There had been so many things he had wondered about.
Why did he have to live a life like this? When he asked why he had to grow by going through such trials, Jiji told him a legend about the Myoin.
The story was simple:
A black cat fell in love with a kind-hearted human girl. After enduring countless hardships, he eventually became human and was able to be with her. Their descendants became the Myoin as they exist today.
“That sounds… like something straight out of a fairy tale.”
Go Hoon murmured. In truth, he wasn’t sure how to react, so his response came out half-hearted.
His current reality might be surreal, but that didn’t mean he could just take someone’s word at face value. That was how people got burned.
So Go Hoon didn’t drop his guard. He kept his eyes on Jiji.
“Is that story for real?”
“You really are one suspicious guy.”
Jiji narrowed his eyes, flicked his tail with a huff, and turned his head away with an air of indifference. It seemed like he was starting to get annoyed by all the questions—even though he’d claimed to be Go Hoon’s guide.
“Who just hears an old-fashioned story like that and goes, ‘Oh, makes perfect sense’ these days?”
“Whether it’s true or just a fantasy is for you to decide.”
Still, he answered every question faithfully—very tsundere of him.
“Life is such a vast thing that no single creature could possibly grasp it all.”
So what, now he was saying: Don’t talk back, you lowly being? He might’ve looked cute, but his personality was as prickly as they came.
Maybe this was how Bae Jung-yoon felt whenever he looked at Go Hoon in cat form. As his mind started to drift elsewhere, Jiji spoke again.
“Anyway, there’s only one thing you need to think about now.”
Those golden eyes locked onto him.
“Think carefully about what kind of life you want to live. Depending on your choice, everything could change—or nothing might change at all.”
***
Go Hoon came to a stop mid-step, staring blankly into space. The sky above was blindingly blue, and he squinted against the brightness.
“There’s a village deep in the southeastern forests of Alaska where the Myoin live together. If you want, I can tell you how to get there.”
He mulled over Jiji’s final words.
“A village where the Myoin live…”
He only had about four months left now. The time to make his decision was fast approaching. He had to choose—would he live the rest of his life as a cat, or as a human?
Forgetting. Humans were creatures of forgetting.
Forgetfulness was a defense mechanism—a survival strategy. Since memory had its limits, people let go of unused information to make space for the new. They forgot painful memories and made room for joyful ones.
For a life that can feel long or short depending on your view, it was a necessary function. And yet, right now, Go Hoon found that forgetfulness deeply bitter.
Depending on his choice, Bae Jung-yoon would forget either Kkongddeok or Go Hoon. That made it feel like the world—or maybe fate itself—was heartless.
If he stayed human, what would he become to Bae Jung-yoon? That question plagued him.
If Bae Jung-yoon completely forgot the cat named Kkongddeok, would Go Hoon still be someone worth remembering? That thought tangled itself around his mind like a thorny vine.
The truth was, Go Hoon already knew. It would probably be better for Bae Jung-yoon to keep Kkongddeok by his side rather than Go Hoon. That cat was how everything started. He was the very core of what had brought them together.
Then what about him? What did a life as a cat offer him? Sure, it promised comfort and ease—but what about his heart? What would happen to the feelings he held for Bae Jung-yoon?
This whole conflict stemmed from the vagueness of their relationship. These days, Go Hoon had no idea what he and Jung-yoon were even doing. It didn’t feel quite like dating, but they’d gone far beyond being just friends.
But even if he chose to live as a human, there was no guarantee he could hold on to his emotions. That path might lead to an even more painful ending.
There was a time he’d wanted to know about his parents, about who he really was. But thinking back now, maybe ignorance would’ve been better. If he’d known it would come to this—agonizing like this—he might have preferred never knowing at all.
What if he hadn’t gotten drunk and passed out on the street that night? What if Bae Jung-yoon hadn’t picked him up as a cat? Wouldn’t everything be different? Wouldn’t he have been able to choose a human life without hesitation? He couldn’t stop himself from thinking like that.
All he felt now was frustration—at himself, for being so lost.
Running both hands down his face in exasperation, Go Hoon suddenly remembered the cigarette pack he’d shoved into his bag. He reached in and fumbled around until he found the familiar rectangular shape.
He toyed with it for a moment, then shook his head and put it back. Adjusting his bag, he started walking again.
He stepped out of the elevator and reached the front door—only to find someone already waiting for him.
Their eyes seemed to meet in the air—or so he thought. Choi Joo-won was wearing dark sunglasses, making it impossible to tell.
Was today cursed or something? After running into Woo Gun-hyung, then Jiji—now this guy?
What was he doing here this time? It didn’t seem like he had plans with Bae Jung-yoon; he wasn’t due home yet.
Go Hoon forced himself to ignore the unpleasant feeling crawling up the back of his neck. He walked past Choi Joo-won and entered the door lock code. He was just about to step inside when a hurried voice called out behind him.
“Hey, wait a sec!”
Go Hoon held the door open with his shoulder and glanced back at Choi Joo-won with a lopsided glare.
“Who are you to just walk into this place?”
“I live here.”
Can’t you tell? What, are your eyes just for decoration? His reply came out sharp, laced with annoyance. At that, Choi Joo-won furrowed his brow and looked Go Hoon up and down, slowly.
“Ah… so you’re the guy Bae Jung-yoon’s been messing around with lately?”
What a tone. What a smug little bastard. The way he said it—like he already knew everything—was irritating as hell.
Looking at him made Go Hoon’s knees ache for no good reason. Honestly, he felt like clocking the guy right then and there. But he held back. He was a rational human being.
Not that Choi Joo-won cared. He kept right on with his arrogant attitude, oblivious.
“How long have you even been living here?”
He’d dropped all formal speech first, so Go Hoon saw no reason to be polite.
“Why should I tell you that?”
His tone was icy. But even though Joo-won had started it, he now looked offended.
“What the hell is your problem—”
He stopped short, cleared his throat, and tilted his chin up like he was trying to act composed.
“Forget it. Just let me come inside. We need to talk.”
“Why should I?”
“Aren’t you even curious? Why I’m standing here, waiting for Bae Jung-yoon?”
Go Hoon hesitated for a split second. Okay… that was tempting. He had been wondering. What exactly was between the two of them?
And truthfully, he just wanted to hear more about Bae Jung-yoon. Out of everyone he knew, Choi Joo-won probably understood him best. Weren’t they supposed to be classmates?
Sensing Go Hoon’s hesitation, Choi Joo-won added smoothly,
“I’ll tell you what kind of person your roommate really is.”
After a moment of consideration, Go Hoon shifted his weight and let the door close behind him. Then he turned and started walking toward the elevator.
A flustered voice called out from behind.
“Wait—what? Where are you going?”
“Didn’t you say we should talk?”
“We’re not going inside?”
Wasn’t it obvious? What, did he really think Go Hoon would just invite him in? What a joke. Without hiding his disgust, Go Hoon shot him a look.
Choi Joo-won pointed to himself dramatically.
“Wait… you seriously don’t know who I am?”
Who the hell are you supposed to be? Go Hoon stared at him, unamused.
Then, slowly, Choi Joo-won pulled off his sunglasses, revealing a polished, camera-ready face. Go Hoon scowled. He recognized that face from before.
“So what?”
Joo-won’s eyes widened in disbelief.
“I’m Choi Joo-won!”
And? What did that matter? His name wasn’t exactly Earth-shattering. Go Hoon didn’t even need to say it out loud—his expression made it perfectly clear. Flustered, Joo-won rushed to clarify.
“I’m a trainee at XX Entertainment! You seriously don’t recognize me?”
