There is no English equivalent for the word “manja”, is there? “Affectionate” is the closest I can find, but it doesn’t quite cut it. Google Translate says it’s “spoiled”, but it isn’t that either.
So, “manja” is “manja” and if you are Malaysian, you know what it means!
This morning, the tide turned. For some reason, Creamy is afraid of Gerald now.
Both of them came bounding towards me when I brought food out to the porch, but only Gerald ate. When I brought Creamy’s food out, he had already gone to the gate and even though I served him at the gate, he went away and didn’t eat.
Gerald was happily polishing up his plate near the front door.
Then, I had to go out and as I was driving out, I saw that Creamy had come back (Gerald had already gone by then) and was waiting at the door. So I texted husband to feed Creamy. He prepared the food and gave it to Creamy.
But when I returned home one-and-a-half hours later, Creamy was still waiting for me. So I texted to ask husband (who had gone out by then) and he said Creamy did not want to eat anything.
Okay, I’ll feed you, Creamy.
And he ate! He just wanted to be fed by me. Now, if that’s not “manja”, how do you describe it?
This means I cannot “afford” to be sick or to be away! And cats are just so patient, aren’t they? Creamy waited for one-and-a-half hours just for me to come home to feed him his snack.
After Creamy had gone home, Gerald came back. How I wish Gerald did not roam. He has the whole porch to himself and he’d be safe inside our porch.
But he is a roamer and will not be happy if he is not allowed to roam.
What’s more important? Safety or happiness?