In the evening, when Si-yul returned home from work, he immediately sensed a strange tension lingering inside the house.
It wasn’t because he was particularly sharp. No—this kind of suffocating atmosphere was so obvious that even the most oblivious person would have noticed it right away.
“Hyung, you’re home!”
“Ah, um… hello!”
“…Hey.”
Everything was suspicious and awkward.
Ha-eun and Tae-il, who had been sitting on the sofa, suddenly shot up to their feet to greet him hastily. The space between them was also unusually wide, as if they had intentionally placed a great distance between themselves.
Why on earth were those two sitting on opposite ends of a four-person sofa?
Something is definitely off here.
And of course… this was probably that fellow’s doing.
Si-yul’s gaze went straight to Hae-in.
And right then, he was convinced that the culprit was none other than the cat whose face seemed to scream,
I don’t know anything!
The only time Hae-in avoided his eyes was when she had done something wrong.
Instead of dashing toward him to welcome him home, she was staring fixedly at the ceiling, her tail flicking back and forth. That was proof enough.
“Uh, well then… since you’re here, Dr. Kang! I’ll be going now!”
Flustered, Ha-eun hurriedly grabbed her bag and coat as if she were about to flee the scene like a guilty criminal.
“Wait a second.”
“Yes?!”
“We—we didn’t do anything!”
All he did was stop her. Yet Ha-eun’s eyes went wide like a startled rabbit, while Tae-il waved his hands frantically as if trying to ward off suspicion.
With this kind of reaction, it was hard for Si-yul to pretend not to notice.
“…I haven’t said anything yet.”
At his dry remark, both of them flushed scarlet, realizing just how suspicious their behavior was.
The awkwardness was so thick even the onlooking cat felt embarrassed for them.
Honestly, how can they be so easy to read? These two could live without laws, but toss them into the wild and they’d be the first to die.
“T-the thing is, um…”
“More importantly, Gi-do called me.”
Tae-il, fumbling for a flimsy excuse, was immediately cut off. Si-yul could already guess where his words were heading and wasn’t in the mood to entertain them.
“Gi-do?”
“He said he couldn’t reach either of you. You three were supposed to meet for drinks tonight, weren’t you?”
“Ah.”
“Oh!”
“…How do you forget things like that? No, don’t even bother answering.”
His face said it all:
I knew it.
Tae-il and Ha-eun could only wipe cold sweat from their foreheads, flustered beyond measure.
It was only a kiss.
But they were like this. To Si-yul, however, their state looked like they’d gone much further.
Si-yul glanced down at his phone, his expression sour—he clearly disliked being forced into the role of a messenger.
“I told him if you were still here, I’d let him know.”
“Well, the thing is, we were just watching TV…”
“Sure you were.”
“No, really!”
Watching Tae-il stammer so nervously, Hae-in thought to herself,
Even the truth sounds unconvincing if you say it like that.
The TV was definitely on—they just happened to be staring off into the distance instead of watching it.
Maybe it was because she was a little more experienced in romance, but Hae-in couldn’t help thinking:
It’s only a kiss. Why are they acting like it’s the end of the world?
Of course, she soon remembered she’d been the same way at first too. The only difference was that Si-yul hadn’t given her much time to be shy.
“Anyway, he said if you two are here, he’ll come over. Apparently, someone sent him a huge delivery of crabs, and he wants to share.”
Crab! Did he just say crab?!
Hae-in’s eyes instantly lit up—not just because of the stereotypical feline love of seafood, but because honestly, who doesn’t like crab? For her, it was among the very best foods of all.
“Ah, one of Gi-do’s relatives always sends him snow crabs around this time of year. The three of us usually get together to eat them.”
“I see.”
Hae-in recalled a little dream she’d once had, something she’d only ever heard rumors about.
They say crab meat tastes best when your boyfriend picks it out and feeds it to you.
Shrimp too. Everything tasted better when peeled for you by someone you loved. The truth was, crustaceans were always most delicious when someone else did the work.
So when the prospect of a crab party arose, Hae-in wasted no time trying to butter up Si-yul.
“That’s great! Hyung, you should join us this year!”
“Oh, yes! We always had too much food anyway.”
The cheerful couple even clapped their hands together, genuinely delighted at the idea of Si-yul joining them.
Strangely enough, despite being such a thorny man, Si-yul was well-liked. Maybe it was because people sensed sincerity behind his brusque manner.
And Si-yul himself had a habit: whenever someone showed him unconditional affection or friendliness, he would put on a stern face. It wasn’t just that he disliked cheesy behavior—Hae-in had realized, only recently, that it was also his way of hiding embarrassment.
“…Fine. I’ll eat with you.”
Why he had to disguise “yes” as a grumble, she couldn’t say.
“It’s been so long since we had crab. The steamer should be out on the balcony. I’ll go fetch it.”
“Then I’ll start prepping the water.”
