Go Hoon, of course, scoffed. As if he’d come running just because of a measly bowl of cat food. Sure, he was hungry. Everyone knows that the day after drinking, the hunger hits harder than usual.
But still, as a human being with dignity, there was no way he was going to eat cat food.
Honestly, more than the hunger, it was the thirst that was tormenting him. His throat was parched. After drowning his system in alcohol last night, it was only natural his body had dried up like a desert.
“If you don’t want the food, do you at least want some water?”
Right on cue, Bae Jung-yoon held out a small water bowl he’d brought along. Go Hoon’s bright blue eyes locked onto it. He wanted to drink that cold water so badly. He felt like he was going to die of thirst. Unconsciously, he licked his lips.
Unable to resist the overwhelming thirst, Go Hoon cautiously got up and approached. He could feel Bae Jung-yoon’s gaze tracking his every careful movement with unsettling precision.
Hoon positioned himself in front of the water bowl. How the hell am I supposed to drink this? Hesitating for a moment, he flicked out his tongue. As the cool water moistened his dry tongue, the quiet room filled only with the sound of delicate slurping.
It was frustrating not to be able to drink the way he used to—by gulping it down with his hands—but he endured. Even drinking like this was a blessing. After several minutes of licking, the thirst that had been clawing at him up to the crown of his head finally began to subside.
“Where did you come from?”
Bae Jung-yoon whispered in a low voice, gazing at him with pitch-black eyes. Hoon cautiously stepped back. Then Jung-yoon slowly reached out his hand.
There was no longer any malicious intent behind the interest directed at him—that much was clear now. While he hesitated, debating whether to retreat further, the tentative hand made contact. Go Hoon reflexively flinched and crouched low.
Every nerve in his body stood on end, amplifying the warmth of the touch. His jet-black pupils widened dramatically as he stared up at Jung-yoon.
The hand was gentler and softer than he’d expected. Jung-yoon didn’t do anything else—he just quietly stroked the back of Hoon’s neck. Bit by bit, the tension in his stiffened back began to ease.
“I picked you up, didn’t I?”
Jung-yoon murmured in a languid tone.
“Wanna live with me?”
He seemed to have taken quite a liking to this little furball of a cat. But there was no way that was going to happen. Go Hoon had to get back to his human form and return home as soon as possible.
“If we’re going to live together, you’ll need a name.”
He hadn’t given any answer—not that he could—but Bae Jung-yoon went ahead and decided on his own anyway. It was clear he didn’t care about the cat’s opinion. Flattened under the weight of Jung-yoon’s petting, Go Hoon could only roll his eyes upward to glare at him.
“Meow. Meow.”
“Hmm, your name…”
Excuse me? I told you I’m not planning to live with you. Once again, Jung-yoon interpreted Hoon’s protest however he pleased. He stared at the fluffy-coated cat with a thoughtful look. His pitch-black eyes scanned Go Hoon’s fur, a blend of pure white and soft gray.
“Kkongddeok-i. How about Kkongddeok-i?”
Go Hoon couldn’t believe his ears. Kkongddeok-i? That’s absurdly tacky. He frowned, but it seemed his face didn’t quite express it. When their eyes met, Bae Jung-yoon pulled his lips into a wide, satisfied smile.
“Meooow.”
“You like it too?”
No. I hate it, you bastard. The hand that had been stroking his head slid down like a snake slipping over a wall, now caressing under his chin. I said I don’t like it… Yet the gentle touch made his body melt with a fuzzy warmth.
“Kkongddeok-ah.”
And besides, how could he possibly swat that softly smiling face—well, paw-swat it, anyway.
***
Even after that, Bae Jung-yoon brought the food bowl over several more times, but Go Hoon stubbornly refused to touch it.
No matter how good it might’ve smelled, some lines just couldn’t be crossed. Eating cat food was out of the question. This was a matter of human rights—absolutely non-negotiable.
“I’ll just leave this here, so eat it if you get hungry.”
Jung-yoon seemed to conclude that Go Hoon’s picky behavior stemmed from not having adjusted to the unfamiliar environment. Deciding to give him some space, he stopped bothering him altogether.
But while he physically gave him space, the obsessive gaze still clung to him like static. Does that guy not go out or what?
Maybe he didn’t have classes today, but did he not have any personal plans? Not even a part-time job? Go Hoon secretly wished for Jung-yoon to disappear from sight, but it seemed the man had zero intention of going out today.
After a long stretch of cautious observation, Go Hoon finally decided to move around as he pleased, regardless of who was watching. His resolve was firm—though his actual movements remained exceedingly careful.
