“Yeah, it’s just a body ache.”
Kang Tae-yi answered as he gently kissed the troubled face of Da Haram, who was frowning with worry.
“…Body ache.”
That was a relief. He thought maybe the heat had come back due to the rut, but he remembered that heat also had its own cycle. With a sigh of relief, Da Haram closed his drowsy eyes and nuzzled his face against Tae-yi’s shoulder.
“Get some more rest. I gave you a fever reducer, so when you wake up, your temperature should drop.”
Although Da Haram couldn’t remember taking the fever reducer, he slowly nodded in agreement. Seeing Tae-yi not mention leaving made him feel like he’d be staying home. He felt lighter, knowing he wouldn’t have to endure his illness alone in the big house.
Tae-yi continued to gently pat Da Haram’s back in a steady rhythm as Da Haram fell completely asleep. He looked down at Da Haram’s peaceful face and sighed deeply.
Da Haram’s condition had worsened since this morning. He didn’t have a fever, but his body felt hot to the touch. It seemed impossible to bring him on the business trip. Since it wasn’t even a domestic trip, it would only cause more strain. He’d probably have to go alone, but the problem was finding a safe place for Da Haram to stay in his condition. There were several possible places, but none of them felt right.
In the end, he didn’t like the idea of leaving Da Haram behind anywhere, so none of the places seemed suitable. After thinking for a while, Tae-yi carefully tucked Da Haram back under the blanket and gently pressed some of the nuts from the table into his hand before quietly leaving the room.
***
After a full day of being ill, Da Haram’s condition hadn’t improved the next morning. Tae-yi, having given him more medicine, gently stroked Da Haram’s fevered cheek. He was supposed to leave on a morning flight, but Da Haram, drugged and sound asleep, was in no condition for any conversation, let alone a farewell.
“Da Haram.”
“Mm…”
Da Haram sluggishly opened his eyes, gazing at Tae-yi, who was still holding him in a tender embrace.
“I’ll be going on a business trip. Stay at Professor Yoon’s house while I’m gone. Yoon Min-ho will be with you. Don’t worry too much.”
Da Haram tried his best to focus through his dazed mind as Tae-yi spoke, and finally opened his dry mouth.
“…Where?”
Was it already the day of the trip? How had so much time passed? What day was it today?
“Stay at Professor Yoon’s place.”
It had been Yoon Min-ho’s suggestion. Tae-yi agreed, thinking that Professor Yoon’s house, with its better security, would be safer than the house, which had been compromised. Professor Yoon had welcomed the suggestion enthusiastically, especially since Da Haram had unknowingly brought up his thesis topic while discussing their arrangement.
Da Haram, silently nodding, was comforted when Tae-yi tenderly ruffled his hair before continuing.
“We’ll go on an overseas trip together next time.”
“…Mm.”
Da Haram’s vision flashed to the image of him and Tae-yi in Singapore, looking at tourist spots. Tae-yi continued to lovingly stroke Da Haram’s silver-colored ears and said gently,
“Can you transform into an animal for me?”
Da Haram blinked slowly in confusion, but the moment he gathered enough strength, he quickly transformed into his Sky Squirrel form. He didn’t understand why Tae-yi asked him to do that, but his mind was too foggy to ask.
Tae-yi, having carefully pulled the limp Sky Squirrel from his shirt, stroked his silvery fur a few times before carefully placing him inside the pocket of his suit and quietly leaving the room.
“Stay safe.”
Before heading to the garage, Tae-yi looked at the five men standing guard at the front gate. With a calm voice, he gave his orders, and they responded with a deep bow, promising to keep watch.
Would there be a traitor among them? Maybe one, or maybe two, or perhaps all five? Regardless, finding the traitor wasn’t a priority right now, and he had no time to consider it further.
Heading straight to the garage, Tae-yi got into the back seat, giving a brief nod to Yoon Min-ho in the driver’s seat. The sleek black sedan pulled out of the garage. Only then did he carefully take Da Haram, still nestled in his suit pocket, into his hand.
“Are you alright?”
“…Squeak.”
The little Sky Squirrel rolled up on Tae-yi’s palm, curling up to sleep once more, responding faintly to his question. Tae-yi, holding the Sky Squirrel close, stared at the tiny form, his mind heavy with worry. Da Haram’s fever still hadn’t subsided.
