Ding-dong.
“Eek!”
Haein, who had been on edge after having bitten him, jumped straight up at the sound of the doorbell.
Panting for breath, she stared wide-eyed at the front door, looking exactly like someone caught red-handed.
Or like a startled cat with its fur bristling.
“Is, is it the master?!”
Whoever it was, the visit was unwelcome.
Siyul swallowed a bitter sigh and reluctantly pulled back from her. His face looked thoroughly sulky as he walked toward the intercom.
And no wonder—he’d just had the mood ruined at the worst possible moment.
“Kang! Who is it?”
“I don’t know. I wasn’t expecting anyone…”
Pushed by Haein’s urgency, Siyul leaned toward the intercom screen—only to freeze, speechless, at the sight of an unexpected visitor.
His brain struggled to process it. How could she possibly be here…?
[Oppa!]
The uninvited guest was none other than his younger sister.
“Kang Siyoung?”
“…Huh?”
[Yeah, it’s me! Me! Hurry up and open the door!]
She was, unsurprisingly, a rather noisy personality.
________✧⑅˖♡∘˚˳°↝^._.^_________
Haein hurried to change back into her cat form, and though Siyul opened the door, he did so with his displeasure written all over his face.
“What are you doing here?”
“What do you mean? Can’t a sister drop by and see her brother’s place?”
“You can’t just show up like this.”
Normally, anyone would shrink back when Siyul made it that obvious he was irritated. But of course, his little sister was different—she paid him no mind at all.
She marched right into the apartment, ignoring his scolding, and looked around the living room.
“Seriously, I have to come to you myself just to see you. You’re such a hard man to reach.”
Siyoung carried herself with a boldness and shamelessness that was a mirror of Siyul’s own.
And though her features weren’t a perfect match, something in the aura of her face resembled his. At a glance, she could have passed for a cheerful college student.
But according to what Haein had heard, she was twenty-nine this year and a dentist. Her petite frame and short hair made her look so young that a school uniform would have suited her more than a white coat.
“Still, you could’ve called first.”
“Like you’d answer! You never check your phone!”
“….”
“I thought you were in surgery, but then I found out you’d already gone home! The clinic said you left, but I couldn’t get through to you!”
Of course, Siyul couldn’t admit that he’d simply been too preoccupied with other… matters.
“Don’t you think you’re being too much lately? You didn’t even tell me when your old place caught fire! You told me about moving way after the fact! You said you were living with some younger friend for a while, and then after that, nothing! Don’t you ever think about the people who worry about you?”
She’s right! Haein, watching Siyul struck speechless, realized that this woman must be his natural-born nemesis. Tooth for tooth, Kang against Kang.
‘So it runs in the family, huh? Saying nothing but perfectly reasonable things that leave people with no comeback.’
Siyul had a strong personality, but it was clear his sister was no less forceful.
“Enough with the nagging.”
“You’re way too indifferent! Ever since you started living alone, it’s only gotten worse!”
“I’m just someone who values his own time too much.”
“Yeah, well, so do I—but I still take care of family! Do you know what happens when you hole up alone like this? Your personality goes weird!”
To Haein, it was a delightful spectacle. Siyul, being scolded!
She had never imagined anyone could push him around like this. But apparently, even Siyul was helpless against his own blood.
Haein decided she should study Siyoung’s tactics carefully and use them herself later. A lesson worth learning…
“Wait, is that a cat?”
“….!”
“Oppa, since when do you have a cat?”
While looking around the apartment, Siyoung had easily spotted Haein perched on the back of the sofa.
She’d thought her brother was alone, but now a black cat was staring intently at her, impossible to ignore.
“Not long ago.”
Siyul gave a short answer, but Siyoung didn’t take her eyes off the cat.
Her brother always handled things alone, so it wasn’t too strange that he’d never mentioned it.
But still…
“That’s weird. Weren’t you a dog person?”
She couldn’t take her eyes off the cat, who had clearly made eye contact but then awkwardly turned away and hurriedly began licking a paw.
Siyul did love animals, but he had always preferred dogs—loyal, faithful creatures who recognized and served their masters. That was his type.
