Chapter 26

Have face time with a furry friend,

"Research shows that interacting with animals can help you heal emotionally". Since you don't want to make any huge commitments after a breakup, try volunteering at an animal shelter or walking a vacationing friend's dog for a weekend.

 

I drag the big bag of laundry outside our apartment down to the street at the nearest laundry shop. On my way back, I grab a vanilla ice cream.     As I get nearer our place, I notice something that I haven’t perceived earlier—a big brown box.   I gulp. I don’t want to sound comical, but let’s be realistic. If an unknown container is left behind like that, the following are the possible contents of it:   A.      Bomb B.      A baby C.      An old man D.      Old things E.       Garbage   I pray and hope it was the latter. I breathe out; trying to ease the jittery feeling I have inside my chest. I steel my nerves and walk closer to it.   I shut my eyes tightly as I can. I my hand above the lid and try to open it—and when I did, immediately I back away (sort of expecting some explosions or whatnot.)   But nothing happened—I should be happy, because it’s far from dangerous—but I wasn’t. It made me more nervous. It makes me paranoid. My breaths are becoming short and rapid—not in its usual rhythm. I swallowed the lump that forms inside my throat and walk back to the box.   You can do this Gyu, I told myself. I heard some whimpers and I got scared again. It’s a living thing! I exhale and bend over inside the box and to my surprise…   My eyes turn wide in excitement. “Omo! A dog!” I let out a shriek and soft chortles. It was a dog in some unknown breed. (I’m not really into pets, that’s why I don’t have any ideas about its type.) This dog may not be the cutest, nonetheless, for me it is—in instant, I fell in love with this dog.   I squat down and scoop the dog in my arms like a baby.“Aigoo. Why would someone leave you here?” Immediately, I check its gender coz personally, I think it’s disrespectful for calling this dog it.   “Definitely, a male” I say aloud as if there’s someone I’m conversing to. I his coat and his ears are flattened (for which I think looks more adorable.)   I stand there for minutes which turn into hours. I babied him while it last. It’s fun. I tap his behind and shush him. I look like a mo