The situation wasn’t good.
The cat’s body was under the effect of a magic prohibition, making everything feel stifling. It was hardly different from barely clinging to life.
Even being alive in a cat’s body was something to be grateful for.
Because of that, she’d already given up on the person she loved. So accepting someone who claimed to love her was never going to be easy.
“Kang, ‘you’re’ the weird one.”
“I’m perfectly normal.”
“…It’s weird to love something that isn’t even human!”
“Well, what do you want me to do when I look at you and just see a woman? A woman I could love.”
You used to treat me like some kind of animal!
Haein thought Siyul was surprisingly persistent. She puffed out her cheeks, but in her cat form, it was barely noticeable.
She realized this feeling she had was embarrassment.
“You’re… so shameless!”
“I’ll take that as a compliment.”
“It’s not one!”
“Still, see? I’m right, aren’t I? Your instincts don’t love Taeil.”
Siyul was still smiling with his eyes. He said that if you could hope for someone’s happiness with someone else, then that wasn’t love.
“That’s different.”
“How is it different? It’s the same.”
“I like him. But he likes someone else. And if ‘that’ person also likes ‘him’, then everything would be happier without me in the picture.”
“And you’d just be the only one left unhappy?”
“…If they care about each other, then the most peaceful way forward is for me to step aside.”
It could never work out. There’s no hope.
She had repeated that to herself dozens of times.
That was exactly why she had left Taeil’s home.
Even though she had made a promise to meet the reaper on the rooftop of Taeil’s apartment, she had still run away—because facing that reality was just too painful.
“Want me to be honest?”
“…About what?”
“As someone who wants you, I can’t understand why you’d give up what you want—but part of me also welcomes it.”
But Siyul didn’t agree with her.
He believed there was a chance he could be with Haein, that something real could happen. That’s why he couldn’t understand why she would give up on Taeil.
He said that if she could help another woman love Taeil, that wasn’t love.
Their hearts were so fundamentally opposed that arguing made no difference.
“It’s not like my feelings don’t matter. It’s just… I’m a cat.”
“A cat who turns into a person.”
“Ugh! That’s not the point right now! What matters more is Ha-eun…”
“Hey, little cat lady. I think you’re forgetting something. I don’t care at all whether those two love each other or not.”
Siyul even waved his hands as if he didn’t want to hear another word. His face was firm, like he was certain this had nothing to do with him. What a cold-hearted man.
To Haein, Taeil’s feelings were just as precious as her own. It wasn’t strange to want the person she liked to be happy.
If there was anything she could do to help, she wanted to. If Ha-eun really did like him too… or if there had been some kind of misunderstanding…
The problem was, Siyul was completely uncooperative.
“Then what do you care about?!”
“The only thing that matters to me… is you.”
“Ew.”
“What I hope for is that one day, the you who flinches every time I get a little closer… will come to love me.”
Haein had never been someone who was particularly comfortable around men.
Her romantic instincts were below average to begin with, and of course, she had never been on the receiving end of such a passionate confession before.
And the first man ever to approach her like this… just had to be this assertive.
She honestly had no idea what to do.
“Ugh… Just because you keep begging like a child doesn’t mean I’m going to start liking you or anything!”
“Oh, really? When it comes to winning love, there’s nothing special to it. You just keep courting, and courting, and whispering love… until they fall for you.”
He was the kind of man who could smile seductively and still appear refined.
“I’d really like us to start dating.”
He whispered the cheesy line like it was as natural as breathing. And in those moments, his eyes softened in a way she didn’t usually see.
Sometimes, it felt so overwhelming Haein could hardly breathe. Because, truthfully, it was getting to her.
Which is why her resistance now was like one last desperate push from the edge of a cliff—her final attempt not to fall.
“I’m sorry, but… I just can’t imagine dating you!”
“Hmmm.”
“Eek!”
Haein let out a sharp cry.
Wait… was that too harsh?
No—so what if it was? What’s not possible is just not possible!
Her mom always said things like this needed to be said clearly and firmly!
Haein stood on full alert.
“You and I being… anything like that—’I can’t even imagine it’! G-got it?!”
She spoke with what she hoped was a determined voice, trying to sound resolute—but deep down, she was terrified she’d hurt Siyul with her cold words.
It was such a strange feeling.
Worrying about hurting someone even while turning them down?
Why?!
But Siyul wasn’t exactly the sensitive type. He was, without question, the shameless and slick kind.
He, on the other hand, smiled like he was in a good mood.
