“…Uh, why is that?”
“Well, it seems this young man is living alone here. It was the same before, so maybe it’s something about this place? And though I heard the residents had changed, I never saw anyone moving in. Still, I noticed some furniture being brought in, so I was curious.”
Middle-aged women had this strange ability to carry on conversations all by themselves. Even if one didn’t reply, the dialogue continued. Just listening was enough to figure out their reason for showing up.
“I see… so, what brings you here?”
“Oh, nothing much. I just wanted to give you this.”
On top of a black file was a hastily pasted label. Residents’ Meeting Minutes. The neighborhood representative handed it over with a triumphant air, as if she had done an immense favor.
“You didn’t get this from the previous tenant, did you?”
They had left behind everything down to the nail clippers when they moved out. Not knowing the details, the woman assumed Hae-in didn’t have it, so she came by to deliver it.
Hae-in, worried the conversation would drag on, just gave a vague nod.
“There’s a residents’ meeting every week. It’s kind of like a women’s association, if you know what that is?”
“Yes, I do.”
She had never lived in an apartment before, but her old neighborhood had similar gatherings. And it was obvious Si-yul wouldn’t be the type to attend.
The woman seemed to know that too.
“Oh, really? Even if you can’t come every time, it would be good to show up at least once a month. But single men living alone never seem to come out at all.”
“Alright. I’ll let him know.”
“And since I felt awkward just coming with that, I brought something along. It’s nothing special, just from my house.”
“…Thank you.”
At first, Hae-in thought she was just a talkative neighbor, but apparently it was also a gesture of kindness. The woman handed over a black bag stuffed full of tangerines.
“So, are you living together with that young man in this house?”
“…”
“His girlfriend? Younger sister? Or… maybe one of those modern live-in arrangements?”
No, it really was just neighborhood nosiness.
From long ago, whenever she talked to strangers for too long, Hae-in would break out in hives. Nobody had ever believed her, but it was true.
It was stress-induced, perhaps. Her palms and feet would sweat, her stomach would churn. And people who peppered her with endless questions like this were especially unbearable.
Hae-in slipped halfway behind the door.
Yes, she had always been the type who was painfully shy around strangers.
“Well, I’m…”
“What? I can’t hear you, miss. You’re speaking too softly.”
She had met Tae-il under such unusual circumstances. And Si-yul… Si-yul was an exception. She could behave like a good, obedient girl in front of him only because he had painstakingly, wholeheartedly tamed her.
He made her feel safe and happy, to the point she could give him her heart freely. In front of him, she was a girl so lovely that even she surprised herself.
Through loving him, she had finally learned what her face looked like when she was in love.
And that was why she was afraid. Afraid that someday, if he saw her true self, he wouldn’t recognize her.
Because in her true nature, she was the type who—when someone like Si-yul came to find her—would bare her fangs like a bristling cat, maybe even report him to the police for pretending to be close.
What if he can’t recognize me because I’m different from who I am now?
The anxious thought suddenly crept in.
Park Hae-in was someone who loved solitude, who felt uncomfortable around others, who loved only her own paintings.
She was the kind of woman who could disappear for months without a word and nobody would be surprised.
Her personality had sharp edges too. She hated anyone trespassing into her territory and kept her guard up.
Now, after spending so long having a real conversation with a stranger, those sides of herself resurfaced, filling her with worry.
“The owner seems like a young man. Quite capable, too, buying a place like this at his age. Hoho, maybe I should introduce him to my daughter.”
He’s mine…!
Hae-in suddenly snapped back to herself, blurting out in panic before she could stop herself.
“I-I’m his girlfriend!”
“Hmm?”
The moment it left her mouth, she wanted to crawl into a hole and disappear.
“Oh my, who said otherwise? I was just joking! You’re so serious, miss… Hohoho! Well, date well. Invite me to the wedding. I like buffets, you know.”
This was why middle-aged women were the hardest to deal with.
They left you feeling like you’d just been teased and embarrassed, then walked away as if nothing had happened.
Hae-in lingered by the door with her burning cheeks.
Then why even ask!
________✧⑅˖♡∘˚˳°↝^._.^_________
At some leisurely hour, Si-yul woke to a familiar scent.
He didn’t know how much time had passed, but his body felt much lighter than before he had fallen asleep.
The soft sound of something bubbling on the stove reached his ears. As he stirred awake, the faint rustling made Hae-in rush over immediately.
She really did have sharp ears.
“Kang!”
“Mm.”
“You’re awake? Are you feeling better? Do you think you’ll live?”
“…It’s just a cold.”
