Haram hurriedly shoved the strawberry he’d been cradling back into the fruit tray, nervously fidgeting as he stared at the stained bedding. He transformed back into his human form and, without even bothering to get dressed, dashed into the bathroom. He soaked some tissue with water and climbed back onto the bed.
“Oh no… It won’t come off…”
He scrubbed with determination, and while the color faded slightly, the stain only seemed to spread. Messing up someone else’s home the moment he arrived—it made him want to pack up and flee back to the countryside. Maybe he should run away…
Kneeling on the bed, Haram looked down in dismay at the strawberry-stained sheets. With a heavy sigh, he transformed again.
Dragging the fruit tray across the bed, he tried to cover the juice-soaked spot. Blinking slowly, he then picked up the squashed strawberry once more.
“Chomp, chomp.”
It was summer, and yet the strawberry tasted unbelievably sweet.
***
Kang Tae-yi had wanted to stop by the office to show he was still in the game and maybe meet Kang Tae-jin, but it seemed word had already reached him—Tae-jin had conveniently “stepped out” for a golf appointment. That sneaky bastard. With nothing to show for his efforts, he had no choice but to get into the car and head home.
“How’s the sky squirrel?”
“No movement on the mansion entrance or garden CCTVs.”
So he’s probably been in his room all day. As he stared out at the sunset-lit city, Tae-yi glanced at Chief Yoon.
“What about that resort project Kang Tae-jin’s working on?”
“Only a few executives were aware. I tried to approach them, but they’re already leaning toward Chairman Kang Tae-jin’s side…”
Life was always a tightrope. Still, how had those seasoned old executives ended up grabbing such a rotten lifeline?
“Dig deeper. And leave the car when you head home.”
As the mansion came into view, Tae-yi’s mind filled with thoughts of Da Haram waiting there alone.
“I’ll drive you back. Where to—”
“I’m going on a date with the sky squirrel.”
“…Wouldn’t it be better to keep him out of sight?”
Though Yoon Min-ho, newly minted Chief Yoon, didn’t know the full extent of everything, he was well aware that Kang Tae-yi had a particular interest in Da Haram—whatever the motivation.
Instead of responding, Tae-yi just chuckled under his breath as he thought of Haram. Haram wasn’t someone you could hide.
That silvery tail swaying behind him, those little ears poking out from atop his head—there was no concealing him.
As the car pulled into the garage, Tae-yi swiftly grabbed the keys and stepped into the elevator.
***
Knock knock
“Sky squirrel.”
He knocked at the room he’d given Haram, rhythmically. But there was no sound from inside.
Tae-yi pushed the door open. A faint mix of nutty and fruity scents lingered in the air, making him chuckle. He turned to close the door behind him and walked toward the sky squirrel sitting with his back to the entrance, perched on the bed.
“Is this all you ever eat? What about actual food?”
He didn’t know why Haram was in beast form, but every time Tae-yi spoke, Haram flinched all over his soft, rounded little body.
Switching glances between the fruit tray on the bed and the little squirrel, Tae-yi lowered himself to his knees and met Haram’s eyes.
“I asked if you ate.”
“…Squeak.”
“Why’re you still in squirrel form?”
“…Squeak, squeak.”
Because I want to be.
Haram was looking at him as he answered, but his gaze kept flicking nervously to the fruit tray beside him. Suspicious, Tae-yi reached toward the tray.
Startled, Haram clutched the fruit tray with both hands and started squeaking frantically.
“Squeak! Squeak!”
That’s mine!
“What’s with you?”
The more Haram blocked him from even touching the tray, the more suspicious Tae-yi became. He reached again, but Haram used his whole body to stop him, desperately trying to keep him away.
“Squeak, squeak!”
Get your own!
Tae-yi watched silently as Haram guarded the tray with all his might, then swiftly reached out and snatched it up.
“Squeeeeeak…!”
Nooo…!
With the fruit tray now gone, Haram sprawled himself flat across the empty spot on the bed where it had been, face buried in the sheets.
Tae-yi couldn’t help laughing. He leaned over and pressed lightly on Haram’s soft, pink paw pads.
“I saw it.”
When?! Haram was sure he’d covered it just in time… But realizing there was no point in hiding it anymore, he squirmed upright and looked up at Tae-yi.
“…Squeak.”
…Sorry.
“That’s what this was about?”
Tae-yi glanced at the pink-stained sheet and gave a small smile.
“…?”
Didn’t he just say he saw it? Was he pretending not to know after all?
