By Zephyria Yumin put the old clothes and black socks into a small shopping bag, and stepped outside wearing the new clothes and socks. He felt much refreshed.
“Tae-jun, thanks for the clothes.”
“It’s nothing. It’s fine.”
Tae-jun replied plainly. Then, he suddenly peered into Yumin’s face. Once the dark colors were shed and bright colors were put on, he looked much better.
‘Hmm… He’s much better looking than I usually thought. And his neck is so white, it looks like a bite would leave a deep mark.’
Tae-jun stared intently at Yumin, then suddenly snapped back to reality. He then deliberately walked, looking only straight ahead.
It wasn’t very far to school, so they decided to walk instead of taking the subway or bus. The two of them talked intermittently, then fell silent for a while, and when Yumin started talking again, they exchanged a few more words.
When the topic of movies came up again, Yumin became dejected.
Tae-jun is a non-believer in marriage, I never expected such a hidden obstacle. His beliefs seem firm, I wonder if there’s any way I can change his mind?
Lost in thought for a long time, Yumin didn’t hear Tae-jun calling him.
“Go Yumin.”
“Huh? What?”
“We’re here.”
“Already?”
He snapped back to reality and looked around. They were indeed in front of the school. More precisely, near the back gate, which was the starting point of the bustling street.
“Tae-jun, why did you come all the way here? It’s quite a walk to your neighborhood.”
From this back gate to Tae-jun’s officetel was about a ten-minute walk for a human man without stopping.
“How do you know where I live?”
“Huh?”
“I never told you where I live.”
Yumin felt a prickle of guilt. He had made a slip of the tongue.
Tae-jun raised an eyebrow and looked Yumin up and down. Tae-jun and his Noona lived in Seoul, but it was far from school, so he was currently living alone. And he hadn’t breathed a word of this to Yumin.
“Ah, th-that’s…”
Seeing Yumin’s noticeable embarrassment, Tae-jun had a suspicion.
Is this guy stalking me?
Even Tae-jun’s high school classmates had never been invited to his home, so no one knew his current address. It was a situation that could easily lead Tae-jun to suspect something.
Yumin broke out in a cold sweat. He didn’t know what excuse to give. I was cat-napped, no, wildcat-napped and stayed at your place. Actually, the profile picture is me. He couldn’t possibly say that.
Yumin’s brain went into overdrive. Then, a spark of an idea struck him.
“It’s because of the cat! I know!”
“Cat?”
“Uh… the cat you know. I saw it in the neighborhood near that intersection. The one with lots of cherry trees. I saw it there, so I naturally thought you lived there… or did I? Yeah. That’s what I thought.”
Yumin put on a terrible acting performance. Tae-jun still looked unconvinced.
“If you mean the cherry tree neighborhood, then yes, that’s correct.”
“Right? I told you!”
“Hmm…”
Fortunately, Tae-jun didn’t press further.
“Then I’ll be going!”
Yumin wanted to leave the spot immediately. He quickly waved and turned around.
“Ah, yeah. Go safely.”
Without even waiting for Tae-jun’s reply, Yumin ran towards the dormitory. He was running so fast, he looked like a sprinter in a 100-meter race.
“……”
Tae-jun’s gaze was fixed on Yumin’s receding back. He stood rooted to the spot until Yumin became a tiny dot and disappeared from his sight.
What is this uneasy feeling…?
It felt like dividing a number and not getting a clean result. It was a sensation Tae-jun intensely disliked.
“Phew…”
As soon as Yumin entered his dorm room, he collapsed by the entrance.
That was dangerous earlier. Thanks to my excellent acting, I escaped the crisis, but I almost revealed my true identity.
What’s more, if he found out I went to his place in my wildcat form, who knows what would happen. He might think I’m crazy or report me as a perverted stalker.
I must be more careful from now on.
Yumin wiped the sweat beading on his forehead and stood up. He entered the room and was about to organize his belongings when the black socks and black shirt he had put in the shopping bag caught his eye.
