Due to the nature of his job, Tae-il was often away from home for over twelve hours at a time.
It wasn’t uncommon for him to stay out for a night, and if a trip lasted more than two nights, Haein would be dropped off at a hotel.
Now two months into her life as a pet cat, Haein had grown quite used to staying home alone.
Her favorite solo activity? Watching TV, of course.
Click.
Even in a cat’s body, operating a remote was still perfectly doable—though Tae-il would never imagine such a thing.
“Ugh. There’s nothing good on,” she grumbled.
As expected, there was absolutely nothing to watch during weekday afternoons.
A strange mix of human and feline language came out of her mouth—a hybrid dialect that only appeared when she was completely at ease or had let her guard down.
Not that she cared. Haein simply flopped onto the floor and stretched out comfortably.
Who was there to stop her? She was home alone, after all. Comfort was king.
Growing bored with TV, Haein began grooming herself with her sandpapery tongue, licking the fur on her chest.
She scrubbed her front paws with great enthusiasm, then twisted around to lick her back.
They were postures no human could ever manage.
“Wow. I’m ridiculously flexible.”
Lick, lick.
While licking her back, a realization struck her.
“I’m kind of amazing.”
As a human, she was always told how stiff she was.
But now? She could give ballerinas a run for their money. Her tail swayed merrily as she got more into grooming, her mood lifting with each stroke.
Hm hm~
Haein had been growing more adjusted to her new lifestyle lately, slowly recovering her naturally optimistic personality.
She was just finishing up her “cleanliness session” when—
Her ultra-sensitive feline ears picked up the sound of the elevator doors opening.
Her ears twitched. Haein quickly lifted her head, then sprang toward the remote and shut off the TV.
Perking her ears, she listened closely to the approaching footsteps.
Was it Tae-il? Or just the neighbor?
Then came the familiar beeping of the digital door lock.
Beep-beep, click.
It was Tae-il’s code.
But something felt off. Tae-il had left with his filming equipment only three hours ago.
Was he really back so soon?
Still, if he was back—greeting him was only right!
Haein scampered excitedly toward the door.
“Myaaong?” (You’re already back?)
But the scent that swept in when the door opened wasn’t Tae-il’s.
Startled, Haein took a step back.
Thankfully, it wasn’t Kang Si-yul either. So she didn’t run too far.
“Oh, there you are.”
The one who casually let himself in was none other than Tae-il’s manager friend.
He stepped inside and looked straight at Haein—like she was the one he had business with. A cat?
Haein locked eyes with him, slowly backing away again.
But the manager advanced even faster, trying to scoop her up like they were familiar.
As if!
With serpentine grace, Haein slipped right out of his grasp.
Don’t underestimate a cat’s flexibility, punk!
“Whoa, does this thing even have bones?”
“Myaak!”
“Hey, come here, kitty. Huh?”
Haein’s suspicious feline eyes narrowed.
The more he approached, the farther she backed away.
It made sense.
To anyone else, Haein was the ultimate ice queen. Only Tae-il got to see her sweet, cuddly side.
And this guy? She didn’t even know his name. No way she’d wag her tail for him.
“Hey! Don’t you remember me? Come on, I’m not a stranger.”
“…”
“Come on, be a good little cat. Hey! I said—”
The moment he raised his voice, Haein darted into a corner without hesitation.
She had been cutting him some slack because his face was familiar, but now?
Raising his voice like that?
Was he a thief?
A kidnapper?
From beneath the bed, her sharp eyes monitored his every move.
If he did anything shady, she was ready to pounce.
Thankfully, before Haein could decide he was an intruder, the guy got a call—from Tae-il.
“Hey, Tae-il! Your cat’s hiding and won’t come out. What? Her name? Yeah, I called her! She just gave me the dirtiest look and bolted. Seriously, you’d better come—wait. Hold on. She just came out.”
The manager swallowed hard.
There Haein was, perched quietly on the doorway.
Why had she emerged again?
He cautiously approached, and this time, Haein didn’t run.
Instead, she tilted her head and asked,
“Myaong?” (Did you say to come get me?)
“Dude… this cat’s a demon. She came out just because I was talking to you. Yeah, yeah, I’ll bring her. I got it! I’ll be gentle. Hanging up now.”
“Myaong? Myang?” (Where are we going?)
Letting herself be caught, Haein asked again, but of course, he didn’t understand.
He just stuffed his phone into his pocket and began searching for her carrier.
She dangled from his side, loosely cradled under one arm.
“Carrier… I think he said it was around here…”
“Myang-myong?” (Seriously, where are we going?)
Well, it wasn’t the vet—he wouldn’t have sent someone else if it were.
Still, Haein was deeply curious. She’d asked as adorably as she could, but there was only one way to find out.
________✧⑅˖♡∘˚˳°↝^._.^_________
“Shraa!” (Nooo!)
The hellish screech left the manager completely rattled.
Just a moment ago, the cat had been so cooperative.
Even after arriving at the studio, she had been perfectly composed in her carrier.
She’d even purred in Tae-il’s arms despite the crowd of 30+ staff members.
