By Zephyria Yumin returned to the dormitory safely. The students stared at Yumin, who was running in clothes that seemed twice his size and wearing big shoes, but he didn’t care. He didn’t care about the morning classes he had to skip either.
What was more important was that he had protected his precious treasure.
Yumin stood blankly in the room and touched his treasure pouch. Its presence was certain through the fabric.
“Hoo.”
Yumin let out a sigh of relief, turned on the light in the room, and immediately found his phone to take a selfie. His face was sweaty from running and his hair was a mess, but he wasn’t in a position to worry about such things.
Click.
He chose the best-looking photo among them and quickly changed his messenger profile. The previously set wildcat form photo was permanently deleted.
“Pant pant… That’s good now.”
Yumin felt it was enough now that he had escaped Tae-jun’s house and changed his messenger photo.
At the same time, Tae-jun, who was fiddling with his phone, did not know that he had seen Yumin’s new profile.
Nor did he know that he had touched Yumin’s photo to enlarge it and fallen into deep thought.
A few days passed. Nothing happened to Yumin. His life repeated: attending classes, eating meals, and hanging out with Hyeon-seok and Juwan.
The report for
As life flowed like water, the MT day suddenly approached. It was Yumin’s first MT, so his anticipation was immense. He liked the idea of a party and drinking, but above all, what he wanted was romance.
According to information gathered from blogs, many romantic incidents happen during MT. People confess under the influence of alcohol, and subtle currents gain momentum.
Yumin intended to definitely capture Tae-jun’s attention during this MT. So, he told the student council that he would participate in the talent show. The student council was delighted to see a fellow student eager to attract attention.
But there was a problem. Yumin had not decided what to present even the day before departure. It would have been good to ask others for their opinions, but he wanted to do a surprise talent show, so he kept his participation a secret.
Thus, Yumin had to prepare for the talent show alone, without letting anyone know, not Juwan, Hyeon-seok, or Tae-jun.
“Ugh… Is rap better, or dance?”
Yumin was interested in rap and dance. A little more than ordinary people, no, much more.
Once, he was even told he should become an idol. When he was nineteen, he came to Seoul with a group of Beastmen to take the GED for humans.
Feeling reluctant to return to Gangwon Province immediately after just taking the exam, Yumin went to Hongdae with other wildcats. The wildcats gaped at the bustling atmosphere and the busy Seoulites.
Then, a person approached Yumin, gave him a business card, and introduced himself as a General manager from an entertainment agency. He said Yumin’s face was cute and his image was unique, and offered him a chance to become an idol.
Yumin was inwardly overjoyed, but he flatly refused the General manager’s offer. He thought it wasn’t a suitable profession for the eldest son of a deeply rooted Beastman family.
However, the business card he received then was so proud that he still kept it in his wallet.
And from then on, he became interested in the profession of an idol. He occasionally accessed video sites to watch rap and dance videos. As he watched and imitated various videos, Yumin eventually came to believe he was skilled.
“Ah… It’s a dilemma even with many talents.”
The only person he could consult with at times like this was his Unni. Yumin sent a message to his Unni.
Unni. I’m going to participate in the talent show, should I do rap or dance? As you know, I’m excellent at both.
Go Hye-min
Rap? Dance? Stop talking nonsense and just sing a ballad.
Why? Isn’t my rap skill okay? I’m good at dancing too.
Go Hye-min
Absolutely not. Just sing ballads.
Okay.
Yumin became dejected by his Unni’s cold dismissal. However, there was an old saying that there was nothing wrong with listening to a woman’s advice. Yumin decided to sing a ballad as his Unni instructed and began selecting a song.
To avoid disturbing his neighbors, Yumin practiced his ballad under the covers. The mournful, sobbing singing style and the precarious off-beat sounded quite good to Yumin’s ears.
It’s a truly mature and sexy voice for a 20-year-old. Tae-jun will surely be captivated by my singing.
Yumin muffled his uncontrollable laughter with his pillow and practiced until five in the morning.
