Gemotions

The aroma of freshly brewed coffee filled the small apartment, and Leo hummed a little tune as he stacked the clean dishes in the drying rack. His roommate, Mark, had been absolutely livid this morning. Something about the inherent messiness of adopting a cat. Leo, on the other hand, felt a warmth spread through his chest, a sense of quiet triumph.

He glanced at the empty carrier in the corner, imagining the fluffy ball of energy he’d soon welcome. He reached over and smoothed the soft blanket inside, a smile tugging at his lips.

"He won't even *know* you’re here half the time," he'd said to Mark earlier, carefully avoiding direct eye contact while mentioning all the benefits. Ultimately, he knew his roommate's weakness: the allure of a clean, quiet space.

Leo poured himself a cup of coffee and strolled to the window, watching the morning commuters. He thought about the potential names for the kitten. Maybe something cool, like 'Shadow' or 'Midnight'. Or perhaps something a bit more… endearing.