“Sniff, ngh…!”
It’s so unfair! Unable to hold it in any longer, Eunho ran into the house. Seeing the rabbit sprinting while dripping water everywhere, Younguk grabbed a towel.
“You need to dry your fur first!”
That wasn’t what mattered right now. Squeezing his head through the small gap in the door, Eunho quickly climbed onto Yi-beom’s bed. Then, as if he wanted to bite Yi-beom to pieces, he kicked hard with his hind legs.
Thump-thump-thump! The sound of blankets being kicked echoed through the room. Younguk tried to stop him when he followed inside, but no one could halt an angry rabbit.
How could Ahjussi do this!
Hiss, hiss!
How could you do this to me!
He kicked his hind legs as if he were trying to dig a burrow. Even that didn’t ease his anger, so Eunho launched himself toward the pillow. He clamped his teeth down hard on the pillow thick with Yi-beom’s scent.
With rice-grain-sized teeth, he chewed fiercely. Tiny as they were, they worked diligently up and down, and before long holes began to appear in the pillow. In an instant, feathers piled up all over Yi-beom’s bed.
I ran away, sure! But you went and kissed someone else!?
I’m trying to have your baby here, Ahjussi!
His furious biting continued. Before Yi-beom returned, Eunho had turned Yi-beom’s room, the living room, and even the small garden by the pool into a complete mess. He dug up the ground, scattered feathers everywhere, and tore apart the sofa. Sadly, neither the crow nor the dog could stop the enraged rabbit.
***
Shamelessly, Yi-beom came into the house together with that woman.
As if kissing her wasn’t enough, he even brought her into the space they lived in. Curled up on the torn sofa, Eunho glared at Yi-beom. Su-hee and Yi-beom, who hadn’t noticed Eunho yet, stopped mid-step and looked around the house.
“What happened to this place?”
Catching feathers drifting through the air, Su-hee spoke.
“Are you running a chicken farm or something? And what’s with this weird hobby?”
Ignoring her, Yi-beom scanned the surroundings. There was only one person who could’ve done this. After a brief silence, he walked ahead into the living room.
The living room was even worse. The sofa had been completely ripped apart, and the wallpaper and door frames looked worn down like they’d aged ten years.
“What’s wrong with the door too?”
Following her gaze, Yi-beom turned his head and saw his own room door. A round hole had been carved into the bottom—just big enough for a rabbit to pass through.
Even if he closed the door now, Eunho would still be able to get inside. Letting out a hollow laugh, Yi-beom slowly looked at the sofa.
“You…”
Before he could finish, Su-hee—who had approached without him noticing—threw herself onto the sofa.
“What is this… so cute!”
Before Eunho could run away, Su-hee hugged him tightly. As the small, precious rabbit squirmed, she tightened her arms.
There’s something this cute in Kwon Yi-beom’s house?! No way that guy raised it—maybe that lover of his did? Never once imagining he was a Beastman, she buried her face into the rabbit. Sniff sniff. As she inhaled deeply against his fluffy belly, the rabbit froze stiff.
“Aaaah! That toasty smell!”
Right into the arms of his lover’s cheating partner—Eunho had fallen victim.
***
His legs went rigid. His body tensed, fur standing on end. The moment he realized she was a tiger, instinctively he couldn’t move at all. Like he was broken, he could only stretch out his short legs stiffly.
It felt similar to the first time he’d met Yi-beom after the world became one of Beastmen. His heart pounded like he needed to run outside immediately, alarms ringing in his head.
I-I need to tell her to let go…
But he couldn’t just run off and leave her alone with Ahjussi either. Rolling his eyes around anxiously, Eunho finally steeled himself.
Looking up at Su-hee, he hesitantly lifted one leg. Then, rubbing his face in a small circle, he whispered,
“N-nyaang.”
Su-hee, who had been blowing air against his belly, and Yi-beom, who had been watching the two of them, both froze. W-was that not right? Eunho inhaled sharply. Su-hee blinked, looking utterly disbelieving.
“D-did… that just…”
“……”
“Did that sound come from a baby?”
“……”
“I’ve never heard a rabbit cry before! Holy shit, that’s too cute.”
Who are you calling a baby? Yi-beom’s face hardened as he snatched Eunho out of her arms.
“Ah, why!”
Su-hee reached out quickly, but Yi-beom already held Eunho tightly, as if he had no intention of letting anyone else have him.
Kwon Su-hee, blowing raspberries on the rabbit’s belly just because she found him cute, and Jung Eunho, shamelessly pretending to be a rabbit—both were equally absurd to Yi-beom. When Yi-beom looked down, Eunho wriggled and hid his face inside his arm.
“Hah.”
His acting skills had really improved.
