Taeyeon laughed. “Like the compliment?” She extended one hand, gesturing for Tiffany to come.
Tiffany didn’t move from where she was standing. Although she liked this person, she wasn’t sure she’d like her to touch her anywhere but on the head. It was bad enough to have Taeyeon carry her around all day. She had to keep reminding herself that she was a dog and that Taeyeon wasn’t placing her hands on her naked body.
But she had had enough for the day.
“No?” Taeyeon looked disappointed as her hand dropped to the carpet. “Okay then. We’ll work on this too.”
She watched Taeyeon gather her stuff, taking the clothes, collar and leash away but leaving the toys behind, before the woman went inside a room Tiffany assumed was the bedroom.
She exhaled in relief then went to lie down in the corner, curling up into a black ball, hiding her face.
So this is how my life would be from now on? I’m an animal who’s forced to live without the ability to talk or even hold things. Will my family and friends be worried when they realize that I’m not returning? Will the company survive without me? Who’s looking after my apartment and my things?
She unconsciously began crying again, regretting what had happened.
I should’ve just followed that witch’s wish.
“Hey hey… are you okay?”
She heard Taeyeon’s voice and sensed her coming closer but she didn’t move a muscle.
She felt the soft skin of Taeyeon’s palm on her head and heard the rustling of her clothes as she took a seat next to her.
Taeyeon lifted Tiffany off the floor, placing her on her lap. “You miss your owner?” she asked.
Tiffany wanted to get away but the touch she dreaded was comforting her instead, unexpectedly, and she ended up lying on Taeyeon’s lap.
“Don’t be so tense,” Taeyeon said. Her hand never stopped stroking the black fur. “I’ll take good care of you until we can find your owner, okay? So cheer up, please.”
Slowly but surely, the dog began to relax, snuggling against Taeyeon’s warm body.
Tiffany couldn’t deny that she was exhausted and Taeyeon’s efforts to comfort her were very effective. The woman even hummed her a song.
Her eyes grew heavy and she almost dozed off when she felt Taeyeon shift.
“You’re sleepy?”
Tiffany lifted her head and looked at Taeyeon. “Yes.”
It didn’t come out as a bark this time but as a small whimper Tiffany didn’t even know she was capable of.
“Aw… you’ve had a long day, haven’t you? Okay. Bed time it is.” Taeyeon took the dog to her room and placed her on the small bed she had bought earlier. “This is your bed. You sleep here, okay? I need to take a shower first.”
Tiffany watched Taeyeon take out a towel before leaving her alone.
She exhaled and tried to get comfortable on the cushion, closing her eyes. She’d think of a way out of this predicament tomorrow.
It was hard to fall asleep no matter how tired she was so when Taeyeon came back, only wrapped in a towel with hair tied up in a bun, Tiffany’s eyes were already open again, watching. She noted the perfect skin, still glistening with water, and thought that Taeyeon’s boyfriend must be a very lucky man.
But then Taeyeon started to unwrap the towel from around her body and Tiffany quickly covered her eyes with her paw.
If dogs could blush, she would’ve turned red all over.
She waited until she heard the bed creak ever so slightly before she opened her eyes.
Taeyeon was sitting on the bed, holding her tablet.
Is she reading? thought Tiffany. Or playing a game? Sigh… I miss being able to hold things or own them.
She felt sad again but this time she also resented what had happened.
My bed is better, bigger and much more comfortable than this poor excuse of a cushion, she thought angrily. That annoying witch! I never hurt anyone! She had no right to do this to me. It’s not fair!
Taeyeon turned her head when she noticed the dog standing up in her small bed. “What’s wrong?” she asked the black pup who approached her and looked up at her. “I thought you were tired? Why aren’t you sleeping?” She put her tablet aside and turned, putting both feet on the carpet.
“I refuse to sleep on that pathetic little bed.”
Bark. Bark.
“What? What do you want now?”
“A proper bed to sleep in, thank you very much.”
Bark. Bark. Bark.
“Sshh! It’s kinda late. The neighbors won’t be happy.” Taeyeon put a finger to her lips then lifted Tiffany, placing her on the bed. “You want to sleep with me?”
Psh. You wish. I just want your bed.
Tiffany went to the empty side of the bed, walking around the tablet, and plopped down on the comforter, next to the plushies. She made herself comfortable under the amused stare of the bed’s rightful owner.
“You have one heck of a personality, you know. One second you’re all sad and quiet then you’re loud and demanding the next. But you’re smart and somehow remind me of a stubborn, spoiled child,” said Taeyeon with a chuckle.
The word ‘spoiled’ reminded Tiffany of the witch and her head jerked up instantly.
“I am not spoiled!”
She barked so loud that Taeyeon winced.
“Ssshh!!” Taeyeon hushed the dog. “Not so loud! Fine. You can sleep on my bed just… be quiet, okay? I have stuff to finish.” She grabbed her tablet and leaned back against the headboard.
Tiffany laid her head down again, watching Taeyeon who was now typing on the device.
Taeyeon felt the eyes on her and turned her head after a while, grinning when she saw the dark brown eyes staring back at her. She then noticed the plushie that was lying just behind Tiffany and got an idea.
“Aha! I think I know what to call you,” she said as she reached out to take the toy. “How about Ginger?” she showed her the Gingerbread Man. “It’s a pretty name, don’t you think?”
Tiffany wanted to protest but knew that she couldn’t possibly spell out ‘Tiffany!’ or write it down since she couldn’t even hold a pen so she didn’t do anything. Not even blinking.
“No? You don’t like it?” asked Taeyeon when she saw the lack of reaction. She could swear that the dog was judging her choice of name through her silence.
“…”
“Well, I like it. Ginger it is.” Taeyeon put the plushie aside and patted Tiffany’s head. “Sleep, Ginger.”
Tiffany wished she could roll her eyes but since that gesture was also impossible to do now, she resorted to exhaling while turning her head away, trying to get some sleep.
Ginger. Next thing you know she’ll be buying a Shrek outfit for me to wear. Note to self: should I ever return to my human form, never torture any dog with ridiculous clothes no matter how squeal-worthy cute people think they are.