“Dating isn’t anything special. It’s just… wanting to see each other all the time. That’s what love is.”
“…I don’t want to see you most of the time, though.”
“But I want to see you.”
Siyul grinned slyly and reached out his hand.
Haein quickly dodged him, preparing to bolt at any moment.
Not only that, she lowered her torso and braced her hind legs, her ears perked like radar antennas pointed directly at Siyul.
“That’s weird!”
She yelled, eyes wide, because she genuinely couldn’t understand.
“What’s so weird about it? What are you afraid of? You’re way too scared.”
“…There’s nothing good about dating me. So why do you want to? I just don’t get it!”
“There is something good.”
Siyul propped his chin on a hand that had nowhere else to go and gave the deepest smile yet. His voice came out slow and relaxed.
“For starters, I’d get to kiss you whenever I wanted.”
“Eeep!”
What a terrifying thing to say!
Haein looked exactly like someone who had just heard a horror story.
“Th-that’s a dangerous thing to say…!”
If that happened, she’d probably have to stay in her human form all the time. Her yang energy would be overflowing. Assuming Siyul didn’t shrivel up and die first.
Just imagining Siyul’s cheeks sunken in and his body withered made goosebumps rise all over Haein’s body.
That was definitely fear she was feeling.
He sighed like he was begging.
“I want to date you.”
“Since when is that your decision?!”
“With you.”
Haein inched away, making sure his hand didn’t reach her.
It helped that she was in a cat’s body right now. If she were human at the moment, she wouldn’t have stood a chance.
Siyul’s touch was somehow suggestive even when he was just petting her. When he touched her, her whole body tingled.
So… she couldn’t help but stay on guard.
________✧⑅˖♡∘˚˳°↝^._.^_________
It was around midday on a weekday when Taeil brought Haein to the animal clinic.
The moment the handsome man appeared carrying a pet carrier, the mood in the clinic lobby shifted instantly.
“Taeil!”
“Hello.”
“You’re dropping off Gaenyang again, I see.”
“Yes.”
As always, Taeil arrived with a warm smile and arms full of snacks.
The moment he stepped into the lobby, the female staff members greeted him one after another.
Siyul, who was leaning on the desk reviewing a chart, was more than familiar with the scene by now.
“You’re here. Today’s the start of your business trip, right?”
“Yeah. My brother’s on duty today too, so I figured Gaenyang might get bored alone. I brought her along.”
“Smart move.”
Taeil’s good looks made him a welcome presence wherever he went, just like now.
Siyul was also quite popular at the clinic, but since he was there every day, Taeil—who only showed up occasionally—was considered the rarer treat.
Whenever Taeil came by, even the clients would linger in the lobby, not just the staff.
“Didn’t you have the night shift a couple days ago, too?”
“I did, but I swapped it. The on-duty vet had an accident.”
“Oh no.”
“Nothing serious, but he’s hospitalized for observation.”
“Hope it’s nothing major.”
Siyul closed the chart and gave a chin-nod toward the white paper bag Taeil was holding.
“What’s that?”
“Egg bread. They’re already out this season.”
Taeil never showed up empty-handed.
As Siyul accepted the paper bag, he tossed in a mild scolding—even as he popped one of the breads into his mouth.
“I told you not to bring stuff. You really don’t have to every time.”
“Well, I’m always asking favors for Gaenyang.”
“She’s basically my cat now, so it’s fine.”
“Still.”
Even though Siyul subtly insisted on ownership of Haein, Taeil—being naturally easygoing—didn’t seem to mind.
As Taeil opened the carrier to let Haein out, he suddenly asked:
“By the way, hyung, what’s Siyeon up to these days?”
The question made Haein, who was stepping out of the carrier, flinch—and Siyul was equally caught off guard.
Still, he responded in his usual laid-back tone, pretending nothing was out of the ordinary.
“She seems busy. Why?”
“Ah… then I’m not sure if I should even give this to her.”
“What is it?”
Looking a little unsure, Taeil pulled a golden envelope from his inner pocket.
“It’s nothing much—just tickets to a performance.”
“Miyang?” (A show?)
At the word tickets, Haein’s eyes lit up with curiosity. Her cultural exposure lately had been practically nonexistent.
“It’s a ballet—’The Little Mermaid’. It’s an unusual theme. It’s a special limited run, just until next week. I got the tickets from someone I know.”
“Miyang!” (The Little Mermaid!)
“So… you want me to give these to Siyeon?”
“Yes.”
Siyul took the envelope Taeil offered, though he didn’t seem thrilled.
“Why give them to her?”
