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Since birth, Jeong Jihoon had been smacked on the head exactly thirteen separate times.
He remembered each instance vividly, noting down three key details and shoving them into the most important annals of his brain: when, where, and why. By careful cross-analysis, Jihoon had come across a very, very interesting trend between them.
Every single time, he’d been sleeping in class, snoring, when his teacher would walk up to him and hit him upside the head, spewing a long monologue about how he was “deplorable”, “despicable”, and “the damnation of all good children everywhere.”
Jihoon didn’t really understand what he was saying, but he hoped it was nice.
He was one of the few peasants who went to the town school, and his mother had begged him to stay awake and keep his nose clean— setting an example for all the unwashed, uneducated children of their neighbors. And Jihoon was trying, really, but he found it too hard to stay awake sometimes.
It would start with the wind blowing against his face from a nearby window, and then the sun warming his skin. And then the teacher would begin writing a long passage on the board, chalk scratching against the slate like a rhythmic lullaby, and Jihoon’s eyelids would begin to droop—and then bam! Before he knew it, his teacher would be standing over him, yelling, as the top of his head throbbed.
His mother, after the eleventh time, had told him that his habit would be the “damnation of his naive, befuddled soul.”
While Jihoon didn’t really understand what that meant, he hoped it was nice.
Now, lying beneath a large tree overlooking the town, Jihoon was at peace—sleeping soundly as the grass tickled his nose. The wind caressed his hair, blowing softly, as the sun warmed his arms and face. All was quiet—save for the chirping of crickets and the occasional birdsong. Cut grass, mixed with the earthy, nostalgic scent of summer filled his head.
All was well for Jihoon, until—
“Kachow!” a voice yelled.
Without warning, Jihoon felt the weight of a skinny, scraggly boy dive on top of him, an elbow smashing into his jaw and pointy kneecaps digging into his thighs.
“W-wha—?” Jihoon yelped, eyes flying open.
Cackling, the boy rolled off of him and stood up, dusting the grass off his pants. Jihoon glanced up at him, still rubbing the sleep from his eyes.
“Siwoo?!" he groaned. “How’d you find me? I thought I hid far enough!”
“Don’t worry, ya’ sloth,” Siwoo grinned, flexing his arm smugly. “There’s nowhere too far for the all-mighty Siwoo! You're gonna have to try a lot harder than that to be lazy, Chovy.”
Standing behind him, a boy in silken, embroidered clothes sighed and shook his head.
“If only you could put that kind of confidence into your studies, Siwoo,” he said primly. He turned to Jihoon.
“I can’t say you’re any better, Jihoon. Rolling around in the dirt all day won’t benefit your future.”
“Aw, get that stick out your ass, fancy boy,” Siwoo teased, throwing his arm around him. “Arent’cha forgetting which peasants keep your ass from getting whooped?”
“And Kiin!” Jihoon whined, sitting up and staring at the well-dressed boy. “Don’t say that! I might be a bit dumb, but don’t group me with Siwoo! I can’t be that stupid!”
Kiin let out a small snicker and covered his mouth. Siwoo paused, staring at Jihoon, before suddenly diving to the ground and grabbing him—wrestling him into a playful headlock.
“Say that again and I’ll make you go stupid!” Siwoo threatened.
“Ack– woah, woah, okay!” Jihoon cackled, trying to squirm his way out of Siwoo’s arms. “I’m sorry! I’m sorry!”
Gasping for breath, Jihoon finally wormed his way free and sighed, leaning against the bark of the tree. He looked over at Kiin, who stood in front of him.
“So why’d you guys come find me?” he asked. “Did something happen in town?”
“Actually, that’s what we’re here for,” Kiin replied. “The royal messenger came by earlier and made an announcement that—”
“Your beloved Prince Sanghyeok is getting married off!” Siwoo interjected with a shit eating-grin.
“W-what–?” Jihoon yelped, immediately sitting upright.
“Siwoo,” said Kiin, glaring at him before turning back to Jihoon. “That’s not exactly what’s happening. But I suppose it’ll happen soon. You should go see for yourself on the announcements board—”
Kiin had scarcely finished his sentence, however, when Jihoon suddenly leapt to his feet and sprinted down the hill, tearing up grass as he went. The two watched in shock for a brief moment, before Siwoo burst into laughter.
“I told you this would happen!” he gasped, wiping away a tear. “He’s so whipped it’s hilarious!”
Kiin watched as Jihoon ran from atop the hill, before turning to look at him.
“You sure he’s going to be okay?” Kiin murmured, furrowing his brow.
“Don’t worry, my pansy-boy,” Siwoo grinned, slinging his arm around Kiin’s shoulders.
“Jihoon might be a bit slow, but he always gets there in the end.”
Arriving in the town square, Jihoon shimmied his way through the crowd of peasants, mumbling apologies, before finally arriving at the front. Standing atop a tall wooden platform was a man, shouting something from a script of parchment.