Chirp chirp. The sound of sparrows chirping on the branches was unusually loud. The sunlight pouring in from outside the window was also too harsh.
“Mmm…”
But what time is it now?
Yumin looked at the alarm clock on his desk and his eyes widened. It was already half an hour past the assembly time.
He kicked off the covers, got up, and immediately looked for his phone. He had missed calls from the student council treasurer and from Juwan and Hyeon-seok.
How deeply had he slept to not hear the ringtone?
Yumin slapped his forehead and called the treasurer, Hyeongseop.
“Yumin. Where are you? You weren’t answering your phone.”
“Sorry. I overslept.”
“What are we going to do? Our bus has already left. You’ll have to come on your own with the latecomers.”
“Huh? There are latecomers?”
“Yeah. Eun-ji and Ju-yeon Sunbae are also late.”
“I’ll contact them.”
“Before that, you’ll have to contact Beom Tae-jun first. He’s driving the latecomers.”
“What?”
It was surprising news. When asked if Tae-jun was also a latecomer, the treasurer replied yes.
This is even better.
Yumin sang the chorus of his ballad again, using his fist as a microphone. The melody was sad, but his mood was elated.
Yumin put on the lemon-colored hoodie he had recently bought and jeans before leaving his room. He boldly wore white socks. He was quite embarrassed, but since he would be staying with Tae-jun for two days and one night, he couldn’t help but pay attention to his fashion.
The meeting place was the main gate. His classmate Eun-ji and a senior from another year, Ju-yeon, were already there.
“Hello.”
“Oh? Yumin, you’re a latecomer too.”
“Yes. I overslept.”
Yumin smiled sheepishly. Eun-ji giggled, finding Yumin cute.
“Look, Tae-jun is coming.”
A car with its hazard lights on appeared where Ju-yeon was pointing. Yumin didn’t even know what Tae-jun’s car looked like, and he envied and was amazed that Ju-yeon knew.
Ju-yeon walked ahead and approached the passenger door. Yumin’s eyes sparkled for a moment, and he ran, tap-tap. Then, like a special agent in a movie, he flung open the passenger door and threw himself inside.
“Hi, Tae-jun!”
Tae-jun and the female students were speechless at his agility.
“Uh.”
“Ju-yeon Sunbae, please get in. Eun-ji, you too, hurry.”
Ju-yeon and Eun-ji didn’t look too pleased. As they got into the car, Tae-jun slowly started driving.
“Excited?”
Tae-jun asked, seeing Yumin’s lips curve upwards.
“Yes!”
Tae-jun chuckled lightly. Yumin felt a premonition that something good would happen with Tae-jun today.
As the car left the Seoul city limits, Ju-yeon led the conversation from the back seat.
“Tae-jun. Thanks for the ride. I wouldn’t have been able to go to the MT if it weren’t for you.”
“It’s nothing. I’m also going slowly because I have some business to attend to.”
“I like going together like this, but how about you?”
Huh? Why does the atmosphere feel strange?
Yumin, with his animal instincts, became wary of Ju-yeon.
“Tae-jun. Thanks for the medicine back then.”
“Huh?”
“That medicine you bought… I really needed it.”
“Ah, I see.”
Yumin cut in and interrupted. It was awkward to talk about a cold medicine from a long time ago, but he wanted to end the conversation before it got longer with Ju-yeon.
However, the conversation ended awkwardly as Tae-jun didn’t give a lengthy reply. In the meantime, Eun-ji spoke up again.
“By the way, Tae-jun, Yumin. Did you guys eat breakfast?”
“I didn’t eat. They say an empty stomach is good for health.”
Yumin shouted energetically before Eun-ji’s question even finished.
“Is that so? Still, I want to buy something for Tae-jun. Since you’ll be spending gas because of us. I’ll buy snacks if we stop at a rest stop. Ju-yeon Sunbae, if there’s anything you want, please tell me. And Yumin too.”
Ah. Eun-ji is showing interest in Tae-jun…!
Yumin felt anxious. Eun-ji had a gentle tone but was decisive in her actions, making her very charming. If Tae-jun valued personality, he might be drawn to Eun-ji.
