“Ah, you can’t touch that.”
Worried that Kkamang might knock the cup down with that cat-specific nature of not being able to see what’s on the table, Surim rushed over hurriedly. Only after blocking between the cup, chopsticks, ballpoint pen, yellow memo pad, spoon and the cat did Surim feel relieved and tap Kkamang’s nose with his finger.
“You understand, right? You absolutely can’t knock it down, okay?”
Kkamang, who probably didn’t understand what was being said, leisurely licked his front paw clean with his tongue.
“Because these are very precious items to me.”
Meow.
“How precious, you ask? They’re so, so precious that…”
Surim smiled sinisterly and took something out from his bosom. It was a bamboo toothbrush with wet bristles.
“I even stole something like this again!”
Surim, who stuck the toothbrush in the cup, glanced at Kkamang as if being cautious and smiled awkwardly. A cup, chopsticks, ballpoint pen, yellow memo pad, spoon, and a bamboo toothbrush. They were all very strange items to bundle together as a set, but they had one thing in common.
The common point was that they were items Song Hanyeong had used. Surim’s expression melted as he looked at that set that wasn’t a set.
Meooow…
“Hm? Where did I steal it from? Well…”
Surim, who rolled his eyes as if troubled, covered his mouth that had been smiling bashfully and then slightly bent down to bring his face close to Kkamang. Joy lingered in the voice that whispered as if telling a secret.
“I sneaked into the bathroom while Song Hanyeong was getting dressed and secretly took it.”
He didn’t know how much his heart had pounded worrying he’d get caught. Since Song Hanyeong was stronger than ordinary people and sharp-witted, to avoid being caught, he had to act nonchalantly as if he hadn’t done anything.
Fortunately, Surim’s acting had worked wonderfully, and he had succeeded in stealing the disposable toothbrush without getting caught.
Surim, who smiled sinisterly, covered his bashfully smiling mouth with his hand.
“Ehehe…”
Meow…
Song Hanyeong in the form of a black cat looked at Surim without hiding his dumbfounded expression. He picked up the handkerchief that was deliberately dropped for him to take, but to think he stole the toothbrush from behind. Looking at it carefully, Jin Surim seemed to have somewhat frustrating aspects.
Even at the cry that didn’t hide his emotions at all, Surim didn’t notice anything and admired the ‘Song Hanyeong altar’ while giggling. It was an expression that said he felt full just by looking at it.
* * *
He had definitely fallen asleep holding the cat, but when he woke up, it had disappeared. Only the half-open window made it possible to guess that the cat had opened the window and gone off to do its business again.
Since it was a common occurrence recently, Surim didn’t mind and went to work. This was a very good change. If Kkamang became familiar with the household like this, someday he might become a house cat.
No, Surim harbored the ambition that even if Kkamang didn’t want it, he would someday make him into a house cat no matter what.
“What do you think?”
Surim, who had confided about his ambition in the break room, waited for Song Hanyeong’s reaction. Song Hanyeong looked at Surim with strange eyes while taking a sip of hot coffee.
“Even if that cat doesn’t like it?”
“A stray cat would naturally dislike being confined in a house at first. But it’s much better than dying in an accident on the street.”
“It seems like Jin Surim-ssi has already decided.”
“That’s true.”
Surim giggled.
“Someday I’ll definitely make him into a fat house cat.”
“A fat house cat.”
“That’s not to say I’ll make him into an obese cat. Just… I want to make him happy.”
“Ah. Happy.”
Song Hanyeong shrugged his shoulders and tilted his head toward Surim.
“Well, I don’t know if that cat would consider house cat life as happiness.”
“Why do you say such mean things? It’s just that Kkamang hasn’t tried house life, but once he does, he’s a kid who’ll adapt well.”
Surim grumbled sulkily. Song Hanyeong, who had no intention of becoming someone else’s fat house cat, just shrugged his shoulders.
“Rather than that, isn’t Jin Surim-ssi’s happiness more important?”
“My… happiness?”
“Yes, Surim-ssi’s happiness.”
“Mm… I’m reasonably happy these days.”
It was true. By chance, he had not only reunited with Song Hanyeong but had even become involved in a deeper relationship. Of course, it wasn’t a relationship with real feelings involved, but even this much felt like a miracle to Surim.
‘But it’s only for six months.’
Surim suddenly froze as if he’d been hit with cold water at the thought of the end of this period. Song Hanyeong had said he would finish the research within six months. Since they even wrote a contract, there would definitely be a conclusion within six months. When that happened, Surim would also become an unnecessary existence to Song Hanyeong, and this relationship too…
“Jin Surim-ssi?”