The reason he became a veterinarian in the first place had been the death of Leo, the family’s shepherd he’d raised for years.
“You even said you’d never get another pet besides Leo! That it hurt too much when he died!”
The rest of the family had thought of Leo as just a guard dog, but Siyul had grown deeply attached. When the dog passed away, he had even shed tears—a rare sight, given his usually cold personality.
It had been the first and only time he showed such a side.
And afterward, instead of following his parents’ wishes to become a cardiologist, he’d made the bombshell declaration that he was going to be a veterinarian. That had been the start of it all.
“Anyway, how did you even find this place? I’m pretty sure I never told you the address.”
“Huh? I just went to the clinic to see you, and they told me.”
Siyul, who had tried to change the subject, now looked dumbfounded. Siyoung, however, chattered on cheerfully.
“Everyone at the clinic knows my face. I drop by to see you sometimes.”
“Still, they shouldn’t be handing out my personal information like that.”
“Oh, that’s not all. I also heard that the friend you were living with went on vacation.”
“What?”
“So I thought I’d surprise you and just come straight here. Surprise!”
Siyoung still looked pleased with herself, but Siyul was far from amused. He hated it when his privacy wasn’t respected.
Even if it was his little sister, handing out his home address was unacceptable—unless it was for something truly urgent.
“Yeah, I doubt you came all this way just to surprise me. So what’s the real reason?”
“What? You really don’t know?”
“What is it, then?”
“…Not like you. Where’s your head these days? It’s your birthday.”
“Nyak?!”
Haein let out a bizarre cry, while Siyul—who had completely forgotten his own birthday—finally realized why Siyoung had shown up.
“Ah.”
“It’s the day after tomorrow!”
“I’ve been so busy I totally forgot.”
“Unbelievable. Here, take this. It’s your present.”
Grumbling, Siyoung pulled a small box from her bag. Neatly wrapped, it contained a silver wristwatch—something that suited Siyul well.
She explained that no one at the clinic even knew it was his birthday. She had gone there with the gift, only to find out he’d left early. He wasn’t answering his phone, and she had no time to come again, so when the staff gave her his address, it all made sense.
Siyul, who had looked so irritated moments ago, now accepted the gift with an awkward face.
“…Thanks.”
Siyoung shook her head. Honestly, what a coldhearted brother.
In her eyes, Siyul was just a man too full of himself, insisting on handling everything alone—a man with a rather nasty streak of pride.
________✧⑅˖♡∘˚˳°↝^._.^_________
Though he had been ready to kick his sister out immediately, Siyul reluctantly brought out some tea. While he busied himself in the kitchen, Siyoung poked around the living room.
“For two guys living together, the place is pretty clean.”
“Of course. Neither of us can stand messiness.”
“What was it you said your roommate does again?”
“He’s a cameraman. Now quit snooping and sit down for some tea.”
Siyul’s desire to send her away as soon as possible hadn’t changed, but Siyoung kept glancing around even as she drank.
Meanwhile, Haein clung to Siyul’s back, keeping a wary eye on her.
It occurred to Haein that if Siyul was her master, then this woman was technically her young lady.
She felt a twinge of guilt—she had once thought the woman rather annoying, especially the day she had seen her linking arms with Siyul outside the hospital. Back then, Haein hadn’t known she was his sister.
But the way she had clung to him and called him “Oppa, Oppa” had stirred up jealousy, hadn’t it? Thinking back, Haein realized she must not have disliked Siyul even then.
“Anyway, Oppa, come home sometime. Mom wants to see you.”
“Really?”
“Really. Don’t just sneak in when our parents are out.”
“…Did I?”
“You did! You even took some of my clothes from the storage room recently, didn’t you?”
“You weren’t wearing them anymore.”
“Well, true, but still… what were you even going to use them for? You could’ve at least stayed for a meal instead of swiping my stuff.”
I’m sorry. I’ve been wearing them gratefully.
Haein realized just how much she owed Siyoung—posing as her brother’s sister, borrowing her clothes… she really had been living off her kindness in ways the woman didn’t even know.