“Hear ye, hear ye!” he bellowed. The crowd went silent.
“By the royal decree of our Highness, he hath penned a new challenge for all townspeople!”
“Penned…?” Jihoon wondered. “Why would our king have a pig pen…?”
“Starting from today, our Highness hath offered the hand of marriage to our crown prince, Lee Sanghyeok!”
Suddenly, the crowd erupted into cheers and whispers, the peasants murmuring excitedly with one-another as they shifted about.
Jihoon just stood and stared, eyes fixed on the royal messenger.
“Our Highness has only one condition!” the messenger continued. “Present to him the bell tied around this cat’s neck, and he will offer not only the Prince, but riches beyond your imagination!”
Turning around, the royal messenger reached into a silk-covered box and pulled out a black cat. Tied around its neck was a ribbon, and at the end of it, a golden bell.
Jihoon flinched as the cat began to wriggle and squirm, held aloft by the scruff of its neck.
“Starting…now!” the messenger hollered, suddenly dropping the cat to the floor. Tail puffed, the cat immediately scrambled off the stage and into the shadows, disappearing from view.
With wide eyes, Jihoon watched as the crowd of townspeople let out excited whoops and cries, before setting out to chase after the cat. They moved fast, clumsily, and somehow reminded Jihoon of a barreling herd of sheep. Amidst the chaos, he whipped around and spotted two familiar faces.
“Kiin! Siwoo!” he cried, almost getting trampled by a group of burly men.
“Chovy!” Siwoo yelled, waving a hand at him.
Finally, after a long, difficult time, the two finally made their way over to Jihoon and stood panting and gasping.
“B-by the way,” said Siwoo, bent over in exhaustion. “I forgot to ask…Kiin, aren’t you also royalty? Why’s the king suddenly marrying off Prince Sanghyeok like this?”
“Well…” Kiin sighed. “For one, my family’s a group of low-ranking nobles, so I’m not exactly caught up with inner-court secrets. However…”
He furrowed his brow and looked into the distance.
“It's an important tradition amongst royalty to marry off your first son before they turn nineteen. Prince Sanghyeok is eighteen, so I suppose the king has gotten impatient.”
“Why not just marry him into another royal family, then?” Siwoo piped up. “I mean, isn’t it a waste if he marries his son to some random peasant?”
“This isn’t for sure, since it’s only gossip,” Kiin began. “But word around the courts is that Prince Sanghyeok is quite rebellious. He’s been dead stubborn on not marrying anyone up until now, even though he’s been presented with hundreds of suitors.”
“Hundreds?” Siwoo murmured.
“Yes,” Kiin sighed. “It’s a contentious topic amongst royalty, actually. The king’s been stressing about it for years. I suppose this was his last resort.”
“Huh,” said Siwoo, furrowing his brow. “You nobles are straight-up weird. Marrying someone you don’t even know just because of tradition sounds fucking ballocks to me.”
He turned to look at Jihoon. Kiin stiffened, furrowing his brow anxiously.
“So...?” Siwoo asked, cocking his head. “Whaddya think?”
Jihoon was frozen in place, completely silent. Then,
“I wanna go home.”
“Huh?” Siwoo and Kiin said at the same time.
Yawning, Jihoon reached out one of his arms and stretched, before sighing sleepily.
“I’m sleepy,” he murmured, rubbing his eyes. “I need a nap.”
“W-what do you mean a ‘nap’?” Siwoo asked incredulously. “I thought you were madly in love with the Prince! Aren’t you gonna go hunt the cat down, too?”
Shaking his head, Jihoon waved goodbye and began walking away.
“Not interested,” he called over his shoulder. “It’s not like Sanghyeok will fall in love with me if I catch the cat, anyways.”
Siwoo gawked at Jihoon’s retreating figure until he disappeared around the corner. Then, slowly, he turned to Kiin.
“That was…not what I expected,” he murmured.
Kiin was quiet for a few moments, before letting out a small, soft chuckle.
“Wow,” he sighed. “You’re right, Siwoo. I didn’t need to worry after all.”
Walking down the street to his house, Jihoon kicked a rock near his feet and watched it roll away. He sighed, bringing his hands up to his face.
“Sanghyeok…” he murmured. “He’s really getting married off, isn’t he?”
Jihoon thought back to the first time he’d met him— exactly one year and thirty-two days ago, if he remembered correctly.
Hauling a large basket of apples through the town square, Jihoon sighed and tried ignoring the ache in his muscles. He could scarcely see over the big, red fruit. Suddenly, he felt his foot catch in a divet in the road, and he tumbled forwards. Jihoon watched with horror as apples went flying everywhere, rolling into the bottoms of carts and under the hooves of horses.
“Dammnit–!” he cried, scrambling to pick one up.
Without warning, he heard a loud voice right above his head.
