“Professor Yoon? Is he badly hurt?”
Yoon Min-ho, whose eyes had widened in surprise, wiped his face as if washing it.
“They say he’s conscious, but I need to go check. Whatever happens, don’t leave the house and don’t open the door for anyone.”
“I’ll go with you to the hospital…!”
Haram, hurrying towards Yoon Min-ho, urgently spoke as he grabbed the car keys. He couldn’t just sit still when the landlord, Professor Yoon, had been in a car accident.
After a moment of hesitation, Yoon Min-ho nodded. It seemed better to stay in the crowded hospital than to leave him alone.
Haram quickly stuffed his feet into his shoes and followed behind Yoon Min-ho, who was already heading out.
***
At the hospital, Professor Yoon had entered surgery for fractures to his leg and ribs. The driver who caused the accident came to apologize, but his calm demeanor, with not even a scratch on his face, irritated Yoon Min-ho. His apology, citing poor driving skills, was enough to make even Haram clench his fists.
“Haah…”
Following Yoon Min-ho through the hospital, running around here and there to handle things, Haram felt his energy drain. Sitting absentmindedly in the waiting area outside the operating room, he let out a heavy sigh. The professor was conscious, and the doctors were confident his leg would heal quickly, but Haram couldn’t shake his worry.
“There’s a VIP room. I’ll have you transferred there.”
Yoon Min-ho, having finished talking with the insurance people, spoke to Haram.
“Oh, no need. I’m fine here.”
The waiting room was empty, either because it was late or no other emergency surgeries were taking place, so there wasn’t much discomfort from the lack of people.
“I’m just being cautious. The guards will be here soon, so please stay in the room.”
Seeing how tired Yoon Min-ho looked, Haram slowly nodded. He got up, still worried about the operating room, and was about to move when a nurse’s voice rang out.
“Yoon Ji-hyuk’s family member?”
Haram turned his head, feeling tense, and Yoon Min-ho quickly excused himself to speak with the nurse. Haram stood still, waiting by the elevator, but suddenly a woman walked toward him, holding his tail close to his body as her eyes darted suspiciously. Was she coming toward him? Did she need something?
“Excuse me, I need to go to Building 3, but will this elevator take me there?”
The woman, looking embarrassed, asked for directions.
“Ah… I’m not sure, but let me check.”
Being in a huge hospital, Haram didn’t know the layout well either. He examined the hospital map attached next to the elevator, but the woman stayed uncomfortably close to him.
“I… I don’t really know. You should ask someone else.”
Feeling uncomfortable talking so closely to a stranger, Haram took a step away from her. However, she glanced at the elevator and quickly moved closer again.
“Excuse me… I think I’ll go with my group now.”
Trying to slip away, Haram was suddenly shoved roughly in the back by the woman. Before he could react, he was pushed into the elevator, barely able to stop himself from falling. As he was about to scream, everything went black.
***
“Click…”
Before he could even open his eyes, a sharp headache hit him. Groaning, he held his head with both hands, sniffing the unfamiliar smell around him. He slowly blinked his eyes several times, trying to focus.
“Chiii…”
Am I in a prison?
The metal bars that filled his vision were enough to panic Haram. In the dim light, he quickly looked around to understand where he was. Beyond the bars, he could smell dust and cobwebs. The faint light filtering through a vent illuminated the small, musty space.
Haram’s heart raced, and he realized he was trapped in a birdcage. The small, round cage was piled high on boxes, almost like a prison. His head spinning, he tried to remember how he ended up in such a place. He froze when he heard footsteps approaching.
It wasn’t just one person. Ears twitching, Haram pressed his back against the cold metal bars, trying to ignore the frantic pounding of his heart as he watched the door. When it opened, bright light poured into the dark space.
The men who entered smelled strange to Haram. One of them, covering his nose with a handkerchief, looked displeased by the dirty, dusty environment.
“Is this him?”