Keeping low to the ground, he slipped out of the master bathroom and cautiously scanned the room. The bedroom looked just the same as before—except for the fact that Bae Jung-yoon had settled in front of his laptop.
He was staring at the screen with intense focus. Curious about what he was doing, Go Hoon crept closer to take a peek.
It looked like he was searching for information about cats online.
Go Hoon quickly backed away before Bae Jung-yoon could notice how close he’d gotten. Tearing his gaze from him, he scanned the surroundings—until his eyes landed on something.
An open door. The one that had been closed earlier.
He lingered at the threshold where the living room met the hallway, and just then, he felt Jung-yoon’s glance flicker toward him as the mouse clicked softly. Go Hoon ignored him and cautiously peeked his head into the living room.
Start with what he could do right now. He figured it was best to begin by getting a grasp on the layout of the place.
One wall of the living room was completely filled with a massive bookshelf made of a combination of wood and metal at varying heights, neatly lined with books and decorative items. In front of it sat an L-shaped sofa facing a TV, with a clean, modern table in the middle. The floor was partially covered by a plush, deep green rug.
It was a layout with a spacious master bedroom, a slightly smaller room, the living room, the kitchen, and a dressing room. After finishing his tour, Go Hoon’s impression was simple: This place is really nice.
It wasn’t even comparable to his own studio apartment. The entire size of his place probably matched just the living room here. He couldn’t help but gape at the dressing room in particular, where various watches and hats were arranged like display pieces atop glass showcases.
They were the same age, and yet their circumstances were worlds apart. The thought left a bitter aftertaste as he ambled back toward the living room.
Go Hoon plopped his rear down right in front of the front door. Jung-yoon, who had followed him to the living room and was now seated on the sofa, stared at the back of his head with scorching intensity, but he ignored it and kept his eyes on the solid metal door.
Could he actually open that thing and leave? But even if he did—what the hell could he possibly do in this state?
The world was already hard enough for humans. What about for a speechless animal? Obviously, it would be even crueler and more unforgiving.
Running out of the house right now would be reckless. It was better to stay here and hold out until he could turn back into a human. After some deep thinking, Go Hoon reached a realistic conclusion.
Having collected his thoughts, he sprang to his feet and padded over to the sofa. Jung-yoon’s watchful gaze pierced his face, but Go Hoon ignored it and leapt lightly onto the couch, settling into place.
And then came the agonizing deliberation: What the hell should I do now?
The first thing that came to mind was his part-time job. He was supposed to head to the factory this afternoon, but in this stupid body, there was no sign of turning back into a human anytime soon.
What on earth had happened after he passed out drunk? If only he could remember the events, maybe he’d have a clue. But nothing came to mind.
Stuck between action and inaction, tormenting himself with useless thoughts, night eventually crept in. As evening came, Bae Jung-yoon prepared dinner. He moved with practiced ease, clearly accustomed to eating alone.
Go Hoon’s eyes were fixed on Jung-yoon, now seated at the table after setting everything out. His nostrils flared instinctively.
One of the side dishes was definitely grilled fish. The savory yet slightly pungent aroma stabbed into his nose.
He was starving. The food he’d had late last night had already been vomited up, and even if some had miraculously stayed down, it would’ve long been digested by now. His stomach let out a loud, complaining growl.
In the end, unable to resist, Go Hoon carefully crept toward the kitchen. Stopping in front of the dining chair, he hopped up. The delicious scent became all the more vivid.
The moment he lifted his head over the edge of the table, his eyes met Jung-yoon’s. He was chewing quietly, looking right at him.
‘Even his chewing looks handsome,’ Go Hoon thought with a scoff, glaring at the man across the table, who was calmly eating with graceful composure.
Still, after staring at him with this much desperation, shouldn’t the guy at least toss him a piece of grilled fish out of pity? Narrowing his eyes, he kept the gaze locked. But Jung-yoon’s expression didn’t change in the slightest—he just stared back.
‘What a cold-hearted bastard.’
When Go Hoon reached his limit, he stretched out a snow-white paw toward the fish. At that moment, he heard a sharp inhale across the table.
“You shouldn’t just snatch food meant for people.”
As if that weren’t enough, Jung-yoon even dragged the plate out of reach.
But Go Hoon wasn’t the type to give up.
“Mrrreowww─!”
He cried out in protest. He couldn’t accept what Jung-yoon had just said. If a human could eat it, then a cat could eat it too! What’s there to be picky about?