“What are you doing, boy?!” the voice shouted. “This is the royal carriage! Get out of the way— or face death as punishment!”
Yelping, Jihoon immediately got to his knees and bowed in front of the wheels, pressing his forehead to the cobblestone pavement.
“Mister—I mean, your Lordship! P-please let me pick up my apples first! They’re the only things I can sell for dinner tonight—”
Suddenly, he was cut off by a burly, bearded man hopping off the front of the carriage and walking towards him. He stood in front of Jihoon and began rolling up his sleeves, his veins popping.
“You blasted peasant!” he spat. “How much audacity do you have, talking back to me like that? I should teach you your place—”
He stopped as a carriage door opened behind him. Jihoon glanced over the man’s shoulder.
Stepping out of the carriage was the most beautiful man Jihoon had ever seen. His teacher had once told him he’d regret not learning his vocabulary, and Jihoon hadn’t understood what he’d meant by that until now. Because now, no matter how hard he tried, Jihoon couldn’t find the words to describe the man standing there.
The mid-day sun made the man’s pale, porcelain face seem even whiter-- casting shadows across his elegant neck and sharp jaw. His lips were pink, plush, looked soft as flower petals, and were shaped almost perfectly to resemble a cat’s. Jihoon kept staring at his mouth. The corners were curved delicately, imperceptibly upwards, giving his expression a gentleness that made Jihoon’s stomach flip.
He snapped his gaze upwards.
Staring at him were the sharpest, most dazzling eyes Jihoon had ever been blessed to see. His pupils were large, pure pools of black ink, which shone like delicate constellations. And there was intelligence, a certain edge of coldness in them. They took in every detail, the whole world captured in those irises, and they glimmered beautifully while doing so.
Jihoon’s mouth fell open. His eyes widened.
Once, on a hot, muggy day in school, he’d been made to recite a poem. It was the only one Jihoon had ever been able to remember.
The peasants toil in sun's embrace,
Their skin bronzed dark, with a rugged face.
The lords stay pale in halls of gold,
Soft hands untouched, so white and cold.
The teacher hand drilled them over and over on the poem’s meaning, and Jihoon hadn’t understood a word of it. But now, suddenly, it all clicked for him.
“The royalty so…pale…” he whispered dazedly. He’d never seen such fair skin in his life, not in the orchards or on the dusty, dirty streets.
“What seems to be the problem here?” the new man said.
Jihoon’s heart sped up. His voice was perfectly clear, refined— so alien to Jihoon’s ears. There wasn’t a hint of the rough, slurred accent all townspeople had.
“Y-your highness, Prince Sanghyeok!” the man yelped, suddenly dropping to one knee and bowing before him.
“I-I truly apologize for the sudden interruption! I was just about to teach this rude boy a lesson—”
“I heard everything from inside,” Sanghyeok replied evenly. “I do wonder, were you about to lay a hand on him?”
The man’s eyes widened, and he furrowed his brow in confusion.
“Well, he was talking back to me, so I found it necessary to—”
“Would beating him up pick the apples off the street?”
Freezing in place, the man went silent.
“I said, would beating him up pick the apples off the street?”
“N-no…” the man finally stammered.
“Very well then,” Sanghyeok replied politely. “Seeing as these fruits are in the way, I advise you to ask him to pick them up. Go on now.”
Clenching his jaw, the man stared at Jihoon and bowed his head stiffly.
“Please clear up the street…” he said begrudgingly, before stepping away.
Jihoon watched, still kneeling on the floor, as Sanghyeok bent down to pick up one of the apples. His movement reminded Jihoon of a swan dipping its head down, touching the water with its beak gracefully.
Sanghyeok walked over to where he knelt and offered the apple to him.
“Here you go,” he whispered. He smiled, and Jihoon’s heart felt like it was going to explode.
Unfreezing, Jihoon took the apple from him with shaky hands, unable to move his mouth. Then, in the blink of an eye, Sanghyeok disappeared into the carriage and rode off into the distance.
Ever since then, Jihoon found himself craving apples, for some reason. He’d seen Sanghyeok maybe once a month after that, in royal parades where all the peasantry would stand along the streets as rows of knights and carriages rode past. However, Jihoon had never been able to catch more than a glimpse of his face.
Sighing, Jihoon stared up at the sky. Then, he froze, hearing a small noise coming from an alleyway nearby.
“Hm?” he wondered, walking towards it.
The cries grew louder, until Jihoon slowly realized they were the cries of a cat—high-pitched and pitiful. His body moved before his mind could catch up.
Dashing into the alleyway, Jihoon rounded the corner and spotted a small, trembling lump tangled up in chicken wire. As soon as he approached it, however, the cat flinched and began hissing fiercely, fighting against the wire even harder.
“W-woah there!” Jihoon yelped, putting his hands up. “Calm down there, baby…”
He crouched down next to the wire and waited for the cat to stop struggling.
