Watching Tae-yi talk to the cherry tomato plant, Haram stomped his foot and tilted his head, trying to get his attention. But Tae-yi was still staring at the tomato, muttering to himself. Haram had thought he’d made it home in one piece today, but it seemed Tae-yi had suffered a serious blow to the head instead. With a long sigh, Haram watched him closely.
“Da Haram. I missed you so much today I could barely get anything done.”
He must’ve given the tomato plant a name—apparently Da Haram. It was sweet to name a plant you cared for. Fine. But why did it have to be Da Haram?
“Chirp, chirp?”
Why do you keep calling the tomato Haram?
I’m Haram.
Haram protested loudly, squeaking over and over, but Tae-yi refused to even glance toward the dining table where Haram was sitting—as if out for revenge.
Bewildered, Haram launched himself off the table and glided toward the sofa where Tae-yi sat, spreading his patagium wide and landing precariously on the backrest. The Sky Squirrel crept toward Tae-yi and tilted his head.
“When are you going to bear fruit? You’re not sulking, are you? Is it because I killed all your friends? I didn’t have a choice. I was too busy chasing down the runaway squirrel. Still, thank goodness you survived.”
“Chii, chiiiii…”
He’s completely lost it…
Haram crouched low and tried to peek at Tae-yi’s forehead hidden behind his bangs, searching for a wound. But no matter how long he looked, there was no sign of injury. If nothing was visible on the outside, then it had to be internal.
He hopped over to the table where the plant pot sat, pressing himself right next to it to draw Tae-yi’s gaze. When Tae-yi’s dark black eyes finally met his, Haram swallowed hard, silently demanding an explanation.
“It’s how I feel.”
Tae-yi responded coolly, as if he’d perfectly understood what Haram was trying to say.
“Da Haram, should we sleep together tonight?”
As Tae-yi flicked the plant’s green leaf with his finger and sensually caressed the pot, Haram let out a shrill cry, hopping in place.
“Chii, CHII!”
Stop calling it that!
Okay, fine, the name—whatever. But who the hell sleeps with a plant? And more importantly, why was he stroking it like that? The more Haram looked, the more lascivious Tae-yi’s touch appeared.
Ignoring Haram’s outraged squeaks, Tae-yi picked up the pot and started climbing the stairs.
“Chii? Chiii?!”
Are you seriously going to sleep with it?!
This was beyond ridiculous. Haram had always known he was unhinged—ever since he’d chased him around with a bug net—but this? This was on a whole new level. Stunned, Haram stood frozen before belatedly running after Tae-yi, who was already halfway up.
After struggling up the steep staircase, the Sky Squirrel paused to catch his breath and then scurried down the hallway on all fours. He kept squeaking complaints as he chased Tae-yi.
“Chirp, chirp!”
Cancel that right now!
Rename it. Put the pot back where it belongs!
All Haram had asked was for him to think of him while watering the plant. But now Tae-yi was clearly projecting him onto the damn tomato. He was delusional.
Catching up behind him, Haram grabbed onto Tae-yi’s dress pants with both paws, panting hard.
“Chii… chii…”
Got… you…
He huffed heavily, chest rising and falling, and when he finally calmed down a bit, he looked up at Tae-yi.
“…Chirp?”
…Why are you smiling?
Tae-yi smiled often, but this smile was… off. What was it?
As Haram stared up, trying to decode the meaning behind it, Tae-yi reached out and shut the door.
Click.
Startled by the sound of the door locking, Haram whipped his head around.
The décor was starkly different from his own room—cold, modern. This was… Tae-yi’s room.
While Haram stood frozen in shock, Tae-yi placed the pot by the window, took off his jacket, and slowly approached the squirrel who was now standing awkwardly in front of the door.
“You came all the way into my room. Planning to just stand there?”
The teasing tone snapped Haram out of his trance. He suddenly realized what that smile meant—a predator luring prey into its den. Eyes wide, Haram backed up, plastering himself against the door as Tae-yi stepped closer.
“Chiii, chirp!”
I didn’t come in—I followed you…!
Well, okay, yes, he followed him. But more accurately, he chased him down to protest! As Tae-yi started undoing his shirt buttons, Haram gasped.
“Chiiiii?!”
