’DID you ever find something that seems real but you aren't sure about it?’

A question flooded on a young man's mind wearing a cheap orange shirt with ’on sale’ print on it, his hair tied in a man bun which doesn't seem like one. Anthony stared blankly at the unmoved coffee cup he had ordered from a nearby coffee shop. He sat on one of the tables outside the shop and some other people who were unfortunate enough to have a seat inside, the coffee shop was buzzing with customers that day and he wasn't fortunate enough to go early. 

He's up all night during weekends and sleeps at dawn. 

His face is painted with pure concentration as he starts to think while holding a book he bought entitled, “How To Write Fictions: A Dummy's Guide.”

It's been thirty-five minutes since he opened it but he's still not finished in chapter 1. He's still at the first three words, ”don't give up” and yes, he's still not giving up trying to remember if everything's real. 

When his consciousness came back after the cat talked, it all seemed like a dream. His spoiled notes reverted to the way it was before, unspoiled like nothing happened. And there's no trace of a cat burglar at all. 

He thought if the cat wasn't real then where is his burger? It was never found. 

”Is this the aftermath of too much fiction? ” he mumbled and repeatedly blinked his eyes. ”But that furry appendage I just groped seems very real, ” he nodded upon remembering how soft the cat was. 

How can something so skinny be so soft? 

He crossed his legs and scowled at himself, scratching his head. The young lad heaved a sigh and stared at his book. ”Or is it not fiction? And I should be like Detective An and investigate? ” His lips formed a lopsided grin as he started to imagine himself wearing a detective's hat and badass clothing like what his favorite detective wore on his favorite k-drama series. 

And then he will...

“Hello?”

He will not be called useless. ”Or maybe a detective plot is much better than magical ones?” His golden orbs shone in excitement as he started to think a plot about it. ”Or should I mix the idea? Detective plus magic, it will be great, right? ” Forming a smile, he visualized a detective using magic to solve unusual crimes.

”Hello?” He heard a voice that brought him back from his imaginations. 

He shook his head and looked up to the owner of a voice only to find the person eyeing him weirdly, lips' suppressing glaring at him. The person possesses a neck-length silver lock atop it is an old blue cat ear beanie, a porcelain skin adorned with a delicate facial feature. An expressive forest-green orb, pointy roman nose, and pink cupid-bow lips complimenting his overall appearance. 

’A man with a body fit for a woman. ’ his thoughts occupied him as he stares at the person's naked body; a petite and slim-curvy body that any woman would want to have, the man's lean shoulder, breast and down below his flat stomach glisten in rich sweat like he had done some vigorous exercise or been running a marathon. He wore a baggy fit faded color pants below and he is even barefooted. Anthony couldn't help but to think if the guy's feet were okay given the tremendous heat of the ground and sharp debris that can cause wounds. 

”Done checking me out, you creepy pervert? ” He heard a voice of irritation coming from the person he's observing. 

His face heated up in an instant and he shook his head numerous times. 

What's the deal with this guy? He's not a pervert though he did check him out. It's normal to appreciate someone's beauty, yes? 

”I-I uhmm. . .” He could feel his throat ran dry and his tongue failed to help him utter a non-staggering word.

The person's mouth twitched and eyes rolled. ”Stupid, ” the person mouthed and handed him a book. 

Deja vu. 

Anthony accepted it absentmindedly and continued to stare at the person. 

”You dropped it, it's yours, right? It says dummy, fits you well. . .” the person paused and a slender index finger with pointed nails started pointing at the ’dummy’ in the book's title. ”Try to lower your thoughts too, you're dumb to realize that you are already voicing it out. This is a human's meeting place. Their eyes on you, laughing,” the stranger added, eyes and tone bored. 

Anthony felt his stomach churned as he heard the stranger is seemingly insulting him, yet he remained calm because he's already used to insults. Though, it still hurts. 

”Yeah, right. Thanks and thanks for the insult, ” he sounded sarcastic as he snatched the book from the person's grasp. 

The person blinked his eyes repeatedly. ”You're not going to insult me back?” The person's face looked like it's been smacked with a brick that's why it looked so shocked. 

What's wrong with it anyway? This guy is weird. But he had to agree, they are both weird. An imaginative freak and a naked person conversing with each other. A center of attention. He knew people were already observing them. Why? Humans are natural gossip animals and borned judgemental beings. 

Anthony raised his brow. ”Are you a masochist or something? Why would you like me to insult you back?” 

The person feigned a shocked gasp; covering his mouth with his hands. ”I knew it this guy is crazy, ” the person whispered, not enough for Anthony to hear. 

”What did you say? ” Anthony asked, brows creased. 

The person puts his hand on his hips and eyed Anthony. ”I mean, humans typically are getting mad whenever they are insulted. They either insult back or engage in a physical brawl. ” Nodding his head, the person seemed to be thinking about other possible reasons. 

Anthony snickered on what he had heard. ”Maybe you're right, I am dumb remember? I am different from those people because I am used to insults. What will I gain if I attack them back? Will it lessen the pain? No. It's better to get used to it to mitigate the damage.” He put his left leg on the right, legs seemingly copying the number four. He got his coffee cup on the table and took a sip. 

The person looked at him like he was some kind of alien. ”You're a shit. ” The person's face inched closer to his, he felt his heart throbbed as the pair of green eyes fixed its target to his gold orbs, trying to search something. Before he could react, the person snatched away the coffee cup he's holding and emptied the contents with one gulp. 

Licking his lips, the stranger combed his hair using his hands. ”At least try to fight and survive, shit head. ” The person handed him back the empty coffee cup, leaving him dumbfounded. The person raised his middle finger at him and turned his back, walking away. A tail swaying back and forth on his back. 

A cat, again? 

Anthony rubbed his eyes. ”What's the deal with that guy?” he mumbled. 

He has enough with cats. He's not a living bonito fish for them to be attracted to. First a talking cat, now a naked cosplayer brat. 

What's next? An army of talking animals chasing him? 

”What a joke,” he sighed and put the cup on the table. ”I should just start reading it again. ”

Opening the book back he read the second sentence of chapter 1. . . ”No. 1: Treat fiction as real. Fictions are just fragments of an unseen reality. ”