Shwaaah—
The rain poured endlessly on the tenth day of Haein’s runaway. She had no idea where she was anymore. She’d been wandering wherever her paws led her.
But finding her way home to her mom wasn’t the most urgent thing right now.
Before that, she needed to recharge with moonlight, to gather enough strength to maintain her human form again. If she showed up like this, her mom might faint from the shock of seeing her daughter as a cat.
“Ah-choo!”
Maybe it was the rain, but she felt chills crawling all over her body today.
Sure, her body was tougher than most ordinary cats, less sensitive to cold—but that didn’t mean she was invincible.
When she first ran away, she had thought it would be easy, just like staying on Taeil’s rooftop garden—just find a decent spot to sleep, and everything would be fine.
But the world wasn’t nearly that kind.
Tch, she’d gotten too used to how comfortable Taeil’s house had been. She’d forgotten—putting up with a little discomfort under someone’s protection was still far safer than being on your own.
Just like with parents… you only understood their shelter once you left and suffered for it.
“Mya….” (I shouldn’t have left…)
Raindrops slid down from her eyes and nose, tracing wet trails across her face. Her whole body was soaked, looking pitiful. Back home, her fur had always been soft, fluffy, and clean. But now…
Her paws were swollen and raw from the water, the spaces between them stinging painfully.
She wanted to go home.
She didn’t even dare to dream of her mom’s house anymore. She just wanted to go back to Taeil’s.
Swallowing the lump in her throat, Haein kept walking—until suddenly, she realized something about the street she was on.
“…Hm?”
She’d been sticking to the edges of the road, but now she stepped toward the center and looked around properly.
Left, right, behind—this was definitely a street she’d walked before.
When I was still human!
“Ah!”
Her feline perspective had made it hard to recognize at first, but this was the neighborhood where her university friend lived.
That friend had moved here from the countryside, living alone in the city. They’d always been lonely, so their place had become the go-to spot whenever there was a group project.
The memory of her friend’s face resurfaced, and for the first time since running away, Haein’s eyes sparkled with hope.
Recalling the way, she forgot the pain in her paws for a moment.
That friend… liked cats too.
Would they still be living there?
It didn’t matter anymore—nothing else mattered.
Haein, overcome with joy, bolted toward her friend’s familiar house. Her relief overwhelmed all reason.
She could trust her friend. If she explained everything, surely they’d look after her. That belief filled her mind completely.
The semi-basement apartment had a window sticking halfway above ground—just as she remembered. Even the stickers on the window were familiar.
They’re still living here!
Haein found herself tapping on the window before she even realized it, her paws thumping against the glass.
Tap, tap!
“Gaeun!”
In her urgency, she called out in her human voice instead of meowing.
The Reaper had warned her to keep her identity hidden—but what difference did one more person knowing make now? Someone already knew anyway.
She just wanted to rest. She was so exhausted that she couldn’t think about anything else.
Pressing her nose against the old apartment window, she dug her claws into the frame and knocked.
Soon, she heard movement from inside—a familiar voice.
“Eh? Who is it?”
“You there? It’s me, it’s me!”
“Who…?”
Click, click.
Haein called out in relief, scratching at the window. She squeezed her face between the window’s security bars, peeking inside.
She didn’t doubt for a second that Gaeun would welcome her. After all, Gaeun liked both cats and her.
The rusty window creaked open, and there stood Gaeun.
Behind her was the cozy, blanket-covered room, the television laughing softly in the background. It looked like heaven. Nothing else mattered.
“Gaeun! I—”
Excited at the thought of returning to civilization, relief lit up Haein’s face as she leaned in closer.
She didn’t even notice Gaeun freezing in shock—she was just so happy to see a familiar face.
“…K-Kyaaa?!”
“Huh? Wait, I—”
“Kyaaa! Kyaaah! Oh my god!!”
Haein tried to explain, but there wasn’t even a chance to speak.
Hearing a cat talk was terrifying enough to send anyone screaming.
SLAM!
Just from making eye contact, Gaeun screamed like a madwoman and slammed the window shut.
The shock on Gaeun’s face chilled Haein to the bone—it was sheer terror.
Inside, the sound of locks sliding into place, curtains yanked closed, and frantic footsteps echoed out.
It was like Gaeun had seen a monster in a nightmare. The screams didn’t stop.
“Ahhh! What the hell was that?!”
Startled, Haein stumbled back.
The screams didn’t stop even inside the house—it showed just how horrifying this was for her.
The panic and terror in Gaeun’s voice drew curious neighbors toward the scene.
“What’s going on?!”
“It’s coming from that semi-basement girl’s place.”
“Is something happening?”
The renewed screams rang out again, and Haein ran, away from the house, away from the sound.
I’m a monster…
No one’s going to take me in.
Haein realized the bitter truth far too late, despair washing over her.
Tears welled up as one thought filled her mind.
I want to see Siyul…
________✧⑅˖♡∘˚˳°↝^._.^_________
Staggering through the rain, Haein stumbled into an alleyway and spotted an abandoned cardboard box under the eaves.