But the moment Ha-eun came near, she jumped away like she’d seen a demon.
“I… I think she hates me.”
Ha-eun, today’s model, looked utterly devastated.
When Tae-il had whispered, “We’re shooting together today,” the cat had nodded obediently, seeming sharp and clever.
But the same clever cat bared her teeth the moment Ha-eun reached out.
“Kitty…”
“Miyak miyak miyak!” (I hate you I hate you I hate you!)
She nearly scratched Ha-eun’s hand, and Tae-il had to scold her.
But Haein’s attitude only got worse.
Even the staff could guess what her cries meant.
Her rejection was absolute.
“At this rate, we can’t shoot anything…”
“Sorry. Why does she hate me so much?”
“…I have no idea.”
“What do we do, Tae-il? We can’t find another black cat on such short notice.”
The original cat model had suddenly gone into heat and had to be pulled from the shoot.
But Tae-il hadn’t panicked.
He had Haein—smart, beautiful, expressive Haein.
In fact, he thought she suited this concept far better than the original cat.
He’d just hesitated to bring her, not wanting to stress her out.
Yet here they were, and now—
What was this? A vendetta?
She’d adapted to the studio in minutes, but the moment Ha-eun appeared in costume, Haein went full feral.
If the shoot proceeded now, Ha-eun might leave covered in scratches and blood.
Tae-il rubbed his aching forehead.
“Looks like we’ll have to find someone else. Ha-eun, is your schedule flexible?”
“Not really. It’s already packed. And I’ve got an overseas shoot next week.”
“Damn. Should we try calling a nearby pet shop? Anyone know someone with a black cat?”
Haein, who had been vehemently rejecting Ha-eun’s embrace with her whole body, began to second-guess herself the moment Tae-il fell into serious thought.
Did I go too far?
She called him her savior, yet in the moment she could actually help him, she’d acted so standoffishly.
But still… she just didn’t like Ha-eun.
She didn’t know why. She just did.
Pouting, Haein scratched at the floor for a while, then slowly approached Ha-eun’s feet and stood there quietly.
“I think one of my old stylist friends has a cat. It’s gray though—would that be okay?”
“Gray’s a bit…”
“So it has to be a black cat?”
“The concept’s ‘cute witch,’ you know.”
Ha-eun, still unaware of Haein standing at her feet, was hunched over with Tae-il and the manager, brainstorming alternatives.
Haein looked up at the tall, stylish woman in front of her.
The more she stared, the more… irritated she became.
Long, slender legs. A slim waist. A chest with real volume.
She was just so pretty—and that alone rubbed Haein the wrong way.
Thinking of her own stumpy, solid frame, Haein felt even more disgruntled. But still, a job was a job.
She hesitated, then gently pressed her paw into Ha-eun’s calf. Press.
I don’t like you, but for Tae-il’s sake, I’ll go along with it. So let’s make this quick. Press.
“Oh my gosh… she’s kneading me!”
“…What is with that cat?”
The manager looked at her like she was some bizarre creature he’d never seen before. Tae-il, meanwhile, raised a finger to his lips.
“Shh. She understands everything. Let’s start before she changes her mind again.”
Tae-il was the only one who understood Haein—at least, he thought he did.
Maybe it was just wishful thinking, but to him, it felt like she was compromising because he was in a bind.
Ha-eun, now moving cautiously, picked up the cat kneading her leg.
Though Haein allowed herself to be held, she pulled her head back in clear protest. She didn’t even meet Ha-eun’s eyes.
Thankfully, there wasn’t much need for eye contact during the shoot.
She stayed obediently in Ha-eun’s arms when instructed, or perched daintily atop the broomstick with her tail lifted like a proper witch’s familiar.
When she sat on Ha-eun’s shoulder, the woman’s expensive perfume drew her in.
Without meaning to, she sniffed at her hair.
“Hey, kitty. Look over here.”
Tae-il’s voice called out, and Haein turned and moved as directed. She posed, turned, even glanced back when he gestured.
The staff marveled at how clever she was.
Of course, the real star of the shoot was the brand-new black mini dress.
These form-fitting pieces gave off less of a sexy vibe and more of a sharp, elegant one—cool and composed.
And on Ha-eun’s long frame and classically beautiful features, the dress looked perfect.
Haein didn’t hate her own short, solid build.
But as a woman, she couldn’t help but envy a body like Ha-eun’s—long and slim and effortlessly graceful.
“Um… Tae-il, she’s kinda digging her claws in.”
“Just a little longer, please.”
“She’s not doing it on purpose… right?”
Tae-il didn’t answer.
With every click of the shutter, Ha-eun’s forced smiles and Haein’s grumpy expression were captured on film.
________✧⑅˖♡∘˚˳°↝^._.^_________
Though animal models usually dragged things out, this one had such exceptional intelligence that the shoot wrapped up faster than expected—despite the last-minute model switch.
While Ha-eun went to change, the manager approached Tae-il.
“Tae-il.”
“Mm?”
Without looking away from the monitor, Tae-il raised his chin in reply.