Holding Eunho firmly so he couldn’t escape, Yi-beom looked around. There wasn’t a single place left intact. Feathers still floated in the air, and the sofa, table, kitchen chairs—everything was scratched or torn somewhere.
Yi-beom could no longer even guess what emotional shift had caused this.
He seemed fine for the past few days.
While staying shut inside his room, Yi-beom had watched Eunho through the security cameras. Swimming, eating well, laughing and chatting with the others—and secretly feeling a little hurt seeing it all. Remembering the laughter drifting in through the window made his nerves sharpen again.
“Ah, come on! Let me touch it!”
Su-hee jumped up and reached toward Yi-beom. In that instant, he shielded Eunho with both arms so she couldn’t see him and stepped back.
“No. He’s our house rabbit.”
“That’s so petty!”
Right in front of her, Yi-beom stroked Eunho’s head.
“If you’re jealous, go raise a rabbit yourself.”
That bastard, seriously. Su-hee clenched and unclenched her fists, still feeling the phantom softness of the rabbit she’d held moments ago. Ah, she really wanted to grab him and squeeze him again. Staring at the unbearably cute rabbit, she licked her lips.
Her gaze lifted upward. With the larger-than-average Kwon Yi-beom holding the rabbit, it looked like he’d kidnapped it.
“Nope. Kwon Yi-beom kidnapped him from me. That little cutie.”
As if her words weren’t even worth a response, Yi-beom crossed his arms. The rabbit squirmed and rested his head against his thick forearm. Gasp—Su-hee inhaled sharply at the cuteness. Yi-beom immediately turned his body the other way.
“Don’t stare. He’ll wear out.”
“Ah, you crazy bastard…”
The corner of his mouth crooked upward.
“It’s not like you didn’t know.”
Holding the rabbit, Yi-beom walked into the room. A breathy laugh escaped his lips.
“This place is even worse.”
Footprints were stamped across every blanket, and from the pillows to the comforter everything was frayed and rolling around the floor. From within his arms, Eunho glanced up at him.
Yi-beom set him down on the one blanket that was still somewhat intact. With softer eyes than before, Eunho looked up at him.
Ahjussi protected me…!
From the moment Yi-beom picked him up away from the tiger Beastman, Eunho’s heart had begun to soften. The words “our house rabbit” wiped away his tears, and “don’t stare” eased his hurt feelings.
Did I see wrong earlier? Holding onto a small sliver of hope, Eunho slowly crawled toward him. Then, nom, he grabbed the hem of Yi-beom’s clothes.
“Ahjussi.”
“…The reason the house ended up like this.”
Yi-beom pulled his clothes away from Eunho.
“Have you finally made up your mind?”
“……”
“Do you want to break up with me, or have you decided to go through with the surgery?”
“……”
“Whichever it is, just choose. I’ll grant it.”
At the cold voice, Eunho lowered his head deeply. Just moments ago, it had felt like things had gone back to how they used to be. Remembering his gentle touch made tears threaten to spill again.
He just wanted to stay by Ahjussi’s side. That was all…
Staring down at the blanket, Eunho finally met his eyes. Yi-beom still looked exactly the way Eunho loved—the hardened expression, the tightly set jaw, everything.
“…So… you found yourself a new lover too?”
Even saying the word lover felt heavy. Pressing a small paw against his chest, Eunho continued, his voice trembling as if it might snap.
“Are you trying to break up with me?”
No answer came. Yi-beom furrowed his brow as if deep in thought, then pressed his lips shut. His jawline sharpened as he clenched his teeth.
Yi-beom’s eyes turned a vivid yellow. The instinct to pin him down and sink his teeth into his neck flickered inside them. Flinch—Eunho’s body trembled. He had seen those eyes change many times before, but this was the first time he truly felt like Yi-beom was hunting.
Did he dislike hearing the word break up from Eunho’s mouth? Eunho couldn’t read his feelings either. After staring at him for a long time, Yi-beom finally turned away. His footsteps led into the living room. Only after he disappeared did Eunho manage to breathe out.
“Hoo…”
Eunho, who had been holding himself upright, flopped backward onto the bed.
“…This is hard.”
Now even Eunho felt confused. When he first saw the kiss, he’d been certain Yi-beom was doing it on purpose—but now he wasn’t sure anymore.
No!
Sitting up, Eunho whipped his head toward the living room.
“Still, I can’t break up. I won’t!”
He hardened his resolve again. Even if Yi-beom really had taken a new lover, it didn’t matter. Until his feelings for Yi-beom disappeared, he planned to stay here, stuck fast.
Hiss, hiss—threatening breaths escaped the excited Eunho.
Just wait.
For the first time in his life, Eunho vowed revenge.
***
Yi-beom set the documents he’d been reviewing down on the table. Looking tired, he pressed a hand to his forehead and turned his head. Outside, it had long since grown dark.