“Maybe I should go too. Da Haram will be well taken care of by my father,” Yoon Min-ho said, breaking the heavy silence in the car, his eyes flicking to the rearview mirror. He was clearly uneasy about not being able to accompany Tae-yi on such an important trip.
Without answering immediately, Tae-yi kept stroking Da Haram’s small body in his hand. Finally, he spoke.
“I’ve already made arrangements, so it’s fine. Stay here and keep an eye on Kang Tae-jin.”
Tae-yi wasn’t going alone; he had assembled a team for the trip. Even if Yoon Min-ho stayed behind, there wouldn’t be any issues. More importantly, he couldn’t leave Da Haram alone without someone trustworthy by his side. The fact that Kang Tae-jin had put so much thought into this plan, trying to sabotage them, only made the situation more irritating.
The car moved quietly through the streets, and as Tae-yi stared out the window, a small sound made him glance down. Da Haram, half asleep, had shifted and now lay on his back, his pale white fur covering his belly. Tae-yi watched him for a while, seeing the small squirrel-like body shift slightly as Da Haram murmured softly, his eyes fluttering shut once again.
Tae-yi sighed in relief. It seemed Da Haram had simply been talking in his sleep, not trying to communicate anything important.
Da Haram’s weight in his hands barely registered. As small as he was, leaving him behind still weighed heavily on Tae-yi’s heart.
***
Professor Yoon’s house was a luxurious apartment with excellent community facilities and tight security.
As Yoon Min-ho opened the front door, Professor Yoon, clearly excited, came rushing out barefoot to greet them. His gaze immediately fell on Da Haram, still curled up in Tae-yi’s hand, instead of on his son or Kang Tae-yi.
“Don’t worry, go ahead and take care of your business,” Professor Yoon said kindly as he spoke to Tae-yi. Their light conversation was interrupted when Da Haram stirred, his body twitching as his eyes slowly opened.
When he saw Professor Yoon’s gentle smile, Da Haram blinked, unsure of what was going on.
“Squeak…”
Still groggy, Da Haram managed to raise his head and nodded politely to Professor Yoon.
Then, after a moment of confusion, he suddenly realized, “Why am I here?”
He looked around the unfamiliar environment, feeling out of place. The living room, full of plants, made him feel as if he had entered a forest.
As he glanced around, Professor Yoon spoke, “It’s late, so it’s best to rest tonight. If there’s anything you need, don’t hesitate to ask my son.”
Yoon Min-ho, finally receiving attention from his father, gave Da Haram a dissatisfied look and muttered, “Now you see me?”
Da Haram, still unsure, gave a small bow to Yoon Min-ho, who also nodded back. Then he turned to look at Tae-yi, who softly smiled at him and gently patted his back.
“Go rest in your room.”
Da Haram silently nodded and followed as Yoon Min-ho led him to his room. Tae-yi, unable to hide his smile at Da Haram’s proper behavior, quietly followed them, holding Da Haram carefully.
After passing the hallway filled with plants, they arrived at the back room. Yoon Min-ho, after a brief pause, looked at Tae-yi and said in a low voice,
“You need to leave for the airport soon for your early flight.”
It felt like forcibly separating a couple, and Yoon Min-ho, unsure how to address it, hesitated before continuing. Tae-yi simply nodded, acknowledging the situation, before gently closing the door.
The room was comfortable, with an en-suite bathroom and a walk-in closet. After a brief glance around, Tae-yi gently placed Da Haram on the bed. As soon as he did, Da Haram transformed back into his human form, pulling the blanket over his body.
“Do I have to stay here?”
Confused, Da Haram furrowed his brows as Tae-yi tenderly touched his flushed cheek, still warm from the fever.
“Yeah, I’ll come pick you up after my trip.”
“…Why?”
Da Haram, still disoriented from transforming and following Tae-yi, didn’t understand why he was staying at Professor Yoon’s house. It felt strange and unsettling.
Tae-yi gently cupped Da Haram’s anxious face and continued.
“I don’t have anyone I can trust right now.”
He didn’t explain in detail about the intrusion or the substituted medication, but simply shared the truth, speaking calmly without emotion.
