The Cat and the City

Just as we were in the middle of a discussion about fireworks and the classical orchestra for Lindsay's birthday, a soft noise caught our attention.

Lord Whiskers, Olivia's Persian cat, entered with an elegant stride, wearing a tiny but perfectly fitted suit. He looked as if he had just stepped out of a feline fashion magazine. Olivia let out an excited squeal and ran to him, lifting him into her arms as if he were a baby.

"Lord Whiskers! My little emperor of luxury has arrived to grace us with his presence!" Olivia exclaimed as she stroked the cat adoringly.

Lindsay and I exchanged an amused glance. We had seen Lord Whiskers before during video calls, but seeing him in person, especially in that suit, was something else entirely.

"I think it's time to formally introduce him, though you already know him," Olivia said solemnly as she approached us with the cat in her arms. She stopped in front of Lindsay and me and made a dramatic gesture. "This is Lord Whiskers, the most important being in this house after me. He's my confidant, my life companion, and, of course, my personal fashion critic."

Lord Whiskers looked at us with an expression that seemed to say, "I'm too important for this." Lindsay smiled and extended a hand to pet him, but the cat deliberately ignored her, turning his head away.

"Oh, don't take it personally," Olivia said, laughing. "He's just busy being amazing."

"Sure, sure," I muttered, crossing my arms. "And what happens if we don't want to be on his level?"

Olivia pretended to be horrified.

"What do you mean by that? No one can be on his level, Sack. You just have to accept him as he is."

Lindsay laughed as she kept trying to win Lord Whiskers' attention, who was now completely focused on licking his paw.

"Well, it seems like he has a lot of personality," Lindsay commented, trying not to laugh.

"A lot of personality and a lot of style," Olivia added, stroking the cat proudly. "Now, let's change the subject. My two sisters and my brother are already at the estate. You'll meet them soon when we go there in a few days. It'll be… interesting."

"Interesting?" I asked, raising an eyebrow. "Does that mean your siblings are as intense as you are?"

Olivia shot me a glare.

"We're not intense. We're passionate. And yes, my siblings have their own styles, but I'm sure they'll like you. Well, maybe not so much you, Sack, because you're always so… you know, sarcastic."

"Thanks for the vote of confidence," I replied sarcastically.

Lindsay intervened before Olivia could respond.

"How about we go for a walk around the city? We need to stretch our legs after the trip."

"Excellent idea!" Olivia said, carefully placing Lord Whiskers on the floor. "I'll call the chauffeur. In five minutes, we can be downtown."

But before she could pull out her phone, I stopped her.

"Wait a second, Olivia. The whole point of walking around the city is to actually walk and enjoy the sights, not do it from inside a car. If we're going to explore, let's do it properly."

Olivia looked at me as if I had suggested she climb a mountain without gear.

"Walk? Why walk when you can comfortably sit in an air-conditioned car?"

"Because this way we can see more things and really experience the city," I explained patiently. "Besides, it's good to get some exercise."

Olivia huffed but reluctantly agreed.

"Fine, fine. But if I get tired, don't blame me. I'm going to take Lord Whiskers to his room. I can't leave him alone here; he might feel abandoned."

While Olivia disappeared down the hall with the cat in her arms, Lindsay and I took the opportunity to unpack some of our things. By the time Olivia returned, we were ready to leave.

The walk from the mansion to the city was longer than we expected. Although the landscape was impressive, with towering trees and well-maintained gardens on both sides of the road, it didn't take long for us to realize that walking long distances wasn't exactly our strong suit.

"This is exhausting," Olivia complained after about twenty minutes, wiping the sweat from her forehead with a handkerchief. "Who came up with these ridiculous distances between houses and cities? It's inhumane."

"Maybe we should have taken the car after all," Lindsay commented, taking a deep breath as she adjusted her backpack. "I think we need more exercise."

"Exactly," I said, nodding as I wiped the sweat from my face. "Maybe we should go to the university gym regularly once classes start. It would do us good."

