This was already his third visit. Go Hoon wandered diligently around the now-familiar veterinary clinic lobby.
He stood by the treat display, sniffing around as if drawn there by instinct. Just then, Yoon Yeon-seo, who had been seated at the front desk, quietly approached him.
“Paw.”
“Meow.”
“Good. Now, the other paw.”
“Meow.”
What began as a playful command, Go Hoon responded to by placing his fluffy front paw in her hand. After that, he went through an entire routine—back paws, spin, bang, nose touch—showing off a full array of tricks.
“Wow, he’s super smart. Gosh, you’re adorable. Here, have a treat.”
As usual, Yoon Yeon-seo, full of cheerful energy, placed a salmon treat onto her palm. Go Hoon didn’t hesitate and quickly popped it into his mouth—internally cursing this cruel world where you had to perform tricks just to earn a single snack.
That should be enough to leave a good impression. One thing he’d naturally learned through a rough life was that it’s always smart to have at least one person on your side, no matter where you are. It was a kind of survival strategy. You never know when you might need help.
Well, he wouldn’t deny that about 50% of the reason was because Yoon Yeon-seo had a pretty face. Go Hoon was, after all, a man. It was simply the way of things. Being drawn to a beautiful woman was nature’s rule, or perhaps destiny.
“How does Kkongddeok-i understand human speech so well? I swear, he’s a genius cat.”
“You think so?”
“Absolutely. Hmm… Maybe it’s because his owner gives him so much love.”
Although her romantic interest seemed squarely aimed at Bae Jung-yoon. Yeon-seo, who had been looking at Jung-yoon with a shy smile, turned her attention back to him and asked for a high five this time.
“Meow.”
Fine. This is really the last time. Go Hoon indulgently raised his paw to her palm. She squealed with delight at how cute he was.
Having completed all his duties, Go Hoon promptly leapt up onto the waiting room bench and settled into place. Since Yeon-seo didn’t seem to have anything else to do, she followed him right away and crouched down beside him.
“Ah, seriously, you’re just too cute. Why are you so ridiculously adorable?”
Bae Jung-yoon stood leaning against the front desk, quietly watching the scene. His languid gaze remained fixed in their direction.
Go Hoon looked at him, sensing something different about him today. Was Jung-yoon also paying close attention to Yeon-seo? He hadn’t taken his eyes off her since earlier. Had he finally found someone he liked?
In truth, when Go Hoon saw Bae Jung-yoon again, he naturally assumed he was in a relationship. After all, when Jung-yoon enlisted, he did have a girlfriend.
“Huuuh… Jung-yoon’s going to enlist. What do I do? I’m gonna miss him so much. Huuuuhuuu.”
Go Hoon had once witnessed her bawling when she heard about Jung-yoon’s enlistment. Her friends had consoled her, saying time would pass faster than she thought, so not to worry too much.
Of course, despite all that drama, she must’ve ended up breaking up with him.
After living with Jung-yoon for about a month and a half, Go Hoon had never seen even the faintest trace of a relationship. Even if he had broken up with his ex, it had already been over a year since his discharge. It was more than enough time to meet someone new.
And if it were Bae Jung-yoon, he could have easily done so.
But it seemed like he wasn’t seeing anyone at all. Which led Go Hoon to one conclusion: maybe Jung-yoon was taking a voluntary break from dating.
There were probably girls lining up to go out with him. Plenty of people had fallen head over heels from a single one of Jung-yoon’s smiles.
Yoon Yeon-seo was no different. She tried to play it cool, but she was clearly conscious of his presence. Her round eyes, which had been looking at Go Hoon, would occasionally glance sideways as if checking behind her.
“Aww, Kkongddeok-i, you’re such a cutie.”
Was he, perhaps, playing matchmaker between the two? That thought crossed his mind just as a soft, pale hand touched his head. It was completely different from Bae Jung-yoon’s masculine hands, where blue veins stood out. Her hands were smooth, warm, and had a faint, pleasant scent—maybe from hand cream.
“Kkongddeok-i’s guardian, you’re up now.”
As he purred with satisfaction, a bob-haired nurse informed him that it was his turn for the appointment.
“Come on, Kkongddeok-i, let’s go.”
Striding over, Bae Jung-yoon picked him up and grabbed the carrier. Go Hoon obediently allowed himself to be held, gently swishing his tail.
It had been three weeks since his first vaccination—time for the second round.
Watching Go Hoon sit calmly through the injection without a peep, the vet and nurse showered him with praise. Ragdolls were usually docile, but Kkongddeok-i, they said, was especially well-behaved. They’d clearly forgotten the rampage he went on the first day he’d come in, when he heard the word “neutering.”
The only reason he could hear praise like that was because he was exercising extreme patience. He behaved even more politely at the hospital than usual. He was terrified that upsetting Bae Jung-yoon might bring up the topic of neutering again.
So he acted as submissively as possible. He had to avoid the horror of getting his balls cut off at all costs. Of course, he didn’t like cat vaccines either, but compared to being castrated, a little prick was nothing.
“Then we’ll see you again for the third round.”
The moment all the vaccinations and tests were finished and Go Hoon stepped into the carrier, he let out a quiet sigh of relief. Another vet visit survived without incident.