As Haram stared at him in disbelief, Tae-yi muttered with a straight face,
“For a second there, I thought you’d pissed yourself.”
…!
Yup. Tae-yi had lost it.
How could he think I wet the bed?! The more Haram thought about it, the more absurd it was. He scowled and jabbed an accusatory paw toward Tae-yi.
“Squeak, squeak!”
You broke our front door handle, remember!
“I can’t understand you.”
“Squeak squeak!”
So let’s call it even!
Tae-yi had no clue what he was saying, but the way Haram furiously flailed his tiny paws in the air made it clear he was getting scolded.
Feigning understanding, Tae-yi nodded and offered an empty apology before asking,
“All you’ve had is fruit and nuts? No real food?”
“Squeak, squeak.”
Just fruit.
Haram pointed a paw at the fruit tray. The sudden mention of nuts made him tilt his head in confusion.
Tae-yi seemed to pick up on his puzzlement and set the tray back on the bed.
“You didn’t eat any nuts?”
“Squeak.”
Haram nodded vigorously. Tae-yi’s gaze darkened.
He had definitely smelled something earlier—something that shouldn’t have been there. As a dominant Alpha, he knew pheromones when he sensed them.
Seeing the sudden change in Tae-yi’s expression, Haram instinctively puffed up his flat little tail and asked hesitantly,
“…Squeak?”
…What is it?
Tae-yi stared at him in silence for a moment, then let out a dry chuckle.
There was no mistaking it—this was a sky squirrel. And yet… how could he even consider the possibility that this squirrel was an Omega? Everyone knew beastfolk were all Betas. That was common knowledge.
“Change back so we can get some real food. Let’s go.”
***
“I’d rather just… stay here. At your place…”
Haram made no effort to hide his discomfort about going out to eat, but Tae-yi still drove him to the restaurant he’d made a reservation at.
“Why do you hate going outside so much? Are you shy around city people?”
“I hate the way they look at me like I’m something strange.”
Sitting in the passenger seat, Haram gazed out at the streets glowing under bright lights despite the setting night.
Clutching his tail to his chest, he looked so small that Tae-yi glanced over and said,
“I booked a private room. You’ll be able to eat comfortably.”
“Really?”
At his words, Haram visibly perked up, eyes brightening as he resumed looking between the window and Tae-yi.
“Is Korean course okay? I figured you didn’t like meat that much.”
“Yeah. I eat everything.”
He looked at Tae-yi as he spoke. But as they pulled into the parking lot, his mouth suddenly went dry.
Inside the restaurant, Haram immediately shrank into himself, glancing around anxiously. Tae-yi took his hand and followed the staff member into a private room in the back.
“Why are you so on edge?”
After seating Haram and taking the opposite chair, Tae-yi asked, brow slightly furrowed. He was used to being surrounded by self-confident Alphas; someone like Haram—so cautious, so deferential—was a first.
“I’m afraid my tail might shed fur… This is a restaurant, after all…”
There weren’t any laws forbidding it, but in places like restaurants or public areas, it had long been social custom for beastfolk to avoid full or partial transformation.
Tae-yi had been fed countless meals in his life, but seeing Haram shrink in on himself made him hesitate. He’d wanted to treat him to something nice—but he didn’t dare cook for him, not when there was even the slightest chance Haram might die from it.
“It’s fine. Sit up straight.”
With a slightly teasing tone, he encouraged him. Seeing Haram lift his head little by little, Tae-yi handed him a glass of water.
Haram took a small sip and looked up at him.
“…Did you talk to your brother?”
“I didn’t see him. Coward ran off.”
As usual, nothing about Tae-yi’s explanation made any sense. The whole fight between the brothers was still incomprehensible to Haram—it sounded more like the kind of dramatic mess village grannies gossiped about during tea time.
Silence fell again until a knock at the door announced the arrival of their food. The server began placing each beautifully plated dish on the table.
Haram held his tail tight under the table, barely breathing until the server finally left and closed the door behind him. Only then did he let out a shaky breath.
Watching the whole thing, Tae-yi wanted to say something—his tongue itched with the urge.
But first, he wanted to feed him.
He reached out and took Haram’s hand, gently pressing the utensils into his palm.
“…Thanks.”
Where Tae-yi’s hand had touched his still tingled.
Haram had long known that Tae-yi was kind. But somewhere along the way, the touches had become more frequent.
And maybe the bigger problem was how easily—how willingly—he’d begun to accept them.