Olivia looked at me in horror.

"Go to the gym? Why? We're perfectly fine as we are. Look at my arms. They're toned. Elegant. They don't need more work."

I raised an eyebrow and pointed to her red, sweaty face.

"Clearly, you're in perfect condition."

Olivia glared at me, but before she could retort, I added:

"Think of it this way: the gym is epic. It's like training to become someone remarkable. Every rep is a step toward greatness."

Olivia blinked, surprised by my shift in perspective. Her expression changed from indignant to thoughtful.

"Hmm… I've never thought of it like that," she said slowly, nodding. "Training to become someone remarkable… It makes sense. Maybe we could even design themed routines. Like 'Medic Warrior Day' or something."

Lindsay chuckled softly as she watched us.

"Only you two could turn the gym into something epic."

"Exactly," I said, smiling. "Besides, imagine how amazing it would be if we could maintain this level of energy all day. We'd be unstoppable."

Olivia nodded with renewed enthusiasm.

"Alright, I'm in. But only because it'll be epic. And because I want abs worthy of a Greek goddess."

Lindsay shook her head but couldn't help smiling.

"Welcome to the fitness team, then."

Finally, we arrived in the city, where the streets were full of life. Small shops, cozy cafés, and street artists gave the place a charming touch.

After walking a bit more, we decided to sit in a nearby square to rest. The place was surrounded by lush trees, and a central fountain emitted a soothing sound that seemed to muffle the city's noise. I took out my camera—the gift Lindsay had given me months ago—and started capturing some photos of the square. There was something hypnotic about the way the light filtered through the leaves, casting soft shadows on the stone benches. Each click of the shutter made me feel like I was capturing fragments of time, small moments that would otherwise be lost forever.

Olivia, who until that moment had been busy wiping her sweat with a handkerchief, observed what I was doing with a thoughtful expression. Then, with an unusual calmness, she spoke.

"I've been thinking a lot lately…" she began, her tone lower and more reflective than usual. "Do you remember when I mentioned wanting to create a club at Stanford? Well, I think it should be about photography."

Lindsay and I looked at her, surprised. It wasn't common for Olivia to speak with such calmness. This was her way of being sincere, of setting aside her usual exuberance to say something that truly mattered to her.

"Photography isn't just about taking pictures," she continued, looking toward the fountain as she spoke. "It's about capturing the beauty of the world so others can see it too. It's about preserving moments that would otherwise fade away… like putting a piece of time in a box."

She paused, as if carefully choosing her next words. Then she added:

"I want our club to be different. Not just a group of people taking random photos, but a space where we can learn to see the world in a new way. Where we can find beauty even in the simplest places… like this square, for example. Look at that," she said, pointing to an elderly man feeding pigeons near the fountain. "That scene might go unnoticed by many, but if you capture it from the right angle, you can tell an entire story with a single image."

I stared at her for a moment, surprised by the depth of her words. Olivia could be extravagant and theatrical, but when she spoke like this, with that almost nostalgic sincerity, it was impossible not to take her seriously.

"There are already photography clubs at Stanford," I commented, trying to keep a neutral tone. "They even have competitions and exhibitions."

She nodded slowly, as if she had already considered that.

"I know. But those clubs aren't like the one I want to create. Ours will be special because it's not just about taking pretty pictures. It's about telling stories, about connecting with people through what you see. I want it to be a place where anyone can join, no matter how much experience they have, and feel like their perspective matters. Something that reminds us why we started doing this in the first place."

Lindsay smiled, visibly impressed.

"You know, Olivia, when you talk like this, it really seems like you've got everything planned."

Olivia shrugged, though a small proud smile appeared on her face.

"I'm just saying that if we're going to do something, we should do it right. Besides, imagine the possibilities: we could organize themed exhibitions, collaborate with other clubs, even do community projects. We could teach people to see the world in a new way. It'd be… epic."

I couldn't help but laugh at her last comment, but I knew she was right. If anyone could make something as simple as photography feel grand, that person was Olivia.