Sniffing cautiously, she peered inside—it looked like a decent enough shelter from the rain.
Without a second thought, she collapsed inside.
Even though it was raining. Even though it was a busy alleyway.
She just curled into a ball, too drained to move anymore.
I give up. I can’t even walk now.
I don’t want to think. I don’t care anymore.
Mumbling to herself, Haein squeezed her eyes shut. Part of her wondered if she might die if she fell asleep like this.
How long had she been curled up like that?
“Myaong?”
A small voice stirred her.
Peeking one eye open, she saw a young boy with a red umbrella and a black plastic bag standing in front of her.
He squatted down, showing no signs of leaving.
Too exhausted to even lift her head, Haein shut her eyes again.
What now? Gonna throw a rock at me?
Sneering to herself, she thought, Just kill me already, curling up even tighter, utterly spent.
“Are you sick, kitty?”
The boy poked at her back—not gently, but with surprising strength.
“Kyaah!” (Get lost!)
She bared her teeth in warning, but she was too weak to leap to safety.
Yet, the boy didn’t leave. He simply stood there, staring down at her.
“Then… are you hungry?”
“Mya…” (Go away…)
Let me sleep. If I close my eyes, maybe I’ll just end up in the afterlife. This body isn’t immortal anyway…
With that grim hope, Haein drifted toward sleep.
Half resigned, she lay there—until suddenly, she realized the rain wasn’t falling on her anymore.
Surprised, she looked up.
A red umbrella was tilted over the box, sheltering her.
The boy was already running off into the rain.
________✧⑅˖♡∘˚˳°↝^._.^_________
“Oh my gosh! Oh my goodness!”
“I told you the cat was dying!”
“At least you brought the umbrella—!”
The boy’s mother had rushed over, still carrying the scent of food from the kitchen.
It didn’t trigger Haein’s appetite, but it stirred something else—nostalgia.
Mom used to cook for me like that too… waiting for me to come home…
Tears welled up again.
“Myaa….” (M-Mom…)
“Oh, dear…”
Lowering her head, Haein couldn’t stop the sobs from spilling over.
The boy’s mom gently placed a towel over Haein and carefully lifted her into her arms.
She must have raised a cat before—the way she handled Haein was practiced and steady.
Her arms wrapped securely around Haein without causing discomfort, gently patting her as they walked. The warmth and kindness made tears sting Haein’s eyes again, and she buried herself deeper into that embrace.
It was different from Taeil’s warmth. This… this smelled like a mother’s embrace.
“Oh dear…”
“Mom! Is the kitty okay? Is she gonna die?”
“I don’t know… Let’s take her home and feed her first, okay? Come on, let’s get you home too, Woojoo.”
The boy’s mom seemed to have struggled with him quite a bit. With one hand holding Haein securely and the other dragging the boy along, she soothed them both.
If the boy’s mom had been from a shelter, or from an animal hospital, Haein would’ve run away already. But this time…
This time, it was just an ordinary person who picked her up.
So, just for now… she let herself lean into that warmth, and fell asleep.
Of course, the thing she missed most was still her mom.
________✧⑅˖♡∘˚˳°↝^._.^_________
Baths really are nice… Haein thought as she let them wash her.
Woojoo’s mom kept marveling at how calm she was, saying she’d never seen such a well-behaved cat before.
And understandably so—whether it was warm water or soap, Haein didn’t bare her claws even once and just sat there, dignified.
But she wouldn’t eat. No matter what they tried to feed her, she refused everything, which soon filled them with concern.
“She won’t eat this either? That’s not good…”
“Chicken’s yummy though…”
Woojoo munched on the boiled chicken breast Haein had refused, only to get scolded by his mom.
“Where’d this cat come from?”
“Woojoo… brought her…”
“Figures. That kid always brings strays home.”
The man who came home around dinner time—presumably the head of the household—seemed to like animals too.
“She seems used to people. She must have an owner.”
“Really? Then what do we do?”
“We’ll have to post about her online. There’s a community for that. Maybe there’s already a missing cat post.”
Woojoo’s mom booted up the computer with practiced ease and began searching through pet forums.
Woojoo clung to her, whining persistently, but it didn’t work.
“Mom! Can’t we keep her? Pleeease, mom!”
“What are you talking about? We can’t have pets in this villa!”
“Why not? The landlord grandma has a dog!”
“Keep whining and you’re grounded! That’s the landlord’s place, not ours!”
“I don’t care! I wanna keep her too! I’m keeping her, waaah!”
Their villa was small—a young couple with an elementary school son, living in a place with just a living room that doubled as a bedroom, and one small additional room.
It was cozy… but far too cramped to raise a pet.
“No way.”
“She doesn’t have an owner!”
“She does. I’ve already posted about her, so stop whining.”
“Mom, you’re mean! I found her!”
