Ch. 36 Taming A Cat (1)

As soon as I climbed up to the rooftop garden late that night, I went to the tree in the center of the garden, and tucked a piece of paper inside a hole. It was a note for the angel of death. It had agreed to check in after two months.

I wondered what it would it say after it saw the message. I had written down the number of the house I was living in as well, to make sure it knew where I was. Would it criticize me? Would it lecture me?

[I started to like someone.]

I tightly squeezed my human hand.

Wasn’t it strange? I had ten fingers and spoke like a person, but I felt guilty and burdened for liking another person.

I wiggled my toes on the bench. My toes moved at the command of my brain, but the sensation felt distant. The shape of the body was mine, but it was like wearing an ill-fitting glove. As time went by, it became more comfortable using a cat’s body, and more awkward using human hands and feet.

Except..my heart. It was definitely my own, without a shred of doubt or confusion. That comforted me somewhat. Being in love meant that part of me was still human. It was a feeling I couldn’t predict, control, or stop.

I still felt hopelessly drained, however. No matter how easy it was to be a cat, I felt like my identity was gradually being eaten away.

That was why I needed my heart even more.

“…I’m Hae-in. I’m Park Hae-in.”

I wasn’t a cat, I was Park Hae-in.

I stared blankly into space and repeated my name to myself. No one had ever called by my that name in months. I clung to it with all my might, lest my identity would slip away like smoke. It would be a tragedy for a human mind to die and succumb to a cat’s.

I liked Tae-il as my owner and friend, and before I knew it, it turned into love. When he was sad, my heart would break and my eyes would prick with tears. My wounded heart yearned to give him comfort and let him know there was another one like him.

The feelings I had for him wasn’t one for an owner, nor was it a common sympathy from a woman.

It was compassion born from love. I knew it was. The feeling burned in me too brightly to be pity. Although I lived as a cat most of the time, I could identify the very human feeling.

I didn’t need much. I just wanted to take care of Tae-il, the same way he would pet me and soothe me. If only I could tell him how I appreciated his kindness.

“Haaa!”

I sucked in a sharp breath and opened Tae-il’s cell phone. It took me some time to find the keypad and dial the number. After I did, my finger hesitated over the call button. My hands were shaking when I finally pressed it.

Ttuleuleuteuleu.

The ringing tone stretched on for a long time. It was after three o’clock in the morning, so it was likely the person I was calling was fast asleep. Unfortunately, this was the only time I could make a call. I had to get up before dawn, walk somewhere else, and delete the call history after the call. There were many things I had to be careful about.

Pick up, pick up, I begged inwardly.

The ring tone stopped, and my shoulders hunched instinctively as a familiar voice answered.

[…Who is it?]

Tae-il’s number would show up in the caller ID, but I listened as Si-yul asked who it was anyway. He was an intelligent man and knew that Tae-il would not call at this time.

“It’s me.”

[I thought it would be you.]

“I’m sorry that I called you so late. Or early.”

As I listened to Si-yul’s voice, I apologized for rudely disturbing his sleep.

[I understand your situation.]

I pressed my lips as the deepness of his voice reverberated through the speaker. It was husky and sluggish from sleep, and even sounded quite…sultry.

For a moment, there was the noise of shifting and squeaking through the phone, and the click of a light being turned on. They were small noises that I picked up with my sensitive ears, which worked superbly even when I was in my human body. I waited a few moments for him to adjust to wakefulness.

[So what’s the matter?]

“The promise from before…”

[Speaking personally, if you’re going to run away again, I hope that means you’ll be coming to my house.]

His suggestion was so outlandish that a smile twitched across my lips at first.

[I hope you’re doing well.]

His voice was raspy and deep and seductive again, and he sounded even more tempting from the note of sleepiness in it. It was like I was wearing a pair of powerful earphones, which only made the effect even richer.

“You player!” I yelled into the phone, unable to stand it anymore.

[What?]

“You’re a player and dirty flirt! You’re trying to charm a cat!”

I couldn’t have any sexy thoughts related to that guy. I hated to admit that he was attractive, but I had to accept that was just an objective fact.

There was the sound of shifting through the phone, and I imagined that Si-yul must be running his hand through his hair in a lazy gesture. I would bet anything that my ears relayed me the correct information, but I didn’t even have ten won on me right now.

[It’s because your reaction is funny. It’s fun to tease you.]

A low chuckle echoed from over the phone. Out of all the people that knew my secret, it had to be this guy.

I took a deep breath and tried to speak as calmly as possible. I couldn’t let him hear the shaking in my voice.

“I want to go on the date that you promised before.”

[Oh, with your owner?]

“…Yes!”

Si-yul paused for a moment.

[I thought you didn’t want me to arrange it before?]

“I’ve changed my mind!”

[…I see.]

He seemed to remember how angry I had gotten with him the other day, then decided to prod some more details from me.

[What are you going to do on the date?]

“Do I have to report that to you?”

[If you don’t tell me, I won’t know how to help you, and you’ll have less pocket money.]

“You!”

[Well?]

I gritted my teeth. There was not much to hide in the first place.

“It’s just … I want to cheer up the owner and tell him he’s a good person. I just want to support him like that.”

[…That’s it?]

“Well, I’ll do more after the beginning!”

[I see.]

The cat had a very simple wish. Don’t one usually have a more spectacular vision when dating a guy one liked?

Si-yul wondered how to prepare for it. First he needed to find a dress for the cat. No, wait, before that, the cat see

And the cat seems to have forgotten, but there was one condition attached to the promise.

[If I arrange the date, you’ll have to go out with me too, you know.]

“Huh?”

[It was part of the promise.]

“Y-you were the one that made the promise!”

[That’s part of the deal. I’m not in the business of losing. I’m sleepy now, so I’m going to hang up.]

The called dropped before I could say something.

I sat on the bench with a grumbled expression, wondering what had happened.

If I wanted a date with Tae-il, I had to have a date with Si-yul.

There was no such thing as a freebie.