“Ah, ah…!”
“Yumin?”
“Let’s go to the rest stop right now. I’m so hungry!”
“You just said an empty stomach was good.”
“No. I changed my mind. Tae-jun, when is the rest stop coming up?”
“It’s right ahead.”
“That’s great. Let’s get off here.”
Yumin was so flustered that the car stopped, even though they hadn’t gone far.
“Then, everyone, tell me what you want to eat. I’ll buy it quickly.”
Eun-ji got out of the car, taking her wallet.
“No. I’ll buy it!”
“Really?”
“I’m good at this sort of thing. Just trust me.”
Yumin boasted, putting on an act. His scheme was as follows:
Buy an enormous amount of snacks. Buy so many that they wouldn’t finish even by the time they arrived at the MT location, and give them to the ladies. Then, the opportunities for conversation would naturally decrease.
“Then I’ll go to the convenience store.”
“Wait a moment, Go Yumin.”
“Yes?”
“Use this.”
Tae-jun handed Yumin an espresso card for an Americano. Yumin rejoiced at the thought of even saving money.
He quickly headed to the food court. Then, he moved in a straight line from left to right, packaging all the items.
Hot dogs, butter-grilled squid, roasted baby potatoes, puffed rice snacks, sausage skewers, walnut cookies, donuts, tteokbokki, tteokbokki, sundae, and for fear of choking, cola, cider, zero cola, orange juice, decaffeinated coffee, latte (iced and hot), iced caramel macchiato with an extra shot and one more pump of syrup, and for dessert, 4 ice creams… He shopped diligently.
Beep.
Beep.
Beep.
Meanwhile, Tae-jun’s phone kept ringing in his jacket pocket, and he thought someone was calling. But upon closer inspection, they were payment notification messages from the card. The amounts ranged from 10,000 won to 30,000 won per transaction.
“What is he buying so much…?”
Wondering what on earth he was buying, he looked out the window and saw Yumin returning with plastic bags full in both hands.
“Ladies, please have some. I picked out delicious things.”
“Look at the variety. It’s so diverse.”
“There’s so much! I can’t eat it all!”
Ju-yeon and Eun-ji marveled at the immense variety and quantity of food. After handing them coffee, cola, and ice cream, Yumin got into the passenger seat. The car started moving again.
“Thanks for using the card well.”
Tae-jun wasn’t someone who cared about the amount, so he didn’t mind the act of buying so much food. However, there was one bothersome point.
Yumin kept looking back every three minutes, asking Eun-ji if she was eating well and if she needed anything.
In Tae-jun’s opinion, Eun-ji was chewing roasted baby potatoes so full that she couldn’t speak, but Yumin kept calling her to take some of his too.
“Don’t you need more cola, Eun-ji? This one is new, drink it.”
“It’s okay. I’ve had enough.”
“Then have some coffee. Hot? Cold?”
“Yumin is so thoughtful. Eun-ji, you’re lucky.”
Ju-yeon chuckled teasingly at Yumin’s efforts to feed Eun-ji even one more thing. Eun-ji blushed and waved her hands.
“Unni! It’s not like that.”
Tae-jun drove, looking straight ahead silently, but he had one thought in his mind.
‘He swiped the card like crazy, could it be that he did it to feed Eun-ji…?’
“Tae-jun. The roasted baby potatoes are delicious, you should eat some too.”
“I don’t have hands.”
“You mean you want me to feed you?”
How could that be interpreted that way?
As Tae-jun was bewildered, a small roasted baby potato was brought close to his lips, which parted open. Since he was holding the steering wheel, he couldn’t resist. Tae-jun inadvertently accepted the potato Yumin picked up with his bare hands.
“Are you choking? I’ll give you a drink too.”
He couldn’t even answer because he was chewing the potato. Yumin put a straw in the orange juice and put it in Tae-jun’s mouth. Since he couldn’t spit out the straw, Tae-jun drank the beverage as Yumin instructed.
“You’re eating well.”
