The day had broken.
The morning sunlight shone far more strongly on Haein’s face than the moonlight ever had, prompting her to slowly open her eyes… only to close them again, blinking lazily.
It had been a long time since she’d slept so deeply, and sleep wasn’t ready to let her go just yet. Unlike the damp, prickly grass she was used to, this bed was unbelievably soft and cozy. Drowsy comfort was something both cats and humans could enjoy.
Deliberately, she lingered in the remnants of sleep. Her sleepy eyes fluttered half-open, and she vaguely realized someone was holding her close.
She instinctively snuggled deeper into that warm embrace.
The owner of this warmth was probably that man. Kind, gentle… a good person.
If she really was a cat, she thought, she’d want to be raised by someone like him. Being wrapped in those soft, gentle hands wouldn’t be such a bad life for a cat.
Through half-open eyes, Haein looked at the now-familiar face of the man. His long eyelashes and sharp nose made her heart flutter.
Even from this angle, looking up at him from beneath, there wasn’t a hint of awkwardness or humiliation on his well-defined face.
She didn’t usually enjoy drawing people, but if he were the model, she might be tempted to try. His lazily curved lips were right in front of her.
Unconsciously, Haein reached out to touch him—only to snap back to her senses and quickly sit up.
“Mmm…”
She must’ve fallen asleep here in a daze, feeling so relaxed. Stretching leisurely, she casually brushed the thought aside.
At that moment, Haein still hadn’t realized it.
She hadn’t yet noticed that her body had returned to its original human form, with long arms and legs.
She was simply lost in the joy of a cozy bed, the sunlight filtering softly through the windows, and the lingering warmth. Sitting with her hands tucked between her knees, she stared blankly at the sunlight, eyes half-closed in contentment.
Nice… So nice.
She let herself sink into that laid-back, almost elderly sense of peace. It was true—since becoming a cat, she had grown more relaxed in general.
“…Hmm?”
Suddenly, his hand touched her calf. It seemed he was sleepily reaching for the warmth that had been beside him, fumbling without opening his eyes.
But the moment his hand brushed against her leg, it felt… strange. The sensation was too smooth, too warm. It wasn’t the familiar feeling of stroking a cat.
Why does it feel so smooth?
Puzzled, Haein turned to look at where his hand was resting.
And she saw it—a smooth, pale human leg. Her leg. Definitely a human’s leg.
Is this a dream?
Dazed, Haein slowly lifted her gaze. From her leg, up past her ankle, calf, thigh… and then, blatantly exposed—
Her chest?
Bathed in the bright sunlight, her chest was as flat as ever. No fur. A hairless, tragically flat chest.
“Ah… Aaaah! Myaaaa… Myap?”
(Ahhh! What… Myaap?)
It wasn’t a dream.
Haein, who had started to scream, quickly slapped a hand over her mouth. Sure, it was shocking to realize she’d returned to her human body—but what was even more shocking was that she was still speaking… in cat language. How disturbing!
What the hell?!
Haein’s mind raced in panic.
She hadn’t even completed a month yet, so why had she transformed back into a human? And why, even with a human body, could she not speak like a human?
The grim reaper had clearly told her she would instinctively know when the time to transform came!
It was supposed to happen by will… right?
…Come to think of it, Haein remembered the dream she’d had the night before.
She dreamt of being in her own room, sprawled on her bed with her laptop, dozing off just like before. Rubbing her cheek against clean sheets, purring contentedly, and with no one to wake her, she slept deeply for what felt like forever.
Yeah, she had definitely been human in that dream. It was a mundane, ordinary dream of daily life.
“Nya-nya…” (Ah…)
She tried speaking again, but as expected, only animalistic sounds came out.
What’s the point of having a human body if I can’t even speak properly?!
Frowning in frustration, Haein frantically tried to recall what the grim reaper had explained.
[Switching between your human and cat bodies will feel awkward at first. Walking on four legs to two, meowing to speaking human language—it won’t be easy in the beginning. But you’ll adapt quickly. At some point, it’ll happen automatically. Humans adjust to anything fast.]
That cheeky grim reaper… All that talk about things happening “automatically“! But he never mentioned that I’d have to “meow” while in a human body! So this is what he meant by “it won’t be easy at first”…
“…Kitty?”
It seemed the man had woken up, startled by the noises she was making. He stretched and rubbed his eyes, his movements suggesting he would open them at any moment.