“As thanks for helping me out as a partner before. It’s not anything fancy—I got them from someone too.”
“Myamya!” (Let me see! Let me see!)
Judging from the way Haein was clinging excitedly to him, she clearly wanted to go. Her joy was obvious.
As if she weren’t a cat at all—she was practically drooling over it like it was a fish.
Just look at those sparkling eyes!
From the way she gulped, it was clear she’d never been to a ballet before. She was incredibly excited.
Siyul peeked inside the envelope and raised an eyebrow.
Two tickets. His expression grew slightly wary. Was Taeil… asking her out on a date?
If so, as her older brother, he couldn’t just let that slide—
“She may not have time, but please pass them along. If she’s free, she could go with a friend.”
“…You weren’t planning to go with her yourself?”
“What? Oh—no.”
His face said, ‘I hadn’t even considered that.’
As expected, Taeil was completely innocent of ulterior motives.
In that case—these are mine,
Siyul thought with an inward smirk.
He finally looked pleased.
“Thanks. I’ll pass them along.”
“Appreciate it. Please do.”
Siyul nodded and pulled out the tickets to check the date.
In a way, Taeil had just helped him secure a second date.
________✧⑅˖♡∘˚˳°↝^._.^_________
After seeing Taeil off, Haein scampered after Siyul into the break room.
“Myaang!” (I’m coming too!)
More accurately, she was chasing the tickets.
She’d never been to a ballet before, so the tickets Taeil brought had caught her full attention.
It was bound to be a magical, beautiful show. And ‘The Little Mermaid’, no less! That was one of Haein’s favorite stories ever.
Since the tickets were for Siyeon—and Siyeon was her—that meant she could go. She wouldn’t even mind going with Siyul if it meant seeing the show.
“I knew you’d follow me…”
“Oh my, did you now?”
“…Dr. Bang Yuna.”
But someone else had beaten the cat to it: Dr. Bang Yuna.
Siyul’s previously smiling face hardened the moment he saw her, while Yuna approached with an oddly sheepish look.
“Um… it looked like you got some kind of ticket earlier?”
Haein, now overtaken, stood sulkily behind Dr. Bang and looked up at Siyul. She couldn’t speak in front of a person, of course.
It wasn’t hard for Siyul to figure out why she’d followed him.
“Ah.”
“If you don’t have anyone to go with, maybe I could…”
“They’re not for me.”
“Eh? But Taeil gave them to you.”
“He asked me to pass them along.”
Yuna’s face quickly fell. She had mustered the courage to hope she might go with Siyul if the tickets were a gift.
“I just thought… since you took them out, they were for you.”
“They’re not.”
Only Siyul and Bang Yuna were in the narrow break room. Well, and one cat.
“…Dr. Kang.”
“Yes?”
“Well, um…”
Bang Yuna glanced around, then looked up at Siyul with sudden resolve.
She’d been circling him for months. It was time to act.
Especially since she wasn’t the only woman eyeing him.
“Dr. Kang! Do you have a girlfriend?”
“No.”
“Really? Then would you—”
“But there ‘is’ someone I wish were my girlfriend.”
The only reason Siyul smiled at that moment was because Haein was behind him. But Bang Yuna clearly misunderstood.
“Oh… you mean…?”
“It’s not you, Dr. Bang.”
He cut her off quite sharply, and Bang Yuna was forced to confront just how high the wall around him was.
“I see… Then, that cute girl who sometimes comes to the clinic—”
“That’s my younger sister.”
“Oh… your sister.”
This was possibly the most awkward moment ever. Well—awkward only for Bang Yuna.
Haein, who had unintentionally witnessed a confession, debated leaving the break room, but pricked up her ears instead.
She’d seen the girl Bang Yuna was talking about. That baby-talking woman she’d run into the day she ran away.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to intrude. I just… didn’t think you had a girlfriend.”
“Well, I don’t right now, so there’s no need to apologize.”
“…So you’re… in love with someone, then?”
Did she think a one-sided love meant there was still hope? Or was it because Siyul spoke as if it wasn’t a big deal?
With sparkling eyes, Bang Yuna asked.
But Siyul just shrugged casually.
“I suppose so. But honestly, is there any love that doesn’t start out one-sided?”
“Well…”
“I don’t think so. All love begins as unrequited love.”
It was practically a quote.
Even while saying he was in love alone, Siyul still looked confident.
Bang Yuna stood there speechless like a mute with honey on her tongue, while Haein decided it was time to run away—before that man turned around and stared straight through her again.