He had dressed up nicely to meet Tae-jun, so he was disappointed he had to take them off suddenly. However, judging by Tae-jun’s reaction after he changed at the store, he felt he should pursue pastel-toned outfits from now on.
The pressure to choose bright, soft colors over brave and sexy black was driving him crazy, but he decided to endure it. Clothes are a means, not the essence, aren’t they? Colorful clothes, and even brightly colored socks, were bearable if he thought of them that way.
Just because Tae-jun was a non-believer in marriage, Yumin couldn’t be discouraged. Now that he knew his values, he had to create an opportunity for a counterattack and exploit his weaknesses.
Why? Because a Black-footed wildcat never lets go of prey it has targeted. That was the true spirit of a Black Cat Beastfolk.
Yumin went into the bathroom to prepare to wash up. When his mind was in turmoil, he had to whip himself by dousing himself in cold water.
Instead of a flexible showerhead, Yumin turned on a sunflower-type shower valve that sprayed water vertically from above. A stream of water poured down onto the crown of his head.
“Ah, it’s cold!”
Yumin jumped. But he gritted his teeth and surrendered himself to the cold.
Although his body was inside the square shower stall, he imagined standing under a waterfall in his hometown, reverently receiving the waterfall’s spray.
“Ugh.”
Yumin squeezed his eyes shut and pushed his hair back. His hair, limp like seaweed, obscured his vision, making it difficult to find the faucet.
After finally washing up, Yumin emerged wearing a black shower gown. Even the gown was black, shiny silk, reflecting Yumin’s taste.
He regretted the whole ordeal, his teeth chattering from the cold, but his mind was certainly clear.
With his cold hands, Yumin opened his phone. He searched for “non-believer in marriage” and meticulously read several blogs, then joined related online communities. One had to know the enemy to fight them well.
Next, he searched for “fall seven times, stand up eight.” To fall seven times and get up eight, it was a proverb Yumin greatly admired. As it was a widely used phrase, the search results were extensive.
There were also good examples of “fall seven times, stand up eight.” Actors who, despite multiple audition rejections, eventually became stars. Soccer players who overcame injuries. Students who didn’t give up on difficult certification exams…
Yumin resolved that he too would become another wonderful example. In that spirit, he downloaded an image of “Seven Ups and Eight Downs” written in grand calligraphy. Then, setting the image as his phone wallpaper, he made up his mind.
Man Go Yumin will make at least seven advances on Beom Tae-jun. If rejected? He will not be discouraged and will stand up.
Yumin resolutely hardened his resolve. However, his body was so cold that he slowly crawled into bed.
“I’m never taking a cold shower again…”
Yumin sniffled.
“Ah… cough cough. Cough, cough.”
No matter how many times he cleared his throat, it only hurt, and his voice wouldn’t come out properly. Yumin lay on the bed, pressing his forehead. He felt a feverish warmth, a clear sign of a cold coming on.
I shouldn’t have taken that cold shower.
Yumin tapped his aching, stiff body joint by joint and got up.
“I don’t want to go to school…”
He wanted to skip class and lie down, but he still had to attend his lectures. He decided it would be better to stop by a pharmacy before class, so he hurried to get ready.
After packing his bag and leaving the dorm, Yumin crossed the campus. He quickly passed the Business Administration building and went out the main gate. He spotted a pharmacy that opened early in the morning.
“Hello. I’d like to buy some cold medicine.”
Yumin peeked through the door and entered, only to be startled. Tae-jun was inside the pharmacy. Yumin’s cheeks involuntarily rose. He felt incredibly lucky to meet him first thing in the morning. However, his throat felt scratchy, and he kept coughing, making it difficult to speak properly.
“Tae-jun. Cough cough, hello!”
“Ah. Go Yumin.”
“We’re meeting like this in the morning, cough, aren’t we.”
“You have a cold?”
“Yeah. I’m feeling a bit sick, so I’m here to get some medicine.”
“Did you sleep in the cold?”
“Ah, it’s not like that…”
He couldn’t possibly say he caught a cold from taking a cold shower. Yumin vaguely brushed it off.