“I sent them to the animal shelter.”
“…Huh?”
“The housekeeper said you hadn’t worn them in years and would probably throw them out. I happened to be there and brought them with me.”
“And the dogs do what, wear them?”
“They get cold in winter. Old clothes are used as bedding, like blankets.”
Well, I am kind of a dog-cat. Not entirely a lie.
Haein admitted that Siyul’s excuse was perfect—donated clothes really were used like that.
“…Huh. Didn’t know that. Whatever. Still, when you stop by, you could at least see Mom, too.”
“I’ll think about it.”
“…Mom and Dad aren’t mad anymore.”
“Ha.”
It was a laugh, but not a real one. Not amusement—just the sound of someone pretending.
From it, Haein sensed that Siyul’s relationship with his parents was worse than she had imagined.
“You’re doing it again—brushing it all off with that fake laugh.”
“It is funny. They blow up at me one moment, forgive me the next.”
“That’s because you became a veterinarian—”
“Kang Siyoung. Enough.”
Because she was looking up at him, Haein could tell: Siyul was angry now. Quietly, coldly angry.
And Siyoung was shrinking under it. He must have been holding back until now.
“The reason they’re angry? Because I didn’t become a cardiologist. They wanted some prestigious doctor in the family, and instead I became a mere vet. That’s all.”
“You… you were the smartest, and they had such high hopes for you! Out of all of us, you—”
“They crushed me with expectations, you mean. What kind of family demands a child be a doctor just to be considered normal? Even now, I didn’t escape that chain completely. That’s how strong it is.”
Siyoung had no rebuttal. She had heard bits of this before, but clearly the wound ran deeper than she knew. The atmosphere grew so heavy that Haein, mute in her cat form, felt almost relieved she couldn’t speak.
“They know as well as I do that this distance between us is the best it’s going to get.”
“…You’re so stubborn.”
“Trying to patch things up now is pointless. When I needed them most, they looked the other way. Let me sink or swim.”
“Dad’s just like you—too stubborn for his own good. When you two fight, what could Mom and I do? But he’s softer now, maybe because of age. He worries these days—about you, about how you’re old enough to marry. He wonders if you’re seeing anyone, if you’ll ever bring someone home.”
“Impressive. They sure keep busy.”
“Come on, Oppa. Please don’t stay angry forever. At least… at least let them meet the person you want to marry, someday?”
“…Who knows. I can’t answer that.”
And it wasn’t sarcasm. He genuinely didn’t know.
At that moment, his hand gently stroked Haein’s head.
If only she weren’t a cat. If only she were human—maybe she could have been introduced as his girlfriend, someday even meeting his parents.
But that was only a dream. Reality was cruel. She was just a cat.
And the fact that she could do nothing for him, not even on his birthday, weighed on her.
________✧⑅˖♡∘˚˳°↝^._.^_________
Tap, tap, tap!
After Siyoung left, Siyul’s mood soured. His touch toward Haein was still gentle, but distant. Neither of them spoke, and before long they went to bed early.
But apparently today was the day for uninvited guests.
Tap, tap!
[Hey, child!]
“Eek!”
At the sound of tapping on the window of their high-rise apartment, Haein nearly jumped out of her fur.
Luckily, Siyul was a heavy sleeper and didn’t wake.
[Been a while. You look well.]
“You’ll wake him up!”
[Good point. Shall we move to my space?]
She hated it there, but she couldn’t risk Siyul seeing him. So Haein nodded, and with a blink she found herself in that all-too-familiar, bleak dimension: gray above, gray below, gray everywhere.
“I hate this place.”
[It’s the realm of the dead, after all.]
“But you’re not dead, are you?”
[Ah, you don’t know. A reaper is nothing more than a human who committed suicide, forced to serve as punishment.]
“What?”
She froze, slack-jawed. The reaper always dropped truths too heavy for her to carry. Last time it had been about yang energy; now this.
[I’m a soul, just like you. Because I took my own life, I’m bound to collect the souls of others for decades, centuries. With time, a reaper’s soul develops power—mine can bend nature a little, possess, even create things. Haven’t you heard the old tales? The longer a spirit lingers, the stronger it grows.]
