to pay bills and to well.. show her parents she can handle herself. Besides, it was only once a week so she thought the appointments won't cause her any stress combined with her shift at the hospital. She can drink coffee anyway.

After a good shower and a cup of instant noodles, she fell into a deep sleep; satisfied with how her life is starting to become.

 

 

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It was a rainy afternoon in Vegas. 

The petrichor was strong in Maine's nose as she walked on the wet concrete pavements in Berlin Village. Today was the first rain in the summer creating a slight change in the temperature and everyone was relieved. Summer this year was way hotter compared to the previous ones and people needed a break. 

She was on her way to the pet owner's residence. The pet owner who called Maine and hired her as their Private Veterinarian. With a short text message  containing the address of the client sent to Maine, she was off. The location was unfamiliar to her; after all she's only been in Vegas for less than 7 months. But after asking Chanyeol about Berlin Village, it turns out to be a private community where rich families usually live. And it was also 20 minutes away from their apartment.

"Block 4.. Lot 36.." Maine read the address in her phone. After walking around a few minutes, she finally saw the white painted house with the address 'B4L36' written on their mailbox. She closed her umbrella and rang the doorbell.

Moments later, the door swung open revealing a Korean boy. She wondered how many Koreans live in Las Vegas.

"Good afternoon! I'm Dr. Maine Gomez, the Veterinarian you called to treat your pet." Maine enthusiastically introduced herself. She suddenly felt uncomfortable when she found herself being stared at by the Asian Guy in front of her. The man hasn't spoken a single word towards Maine. It was cold, but she could feel a few drops of sweat trickle down her neck due to nervousness. "Uh.." she cleared to break the awkward silence between the two strangers. "I'm the Veter-"

 

"I don't own a pet." 

 

And with that, the man closed the door with a 'thud', leaving a flustered and sweaty Maine.