Having fully realized her own nakedness, Haein quickly yanked the thin bedsheet and wrapped it tightly around herself.
Apparently, this grim reaper’s strange magic didn’t come with the option of conjuring clothes.
She jumped to her feet in a panic, but in doing so, stepped on the trailing edge of the sheet and tumbled off the bed.
“Nya!” (Ah!)
Thud!
Her chin hurt. Where had all her feline grace gone? Her original body was as awkward and clumsy as ever.
When does this “switch” finally settle in?
The sharp pain from falling to the floor was intense, but escape was more important. She tried to stand, but her legs refused to cooperate.
“Nya-nya… Meee!” (You’ve got to be kidding me!)
Her uncooperative body left her sprawled helplessly on the floor. Annoyed and flustered, she flailed around, but hearing the man stirring, Haein quickly crawled under the bed.
Fortunately, there was enough space beneath the bed for her small frame to hide comfortably.
The man seemed tidy—at least there wasn’t any dust. That, at least, was a relief. But still… hiding completely naked under his bed with only a sheet? How utterly humiliating.
Her face flushed bright red.
“…Kitty? Hmm? Meow? Kitty?”
The creaking of the bed springs sounded heavy as he stretched.
He called out, searching for her. The black cat he brought home last night—where had she disappeared to? Perhaps she’d woken up and hidden somewhere.
Assuming she was still inside the house, he slowly got out of bed and walked toward the living room.
Watching his retreating footsteps, Haein buried her face in her hands.
What would he think if he saw her now? A naked woman hiding under his bed in his room—there was no other word for that but pervert.
A pervert! I’d rather die than get caught!
Even though her body was bare of fur now, she could practically feel her hair standing on end. Holding her breath, she did her best to erase her presence—playing dead, in the truest sense.
Thankfully, he didn’t seem to realize someone was under the bed. Standing near the entrance, he scratched the back of his head, looking around.
“Kitty?”
Still calling for her.
Haein bit the edge of the sheet in frustration, hating herself for not being able to respond.
Why did I have to turn human now? Just because I dreamt of being human for a bit? And why—why did I have to be naked? Please, let me turn back into a cat!
Gnawing the sheet aggressively like an angry cat, Haein resembled nothing less than a foul-tempered feline.
Living as a cat had left her with a habit of biting things more than using her hands, though she hadn’t realized it yet.
“Myaa!” (Ugh!)
Just as she was cursing her ridiculous situation, Haein suddenly felt an odd sensation wash over her.
It was like plunging into deep water—her senses faded, and a dense pressure enveloped her.
Her body seemed to glow softly, and gradually, she began to shrink.
The space under the bed wasn’t growing larger—she was the one becoming smaller.
“Nya?” (Huh?)
Flattened against the floor, Haein finally realized—she had returned to her cat form.
Her pupils dilated wide as she looked at her black-furred front paws and her stubby drumstick-like hind legs.
This… this is it! My fluffy legs!
Overwhelmed with relief that she didn’t have to show him her disgraceful human form, Haein almost bounced with joy.
Though her feline face showed little expression, she could’ve thanked the heavens in that moment—she was that relieved.
At least for now, being a cat was undeniably better than being human.
“Where did you go? Meow…”
“Myao! Nya-nya!” (Here! I’m a cat!)
Right on cue, the man returned to the bedroom, calling for her again. Haein quickly darted out from under the bed, the sheet still draped across her rear like a cape, her front paws outstretched as if proudly making a grand entrance.
Look at me! I’m a cat, through and through!
“There you are. Huh? Why is the sheet here?”
He naturally scooped her into his arms and noticed the sheet peeking from under the bed. Tilting his head in confusion, he set the sheet back on the bed—just as the doorbell rang.
Ding-dong.
Still holding Haein, he walked toward the front door.
He didn’t even check the intercom—clearly, he was expecting someone.
The door opened to reveal a man with neatly slicked-back hair and rimless glasses. Adjusting his heavy frames, he stepped inside.
Strangely, Haein found herself relieved that the visitor was a man, not a woman—and that realization startled her.
Flustered, she quickly rubbed her face with her front paw.
“Good morning.”
“You’re early.”
The two seemed close. The man with glasses gestured toward Haein, nestled comfortably in his friend’s arms.
“…What’s with the cat?”
“Ah, I told you, didn’t I? The girl I’ve been curious about.”