“It’s okay,” he whispered. “Shhh, shh, it’s gonna be okay, alright? I’m not gonna hurt you.”
The cat stared back at him silently. Slowly, Jihoon edged incrementally closer, waiting for the cat’s consent with each inch, until he was near enough to touch the wire.
“Man…” he sighed. “Looks like you really got yourself tangled, huh? I might need to get some tools for this.”
Rising to his feet, Jihoon spoke to the cat gently.
“Don’t worry,” he murmured. “I’m not going anywhere, kay? I’ll be right back with something to free you.”
He offered the cat a small smile, before turning around and sprinting back home faster than he’d ever sprinted in his entire life.
After a few short minutes, Jihoon returned to the alleyway with a small box in hand, panting and gasping.
“Kitty!” he shouted excitedly. “I brought the tools—”
Suddenly, his foot caught on a rock, and he face-planted into the pavement, tools skidding across the floor and stopping a few feet in front of him. Jihoon wasted no time getting up however, and got to his knees with an embarrassed grin.
“Sorry,” he murmured, flashing his cute canines. “My mom always says I should watch where I’m goin’, or else I’ll end up ‘dire straights.’ Dunno what it means though.”
Scooting over to the wire, Jihoon opened the box and pulled out a pair of medicinal-looking scissors.
“These’re supposed to be for pulling teeth,” he whispered to the cat, beginning to cut away at the wires. “So don’t tell my mom I used them to free you, kay?”
Snipping away, Jihoon skillfully de-tangled the wire, careful not to prick the cat. He worked with intense focus, biting his lip in concentration. Then, suddenly, he let out a small yelp and pulled his hand back.
“Oww,” he muttered, shaking his wrist. “Damned wires. I don’t see why they use it for animals if humans don’t like it, either.”
The cat stared up at him and cocked its head. Jihoon gave it a reassuring smile.
“‘S okay, kitty,” he crooned, continuing to cut away the wires again. “I’m not gonna stop just ‘cause of some measly cuts. Siwoo says that real men can keep working even if their arm gets cut off. How cool is that? The ‘keep working’ part, I mean. Not the arm.”
For the next hour or so, Jihoon cut away at the wires, freeing the cat piece-by-piece, all while happily chatting away.
“I don’t know if cats know this, Kitty, but most peasants don’t go to school,” said Jihoon. “All the neighbors' kids say anyone who does is a smart person.”
He paused and frowned, tilting his head.
“I also go to school, y’know, but I don’t think I’m really that smart.”
Shrugging, he continued to snip away again.
“My mom says I’m smart, but only in the ‘damnedest, most useless areas’. I don’t know what that means, Kitty, but I sure hope it’s a good thing. My teacher thinks I’m a sleepyhead, since I keep falling asleep in class.”
He furrowed his brow and pouted, moving the scissors with more vigor.
“I can’t help it. I think the wind makes me sleepy. So until there’s no more wind in the world, I don’t think I’ll stop falling asleep anytime soon.”
He let out a soft sigh.
“I feel sorry for my mom, though. She’s always worrying about me, saying if I don’t shape up soon I’ll have to work the fields instead of becoming a barber or a medicine man. I dunno how to tell her I don’t mind working the fields, so long as it’s in an apple orchard.”
Finally, Jihoon pulled away the last bit of wire, and gingerly cut the cat’s paw free. The cat immediately leapt away, hurrying out of the alley, but stopped to glance back at Jihoon for a split second. Then, it retreated into the darkness.
It was only after the cat was gone and Jihoon was lying in bed that night, that he realized the cat had a bell around its neck.
The next day, Jihoon was woken up by his mother yelling from the kitchen— saying something about taking the fish to the market. Groaning, Jihoon rolled out of bed and shuffled downstairs. Grabbing a crate full of foul-smelling fish, Jihoon walked out the door and headed to the market, yawning loudly.
“It’s a Saturday, for Christ’s sake…” he grumbled. “So why do I gotta work…?”
Arriving at the stands, Jihoon sat down on a tarp near the docks and began laying out his best-looking fish in front of him. He wrinkled his nose, trying not to smell their oily bodies.
“Man,” he whispered to himself. “Siwoo’s a clown and all, but I don’t see why he’s gotta call me one of these things—”
Suddenly, Jihoon saw a large boot stomp down in front of him. Glancing up, he saw a bulky, pot-bellied man wearing a necklace of what looked like animal teeth.
“Hey, kid,” he growled, looking down at Jihoon. “You sellin’ these?”
“Y-yes sir…” Jihoon stammered. “It’s five coins for two of them—”
“Tell you what,” the man continued. “I need these fish to catch a cat. Once I catch it, I’ll be richer than any of you, and then I’ll pay you back. How’s that sound?”
Jihoon hesitated.
“I’m sorry sir,” he mumbled, bowing his head. “But I need the money now, for food tonight. Besides, what if you can’t catch the cat?”