“Oh! Then I’ll call Gi-do over and ask if he wants me to grab some drinks too!”
Ha-eun looked genuinely happy—spending time with the people she loved was good for her heart.
Of course, in this particular group, Si-yul was the odd one out.
“I’ll buy the drinks. Since this guy insists on tagging along anyway.”
Crab was great, but a walk was too!
Hae-in thought proudly,
Good thing I stuck close today.
“By the way, what was that important thing Gi-do said he wanted to tell us?”
“Not sure. He mentioned it, but said he’d wait until today to explain.”
“What could it be?”
Both men shrugged, clueless.
Meanwhile, Hae-in had climbed onto Si-yul’s back, reaching his shoulder. By then, she noticed Ha-eun’s face—an expression that suggested she might already know something.
________✧⑅˖♡∘˚˳°↝^._.^_________
It was on their way back from the store.
“Hey, Kang… what do you think Gi-do’s big news is?”
Hae-in asked from her perch on his shoulder. They had just bought drinks and were walking down a quiet street.
Si-yul glanced around nervously, but Hae-in reassured him.
“It’s fine! No one’s here.”
“You sure?”
“Of course. My senses are pretty reliable, you know.”
“…Well. Honestly, I can’t figure that guy out. He’s so plain he’s almost invisible, and you never know what he’s really thinking. Not that I’ve cared enough to try.”
“Huh? Even you can’t read him at a glance?”
“Some people are like that. He seems ordinary, but there’s a part of him that’s hard to pin down.”
“Hmm… you don’t think another mess is about to blow up, do you?”
“There’s no way.”
“Right?”
Tae-il and Ha-eun’s troubles had finally begun to settle.
Ha-eun’s former fiancé had surprisingly agreed to the annulment without fuss, as though he had no lingering regrets. But in exchange, he cut off all ties—severing connections with her family and anyone connected to her.
Naturally, people had to pick a side. Most chose to distance themselves from Ha-eun.
For someone cast out, her ex had behaved almost gentlemanly. Even so, the fallout was heavy, and Ha-eun was now preparing to leave the country, half by choice and half by necessity.
“…You know, Kang, I feel sorry for Ha-eun. But I’m also… jealous.”
“Jealous? Why?”
“Because at least she’ll be happy. Even if it’s hard sometimes… being happy with your own choice—that’s real happiness.”
This cat knows too much sometimes.
Yes, Ha-eun was being slandered now, even accused of running away with her lover. She’d likely never work in modeling again in Korea and would probably face gossip for the rest of her life.
And yet… Hae-in envied her. Truly.
“And also… when he goes abroad, can’t I come with you?”
“No.”
So that’s what she’d been building up to.
Si-yul refused instantly.
“Why not? Look, I can just hang quietly on your shoulder like this.”
“You can’t exactly carry a cat through an airport.”
“Then I’ll go as your little sister!”
That was out of the question too. He’d already revealed her existence, and if she pressed further, she’d only pester him endlessly. Better not to explain.
“No. If you cry in that form, it’ll be a disaster.”
“I won’t cry!”
“I don’t believe you.”
“Kang~! Kang, Kang, Kang! Please, I wanna go!”
“No matter how much you beg, the answer’s still no.”
Si-yul shook his head firmly, whether she clung to his shoulder or not.
________✧⑅˖♡∘˚˳°↝^._.^_________
That night, the one who drank the most was Gi-do.
He wasn’t usually the type to chug down alcohol like water, even though he could hold his liquor almost as well as Si-yul.
Tae-il looked concerned.
“Hey, aren’t you overdoing it tonight?”
“I’m fine.”
“Then what is it you wanted to say?”
“…I’ll tell you in a bit.”
Si-yul was the only one uninterested in whatever Gi-do had to reveal.
He was more concerned with picking meat from the crabs. Or at least, he wanted to be. But he couldn’t concentrate.
Because from earlier, Hae-in had been eyeing him.
“Yah!”
“Nya!” (Ah!)
Caught red-handed!
Her sneaky paw, creeping toward the table, was smacked down with a sharp thwack. Hae-in immediately pouted.
So stingy. The love is gone!
“Cats can’t eat this, you know.”
“Nyanyang!” (I can eat it!)
“Do you know how much salt is in here?”
“Nyak!” (But I want some!)
“Human food is off-limits!”
When she was in human form, he let her eat cakes or whatever she asked for. But when she was a cat, Si-yul was strict.
Was this his veterinary instincts kicking in? Whatever the reason, it was frustrating.
“Nyah, nyah, nyah!”
(Come on! I’m human too! Don’t be mean about crab meat!)
Other cats would definitely get sick from eating this stuff—but Hae-in wasn’t other cats. She could eat spoiled food without issue. Anything but alcohol was fine.
Too bad she couldn’t explain that.
“Why are you being like this today? You never used to be!”
“Nyah!” (I won’t die!)
