Taming The Tiger Man - Genma Series #1

Paul’s black Daihatsu Taruna slowed down in front of the hospital lobby. Angelina groaned when she had to return to that place.

Why is Monday so fast?

“Paul, can’t we go home and give them a permission letter?” persuaded Angelina without intending to get off even though the car had stopped completely. The thought of the psychopaths waiting for her made her stomach churn. “I seem to have a stomachache.”

However, Paul gave her a bossy look. He gently pinched his wife’s nose as he replied, “Angel, it’s not good to miss work, especially since you’re healthy.”

Angelina shook her head to release Paul’s pinch. Her heart was beating uncomfortably.

Maybe I should have gone to the police station yesterday, but what if they found out?

“Don’t pout, Angel.” Paul smiled at her. “I’ll pick you up Saturday morning.”

The car door suddenly opened from outside. Nixon stood there with a cheerful smile. The man’s forehead still looked bluish. “Good morning, Doctor. Glad you could make it on time.”

A light peck from Paul landed on Angelina’s right cheek. “Angel, I’ll call you tonight.”

“Okay,” Angelina replied as she got out of the car. However, before closing the door, the woman said, “Paul, if Doctor Sandi or the zoo calls about Bowo, just tell them to give him the regular dosage. From yesterday’s report, he’s fine. Dr. Sandi is just being paranoid.”

“They shouldn’t bother you with their work,” Paul complained. “But I’ll tell them.”

The door closed. Angelina watched for Paul’s car to leave the building when Nixon’s voice interrupted her. “Are you ready, Doctor? Doctor Fonda is waiting.”

“Doctor Fonda?” Angelina turned to the big man who had been smiling broadly. The hospital lobby looked deserted from the outside. She guessed that not a single patient had arrived yet.

“She seems dissatisfied with your treatment of the cat man,” Nixon replied as he swung his hand into the building, asking Angelina to step inside first. “And I agree with her. Your work is terrible and very disappointing.”

*****

“The cage is dirty, things are messy, Inyiak’s appearance is even worse than before, and worst of all, you left him full of hair trims!”

A string of high-pitched, harsh words rolled out of Fonda’s red lips. She was dominated by orange today, from her blush to her tight shirt. The atmosphere of Genma’s secret zoo was the same as usual. The occasional meowing and growling filled the air.

“You are far more worthy of being Tigon food than a veterinarian!”

“Stop threatening me!” Angelina imitated Fonda’s glare while clenching her trembling hands. “I told you from the start that I have no competence in haircuts or beard shaving, but you insisted on it!”

Especially for humans! Angelina added to herself. She tried practicing at home and ended up having her razor snatched away by Paul after being another victim of her incompetence.

Nixon stood near the artificial wall that was the only access to the exit. The brown-uniformed man seems uninterested in getting involved in the heated argument between the two female doctors. He decided to be a cement statue by standing straight and expressionless.

“I think it has something to do with your inability to fix your appearance,” Fonda said with a huff and stared at Angelina from head to toe with a condescending expression.

“My appearance is fine.” Angelina hissed in exasperation. There was nothing wrong with wearing a dark blue collared polo shirt paired with black cloth pants or an elastic band to tie her shoulder-length hair and free-of-dirt black sneakers. “If you are so good with his haircut, you should have taught me instead of leaving the job to me!”

Fonda’s eyes narrowed lazily. She shook her head and said coldly. “For your information, I’ve already tidied up your work. I hope that’s the last time, or we’ll have to find a replacement doctor while you end up in the belly of one of the animals here.”

*****

What a bully!

Angelina showed a sour face as she walked. She was going to Ramaik’s cell, escorted by Nixon.

That day, it was time to weigh Ramaik and get the creature to take his vitamins. However, Angelina had no idea how to persuade her patient to comply.

“You have 30 minutes before the beast goes training,” Nixon warned as the artificial wall closed behind them.

Angelina halted her step. She gave her bodyguard a disapproving look and hissed angrily.”Mr. Nixon, stop using animal names. I don’t like it.”

Nixon’s right eyebrow rose. “Doctor, don’t take your frustration out on me. It’s not because of me that Doctor Fonda is disappointed with your work. The beast did look very miserable.”

“Mr. Nixon, he’s… not… an animal!” Angelina yelled with her face flushed with anger. “He’s just like you! Has two legs, two arms!”

“Doctor, monkeys have similar limbs,” Nixon explained. “But no one protests when they are called animals.”

Ignorant baboon!

Angelina decided to stop arguing. She walked over to the closet and grabbed the items she needed, including the blowgun, which she put straight into her coat pocket.

As she neared the cell, her pace slowed. Angelina peered inside the cage. She found Ramaik in the same spot—face down, shirtless, with one leg bent.

Angelina held her breath as she observed his latest appearance. The creature did look more presentable than when she left it on Friday. Fonda seemed to have the makings of a salon hairstylist.