The man’s face darkened, and Jihoon felt his heart sink.
“You're doubting me, kid?” the man hissed, walking closer. Jihoon backed away.
“N-no sir!” he yelped. “I was just trying to—”
“Hey, guys,” the man called over his shoulder. Jihoon’s eyes widened as a group of equally burly men appeared behind him. “This kid’s givin’ me sass. And he ain’t givin’ me my fish.”
The men grouped around him, laughing and cracking vulgar jokes. Jihoon swallowed thickly and tried reasoning with them.
“Please sir, I’m not looking for trouble—”
And with that, he felt one of the men’s boots kick him square in the stomach.
Limping back home, Jihoon wiped away some of the blood trickling down his forehead, before glancing up at the sky. It was a bright orange, fading into pink. Slowly, he felt around his ribs, checking for broken bones.
“Man,” he sighed, voice cracking. “Fucking terrible day.”
Suddenly, he felt a shooting pain in his legs. Stumbling, Jihoon glanced around for a place to sit, before settling on a nearby alleyway. Slumping against its stone wall, Jihoon clutched his stomach. He tried ignoring the stinging in his eyes.
“Meow?”
Glancing over, Jihoon saw a black cat standing nearby. His eyes widened, recognizing it as the cat from yesterday.
“Kitty!” he laughed, face twisting into a painful smile. “So you live in this alleyway, huh?”
Spitting out a mouthful of blood, Jihoon scooted closer to the cat and began digging through his pockets.
“Today’s been a terrible day, Kitty, but I brought somethin’ for you.”
He pulled out a small fish, glittering and silver.
“I didn’t get any money today, so that means no food,” he sighed. “But we’re all hungry these days, aren’t we? I figured cats like fish, so I saved one for you. Those mean guys stole the rest of my fish, so I’m sorry if it’s a bit small.”
Jihoon set the fish down in front of the cat. The cat hesitated, staring at him cautiously, before running over and snatching it away. Retreating a few feet back, the cat then set the fish down and began eating.
Smiling, Jihoon watched as the cate ate.
“Y’know, Kitty,” he murmured, tilting his head back against the wall. “I once heard my teacher say something about feeling full by just watching other people eat. I think I’m feeling that right now, seeing you eating so well.”
The cat paused and stared up at him. Jihoon grinned.
“Don’t mind me, alright? I’ll just…rest here, for a bit. Don’t want my mom to see my sorry state and start worrying.”
Slowly, the cat returned to eating. The sun set over the horizon, plunging the world into a dark, indigo color. Eventually, Jihoon staggered to his feet.
“Alright then, Kitty,” he grunted, putting a hand against the wall. “Have a good night. I’ll swing by tomorrow with more food!”
And with that, the cat watched as Jihoon limped out of the alleyway and into the distance.
“Holy shit! What happened to your face ?”
Jihoon groaned as Siwoo ran up to him and began poking and prodding at his bruises. He tried swatting his hands away. The two were standing underneath the big tree, atop a grassy hill overlooking the town.
“Did you fall off a cliff or something?” asked Siwoo, cocking his head. “I swear you’re always tripping and falling, dude—”
“A bunch of big, burly men beat me up,” Jihoon deadpanned. Siwoo paused, before his expression morphed into one of seriousness.
“Seriously? Who were they? Tell me their names and I’ll fucking—”
“Siwoo!” Jihoon sighed, shaking his head. “Trust me, they’d bend you like a piece of fucking tree sap. It’s fine, anyways. All they took was a bit of fish.”
“Fish?” Siwoo asked. “What, did you get robbed by Posideon?”
“Not quite,” Jihoon replied. “I was selling fish at the market when this guy came up to me and said he’d pay after catching the cat. When I told him no, he called over his buddies and beat me up. And they took my fish.”
Siwoo furrowed his brow, before nodding solemnly.
“Ahh, I see,” he murmured. “There’s been a lot of cat-hunting parties lately. All the men in town are running around with a thing of tuna in one hand and a net in the other these days. It’s so pathetic.”
He paused, as if he were trying to remember something.
“By the way, what did the man look like?”
“Uh,” Jihoon mumbled. “I think he was wearing a necklace made out of teeth. Huge belly, too.”
“Ah!” Siwoo cried, bringing a fist down onto his palm. “So it was that guy!”
“Huh?”
“Word on the streets is that there’s a new guy in town who came just to catch the cat. He’s dead set on it too—came from a super far land up North. His name’s Psari, I think?”
His voice dropped into a low whisper, and he grinned playfully.
“People say that his necklace is actually made out of human’s teeth—”
“That's so bullshit!” Jihoon groaned, shaking Siwoo’s shoulder. “Those teeth were way too pointy to be a human’s! I’d say they were…sheep’s teeth?”
“A sheeps!” Siwoo guffawed. “So the rumours were fake? That’s so embarrassing!”
Jihoon nodded. Then, he remembered something.