At those words—the girl he’d been curious about—Haein quickly rubbed her face again and again, embarrassed. It felt like her face should be blushing, though of course, her feline face didn’t redden. Still, the itching sensation made her anxious.
The two men watched the black cat diligently grooming herself.
“…So it really was a cat.”
“Caught her yesterday.”
“Right… I was crazy to expect anything else from you.”
The man chuckled and pressed a brief kiss to Haein’s forehead.
How had he known she was a girl? She hadn’t exactly acted flirtatiously.
Haein was puzzled, but the man—sharp-eyed as he was—could confidently bet everything he owned that this aloof, elegant little cat was female.
“She’s pretty, isn’t she?”
“A beauty, huh…”
Haein couldn’t help but rub her cheeks with both hands. Embarrassment made her face itch, and she reflexively tried to ease that sensation.
The two men chuckled softly.
“She’s kind of cute.”
“Right?”
“Are you going to keep her?”
“I’d like to… but I should check first. She might belong to someone. She’s way too pretty to be a stray.”
A large hand gently patted her head. He smelled nice. Maybe it was some kind of woody cologne? He carried the scent of a cool forest.
Haein pressed her rosy pink nose against his wrist, sniffing lightly.
“They post those at animal hospitals, don’t they?”
“Post what?”
“Missing pet posters. There were a few at the clinic down the street.”
“Yeah? Then I should probably check it out.”
“But not today. My shoot got moved up.” He glanced down at the cat cradled in his arms. “Taeil, you’re free right now, aren’t you?”
Haein’s ears perked up as she looked up at him.
So his name… is Taeil.
“Nyang?” (Taeil?)
“Hmm?”
“Nyang, nyang.” (Your name… Taeil.)
“…It’s like she’s saying something.”
“What else would she be doing? Cats meow, that’s what they do.”
Despite knowing it was just cat sounds, Taeil always responded, holding eye contact each time. Gazing down at Haein, as if something had clicked, he smiled.
“Oh, should I give you a name? ‘Kitty, kitty’ sounds weird.”
“She probably has a name.”
“Still, I want to call you something… even if it’s just for now.”
Animals raised by humans must recognize affection through gazes like this. That must be why dogs are loyal, and cats… know who feeds them.
The warmth in his eyes made it clear—he cared for her.
“Then maybe something simple… like Nabi…” (Butterfly)
“Nyang!” (No way!)
Haein immediately let out a sharp meow, her voice laced with disapproval. She turned her head away in protest.
Taeil’s friend’s eyes widened, pointing at her in shock.
“Did… did she just say no?”
“She’s really smart. Aren’t you?”
Taeil’s fingers scratched lightly under her chin, his voice soft as he whispered, “You’re a clever one.”
Haein, unable to resist, rubbed her nose against his fingertips.
It was the highest display of affection she could offer him—pressing some part of her body against his.
“We’ll figure out a proper name later. I have to head to the shoot, so let’s get going.”
“Pushing me around after showing up an hour early, seriously.”
“What can I do? The model’s in a rush.”
“First last week’s location change, now this… You really pull this kind of thing all the time.”
“Sorry. Please, Taeil?”
Taeil sighed, clearly annoyed, but eventually relented. Though his expression showed he wasn’t entirely happy about it.
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Once they left, Haein wandered around the apartment.
Now that she was alone, it hit her—she was basically trapped in here.
She’d figured out how to switch between human and cat forms. Technically, she could turn human, open the door, and leave… but then, wouldn’t Taeil think it was some kind of mystery?
A stray cat vanishing from a locked apartment. It’d be impossible to explain.
For now, she’d have to wait for the right opportunity.
Trailing along the apartment, she eventually spotted the laptop sitting on the dining table.
Hopping onto the chair, she closed her eyes and focused.
I want to be human… Human…
If she remembered the sensation correctly, this was how she transformed.
Sure enough, that odd, familiar feeling swept over her. Her whole body went numb for a moment.
When she opened her eyes, she was human again.
“Myo…” (Oh.)
She still couldn’t speak properly, only meowing.
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Curious, Haein crawled toward the bathroom.
Half-dragging herself along on her knees.
Clutching the sink for support, she leaned toward the mirror, inspecting her face closely.
It was unmistakably hers—every feature, every freckle, every tiny mole. Her reflection was intact. But… the problem remained. She still couldn’t speak human words.
That was a huge problem.
Without her voice, she couldn’t contact her mom. She couldn’t call anyone.