Yumin then brought that straw to his own lips and sucked. With a slurp, he took a sip, and his small lips turned a light orange color. Tae-jun glanced at Yumin, who was humming and drinking the beverage, then quickly looked away.
Don’t get distracted by trivial things. Safe driving is the most important.
Ju-yeon, who had initially led the conversation, hit her limit while eating walnut cookies. Eun-ji also couldn’t open her mouth after constantly eating and drinking ice cream and coffee.
Yumin was thoroughly enjoying this situation where everything was going according to his plan. As expected, the ladies couldn’t have any conversation with Tae-jun.
The car was delayed due to traffic congestion. By the time they arrived at the Gapyeong pension, it was already 3 PM.
“Why are you so late?”
Hyeongseop, the treasurer, chided the four who arrived late.
“There was traffic.”
“Really? Tae-jun must have had a hard time.”
“No. You worked hard setting things up first.”
Hyeongseop sent the women to the women’s dormitory first, then told Yumin and Tae-jun to follow him.
“First, you guys who arrived late have to share a room. But there’s only one room left now. It’s a bit out of the way, but is it okay?”
What Hyeongseop introduced was a small annex far from the main pension building. Not only did they travel together in the car, but they were also assigned as roommates in a secluded room. What luck!
Yumin covered his mouth, too overjoyed.
“Yes! It’s okay!”
“Well, it can’t be helped.”
Hyeongseop went back, telling them to unpack their luggage and come out to the yard. Yumin stood outside for a moment, unable to calm his pounding heart.
Tae-jun entered the room first. His broad shoulders and solid back, along with his tall stature, caught Yumin’s eye.
The physical weakness of our Black Cat Beastfolk is our small height and build. I am 29cm, my father is 31cm, and my relatively tall uncle is only 32cm.
On the other hand, Tae-jun is over 190cm. So, if our genes combine, a tall child will be born. It will be an evolution of the Black Cat Beastfolk.
Perhaps our baby will exceed 35cm. Yumin dreamed a grand dream.
Tae-jun suddenly felt a prickling sensation on his back and turned around. Yumin flinched and looked away into the air.
“The pension is really nice.”
He had clearly been scanning Tae-jun’s back. Yumin pretended not to notice, even though it was obvious.
That guy… Tae-jun felt a sense of unease.
Yumin always watched him. Ever since the day he first saw him at the freshman welcome party, he had been doing so. In the
But why did he give so many snacks to Eun-ji instead of him?
A question arose. Of course, Yumin had fed Tae-jun potatoes and drunk beverages from the same straw. However, when you think about it, that was not significantly different from Yumin’s usual behavior.
In conclusion, what bothered Tae-jun was Yumin’s attitude towards Eun-ji.
‘…Maybe he likes Eun-ji? Or perhaps he’s the type to flirt with anyone?’
As he took his luggage out of his bag, Tae-jun’s thoughts stretched endlessly.
Come to think of it, Yumin never went around alone. He always had a bookish guy and a thug-like guy trailing him.
Just a few days ago, he had coincidentally seen the three of them sitting side-by-side in a cafe. With Yumin in the middle, two guys were busy grinning. Then, the thug grabbed Yumin’s small chin and wiped food off his lips.
Whether that looked good or bad, it wasn’t good. The reason was unclear. Perhaps it seemed ridiculous that a grown man couldn’t even eat properly and had to rely on others to wipe his mouth.
Tae-jun’s thoughts and feelings were not neatly organized. It was a contemplation that contrasted with his meticulously organized and clutter-free suitcase.
Finally entering the room, Yumin let out a small exclamation. The room wasn’t very large, but being a log house built with natural wood, it felt cozy and warm.
Perhaps it was better that the room was small. Like a couple’s room, there was only one bed.
It was a room that was ordinary to the point of being unremarkable, but Yumin touched the furniture and swept the floor as if he had arrived at a hotel suite.
A sense of anticipation welled up, perhaps something special would happen in this room today. Thump-thump, Yumin covered his blushing ear tips with his hair.