“Hey, I’m fine.”
“You’ll trip if you’re not careful. Watch where you’re walking.”
He tried to shove him away, but was easily overpowered. With his body in such poor condition, he couldn’t even put up a proper struggle, so Go Hoon quickly gave up on breaking free from Bae Jung-yoon’s grasp. Jung-yoon, matching Hoon’s pace, leaned in and murmured low.
“I told you—I’ll walk you all the way home.”
Go Hoon frowned, shaking his head.
“Don’t bother. Just having to rely on you like this is already more than enough shame for one day.”
“What’s wrong with leaning on someone a little? That’s what friends are for.”
He turned those words over in his head.
Friends.
For some reason, the word stuck in his chest like a lump. Do you really see me as a friend? The question crept in, but he had no reply, so he walked on silently.
Jung-yoon opened the passenger-side door, helped him into the seat, and even took the time to fasten his seatbelt with careful hands.
“Nothing hurts, right?”
“Yeah. I’m fine.”
Only after hearing the answer did Bae Jung-yoon shut the door. After dropping Hoon’s bags in the backseat, he climbed into the driver’s seat.
Go Hoon slumped back into the seat, scratching his cheek. After all that stubbornness, seeing him again just a few hours later left him feeling sheepish.
In contrast, Bae Jung-yoon seemed quietly pleased. After fastening his seatbelt, he glanced over with a soft smile.
“How’s the pain?”
“I took painkillers after eating, so it’s fine.”
Jung-yoon nodded without a word, shifted gears, and the car began to move.
***
The entire ride up in the elevator, he wrestled with himself.
Should I just turn around and go home? This really feels like I’m being a burden to Bae Jung-yoon. Didn’t I promise myself I’d never set foot in his place again of my own accord?
No—how am I supposed to manage on my own right now? It’s not like I have anyone else to ask for help. Pride won’t get me anywhere. I just need to survive first.
He could always repay Jung-yoon later—maybe with money, or by treating him to a nice dinner.
Countless thoughts whirled through his head. And yet, his legs faithfully followed Jung-yoon all the way. At the door, Jung-yoon unlocked the smart lock, held the handle, and looked back at Hoon.
“Come in.”
It had only been a few days since he saw Jung-yoon and Kang Soo-yeon together in this very spot. He thought that would be the last time he ever came here. Funny how things turn out.
Wrestling with tangled thoughts, Go Hoon stepped inside. The door clicked shut behind him with a solid clack. It already felt too late to turn back.
He looked around the apartment, feeling awkward. The familiar scent reached his nose. Everything looked the same—and yet strangely unfamiliar.
Maybe because it was the first time he was really seeing the place from a human’s point of view. He’d spent a brief time in human form before, but he’d been so focused on escaping the apartment that he hadn’t even glanced around properly.
His gaze settled on the untouched cat supplies. No one had used them in ages, but there wasn’t a speck of dust—everything looked freshly cleaned, as if wiped down every day.
The memories of living here came flooding back.
Back then, everything had felt enormous. But now, seen through human eyes, everything looked small. Is this what it feels like when you look back at the clothes and toys you used as a baby?
Some things were new—things he hadn’t seen before. The wall-length bookshelf was gone, replaced with wooden shelving. A scratcher mat had been fixed to the floor—another thing clearly meant for a cat.
How long does he plan on leaving it all like this? He doesn’t seem like he’s planning to get a new cat. So why hang on to everything?
A desire to crack open Bae Jung-yoon’s thoughts and dig through them surged up—but of course, that wasn’t possible.
Go Hoon quietly looked away. Jung-yoon, who had set down Hoon’s bags on the couch, turned around and let out a soft chuckle.
“What’s so funny?”
He asked, suspicious. Jung-yoon responded gently.
“You just look cute standing there all stiff like that.”
Go Hoon immediately scowled. He knew full well he wasn’t the “cute” type, so there was no way he could take that as a compliment. But Bae Jung-yoon didn’t seem fazed by the sour look, and offered casually,
“Want to wash up?”
He froze without meaning to. He’d already eaten, and all that was left was to wash up and sleep—but he couldn’t bring himself to say yes.
His body was in such rough shape that even simple things weren’t easy.
When was it that he’d sworn never to rely on Bae Jung-yoon again? And yet here he was, a patient needing to ask for care. Suddenly, that same wave of disillusionment he used to feel during his cat days came crashing down again.
“I do need to wash up, but…”
Unable to bring himself to ask for help, Go Hoon let his words trail off. Bae Jung-yoon’s gaze slowly drifted from his arms down to his legs.
“Ah, so I will need to help you wash.”
There was a subtle trace of eagerness in his soft voice.
…Is this bastard actually glad I’m hurt?
He hadn’t forgotten how worried Jung-yoon looked at the ER. But right now, the emotion coming off him felt less like concern and more like… amusement.
“You’ll need a toothbrush, right?”
Just as doubt began to stir, Jung-yoon spoke up again.
“No. I brought the one I’ve been using. It’s in my bag.”
Go Hoon walked over to the couch and reached for his bag. His injured palm throbbed as he tried to pull the zipper slowly, but it wouldn’t budge. After silently watching from the side, Jung-yoon finally stepped in.