“Wait, Siwoo, I have something to tell you. Promise not to tell?”
“Huh?” Siwoo raised an eyebrow. “Sure. What’s up?”
“No, I mean like seriously .”
“Seriously, what’s up?”
“You promise not to tell anyone?”
“I promise.”
“You promise? ”
Siwoo let out a loud sigh and suddenly grabbed Jihoon by the shoulders, staring into his eyes.
“I swear on every generation of my mother’s family and my left arm that I won’t tell a fucking soul. Now spill, Jihoon.”
Jihoon sighed.
“I saw the cat in this alleyway near my house. I fed it fish, too.”
Siwoo’s eyes widened, and his mouth fell open. Then, suddenly, he clapped a hand over Jihoon's mouth and pulled him behind the tree, sliding into a crouch.
“Wha–!” Jihoon yelped.
“Shh!” Siwoo hissed, bringing a finger to his lips. “You can’t be too careful. I don’t know how dense you are, Jihoon, but if you haven’t noticed already—everyone’s going batshit crazy trying to hunt this cat!”
Jihoon nodded dazedly.
“I'm glad you told me first, honestly,” Siwoo sighed. “Or else your dumbass would’ve gone running around telling everyone where to trap that poor creature.”
“What?” Jihoon squawked indignantly. “I totally wouldn’t just do that—!”
“Jihoon,” Siwoo said, giving him an unimpressed stare. “I didn’t even ask where to find the cat and you just told me. A word of advice, don’t overshare stuff when millions of pounds of gold are on the line.”
“F-fine, I guess…”
“But either way,” Siwoo suddenly broke into a wide grin. “Congratulations!”
“Huh? What do you mean?”
“Isn’t that cat a one-way ticket to marrying Prince Sanghyeok? You could totally just reach out and take the bell, and then you’d have your sweetheart—”
“No way!” Jihoon yelped. “That’s…I didn’t even think of that!”
“Wha…?” Siwoo asked, raising an eyebrow at him. “But I thought you were totally in love with him?”
“Th-that might be true…” Jihoon mumbled, ears turning red. “But I don’t think that’s the right way to do things. I’d rather Sanghyeok fall in love with me too, than just force him to marry me…”
Siwoo paused and stared at him for a moment. Then, suddenly, he dove towards Jihoon and wrapped him in a tight hug, giggling and swinging him around.
“Atta-boy!” Siwoo grinned, tussling his hair with one hand. “That’s my Chovy for you! A hopeless romantic, through and through!”
“H-hey!” Jihoon yelped, trying to squirm away. “Don’t say that! It’s embarrassing!”
Later that day, Jihoon returned to the alleyway and peeked around the corner.
“Kitty?” he asked cautiously. Glancing around, he saw the cat emerge from the shadows.
“Hey!” he chirped, kneeling down to its eye level. The cat kept its distance. “I brought you food again. See?”
He pulled out a bundle of brown paper, before tearing it open and pulling out chunks of pork.
“Siwoo’s dad is a butcher, so he gave me some scraps for you!” he smiled.
Slowly, the cat approached the food. Jihoon watched it eat, chatting absently while it licked its paws.
“Oh, I forgot to tell you about Siwoo!” Jihoon noted. “He’s my friend, you see. I’d call him my best friend, but I also have Kiin, and he’s like, also my best friend—so I just call them both my friends.”
He smiled, as if he were remembering something.
“Siwoo’s just like me. He goes to school even though he’s a peasant, so we totally hit it off. But he’s in a different class this year. I guess it’s better that way, so he doesn’t goof off…”
The cat was now looking at him, staring intently.
“Kiin’s my other friend,” Jihoon continued. “He’s the son of a noble, or some other kind of royal guy. He’s living in this town because his parents wanted him to understand ‘poor people culture’, ‘cause he’s supposed to be a writer when he’s older.”
He grinned down at the cat.
“But when Kiin first came here, he was so stiff and polite no one wanted to talk to him. Super sad, right? Anyways, it was Siwoo who first got through to him, I think. And then we beat up all the guys who beat Kiin up, so now we’re all buddies.”
The cat made a small, chirping noise, as if it were laughing.
“I know, right?” Jihoon giggled. “Kiin’s such a weird guy. He acts like he’s all refined and stuff, but he’s just as much of a fun-lover us.”
He titled his hands and rested his chin on his knees.
“I asked Siwoo if he wanted to meet you, but he said he had to tend the shop. He told me he’d save some scraps for you, though. Kiin isn’t here today ‘cause he’s always in tutoring. Maybe that’s why he uses big words, and me and Siwoo don’t.”
Then, Jihoon’s face dropped, as if he were remembering something sad. He sat down and crossed his legs with a sigh.
“Y’know, I’ve never hated being a peasant," he murmured. "But I wish we weren’t so…hated, sometimes. Kiin always gets in trouble for talking to me and Siwoo. That’s why he’s never around. Even though he’s kinda mean, I do miss him…”
Jihoon trailed off and stared at the ground.