After leaving the animal hospital, it wasn’t long before they arrived at the parking garage of Bae Jung-yoon’s apartment. After parking the car and shutting off the engine completely, Jung-yoon stepped out from the driver’s seat and opened the passenger-side door.
He reached to lift the carrier, then abruptly bent his knees and sat down, peering in at Go Hoon, who lay calmly curled up.
“Kkongddeok-ah.”
‘What now, you punk.’ Half-asleep, Go Hoon lifted his gaze toward Jung-yoon. A finger slipped between the bars and gently scratched under his chin. His head tilted back instinctively.
The slow, leisurely strokes made his body go limp, and a deeper drowsiness rolled in. With his eyes gently closed, he soaked in the touch as Jung-yoon’s gaze narrowed slightly.
“Hyung doesn’t like cats that flirt with just anyone.”
Go Hoon’s half-lidded eyes snapped open. ‘What did I just hear?’ He lifted his head in confusion, locking eyes with Bae Jung-yoon.
His gaze had darkened. There was no trace of a smile—his eyes, cold and unblinking, held the chill of a snake’s glare.
“I’m your owner, so you shouldn’t go around acting all cute for someone else like that, Kkongddeok-ah.”
His voice was cold, yet the hand reaching in remained endlessly gentle.
“You made hyung feel left out.”
That contradiction left Go Hoon bewildered.
Frozen in place for a moment, he quickly worked through the situation in his head. ‘Did he really take it to heart when I was being playful with Yoon Yeon-seo?’ So what he’s saying is… he got pissed off because I was acting chummy with the vet nurse?
Or—maybe what really annoyed him was that Yeon-seo seemed more interested in him than in Jung-yoon. Maybe he actually liked her. If he’s projecting that frustration onto a cat, then he’s more jealous than he looks.
“Meowng.”
Go Hoon, thawing quickly, made a fast decision. Yeah. Gotta stick close to the one who feeds you. The face you see every day matters more than the one you see now and then.
Realistically, in a cat’s body, he didn’t have many options—he had to rely on Bae Jung-yoon. Even as a beast, sucking up to people was a necessary evil. With a quiet sigh at his own fate, Go Hoon stood up and rubbed his head against the bars of the carrier.
“Is that your way of saying sorry?”
“Aowng.”
‘Yeah, I’m sorry, you punk. I didn’t realize you had a thing for the nurse and ended up acting like a clueless clown.’ He laid on the charm as he nuzzled the bars, and only then did Bae Jung-yoon let out a quiet chuckle.
“Kkongddeok-i only has hyung, right?”
“Uwaaaong.”
‘Yeah, yeah, interpret it however you want. It’s not like my opinion matters anyway.’ Go Hoon responded with the resignation of someone who had completely given up. The smile spreading across Jung-yoon’s handsome face looked thoroughly satisfied.
“Just this once, I’ll let it slide, Kkongddeok-ah.”
Apparently, Go Hoon’s “apology” had worked—Bae Jung-yoon’s mood seemed to lift instantly.
“Let’s head up now.”
Speaking in a noticeably brighter tone, he effortlessly lifted the hefty carrier.
***
Late December. The biting cold seeped in even by the windowsill. Go Hoon pressed right up to the glass, his nose practically touching it, watching the world outside.
From the heavily clouded sky, thick white snow was pouring down.
“Kkongddeok-ah, it’s snowing like crazy. Right?”
Standing beside him, Bae Jung-yoon spoke as he gently stroked his back.
“Waang─.”
Since finishing his finals, Bae Jung-yoon hadn’t really gone out much except for his workouts. But today, even that routine had been broken thanks to the heavy snow.
Go Hoon had gotten his third round of vaccinations last week. Jung-yoon, who had openly sulked about Yeon-seo before, still hadn’t made any noticeable progress with her.
Go Hoon clicked his tongue inwardly.
‘If you like her, then go be a man about it. Ask for her number. Make a move. What’s the point of having that ridiculously good-looking face if you’re not gonna put it to use?’
He was beginning to suspect that Jung-yoon lacked initiative. Despite having everything going for him, he didn’t seem to know how to leverage it. People like that were hopeless.
Of course, Bae Jung-yoon had no idea that his own cat was internally fretting about his love life. He just gave Go Hoon’s butt a few soft pats.
Then—bzzzz, a phone vibration echoed through the room. Jung-yoon walked over to the sofa and checked his phone, then suddenly crossed the living room toward the front door. Curious, Go Hoon got up sluggishly and trailed behind him.
“Kkongddeok-ah, wait here for a bit. Hyung will be right back.”
Standing at the inner door, Jung-yoon gave a gentle reminder before closing it carefully behind him. Go Hoon focused intently through the glass, watching Jung-yoon’s every move. He stepped out through the front door and came back shortly after, arms full of boxes.
Lately, Jung-yoon seemed hooked on buying cat supplies. Packages had been arriving daily. And since Go Hoon didn’t really have anything else to do at home, he always sat next to Jung-yoon to watch the grand unboxing.
‘Wonder what it is today.’ Curious again, Go Hoon plopped down right by his side.
“You’re curious too, huh, Kkongddeok-ah?”
As if it were a given, Bae Jung-yoon reached out to pet the back of Go Hoon’s head as he sat beside him, then tore open the box tape.
Inside were all sorts of colorful ornaments and LED string lights. Then something long and dark green came out.
The familiar shape—it was unmistakably a Christmas tree.