Why are you taking your clothes off…?!
Why was he suddenly stripping? What was he planning?! Staring at him like he was a lunatic, Haram recoiled in horror. Tae-yi chuckled softly, clearly amused by the reaction. Offended by the mockery, Haram banged on the door with his tiny paws.
“Chirp, chirp!”
Open the door. I’m leaving.
Embarrassed and flustered, Haram averted his gaze, staring off into the distance to avoid Tae-yi’s unnervingly sticky stare. But with no response and the door staying firmly shut, he had no choice but to tilt his head back up.
“…Chiii.”
…I said open it.
He tapped the door again in frustration, then looked over to find Tae-yi unbuckling his belt. Letting out a soft whimper, Haram stared helplessly.
As Tae-yi discarded the belt carelessly onto the floor, he gently scooped up the trembling ball of fur.
Haram immediately thrashed in protest, but his small body was no match for the man’s large hands.
“CHII! CHIRP!”
This is confinement!
The moment his hind paws hit the soft bedding, Haram screamed in protest and started flailing. But Tae-yi, unfazed, simply spoke.
“You’re acting weird today. Like you’re hiding something.”
“…?”
He’s psychic… How the hell did he know?
Startled, Haram stopped stomping his feet and self-consciously touched his left cheek. Then, snapping out of it, he let out another loud squeak.
“Chii, CHII!”
You’re the one acting weird!
The audacity—he was the one behaving like a lunatic!
“You’re not hurt or anything, right?”
Tae-yi asked, staring directly at the squeaking squirrel. He was clearly suspicious. Whatever that tiny head was hiding, Tae-yi hadn’t figured it out yet. If Haram really didn’t want to see him, he could’ve just stayed in his room until Tae-yi got home. There was no need to show up in squirrel form and hand over snacks.
Haram shook his head furiously. Then, casting a quick sideways glance at Tae-yi who was still eyeing him, he let out a deep sigh. Kang Tae-yi… was tenacious as hell. He must’ve been a straight-A student in school. The guy didn’t know when to quit.
As random thoughts swirled in his head, Haram’s will to fight drained away. After a moment of hesitation, he gave in—and de-transformed.
The moment he returned to human form, Haram yanked the blanket up to cover himself and bowed his head. So low, in fact, his neck ached. Tae-yi crouched down to meet his gaze, trying to look him in the eye.
That’s when he noticed Haram’s unusually flushed left cheek and frowned sharply. The difference was stark against his pale skin.
“What happened to your face? Did someone hit you?”
It was his own question, but even he knew it made no sense. Who the hell in this house would dare slap Da Haram? If anything, it’d be more likely for Haram to slap him. Tae-yi gently tilted Haram’s chin up.
Haram stiffly lifted his head but kept his eyes averted, staring off at nothing. Tae-yi’s expression was terrifying even at a glance. Faced with that scowl, Haram couldn’t bring himself to speak.
“I said, what happened to your face?”
His voice was lower than usual, resonating through the quiet room. Haram hesitated, then finally mumbled in a tiny voice,
“…Got burnt.”
“What?”
“I fell asleep in the garden and got sunburnt…!”
Haram’s embarrassed confession echoed through the sterile, spacious room. His face blazed with shame. If there was a silver lining, it was that now both cheeks were flushed red.
Gripping the blanket tightly, Haram anxiously waited for Tae-yi’s reaction.
“Haaa…”
Hearing that languid sigh, Haram cautiously looked up. Tae-yi was smiling faintly, pressing down the creases between his brows with one hand. It didn’t take long for that small smile to grow into full-blown laughter.
He chuckled quietly at first, then burst out laughing so hard his shoulders bounced. With his shirt off, every movement was plain to see.
Haram had expected this, but still—being laughed at so blatantly stung. Narrowing his round eyes into slits, Haram shot him a sharp glare and wrapped himself tighter in the blanket. Once he’d made sure everything was covered, he got up.
“Where are you going?”
Tae-yi asked, still smiling as he grabbed the edge of the blanket.
“…Let go.”
Haram lowered his voice to sound threatening as he tried to shake Tae-yi’s hand off the blanket. Tae-yi let go without resistance but then added,
“Wanna sleep together?”