“Sometimes, I think, ‘why do we have to be so separate’? Kiin doesn’t feel like he’s above or anything. He’s just…Kiin.”
Suddenly, Jihoon felt something warm and fuzzy brush against his hand. Glancing down, he saw that the cat had walked over and was now nuzzling against him.
“Kitty!” he whispered happily, breaking into a wide smile. “You’re letting me pet you? Don’t mind if I do, then…”
Reaching out with his other hand, Jihoon stroked the top of the cat’s head and sighed. Its fur was smooth and shiny, like a gleaming coat of silk. The cat purred, and Jihoon’s heart soared.
The next few weeks went by like a blur. Jihoon would drop by the alleyway after school or work, and would always bring food. He’d watch the cat eat, chat happily about whatever he wanted, and then, if he was lucky, the cat would come closer and allow him to stroke its fur.
“You know, Kitty,” Jihoon murmured one day, petting the cat while it purred in his lap.
“I’ve always wondered, do animals feel love? They definitely do, right? Well, I don’t know if you’ll understand, but I think I’m also in love.”
The cat paused and turned around in Jihoon’s lap, glancing up at him.
“For exactly one year and fifty-seven days now, to be exact,” Jihoon smiled proudly. “I’ve only told Siwoo and Kiin, actually, but I might as well tell you.”
His voice dropped into an excited whisper.
“His name’s Sanghyeok. Lee Sanghyeok. I don’t think he remembers me, or even knows that I exist, but I love him anyway. He saved me from getting beat up one day and gave me an apple. I think that’s why I love apples, actually. I haven’t been able to get him out of my head ever since then.”
Jihoon paused. His expression was unreadable.
“But he’s a noble. The crown prince, actually. He’s gonna grow up to do a lot of important things, and meet a lot of important people. And I’m a peasant. So there’s no, no, no way in hell I’ll ever get to talk to him.”
Sighing, Jihoon began stroking the fur around the cat’s neck.
“He’s probably gonna get married soon, too. Once you get caught and that bell gets taken off.”
Then, without warning, Jihoon pulled the cat closer and hugged it to his chest, squeezing it ever so softly. His eyes stung, voice thin and quiet.
“I don’t know why, but even though I know it’s dumb... I feel sad," Jihoon whispered. He could feel the cat’s heartbeat.
“Like my chest just got punched, except the pain is on the inside instead of the outside. It hurts, Kitty. It hurts. I don’t think I’ve even told Siwoo that.”
Purring softly, the cat licked the side of his face.
“Jihoon! Jihoon!”
Opening his eyes, Jihoon sat up and spotted Kiin running up the hill and towards him.
“Kiin?” he asked in shock. “Isn’t it a weekday? Why the hell are you here?”
“I-I skipped class,” Kiin panted, bending over to catch his breath. “B-but that’s beside the point. There’s something I heard in the royal courts that I think you need to know.”
“Huh?” Jihoon asked. “W-what’s wrong?”
“Sanghyeok’s nineteenth birthday is tomorrow,” Kiin replied gravely. “The king just made a decree that if no one catches the cat by the end of today, then he’ll ship Sanghyeok off to the far north to do military service. He said that he wants the cat dead, too.”
Kiin wiped the sweat off his brow and began standing up.
“That’s why the whole town’s in a frenzy, trying to find it. I heard you befriended that cat, so—”
When Kiin glanced up, however, Jihoon was already sprinting down the hill, kicking up grass as he went. Kiin watched him run, disappearing into the distance.
“Well,” he sighed, a smile on his face. “Can’t say I expected anything less.”
“Kitty!”
Rounding the corner, Jihoon sprinted over to the alleyway, panting. He looked around frantically.
“K-kitty!” he called out. “Don’t worry, it’s just me. Jihoon.”
Emerging from the shadows, the cat meowed and walked over to Jihoon, rubbing against his legs.
“Hey,” he whispered, crouching down and petting its head. “Sorry for not bringing any food. But listen-- you’re in danger! People are trying to hunt you down and kill you—”
Suddenly, Jihoon heard the sound of footsteps behind him.
Whipping around, he was met face-to-face with a pot-bellied man, who Jihoon recognized as Psari.
“Whatcha got there, kid?” he leered. His voice was scratchy— his breath reminding Jihoon of a dead fish.
Jihoon froze. A scream caught in his throat as he spotted the large butcher’s knife in Psari’s hand.
“I know what you’re holding,” Psari growled, walking slowly towards him. “Give me the cat and no one gets hurt."
Holding the cat tighter to his chest, Jihoon stood up and began backing away.
“Are you sure about that?” Psari snarled. He raised the knife in his hand. Suddenly, Jihoon felt his back hit a wall, the dead-end of the alleyway.