Anyone would think he was on his deathbed. Well, he appreciated her concern anyway. Si-yul realized anew that Hae-in was especially sensitive whenever he was sick or unwell.
So he decided: from now on, he should avoid showing any signs of illness as much as possible. More than he already did.
“Are you making porridge?”
“Yes!”
“Oh? You can cook that?”
“At least porridge!”
As long as she didn’t mix up sugar and salt, it was a guaranteed success. The success rate was a proud 90%… provided she had internet recipes on hand.
“So, you just keep boiling rice with water while stirring…? And then add only salt, right? Is that correct…?”
“Your theory’s flawless.”
“I’m done, want to try it?”
The way her eyes sparkled with anticipation made Si-yul think he had to eat, even if he wasn’t hungry.
The thought of her bustling in the kitchen just to make something for him was adorable—and it was endearing that she tried, despite not usually doing these things.
“Sure.”
“I’ll bring it right away!”
Still feeling a bit languid, Si-yul sat up fully and leaned against the headboard.
It felt strange, having Hae-in wait on him like this. He was always the one looking after her, but being cared for in return wasn’t bad at all.
________✧⑅˖♡∘˚˳°↝^._.^_________
“Oh, it’s good.”
“Really? There’s more! Eat as much as you want!”
“…How much more?”
“Well… about ten times this amount?”
Of course. He should’ve known. He could already picture the huge pot of porridge waiting in the kitchen.
Cats clearly had no talent for nursing the sick.
Still, as he spooned the not-bad porridge into his mouth, Si-yul couldn’t help but chuckle.
“Beginners always have trouble with portion control.”
“Mm… I just kept cooking and it got a little out of hand.”
“It’ll be gone in two or three days.”
“I’ll help you finish it!”
“Oh, what a big help that’ll be.”
He gave her his usual unhurried smile, and even though she knew it wasn’t really praise, Hae-in felt relieved.
She hadn’t realized how happy she’d be just to see him back to his normal self.
“Anyway, thank you. It’s good.”
“See? I might not be good at baking, but maybe I’m better at this.”
“I wouldn’t go that far.”
“…Tch.”
So annoying.
Pouting, she watched him empty the bowl, when suddenly something else popped into her head.
“Oh right, Kang. I have dessert too.”
“Dessert? Did you go out?”
“No, but…”
Looking at him, sick and weak, made her understand for the first time her mother’s desperate urge to feed her whenever she was ill.
Only now did she truly understand.
________✧⑅˖♡∘˚˳°↝^._.^_________
After clearing away the porridge and bringing water, she even went so far as to peel tangerines herself and put them into his hand. For Hae-in, this was extraordinary service.
Si-yul was thoroughly enjoying her unusual attentiveness.
“Guess being sick has its perks.”
“Eat them and get better.”
“Well, I’d still prefer a kiss.”
“…Just eat!”
Apparently, he remembered everything from before he fell asleep. Well, he wasn’t the type to ramble nonsense even with a fever.
“So this was from the neighborhood rep?”
“Yes. She said we should go to the residents’ meeting.”
“Oh, I remember her. She once kept trying to set Tae-il up with women. She seems eager to match any eligible young man she sees.”
“…Ugh.”
“They just can’t understand why perfectly normal young men and women would stay single. Most of the older generation are like that.”
Judging by how casually he was talking, his condition had improved quite a bit. He accepted every piece of tangerine she peeled for him, and his complexion had brightened.
And somehow, Hae-in kept peeling more.
The bag full of tangerines was already half-empty. When he finally waved his hands in surrender, his expression was one of pure defeat.
“Hey, even my grandma never fed me this much.”
Relieved but unsatisfied, Hae-in leaned closer and asked softly,
“Kang, should I get you more water?”
“No, I’m fine.”
“Then… is there anything else you need?”
To be honest, there wasn’t. But seeing her face, so eager to do more, he couldn’t bring himself to dismiss her.
With Hae-in, her desires were always written plainly on her face.
“…Hmm, could you bring me my phone?”
“Here! And, and what else?”
“Now you should rest too.”
“I’ve been resting the whole time.”
Her round eyes widened in protest, but Si-yul already knew. He knew she had stayed by his side the entire time he was asleep.
Even when she had gone to make porridge, her warmth lingered on the sheets within reach, comforting him.
“Then let’s nap together.”
“Huh?”
“Come here.”
When he suggested they just sleep, Hae-in’s heart skipped in embarrassment, and she realized how dirty her own thoughts had been.
Because the look on Si-yul’s face as he patted the space beside him was nothing but calm and peaceful.