The man with the handkerchief asked, eyeing Haram, who looked terrified. The silver-haired man behind him nodded.
“Yes, that’s him.”
“Chh… Chh…”
Please let me out…!
Seeing the silver-haired man confirmed it—he was another Sky Squirrel Beastfolk. Haram’s plea was silent, but his eyes desperately begged for help.
However, the only response he got was a cold look. The silver-haired man spoke briefly to the one with the handkerchief.
“He wants out.”
It was a fellow Sky Squirrel Beastfolk, Haram realized. Sky Squirrel Beastfolk were rare, and he had met two others in Seoul, including the kind-hearted Da In-ho. But this man felt nothing like Da In-ho.
“Chii… Chiii…”
Why are you doing this to me?
Haram couldn’t understand. He had never done anything to harm a fellow Sky Squirrel. Why was he being locked in this tiny cage? This was clearly abduction and confinement.
After a brief silence, the man dropped the handkerchief to the ground and stared at Haram intently. Despite how small and weak Haram seemed, the man couldn’t understand why Kang Tae-yi was so fixated on him.
“Chii…”
Let me go…
Haram trembled under the man’s cold gaze, a quiet sob escaping him.
“I’ve been wanting to meet you, Da Haram. My name is Kang Tae-jin. Oh, should I introduce myself as Tae-yi’s older brother?”
Kang Tae-jin, greeting him in a strangely formal manner, fixed his gaze on Haram, who was shivering at the back of the cage. Kang Tae-jin had made sure to keep the rat hidden until his brother’s business trip. Now, Haram had to use his wits too.
“Chh… Chh!”
You criminal…!
Haram could barely speak, his fists clenched as he shouted at the man. This was the man who hurt Tae-yi, disrupted their peaceful village, and most of all, ruined his peanut field. Now, he had kidnapped and confined him too.
“Chii, chii!”
You’re really evil!
The more he thought about it, the angrier he became. His frustration was on the verge of exploding. He didn’t want to tremble in front of such a villain. With his body tensed, Haram lifted his tail high, glaring fiercely at Kang Tae-jin.
Chirp, click, chii—
Haram’s cries echoed throughout the small space, all directed at Kang Tae-jin.
The silver-haired Sky Squirrel translated Haram’s words and relayed them mechanically to Kang Tae-jin. When Kang Tae-jin heard Haram’s words, he laughed in disbelief.
“I’ve had my share of things go wrong because of you.”
He had saved Tae-yi, who would’ve died if left alone, and dragged out the negotiations to prevent the land sale. But it was all for this small, insignificant rat. Despite learning the truth about Tae-yi, he still couldn’t understand why Haram stayed by his side.
Kang Tae-jin’s chilling eyes bored into Haram as the latter stood unsteadily, shaking with fear, and shouted.
“Chii, chii!”
Let me go now…!
It was clear—he wanted to hurt Tae-yi, and there was no doubt in Haram’s mind that he was behind all of this. Despite being Tae-yi’s older brother, this man was as cruel as could be.
His appearance, with dark, black hair, didn’t even resemble Tae-yi’s. His sharp eyes suggested a cunning personality, and his face was twisted with bitterness. Haram couldn’t believe they were brothers. There had to be a secret about his birth.
“Chick, chick!”
As Haram repeated his plea to be freed, Kang Tae-jin simply stared, then tapped the cage with his hand.
The metal bars creaked loudly as they shifted. Haram, knocked to the floor, groaned from the impact.
“Stay quietly in there for now, and I’ll let you out. Though I’m sure you won’t have a choice.”
After saying that, Kang Tae-jin quickly left the room, as if he couldn’t stand being in the filthy warehouse any longer.
“Chii, chii…”
Another figure, with silvery hair, closed the door behind him. Haram, desperate for help, looked at the Sky Squirrel Beastfolk, but he just walked away, leaving him alone in the cage.
Theyre so careless and stupid