“I-I won’t let you kill it,” Jihoon replied firmly.
“Hah,” Psari snorted. “Listen kid. I think you’re a little dumb, so let me spell it out for you. Either you give me the cat, or I’ll kill you and take it myself.”
Jihoon was silent for a long moment. Then, slowly, he began raising the cat into the air. Psari’s eyes widened. Draped across a rooftop and hanging into the alleyway was a fishing net.
“Kitty,” he whispered. “When I say go, I’ll throw you up to that net, okay? You just keep climbing and run away. Don’t look back.”
The cat was silent in Jihoon’s arms.
“Don’t you dare move!” Psari roared. “You let that cat go—and I’ll fucking kill you!”
“Ready?” Jihoon murmured. His voice was deadly calm.
“Three…”
Psari began walking close and closer to Jihoon.
“Two…”
Jihoon raised the cat into the air, mere inches away from the net.
“Run!”
What Jihoon felt next was as if all the air had been pulled out of his body. The world went dark. He couldn’t see, could barely think. It was as if he’d been wrapped in a large, warm blanket, and was being hugged to sleep.
Is this… Jihoon wondered drowsily. Is this what it’s like to be dead?
Then, slowly, the vision faded back into his eyes. Jihoon was vaguely aware that he was lying on the ground, the cold pavement pressing against his cheek. He squinted. Far away, he could see the retreating figure of Psari dashing out of the alleyway and into the street. Jihoon wondered how a man that big could run so fast.
“Wha…?” he mumbled, turning over on his back.
“Hello, Jihoon,” a voice said.
Jihoon felt someone kneel beside him, before cupping their hand behind his head and lifting him up.
“I’m sorry for not introducing myself earlier…” the voice murmured. Jihoon blinked, then blinked again. His mind froze. The world stopped spinning.
“My name is Lee Sanghyeok.”
Mouth falling open, Jihoon stared up at the man who was now cradling him in his arms. It was the same, indescribably beautiful face he’d seen one year and sixty-two days ago, except this time it was full of warmth, smiling down at him with a faint blush over his cheeks. It contrasted perfectly with his skin.
“You look pretty when your face is red…” Jihoon mumbled dazedly, his mouth moving before he realized it.
Sanghyeok’s eyes widened, and his face turned an even darker shade of pink.
“T-thank you…” he murmured shyly. “I’ve never been told that before.”
Slowly, Jihoon reached out and touched Sanghyeok’s face. It was warm.
“Am I dead?” he whispered. “Did I die and go to heaven, mister angel?”
Sanghyeok let out a small laugh, a smile lighting up his face.
“Not quite,” he murmured. “Psari didn’t hurt you, or even touch you for that matter. I scared him away before he could. I had to cover your eyes before I did, however, so I’m sorry if I disoriented you—”
“Don’t apologize,” Jihoon whispered. His eyes were half lidded. “Please don’t say sorry. I don’t want this to be a mistake.”
Sanghyeok’s eyes widened, and his whole face suddenly broke into a grin—prettier that Jihoon could wrap his head around.
“Jihoon,” he breathed, pulling him closer to his chest. “There’s something I need to give you.”
Jihoon's mind was still buffering, a giant 404-error screen flashing in his brain. He nodded dumbly.
“Here.”
Lying in Sanghyeok’s hand was a red ribbon. Strung at its very end was a golden, shiny bell.
“W-wait,” Jihoon stammered, eyes widening. “That’s Kitty’s collar! D-don’t tell me—?”
Sanghyeok laughed and nodded his head.
“Yep,” he giggled. “It was me. Hopefully you don’t feel betrayed?”
Jihoon’s whole face flushed a bright tomato red as he remembered all the strange, embarrassing things he’d rambled about to the cat.
“Not at all,” Jihoon murmured. “Actually, I feel like I just got a surprise gift. Like a birthday, but way, way better.”
Smiling, Sanghyeok held out the ribbon to Jihoon. Jihoon took it in his hands. He listened to the soft chime of the bell, the sound golden and sweet in his ears.
“Jihoon, even though it might not have seemed like it, I’ve been listening to you this entire time,” Sanghyeok murmured. “Everything you told me, I heard it loud and clear.”
Jihoon’s heart sped up to an impossible rate.
“T-then…does that mean that—?”
Then, like a flower petal drifting through the air and settling on his face, Sanghyeok leaned down and kissed him.
His lips were soft, softer than anything Jihoon’s work-beaten body had ever felt before. Jihoon couldn’t find his words, couldn’t find his thoughts. So instead, he pulled Sanghyeok closer and kissed him back, pressing their lips together in a deep, passionate kiss.
Finally, after what felt like the most electrifying moment in Jihoon’s life, Sanghyeok pulled away and smiled down at him.
“Thank you for loving me,” Sanghyeok whispered.
“I love you,” Jihoon replied.
“I love you too, Jihoon," Sanghyeok whispered back.