Woojoo, being a boy, handled Haein a bit roughly. She appreciated being picked up and bathed, but he kept grabbing her tail or her injured hind leg, making it hard for her to endure.
Especially her hind leg—the injury there was severe. Even a slight touch made it unbearable.
Barely escaping from Woojoo’s grasp, Haein leapt onto the wardrobe. The bath had at least given her a little strength back.
She leisurely licked her paws and tail, deciding to stay at this house just for today.
“Mom! Look here! There are two posts!”
“Where?”
“Here, look!”
Woojoo’s dad had been browsing the ‘Missing Pets’ forum when he called them over. Woojoo and his mom crowded around the computer.
Haein, curious, subtly peeked her head between them.
Sure enough, the black cat on the screen… was her.
Perched on a railing, backlit by the moon, head slightly tilted toward the camera—a sleek black coat, striking golden eyes, and a sharp, aloof expression.
She looked intelligent, spoiled, thoroughly loved—the photo had the polished touch of a professional photographer, making her appear even more elegant.
It was a photo Taeil had taken before she ran away. Compared to how disheveled she had looked when they first picked her up, the difference was stark. At least after the bath, she somewhat resembled the cat in the photo again.
Woojoo’s mom compared the photo to Haein as she read the post aloud.
“Black fur, golden eyes, about 3.5 kilograms, injured hind leg… Responds well when spoken to… Name is Gaenyang (Clingy Cat) , though doesn’t seem to understand it… Doesn’t eat in front of people.”
“It matches pretty well, huh?”
“But the post says the cat went missing in Hannam-dong… Isn’t that pretty far from here?”
Well, I did walk quite a bit,
Haein thought, secretly proud as she admired how good she looked in the photo, even puffing her chest out in vain pride.
“…Clingy Cat?”
…
But when Woojoo called her by that name—Gaenyang (Clingy Cat) —she whipped her head to the side with an audible hmph.
She had no intention of responding.
If I play dumb, these clueless humans won’t figure it out.
After all, there were plenty of black cats in the world—or so Haein thought.
But truthfully, black cats with golden eyes were a little rare.
“The post says she doesn’t respond to her name.”
“Still… doesn’t she look exactly like the one in the photo?”
“Yeah…”
The woman scrolled further, adding,
“They seem pretty desperate to find her… Oh my, there’s a reward…”
“Hm, let’s call them.”
“There are two posts. One looks like it’s from the owner. The other might be from an animal hospital.”
“Call the one on top first.”
It was already past 9 PM, but the couple didn’t hesitate to call—for the sake of the poor soul missing their beloved pet.
Watching them, Haein snorted internally.
Bet it’s because of the reward money. They could probably buy steak for the whole family with that…
________✧⑅˖♡∘˚˳°↝^._.^_________
Thanks to the enthusiastic couple eager to return lost pets, Haein was quickly reunited with the person looking for her.
“Gaenyang, why’re you being like this?”
“Myaaak!” (Nooo!)
“There, there… good kitty?”
“Ugyaaak!” (Get your face away from me!)
Haein made her displeasure blatantly obvious. She’d expected Taeil to come… but it was Siyul who showed up.
Why the hell is it you?!
Sure, deep down, she felt relieved to see someone familiar, but there was no way she’d show that.
And when Siyul tried to forcibly hug her and sneak in a kiss, she stretched out her front paws and shoved his ridiculously handsome face away with all her strength.
“Uwoooong… Iyaan nya nya…!” (What are you doing, creep…?)
Despite her fierce resistance, Siyul puckered his lips toward her again, only to be met with repeated punches—tiny, clawless kitty punches, but punches nonetheless.
Jab, jab.
The watching family looked at them suspiciously.
“Are you… really the cat’s owner?”
“Ahem…”
“It seems kinda weird… She looks like she hates you…”
“No, I’m actually her vet. I came on behalf of the owner.”
“On behalf of the owner?”
“Yes, the cat’s owner is currently overseas on a business trip.”
Technically, Taeil had asked Siyul to help with the missing cat posts. But he hadn’t asked Siyul to retrieve Haein personally. Not that Siyul cared—he just smiled shamelessly.
“Even so…”
“Here’s my ID, veterinary license, and business card. Feel free to check. You can call the hospital too.”
Though Haein’s sour attitude made them wary at first, the family relaxed at the sight of the official documents.
Truth be told, despite the bickering, Haein and Siyul looked oddly familiar with each other.
Haein acted annoyed, but she never unsheathed her claws around him.
“I’ll keep her safe and hand her over to her owner properly.”
On top of that, Siyul still had his vet uniform on, clearly having rushed over—the fact that he arrived within 30 minutes of the call was proof enough of his urgency.
And well, humans tend to trust doctors instinctively—whether or not he also came bearing a fruit basket.
“Alright then… we’ll trust you.”
“I’ll cover the reward too.”
“Oh my, there’s no need for that…”
Mrrng… I have a bad feeling about this…
Seeing Siyul so ridiculously pleased to have found her only made Haein more anxious.