“…I’ve heard of malevolent spirits making mischief, but…”
Like rattling windows at night? Was that what he meant?
She hadn’t believed in ghosts before, always scoffing at horror movies—though in truth, she was too scared to watch them. But now, living proof stood before her.
[Think about it. Even beasts can ascend to heaven if they cultivate long enough. Human souls are far stronger; with time and discipline, some approach divinity itself. Whether a soul becomes higher depends on its own training—or whether Yama entrusts it with special power.]
“…You’ll just erase my memory anyway, so you can tell me whatever you want, right?”
[Exactly. And that’s why I must return you to your place. I’ve served for centuries to atone for my sin—I won’t lose it all because of one mistake.]
“Excuse me? I’m not just some mistake!”
[Sorry, but I’m fighting for my own survival. I don’t want to be erased. I want to be reborn, clean, with no memories. Forgetting isn’t always bad. Doing this job has taught me that memories are meaningless. There’s no joy in them.]
That’s just what you think, you lousy bird.
Well, it wasn’t swearing—he really was a bird, after all. Haein smirked inwardly, realizing for the first time that the reaper couldn’t read her thoughts.
He only reacted to spoken words. He could understand animals, yes, but mind-reading? No.
“Reaper, I have a question.”
[You always do. Such curiosity—definitely catlike.]
“When I’m in this body, I can read animals’ thoughts, but not humans. I can only sense moods or feelings. Can you read people’s minds?”
[No. Only a godlike soul could. At best, I can erase memories. Animal thoughts are simple, easy to read. But human minds? They’re like deep, twisted wells.]
Yes! Then you can’t read mine!
Take that, you dumb bird! I always thought your white cloak looked like bird poop! And guess what—I’ve eaten sparrow before, with my dad. Bet that scares you, huh? Ha!
Haein silently reveled in mocking him, her little rebellion hidden behind a blank face.
[Why do you look so pleased?]
“Who, me? Not at all!”
[It’s written all over your face.]
“I just love being a cat. Eat, sleep, play—it’s perfect for me! Must’ve been a cat in my past life!”
Of course, lying wasn’t her strength. The reaper stared at her blankly, while she forced a bright grin.
[Well… if you’re adjusting this well, that’s good. I was worried at first.]
“Right. Thanks for the curse and the consolation.”
[Getting cheekier every time.]
“Then just hurry up and turn me back—”
But she bit her tongue. Because that would mean leaving Siyul.
[Actually, I came to say I’ll be busy for a while. I won’t visit again for about four months. But seeing you doing well puts me at ease.]
“…Until when?”
[Four months. I’ll check on you then.]
That would be two months before her return to human form. He usually appeared every couple of months, but Haein didn’t care much either way. She nodded lightly.
Then it hit her: the only reason a reaper would be busy was…
Cold dread crept up her paws. More deaths, then? Did this reaper also guide dogs and cats?
“Um… Reaper? Do you also take animals when they die?”
[Every soul is guided by us. But animals are handled by lower-ranked reapers, the new recruits.]
“I see.”
[Humans are left to those with proper training.]
So even reapers had training. And he never seemed to mind spilling secrets—since he’d erase her memory anyway.
“One last question?”
[What now?]
“It’s nothing to do with me, really. Just curious…”
[Go on.]
“What happens if a human learns the secret of a reaper’s mask?”
[Their memory must be erased.]
So it was true. The suspicion she’d carried was now confirmed, and oddly, the knowledge steadied her. She felt no fear, no panic. Just resolve.
She kept her expression dull and nodded slowly, deliberately—not too fast, not too slow.
“I was just asking because… it scared me, the idea of being exposed.”
[Impossible. I placed a seal on you. No one could ever learn your true nature, no matter what happens.]
“You’re right. That’s a relief.”
Just holding her face steady, just nodding like always—it took every ounce of strength she had.
Because she couldn’t allow Siyul’s memories to be touched.
Not only because she was small and powerless, but because she refused to be forgotten.
That was the one thing she couldn’t bear.