She wasn’t usually greedy, but tonight she was stubborn.
Eventually, she climbed up onto his shoulder and tried to snatch food directly from his mouth.
At that point, Si-yul had no choice but to surrender.
With a sigh, he gave her a little piece.
“…For the record, you should never feed crab to a cat.”
“……Okay.”
“Y-yes.”
But advice given after defeat always lost its authority.
At last, Hae-in triumphed and tasted her first bite of crab meat.
And just as the rumors said—it was delicious.
The reason crab meat tastes even better when your boyfriend feeds it to you—was true!
“…Hyung, you’re really…”
“What, what!”
“No, I just—”
“I know too, so don’t say it!”
And just like that, Si-yul earned the unwanted title of the man who lost to a cat in front of everyone. He wasn’t about to let Tae-il say it out loud.
Instead, he turned his frustration on Gi-do.
“You said you had something to tell us, so go on already!”
“…Shall I? It’s getting late anyway.”
Half pushed into it, Kim Gi-do quietly set down the glass he’d been holding onto all evening.
He had looked tense when the drinking started, but watching Hae-in and Si-yul squabble over crab meat seemed to relax him a little.
“The truth is… I hadn’t planned on saying this anytime soon.”
“…What is it?”
“It’s sudden, but you’re all about to leave, and it made me realize something. I thought maybe I should change too. This seemed like the right time.”
“Cut to the chase.”
“I realized life should be lived honestly.”
Perhaps worried most about Tae-il’s reaction, Gi-do fixed his gaze on him.
“Hae-eun already knows this.”
“…?”
“I… actually like men.”
Tae-il, the very one Gi-do was most concerned about, showed the most shock. His long-time friend, his best friend, the one he’d shared everything with—
“What?”
“I didn’t tell you because I was afraid it would make things awkward between us.”
“…What?”
“Of course, it’s not like I like you or anything.”
Was that supposed to be reassuring? If anything, it only deepened Tae-il’s panic.
Even Si-yul looked like he’d been struck hard by the confession.
Hae-in, in the middle of biting into a juicy crab claw, dropped it from her mouth in shock.
Seriously? The truth was hiding over there? Why a sudden coming-out from that side…
“B-but… you had a girlfriend!”
“Back then, I thought I just hadn’t met the right woman.”
“Hah?”
“But it turns out, it wasn’t about the right woman. Women just… don’t work for me.”
So that was why Lee Ha-eun had been so firmly convinced about Tae-il’s orientation—Kim Gi-do’s influence had played a part.
“In truth, I ignored it for a long time. I thought, no way. I even tried to live a so-called normal life, but… it didn’t work.”
“Gi-do…”
“And one day, I realized—just because something is ordinary for everyone else, doesn’t mean it has to be ordinary for me.”
Now, for the first time, Gi-do’s expression was free. His smile was light, his voice steady.
“Accepting it, fully coming to terms with it, took me a long time. I didn’t even have the strength to tell you.”
“…You should’ve just told me sooner.”
“Life isn’t always easy, or happy. I thought maybe I’d keep it secret forever… but watching you guys gave me courage. I think I’ll live openly from now on.”
Is it really okay for someone to make such a huge decision just because of us?
Tae-il looked unsure. He felt they had done nothing worth inspiring anyone, let alone changing someone’s life.
But here Gi-do was, right in front of them.
“Hiding isn’t always the best option. Choices are always hard…”
“But you’ll be alone now…”
“It’s fine. Even if some people can’t understand me, even if they criticize, I don’t think it means I’m living the wrong life. I think… I’m the same as you.”
Gi-do had been one of the few to support Tae-il and Ha-eun’s relationship.
“…You look relieved.”
Si-yul was the first to recover. Hae-in still had her mouth half-open, as though the crab claw were still hanging from it.
A cat that shows, it understands too much for its own good.
“I do feel relieved. My heart’s been heavy for so long. I always felt guilty that I couldn’t help these two more, and that maybe I’d even made things worse…”
“That’s not true!”
Ha-eun immediately denied it, but it wasn’t like Gi-do had had no influence at all. Still, he only smiled. He looked both refreshed and bittersweet, like he might cry.
“But you two… maybe it’s fate. I thought you’d never make it, but seeing how things worked out… it must be destiny. Go live well! That’s what I wanted to say tonight.”
So much had changed between the three of them, friends for years.
Two had become lovers, about to leave. One had revealed a truth he’d hidden. Yet somehow, it didn’t feel like the end. If anything, their bond felt stronger.
“I won’t see you for a while… but I’ll miss you. As a friend, of course.”
“…Come visit us.”
“I will. Just… don’t make things awkward.”
“I won’t.”
“I might. But if I do, forgive me.”
Finally, Tae-il, who had been in shock, managed to smile. Gi-do seemed reassured as he looked around at the faces gathered there.
“And I want you to know… there are people who celebrate you. So please… live happily.”