“…Yes?”
When Surim, who had been lost in thought, raised his head at the call, Song Hanyeong was looking at him with puzzled eyes. Only then did Surim realize that Song Hanyeong had called him several times.
If asked what he was thinking about, he had no excuse. Surim quickly changed the subject.
“How about you, Manager-nim?”
“About what?”
“Are you happy these days? Don’t you have any worries?”
“Worries, huh. I do have one.”
Surim looked up at Song Hanyeong with wide eyes.
“What worry? Is it a problem I can help with?”
“It seems like Surim-ssi could solve it.”
“What is it?”
“I’d like it if Surim-ssi would be careful with his conduct.”
“…What?”
Before he could properly respond to the strange words, Song Hanyeong smiled with an expression he’d never seen before. A gentle smile lingered on Song Hanyeong’s lips. That face was so beautiful that Surim couldn’t demand to know what he meant or take his eyes off Song Hanyeong’s face.
“Uh… my conduct…?”
“Yes. Don’t carelessly get bewitched by just any cat.”
“A cat is, a cat though…”
“I don’t like sharing with anyone.”
“…What? Shar… E-even with cats?”
“Especially with cats.”
What kind of talk was this. Surim blankly looked up at him, wondering if Song Hanyeong was being serious.
Then Song Hanyeong pointed his fingertip at the bite mark from the cat on the back of Surim’s hand and traced along the mark smoothly.
“So be careful not to get bitten by other brats.”
Then Song Hanyeong chuckled and took another sip of coffee.
Only then did it occur to Surim that Song Hanyeong might have compared the cat to his own kind. It was a story to be careful not to be bitten by Song Hanyeong’s kin, who are vampires.
“O-of course. Who would try to bite me? Besides, people like Manager-nim aren’t that common. Don’t worry, hahaha…”
“Well, is that so?”
“…Yes?”
Surim’s eyes widened, but Song Hanyeong didn’t answer satisfactorily. Song Hanyeong, with an inscrutable smile, asked again.
“Will you be careful?”
“…Yes.”
“Good, that’s a good boy.”
Song Hanyeong raised his hand and swept his thumb over Surim’s lips. At the gaze staring intently at his lips, yesterday’s kiss came to mind and Surim’s face turned bright red.
* * *
[Ji Seongchan] Surim-ssi, can we talk for a moment?
The moment he saw the new message, Surim’s heart sank. The last time he had talked with Ji Seongchan was the day he received the plant delivery. He had come to the front of the office, got caught by Song Hanyeong and was kicked out, and later apologized via messenger for breaking his request.
Until then, he hadn’t known that there was a recorder or that strange silver knife inside the plant pot, so he had simply accepted the apology and ended it.
Now that he knew Ji Seongchan had used him to bring in the recorder, he didn’t know how to treat him. Song Hanyeong had told him to pretend not to know about this matter for now. Though he hadn’t explained precisely, it seemed he was probably still pretending not to have discovered those things.
In such a situation, would it be okay to talk with Ji Seongchan? If he did talk, how should he converse?
Surim anxiously pondered while rubbing his opposite thumb with his thumb. If Song Hanyeong were at his seat now, he would have asked, but he had gone out in the morning saying he had something to handle briefly.
[Jin Surim] Ah, I’m a bit busy today so it’s difficult.
He had promised Song Hanyeong he wouldn’t carelessly meet Ji Seongchan. Surim decided to consult with Song Hanyeong once he returned.
But the message that came back was unexpected.
[Ji Seongchan] I’m resigning. Today’s my last day, and there’s something I need to talk to you about before I leave.
Resigning? It was strange. Ji Seongchan had said he got hired through his father’s friend’s introduction. As long as family was involved, he shouldn’t be able to resign that easily…
[Jin Surim] Resigning? Why so suddenly?
[Ji Seongchan] That’s what I want to talk about. Please spare me some time.
He had a feeling some complicated problem was involved. Surim tapped the keyboard lightly with his fingertips while pondering, then finally made up his mind.
[Jin Surim] Then let’s meet now.
* * *
Ji Seongchan, whom he met at the company cafe, had lost a lot of weight in the meantime. His complexion was haggard, his shoulders were hunched, and even his expression was gloomy, to the point where if they had passed each other in the hallway, Surim might have walked past without recognizing it was Ji Seongchan.
Because the Ji Seongchan that Surim knew was always a lively, cheerful guy.
