This is the beginning of the story of how a cat and mouse broke the laws of nature and started a forbidden love.

One silent night, in a gloomy alley, a young tiny mouse was wandering alone near the trash containers. His name was Rhodey “Rodent”. He could either be looking for food, going home or just trying not to get eaten.

Sadly, that was supposedly the luck he was about to have. A cat named Kate jumped from the top of a trash can and landed in front of Rhodey, staring at him with a hunger expression.

It seemed like the beginning of a classic “cat dines on mouse” situation, until Rhodey began to beg for his life:

“Please! Please don’t eat me!

“Why wouldn’t I? Give me a reason.”

“I still have much to live! You have no idea what I lived in the past.”

“Oh… Really?” Kate asked, a little sarcastically.

“Yes! Let me tell you about it!”

“Ok, little biscuit. I listen to you.”

“When I was a toddler, I was the runt of my parents’ litter. My older siblings ignored me most of the time, and at the mice school, everyone laughed at me and abused me. And why? Because I always dreamt of doing something no other mouse could ever do, no matter my size. Their taunts and insults often reduced my motivation, but my parents were always there to raise it again. They told me to never give up and keep moving forward, after my dreams. And I followed my dreams. However, a couple of years ago, I lost them at the hands of an exterminator while we were eating somewhere. For those two years, I had to get through the same situation until I was finally fed up, and left my home, to search for a place where I could achieve my goal. I knew I could it… because I promised my mom and dad I was gonna make them proud.”

Tears started pouring through Kate’s eyes as she was hearing Rhodey’s story.

“W-Wow… You know… actually, I have so much to live, too… When I was a cub, I and my mom and dad lived in an abandoned department, and we had very little food and water resources. I promised them no matter my age or condition, I would get us out from there and onto a better life. However, I admit there were no chances to move away from that place. So as days passed by, I had to take drastic measures, and began sneaking into stores and stealing food. Passing unnoticed was my specialty, did you know? He he. Well, however, one day something went wrong. A man with his basset hound entered the store I had just left, and the dog caught my scent, so it followed after me, and so did its owner. When the dog found us, my parents lunged onto it to defend me, but at what cost? The man noticed them attacking his dog, he immediately called animal control. They took my mom and dad away… and I never saw them again…”

She began to sob after she said this.

“So I promised them to get the life we were meant to have… I don’t know how. I don’t know where. But I will do it.”

“I-I can’t believe we both have very similar pasts…”

“Yeah, I think we’re more similar than we think…” Kate admitted.

“So, are you still gonna eat me?” Rhodey asked.

“No. You’re right, you don’t deserve to be eaten by me. Besides, I’ll tell you a secret. Though my parents always forced me to eat mice, I always found them too cute to suffer that fate. And you’re not the exception. Moreover, you’re the cutest mouse I have ever seen.”

“Why, thanks! And you’re the prettiest cat I’ve ever met in my life.”

“Gasp! These are the sweetest words someone has ever told me! I never expected they’d come from a mouse! What’s your name?”

“Rhoderick Rodent. But you can call me just Rhodey.”

“I’m Katherine. Or just Kate. You know, we must be friends! After all, we might be natural enemies, but yet deep inside, we are basically the same.”

“Thanks, Kate. I think I like you… a lot.”

And so, the cat and mouse became the best of friends. Of course, they had to meet smuggled, not to be discovered by the other cats and mice. They did all kinds of things together; they dined on leftovers from the best restaurants, watched lots of movies at the drive-in cinema, and since they wouldn’t be allowed in public places because they were animals, they had to do everything from the outside, watching through the window. Watching sports, singing karaoke, and watching fighting game challenges.

“Go, go! Hit him, hit him! He’s on the ropes! Finish him!”

“Hey, that’s not fair. He’s doing the same thing over and over!”

There seemed to be no other duo as happy as them. But as months passed, they relationship turned them into something more than friends. One day they planned to go to the fair. The first and only ride they decided to enter was the Tunnel of Love. Without wasting the chance, they entered an empty boat, and on they went. Once inside, they looked at their surroundings.

“Wow, look at all these things! How beautiful!” Rhodey said.

“Indeed.” Kate said.

Suddenly, they felt something magical. It was time. But, for what, exactly?

“Kate… I wanted to tell you something.”

“What is it, Rhodey?”

“After all these months, I’ve realized something. From all creatures I’m met in my life, either mice or any other animal, you’re the one that has been kind with me the most. Since we met, and you spared my life, I knew there was something special in you. Like, if we were always meant for each other.”

“Same here. Rhodey. All the mice I have found, they all have ended as a snack for me, or for my parents. I never thought I’d make the best decision in my life by sparing your life.”

“Well, I just wanted to say…”

“I just wanted to say…”

Then both said at the same time:

“I love you.”

Both gasped due to the surprise, but then smiled, approached their faces… and KISSED.

After this, they discreetly left the boat, thanked each other for the good time, and headed to their respective homes.

TO BE CONTINUED