Tae-jun’s thoughts were entirely different. He wondered if Yumin had caught a cold from wandering the streets at night wearing only a thin, low-cut knit sweater.
The black shirt Tae-jun had bought Yumin earlier was quite thick. In contrast, the knit was not. In fact, the neckline was so open it exposed his collarbones, and the material was airy.
If he caught a cold because of the clothes I bought him, I should offer appropriate compensation.
Tae-jun detested living with debts.
“I’ll buy your cold medicine.”
“Huh?”
“Please ring this up with mine.”
Tae-jun handed his card to the pharmacist.
“Why bother. It’s fine.”
“It’s just buying it along with mine. I’ll pay with this.”
“Thank you…”
However, a large bag of medicine was placed in front of Tae-jun.
“By the way, what medicine did you buy? Are you feeling unwell?”
“It’s animal medicine.”
“Animal medicine?”
“The cat I mentioned yesterday. I bought some things to give it next time I see it. Animals living outside often get sick.”
My goodness, how warm-hearted can he be…!
Tae-jun had effectively bought Yumin medicine twice. Cold medicine for human Yumin, and expensive animal medicine for wildcat Yumin.
Of course, Black-footed wildcats were born with peak immunity and were strong all over, so they didn’t need medicine. Still, him showing such thoughtfulness… Yumin rated Tae-jun’s character a perfect 10 stars.
<11. Beom Tae-jun>
Character ★★★★★★★★★★ (Extremely fond of animals)
“The cat must really like you!”
“Ah, right.”
“Huh? What is it?”
“You lost your wallet, didn’t you?”
“Wh-what? How do you know that?”
“I don’t know that either. It was mixed in with my things. Here, take it.”
Tae-jun handed Yumin a black wallet. Why was this at Tae-jun’s place? Yumin couldn’t grasp the situation at all. While he was stunned, Tae-jun quickly crossed the crosswalk.
“Hey, wait…! Tae-jun!”
Yumin tried to follow him belatedly, but the signal was about to change, and he regretfully missed Tae-jun. Yumin wracked his brain, trying to recall.
All he remembered was losing his wallet at a drinking party in early March. He couldn’t recall exactly when he lost it, whether he dropped it on the table, or if he entrusted it to someone. He had been very drunk that night and was disoriented after suddenly transforming into a wildcat.
Could it be that human Go Yumin followed Tae-jun home and left his wallet there? He couldn’t fathom that. He recalled Tae-jun carrying him, in his wildcat form, back to his home.
“Then where did the wallet come from?”
Yumin felt a sudden fear. Had he, without realizing it, dropped a clue about his identity? He trembled, suddenly afraid.
During class, Yumin debated several times whether to contact Tae-jun and ask for an explanation. However, if the wallet issue became a long conversation, he would also have to speak a lot, and there was a risk of his identity being revealed. He concluded that he would bury his curiosity and questions and let it slide. It was unsettling, but unavoidable.
Instead, Yumin surrendered his tense body to sleep.
After taking the cold medicine Tae-jun bought him and sleeping soundly, his condition improved slightly.
Heh heh, the power of love is indeed great.
Tae-jun had only paid 3,500 won for the cold medicine, not given it with love. But if Yumin felt love, then he felt it.
“Hey, Go Yumin.”
“Yumin-ah.”
As he tidied his messy hair and prepared to get up, Juwan and Hyeon-seok called out to him.
“Yeah.”
“Your next class is a free period, right? Want to go get some coffee together?”
“Sure. I was wanting something warm anyway.”
Yumin had recently become addicted to human world coffee. The reason he sometimes visited the cafeteria on the first floor of the Business Administration annex during his free periods was his caramel macchiato addiction.
When they arrived at the cafe, a prime window seat was fortunately vacant, so the three of them sat down side by side. Juwan had an Americano, Yumin a Caramel Macchiato, and Hyeon-seok a Latte.
“Ah. So sweet.”
“You like sweet things, huh?”
“Yeah. I didn’t get to eat much of this growing up.”