He was still petting Haein, who sat curled in his lap, calm and content.
His touch was extra gentle, as if to say thank you for her help today.
He absentmindedly stroked the spot between her ears, even as his eyes remained fixed on the screen, reviewing the shots one by one.
“Wanna take a look? I think we got a lot of good ones.”
“Like I need to check. You always do a good job. Even the actresses are dying to shoot with you.”
“You flatter me.”
“No, seriously. No one shoots fashion editorials with as much elegance as you do…”
Tae-il was a true professional—and even to Haein’s untrained eye, the results were excellent.
Maybe it was his skill.
Maybe it was how well he understood Ha-eun.
Either way, she looked unusually stunning in these photos.
“…Also, there’s something I need to tell you. It’s about Ha-eun.”
The seriousness in the manager’s voice finally made Tae-il look away from the screen.
“What is it, Ki-do?”
“…Call me ‘Manager,’ will you?”
Ki-do wasn’t particularly fond of his name. Tae-il let out a small laugh and turned to face him.
Still seated in his chair, Haein remained quietly nestled on his lap.
“What is it, Manager?”
“…The guy Ha-eun’s dating—he told her she has to quit modeling if they get married.”
“…Yeah, I heard. She asked for advice about it earlier.”
Ki-do had spoken with such gravity that he was taken aback when Tae-il responded so nonchalantly.
He sounded like someone who didn’t care in the slightest.
“You’re seriously okay with that?!”
“Why wouldn’t I be?”
“You’re just gonna let her go without even trying to fight for her?!”
Boom.
It felt like the sound of a drum crashing inside her ears.
Haein’s jaw dropped. Her golden pupils quivered in shock, but the two men were too engrossed in their conversation to notice the black cat’s stunned expression.
So that’s why I didn’t like her…
Now it made sense.
The reason she instinctively disliked Ha-eun—it was because Tae-il liked her.
Whether it was female intuition or feline instinct, she’d sensed it all along.
“Fight for her? We’re just friends. You’re making it sound like something it’s not.”
“Look, I know you can lie with a straight face, but don’t try it on me. Sure, you’re friends—but your heart says something else!”
“But—”
“But what?!”
“No matter how I feel… what Ha-eun wants is just that—me, as a friend. Fifteen-year friend Shin Tae-il. That’s all she wants. And that’s the role I want to stay in.”
Ki-do clutched his chest like Tae-il was the most frustrating man alive. Haein felt exactly the same.
Trying to mask his emotions, Tae-il looked back at the monitor—but Ha-eun’s smiling face on the screen only made him avert his eyes again.
He lowered his gaze to Haein instead, as if seeking comfort in her golden eyes, gazing at her for a long time.
Then, at last, he spoke.
His eyes were on Haein, but the question was directed elsewhere—to Ki-do, or maybe even to himself.
“Maybe it’s just been too long. She doesn’t even see me as a man anymore.”
“She doesn’t because you never show her that side of you! Do you even have a manly side?!”
“Not really. This is just the face I was born with.”
A gentle smile. Kind eyes. A face with no trace of desire or ambition—just endless warmth.
That was the kind of man Tae-il was. And Haein… loved that about him.
“She likes manly men. You know that! So why don’t you try being one for once?”
“I’ve always been like this. And suddenly changing now… feels wrong. Maybe I’m just not her type.”
“Ugh, you’re hopeless.”
“She’s already dating someone else. And maybe… she’ll even marry him.”
If it were me… I’d love him just the way he is.
No, I already do.
To me… he’s someone too precious to let go.
I’d never let him smile with such sadness on his face.
________✧⑅˖♡∘˚˳°↝^._.^_________
At 3 a.m.—when the moonlight was at its brightest—Haein opened her eyes.
She was still in her cat form.
Bathed in silver light, her golden eyes glowed violet in the shadows. A mysterious, silent creature.
She was now used to Tae-il sleeping beside her.
He always slept shirtless, half-nude, lying on his stomach.
It must’ve been the most comfortable position for him.
She’d gotten used to it after falling asleep beside him so many times.
At first, she’d blushed and fled. Not anymore.
Being a photographer was more physically demanding than one might think.
Underneath his gentle demeanor, Tae-il had a surprisingly masculine body.
Broad bones. Lean, sculpted muscles. A strong, defined frame.
Looking at him stirred a primal urge in her—a desire to draw that beauty.
That was the artist in her reacting—the human in her.
She mostly painted landscapes or surreal, dreamy images. People weren’t usually her subject.
“……”
Thinking back on the day’s shoot, Haein slipped out from under the bed.
Landing softly on her hind legs, she took a step forward—and with each step, her form changed.
Silently, without a sound.
With every stride, her body grew.
By the time she crossed the doorway into the walk-in closet, she was already walking upright on two legs.
Her vision had shifted higher. Her hands were no longer paws, but human once more.
There was a strange, tingling numbness all over—but it faded quickly.
She reached for one of Tae-il’s thick wool shirts and slipped it on.
Then, without a sound, she stepped outside.
With Tae-il’s phone in hand.