Ugh, what was I thinking, with a sick man of all people…
Quickly brushing the tangerine peels aside, she hesitantly slipped under the blanket beside him.
His body was a little too warm today, which made her anxious again. But when his hand drew her close, wrapping around her shoulder and back, her worries melted away like snow.
With him holding her tightly and kissing her forehead tenderly, all her dizziness and unease faded.
Maybe all her fear and anxiety came from seeing him sick.
Maybe it was simply that he had such power over her.
Nestled into the unusually gentle Si-yul, she let him hold her as much as she wanted.
He was the one who was ill, yet she was the one being comforted.
“I don’t usually get sick, but I must’ve overworked myself lately.”
“…No. It’s because of me.”
“No, it’s not.”
“It’s me… I made you sick. It’s because of me…”
“It’s because of me. I’m the one who held you. You didn’t. So it isn’t your fault.”
He spoke so firmly that Hae-in couldn’t bring herself to argue.
“It’s my fault for not being able to hold back. Isn’t that right?”
“…Yeah.”
In truth, he knew very well whose fault it was. But that was why tears welled up in her eyes.
She loved him so much that it brought her to tears. That was all that mattered now, and he knew it too.
“Don’t blame yourself.”
At the soft whisper above her head, Hae-in nodded and burrowed into his arms.
She could endure being the one who was sick, but she couldn’t endure him being in pain. It was strange, and astonishing.
“Kang… what if, someday…”
“Hm?”
“What if I change… from who I am now?”
“What kind of change? Your face? I don’t really care about that.”
What if I turn really ugly!
Hae-in looked up at him, then anxiously confessed the worry she had carried all day.
The spell didn’t allow her to ask directly, but she could circle around it enough to hint.
“No, not that… I mean… my personality…”
“Your personality…”
“Like if I stopped acting cute altogether.”
“You’re not cute to begin with.”
“What? But at least with you, I’ve…”
“Think about how you were at the beginning. I got bitten half to death.”
“…Well, that’s true.”
She had to admit it. His hands still bore ragged scars, and some of those were definitely her doing. She hadn’t exactly been sweet from the start.
“Whatever changes, whatever it is…”
He tightened his arms around her, and Hae-in instinctively wrapped her arms tighter around his waist.
“Yes.”
“As long as the things you love stay the same, I’ll keep loving you.”
“The things I love?”
The things she loved… sweets, and Kang Si-yul. But what if she forgot Kang Si-yul?
“You like spacing out.”
“…Yeah.”
“You like being alone, you like quiet. Ah, and you enjoy taking walks.”
“That’s right.”
“You hate being told what to do, and hate being forced to eat something you don’t want. Especially when someone tells you to do something you already planned to do—you really hate that.”
This man… he knows way too much!
Hae-in felt strangely reassured by how well he knew her. And come to think of it, he wasn’t the kind of man to retreat easily even if she pushed him away.
Even if she someday forgot him completely, he would probably pester her until she remembered again.
“…I’m so glad you’re shameless, Kang.”
“Mm… was that supposed to be a compliment?”
“Yes.”
“Somehow it doesn’t feel like one.”
He seemed briefly confused about how to respond to her embrace.
“You have to stay shameless forever!”
________✧⑅˖♡∘˚˳°↝^._.^_________
Si-yul’s resilience was astounding. After just one day of rest, he was already stretching leisurely and getting ready for work as if nothing had happened.
“Guess I’ll head out.”
“Yawn… wouldn’t it be better to rest one more day?”
“There’s a break starting next week. I’d feel guilty taking sick leave right before that.”
So you actually have a conscience. That’s news.
“Oh, let’s go together.”
“Okay! I’ll transform!”
“No, not today. No cat. Get dressed properly and come out with me. I’ll introduce you to Ms. Bang Yuna, show her your face. We can invite her for brunch…”
He said it casually and went back toward the bathroom.
But in the moment he looked away from Hae-in, there was a sudden thump.
“Mm?”
“…Huh?”
“What’s this? I told you to come with me, so why’d you turn into that?”
The sound had been her clothes falling. After all, once she changed into a cat, her human clothes couldn’t stay on.
She had been human just seconds ago. So why had she suddenly turned back into a cat? He looked puzzled.
But the one most baffled was Hae-in herself. Her body had transformed against her will.
“What… is this…”
She wriggled her way out from the collar of her shirt, utterly confused.
“What’s wrong?”
“I… I can’t turn back!”
It was impossible. She tried again and again to return to her human form, but her body refused to listen.
It was as if she had never had that ability at all. Not even a twitch.
“I can’t transform back!”
“What?”
I hate this!