“I’ll do it.”
Go Hoon stepped back, looking sheepish. Jung-yoon unzipped the bag with ease, pulled out a plastic pouch with the toothbrush inside, and turned to him.
“Come on.”
Quietly, Go Hoon followed him into the bathroom. Jung-yoon, barefoot, stepped inside first and motioned to the edge of the bathtub with a nod.
“Put on your slippers and sit here.”
Go Hoon did as told, stretching out his legs as he sat on the rim of the tub. Meanwhile, Jung-yoon squeezed toothpaste onto the toothbrush, then held it out with a teasing smile.
“Want hyung to brush your teeth for you, Hoonie?”
The baby-talk tone, like something from a preschool teacher, made it obvious he was mocking him.
“Yeah, no thanks.”
Go Hoon snatched the toothbrush from his hand and stuck it in his mouth with a bite of irritation. Jung-yoon chuckled at the reaction.
And he didn’t stop laughing. What the hell was so funny? Go Hoon threw him a flat look and began brushing slowly.
Apparently deciding there was no point in just standing around, Jung-yoon grabbed his own toothbrush and started brushing too.
While the two of them brushed in silence, their gazes kept locking.
Go Hoon refused to look away. If Jung-yoon was going to stare at him, he’d stare right back. Those dark eyes tracking his every move—he met them without flinching. Looking away first felt like losing.
But the staring contest didn’t last long. Awkwardness started to creep in.
Why is he looking at me like that?
Once he became aware of the persistent gaze on his face, even something as ordinary as brushing his teeth started to feel weird and stiff.
His hand moved slower. His mouth filled with foam and saliva. Bracing himself on the sink, he spat into it. As he turned on the faucet, the rushing water carried the white suds away.
Watching from the side, Jung-yoon silently handed him a rinsing cup.
“…Thanks.”
Go Hoon muttered, filled the cup with water, and rinsed a couple of times. After placing the cleaned toothbrush on the sink, he noticed Jung-yoon had also finished brushing.
Not wanting to just stand there like an idiot, Go Hoon sat back on the edge of the tub. He wiped the water from his lips with the back of his hand. Jung-yoon looked over at him, still seated.
“Want help washing your face?”
“No. I’ve got it.”
He shook his head firmly. Jung-yoon glanced down at his injured hands and back up again.
“Doesn’t look like it.”
The remark was subtle, but it pushed all the right buttons.
Without replying, Go Hoon stood and turned on the faucet. He began washing his face with one hand.
Because of the wound on his palm, he couldn’t cup the water. All he could do was dab at his face with damp fingertips. It was hardly effective—more like pretending than actually washing.
If even one hand were fine, I could manage…
Frustrated with his helplessness, he clicked his tongue.
“Is that how a cat washes its face?”
The grin in Jung-yoon’s voice made it worse. Embarrassed, Go Hoon kept going like a stubborn child refusing help.
But it must’ve looked pathetic in Jung-yoon’s eyes. Without warning, he reached into the stream and began washing Go Hoon’s face for him.
“Hey, what are you doing?”
“Hold still. I’m helping.”
“I said I can do it myself.”
When Go Hoon tried to pull back, a large hand grabbed the nape of his neck and held him in place.
“Let hyung handle it. Just close your eyes tight, Hoonie.”
The words had barely left his mouth when he splashed water onto Go Hoon’s face, forcing him to squeeze his eyes shut. Thankfully, instinct kicked in, and he held his breath before water could rush up his nose.
Caught off guard, Go Hoon clung to the sink, frozen in place.
Once he stopped struggling, Jung-yoon’s touch turned gentle. He carefully wetted his face, then worked up a lather with cleansing foam and massaged it into his skin.
With no sight and no chance to speak, every nerve in his body went on high alert. The soft touch of Jung-yoon’s fingertips against his skin felt strangely amplified.
“Okay. You can open your eyes now.”
Jung-yoon rinsed the foam from his face thoroughly before giving the cue.
Go Hoon cautiously opened his eyes. Water clung to his lashes, and a droplet slipped into his eye, making him wince. Jung-yoon brushed the moisture away with his thumb.
As the sting faded and his vision cleared, he saw Jung-yoon’s face—clean, close, and without a single blemish.
“How is it? Eyes stinging at all?”
Go Hoon stared at him for a moment, reading the sincerity in his gaze, then gave a small nod.
“No. I’m okay.”
He felt like a kid again.
“Hand me a towel.”
Taking one from the cabinet, he thoroughly dried his face. How long am I going to need help like this?
He let out a quiet sigh—only to freeze as Jung-yoon suddenly pulled off his shirt. His toned body, hidden until now, was suddenly in full view. Go Hoon’s eyes lingered involuntarily on the broad, firm chest.
Wait. What the hell am I doing?
“…What are you doing?”
He asked, flustered. Jung-yoon responded without a hint of shame.
“Taking a shower.”
Tossing the shirt outside the bathroom, he looked back at Hoon and curved his lips into a mischievous grin.
“Wanna join me, Hoon-ah?”