Ramaik’s back hair was shorter than before, making the black collar on his neck visible. However, the bangs were still long enough to be a curtain for covering the eyes.

“Hi, Ramaik,” greeted Angelina timidly. She still felt guilty about her inability to spruce up her patient’s appearance.

Is he angry?

Angelina stood at a safe distance. Her heart was unconsciously beating even faster than before. Tigers love cleanliness. If that trait passed down to Ramaik, then what she had done yesterday was not much different from Nixon’s behavior.

Ramaik turned his head and looked up slightly. He watched Angelina in silence.

“Sorry about yesterday,” Angelina stammered. “I-I’m not used to cutting hair.”

Ramaik pursed his lips and emitted a low growl.

Angelina brought her palms together in front of her forehead and exclaimed loudly with her eyes closed, “Sorry! Sorry! Sorry!”

“Doctor! Stop spoiling him!”

Nixon’s complaint caused Ramaik’s long growl to become an angry roar. Angelina reflexively opened her eyes and moved backward. She gulped down as her patient stood up while shape-shifting and hitting the bars hard.

“Mr. Nixon, I don’t think there’s been any change in his weight,” Angelina said, sensing Ramaik’s bad mood.

“As you wish, Doctor,” Nixon replied, his gun already cocked and pointed at the cage. “But if you’d like me to shoot that rancid beast, I can. We could drag him onto the scales while he’s unconscious.”

“What?! Put that gun down!”

Angelina suddenly forgot her fear. She turned her back on the rampaging mad Inyiak and positioned herself as a barrier.

“Doctor, don’t blame me if that cat scratches your back.”

“Mr. Nixon! Put that rifle down, now!” snapped Angelina angrily. The roar and sound of metal clashing was loud and made her ears ring. She quickly turned around and screamed back at her frenzied patient. “And you, be quiet!”

Ramaik widened his eyes. The Inyiak flinched as he returned Angelina’s annoyed gaze.

Angelina began to rant, “I apologized! I can’t cut your hair! But that doesn’t mean you can act like a wild animal!”

“Doctor…”

“Shut up!”

Angelina looked over her shoulder and screeched at her bodyguard. She was upset, angry, and tired!

“Oh, alright.” The big man decided to lower his rifle and scratched his chin. “I just wanted to remind you of the–”

“Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!”

Angelina’s last shout caused Nixon to clench his lips. It was quiet for a moment.

Angelina breathed fast. She turned back towards the cage and found Ramaik had returned to human form. Their gazes met. The creature’s lips curled faintly as a long purr sounded from him.

“Weigh yourself!” Angelina ordered, pointing to the digital scale near the corner of the left wall inside the bars. “I have to record it!”

Ramaik turned to the object pointed out by Angelina. The creature tilted his head and returned to purring softly.

“Doctor, you asked me to be quiet,” Nixon said, seeming offended, and showed no intention of assisting her.

“Mr. Nixon!”

“Doctor Fonda only told him to weigh himself. The cat is pretending not to understand,” Nixon replied instantly. “You spoil him excessively.”

“I am not!” Angelina responded spontaneously, putting her hands on her hips. She exchanged a knowing look with her patient in human form and scolded the creature.

“Ramaik, I know that you understand what I’m saying. Now, get on the scale!”

Unfortunately, the creature ignores her command. Ramaik’s smile grew even wider as he gave another long purr.

“Doctor, in my opinion, you lack authority.”

Angelina ignored the nonconstructive criticism from her bodyguard. She glared at her defiant patient and said in a cold tone.

“Ramaik, I will count to three before I tranquilize you.”

“One!”

However, Ramaik still maintained a witty expression, underestimating the abilities of the petite woman with a sullen expression.

“Two!”

Angelina slowly reached into her pocket and gripped a blowgun. Her eyes scanned Ramaik’s left shoulder while she shifted into position.

“Ramaik! Weigh in! Now!”

Angelina pointed at the scale with her left hand. She brought the blowgun to her lips when Ramaik turned his head for a moment to follow the movement of her hand as she exclaimed one last time.

“Three!”

An anesthetic needle slid from the blowgun. It pierced Ramaik’s shoulder as he let his guard down. The creature’s eyes widened in surprise. He let out a short-lived roar before Staggering and falling.

“I didn’t expect you to be such a good shot,” Nixon whistled, though Angelina was far from impressed. She washed her hands in the sink and headed toward the cell, carrying a medical kit.

“Mr. Nixon, open the door. I need to inject vitamins and check his health.”

“Do I need to bring animal scales, Doctor?” asked Nixon as he walked towards the cage. He pressed his thumb on the switch and let Angelina into it.

“No need. I believe the result is the same as before,” Angelina said as she squatted beside the purring naughty cat while donning her gloves. “Besides, there’s not enough time. I don’t want him to be late for practice.”

“Wise thinking, Doctor,” Nixon praised. “But for the next time, I suggest you stop wasting time and simply sedate the animal.”