Milk foam formed a mustache shape on Yumin’s lips. Juwan tutted and chided him.
“Hey, you’ve got foam all over your mouth. Are you a kid?”
“A kid? My birthday is earlier than yours, you know.”
“Does a mere birthday matter? You should act like an adult.”
Juwan scrubbed Yumin’s mouth area with a napkin. His small lips turned red and swollen.
“Ouch!”
“Now it’s finally clean.”
Yumin glared at Juwan. Now that they were a bit closer, he was touching Yumin’s mouth, his cheeks, and under his chin, showing no manners.
For felines, the cheeks, as well as the forehead and lower jaw, hold special significance. They are areas used to rub against intimate partners as a form of affection. They are also used to subtly leave their scent, marking territory with ‘This one is mine.’
Lee Juwan. You are not yet worthy of touching my face and head! I will only permit this for my Tae-jun.
“Oh. It’s Beom Tae-jun.”
At that moment, Hyeon-seok said, looking out the window. Yumin’s head snapped around as he searched for Tae-jun.
“Gasp.”
Yumin almost spat out his coffee. Tae-jun wasn’t alone. He was walking side-by-side with a woman with long hair, laughing vibrantly.
“Huh? The girl next to Beom Tae-jun, isn’t that the one from the Fine Arts department, class A?”
“That’s right. I know her face because I was almost introduced to her.”
Hyeon-seok and Juwan whispered. The woman was a famous campus beauty. She was even a student Yumin had heard of several times, said to be the prettiest student on the liberal arts campus.
“She suddenly canceled a blind date. Could it be because she started dating Beom Tae-jun?”
“It’s possible.”
“But Hyeon-seok. Aren’t I better looking than Beom Tae-jun?”
“Hmm, I wouldn’t say that.”
Juwan and Hyeon-seok chatted idly, saying useless things. To them, the sight of the campus’s top handsome man and beautiful woman walking intimately seemed like an amusing spectacle.
However, Yumin’s mouth hung open, frozen, unable to speak. Shock and horror washed over him.
Tae-jun. You clearly said you were a non-believer in marriage! Then why are you walking so intimately with a woman! From this distance, it looks like you’re dating!
Yumin forced himself to grasp his confused head and put down his coffee cup.
“Hey, guys. I have something to ask you…”
“Yeah.”
“Uh-huh.”
“There are so many non-believers in marriage these days. Can people like that… date?”
Juwan scrunched up his face and laughed at Yumin’s question.
“Idiot, of course. Marriage and dating are separate things.”
“That’s right. Being a non-believer in marriage and being a non-dater are different concepts. I have two cousins in their late thirties who only date and absolutely refuse to get married.”
Hyeon-seok chimed in. For Yumin, for whom dating = marriage = childbirth, this was a difficult value system to accept. But on second thought, Hyeon-seok and Juwan were right.
“…I see.”
Yumin felt like he’d been hit on the head. He had become complacent, thinking that just because Tae-jun was a non-believer in marriage, he wouldn’t date either. That was Yumin’s miscalculation.
He had believed that if he could just break Tae-jun’s resolve against marriage, he would be his. But if Tae-jun was so open-minded, it was useless. He could just date another woman.
“Haa…”
As Yumin’s face suddenly darkened, Hyeon-seok looked at him strangely.
“But why are you like this all of a sudden?”
“Ah, it’s nothing.”
Yumin tried to act cheerful.
“By the way, Yumin-ah. You’re going to the MT too, right?”
“MT?”
“Yeah. The departmental MT this weekend. Did you decide to attend?”
“Uh-huh. Of course, I am. I already registered.”
“Oh, I was worried you might not go since the participation rate is low this time, so it’s good you’re going.”
Hyeon-seok sounded quite excited. But Yumin couldn’t hear his voice. Only the affectionate scene of Tae-jun and the beauty he saw earlier lingered in his mind.
What should I do? What should I do… If Tae-jun goes to another woman, how will I get him pregnant?*
Yumin wanted to bang his head against the wall.