Determined, Haein crawled back to the table where the laptop sat.
When was the last time she crawled like this? It was frustrating, but standing wasn’t exactly easy yet.
She booted up the laptop, finally managing to awkwardly climb onto the chair.
Her five fingers stretched stiffly in front of her—her human hands still felt unfamiliar.
She typed an email to her mom, fingers clumsy like a chicken pecking at keys.
> Mom, my trip’s going to take longer than expected. There’s so much interesting stuff here, I’m having fun. Oh, and my phone broke… but reception’s terrible here anyway. I’ll contact you by email from time to time, so don’t worry.
She kept it short. Writing too much would only raise suspicion.
Since she’d left on a trip to gather material for her next project, no one would be looking for her immediately.
Still, going a whole month without calling… She had to speak, eventually.
Closing the laptop, Haein cleared her throat.
“Mya… Mya…” (Ah… Ah…)
But nothing changed. She still sounded like a damn cat.
Why did she have to use cat speech with a human body? It was ridiculous—neither fully human nor fully cat…
Sighing, she sent similar emails to a few friends.
Then she slipped into Taeil’s room, grabbing a loose T-shirt off the floor.
Nudity might’ve been familiar by now, but it still felt unsettling, so she threw on the shirt.
Clutching the clothing rack, she practiced standing.
Her balance slowly returned, and once she could stand steadily, she stretched her body wide.
But just as she did, an odd sensation washed over her. Not one of the usual five senses, but more like… hunger? Or maybe emptiness?
“Mii!” (Ah!)
Haein suddenly understood—the remaining time she could stay in this human body was running out.
It was something she could just… feel. Like hunger, sleepiness, or exhaustion. Strange, but intuitive.
Once she was steady on her feet, she half-crawled into the living room.
Instinctively, she sprawled out in the warm sunlight, lost in thought.
What should I do?
She couldn’t keep relying on Taeil, but slipping out unnoticed wouldn’t be easy either.
The moment passed quickly. The ticking clock in her body warned her—time as a human was limited.
Wasting it practicing how to walk would be foolish, especially when she couldn’t even speak properly yet.
She transformed back into a cat.
Her oversized clothes were all that remained where she’d been sitting.
Haein dragged the T-shirt over to where she’d been lounging, carefully placing it down.
Then, she found another sunlit spot to bask in.
The cat’s body felt more natural, more comfortable.
Perched on the sofa armrest, purring softly, Haein drifted off without realizing.
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Her small body swayed as she dozed, her face so relaxed she looked ready to drool, despite being a cat.
Beep-beep-beep!
Her ears perked up mid-nap. The electronic lock buzzed.
It was dark outside now. Haein padded lightly to the entrance, peeking through the crack as the door opened.
Taeil’s familiar scent drifted in.
He smiled brightly as he stepped inside—clearly pleased to be welcomed home.
“Kitty!”
“Mii.”
The clock showed he’d been gone for 12 hours.
His schedule definitely wasn’t your typical office job.
Scooping her into his arms with warm hands, Taeil gazed at her.
Haein blinked her wide eyes back at him.
His wavy, light brown hair was tied loosely behind his head—it suited him naturally.
His pupils were pale brown, soft yet deep enough to draw someone in.
Taeil cradled her gently to his chest.
For a brief moment, Haein wondered… maybe living as this man’s cat wouldn’t be so bad.
“I bought you gifts! Want to see? Tasty snacks… and toys.”
“Miyo…” (Hmm…)
“And a carrier.”
Carrier? As in luggage? But… it looked more like a little igloo. White, rigid plastic.
What the heck was that? Haein, who had never raised pets herself, eyed the unfamiliar item suspiciously.
Taeil brought it closer. She sniffed instinctively—her feline senses sharp.
It smelled like plastic, new and unused.
Taeil, seeing her curious, opened the carrier door. The entrance was on the side.
It hit her.
It’s a house… a cat house!
“Let’s go inside.”
“Nyah?” (Huh?)
Before she could react, Taeil placed her inside. The door snapped shut immediately.
She looked around, realizing she was trapped inside the carrier.
Her paws pressed against the wire mesh, confused by the situation.
This wasn’t a house—it was a cage.
“Mya?” (Wait, I’m trapped?)
You locked me up?
She panicked, scratching at the door.
But Taeil grabbed his keys, heading straight for the door.
“I made a vet appointment.”
The realization made her fur stand on end.
The vet?!
