Sure enough, he still cares about me.
"Eat this. Don't die in front of me, or all the effort I made to save you will be wasted," Maine said slowly, tossing a cat treat in front of me.
I tried to tear open the cat treat with all my might but failed miserably.
"Geigei, open it, I'm hungry," I said, batting my big blue eyes at Maine and pouting.
Maine paused for a moment, then pressed the treat under his paw. With a quick bite and a head shake, the treat was easily torn open. "Eat properly, speak properly, and stop grossing me out."
"Okay, bro," I said, finally tasting the long-missed treat, and happiness bubbled up inside me.
So happy, so content.
I kind of wanted to crawl up on Maine’s lap.
After finishing, I looked up, and Maine was gone.
Oh, I was alone again.
I returned to my spot.
I climbed onto the bed I had made myself over the past few days, which was surprisingly warm.
Hmm, I think I just sat on something.
I got up and looked—it was a small pile of cat food, the brand I love.
I sniffed it. There was Maine's scent mixed in with it.
Did Maine leave this here because he was worried I’d be hungry?
That stubborn softie. I knew no one could resist my charm.
Happily, I wagged my tail and fell asleep contentedly.
The next morning, I woke up to find a few more cat treats, all already opened, just like the ones Maine had given me yesterday.
But where was he?
For the next several mornings, I woke up to find food beside me—sometimes a small pile of cat food, other times opened treats, and once, half a can of cat food.
I even thought about pretending to be asleep to catch Maine off guard when he came in.
But I underestimated my own ability to sleep; I was always out cold.
Why did he keep secretly leaving me food?
I was being bullied again. Those nasty cats, seeing that Maine hadn't appeared for days, decided to turn their attention to me.
They stole my treats and even pulled out some of my precious fur.
I tried to fight back, but I ended up with more scratches and bloodstains.
Maine, where are you? I cried silently in my heart.
Maybe he heard my call, because, suddenly, he was there.
He saved me again.
I wanted to repay him for saving my life.
My owner always said, "A small favor deserves a great reward."
I'm a cat who understands gratitude.
But he turned me down again.
This time, I got smart. I secretly followed him and found his address.
If I came every day, he would eventually be moved by me.
The first day, he didn't even glance at me.
The second day, he only gave me a side-eye before going to sunbathe.
The third day, he didn't even leave his house.
...
I don't know if it was my sincere attitude that moved the heavens, but I was sure that I had at least touched Maine’s owner.
She was a beautiful young lady, about the same age as my owner. She exuded a kind and gentle aura, and I liked her immediately.
She gently petted my fur. "Little Ragdoll, you've been outside my door for so many days. Do you like my house?"
I purred contentedly as she stroked me, "Of course! I came to repay my life-saving favor."
To her ears, my words turned into "Meow meow, meow meow~."
"Then come home with me," she said, totally smitten by my cuteness. She picked me up and took me to the vet for a check-up.