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Soonyoung holds his breath, trying to keep his arm as still as possible as he outstretches his hand with the stick of pureed treats.
A pink, petite nose pokes out of the handle of the crate, twitching slightly. A tongue flicks out to give the treat a tentative lick, before an orange, furry head pops out of the handle. Its long, slender body follows, and the four-legged creature sits in front of Soonyoung, happily lapping up the snack.
Soonyoung feels his heart melt into a puddle.
“Oh, Moonie sweetie, you’re brave enough to eat from my hand now?” Soonyoung speaks gently so as to not startle the shy cat. Moonie pays him no attention, only focused on the snack in front of him.
Soonyoung takes his chance to extend his other hand in an attempt to pet his head but the cat flinches and jerks back, glaring at him with distrustful eyes.
“Okay, I’m sorry, I guess you’re not ready for pets yet,” he tucks his hand back into his lap and extends the stick of treats further. Moonie pauses for a beat before continuing to consume the food.
After Soonyoung squeezes the last bit out, he places the empty wrapper on the floor and watches as Moonie sniffs at it. He seems to understand that snack time is over, and retreats back to the safe confines of his crate.
Soonyoung picks up the wrapper, tosses it into a nearby bin and begins the trek home, satisfied with his progress today.
He first met Moonie at this same alley a few weeks back. It’s on the way home from his job at the Taekwondo center, and when he was making his way home one day, he noticed an orange cat crouched by the side of a wall, its big and timid eyes observing his every move. As soon as he took another step towards it, it flew across the alley, right into an abandoned, overturned food crate from a nearby restaurant, Moon’s Kitchen. Soonyoung peered into the handle and saw the ball of fur huddled in a corner, quivering in fear.
He made the decision to return home to retrieve a paper plate and a can of cat food. Since he owns a cat himself, he had plenty of these stocked up.
Twenty minutes later, he’s back at the alley, the frightened fluff thankfully still in the same position. He cracked the can open, dumped its contents onto the paper plate, placed it at the handle of the crate and went to hide behind a wall.
It took a minute before the cat gathered enough courage to emerge from the crate to sniff at the food. Soonyoung peered from behind the wall, watching with a feeling of accomplishment as the four-legged creature began to devour the food he had placed.
From that day onwards, Soonyoung made sure he always left the house with a paper plate and some wet or dry food. With every day he fed Moonie, it began to trust him more and more. From being able to eat only when Soonyoung wasn’t in sight, to Soonyoung inching closer and closer until Moonie was comfortable with him crouching by his side as he ate.
Today, he achieved another milestone - Moonie eating from his hand. It would take a while more before he trusted him enough to touch him, but Soonyoung knew he would get there eventually.
Soonyoung’s making his way to the alley to feed Moonie as usual. It’s about a week later, and he’s made more progress. Moonie now responds with a cheerful meow every time Soonyoung calls his name.
“Moonie~” He calls in a singsong voice, and hears a soft meow as expected. Soonyoung approaches the crate, only to halt in his footsteps when he notices that something has changed.
Beside the crate where Moonie usually hides under, there’s a cardboard box. It has pictures and details of a microwave printed on the sides, and it’s placed on its side horizontally with the top flaps taped together, increasing its depth. On the top, scrawled in black marker ink, reads ‘Cat House’.
Moonie is curled up in the box, paws gently kneading the surface.
Who put this here?
“Moonie, you got a new house?” Soonyoung asks rhetorically.
“Mrrp,” Moonie purrs, blinking slowly at him.
Soonyoung shrugs, and crouches down to pull the tin of cat food from his bag. Moonie’s ears perk up and he crawls out of the box as soon as he sees Soonyoung place the paper plate on the floor. While he’s busy gobbling up the food, Soonyoung takes a seat on the overturned crate, examining Moonie’s new cardboard house.
It looks too well-put together for someone who just tossed it here without a thought. Whoever did this clearly knows that a cat lives here, and likely made the effort to haul a gigantic microwave cardboard box from their house all the way here, just for the cat.
Huh. So he’s not the only one taking care of Moonie.
Realisation slowly starts dawning on him. Moonie looks too well-fed for a cat who only eats one tiny can of cat food a day, sometimes less. The plastic container of water that Soonyoung left out also gets mysteriously filled up sometimes, but he always assumed it was the rain’s doing.
Moonie finishes up his meal and returns to his new house before he starts grooming himself.
“Moonie, you didn’t tell me you have another owner,” Soonyoung pouts.
Moonie ignores him, continuing to lick its paw and swipe it across its face.
Soonyoung huffs, picking up the paper plate and balling it up in his fist. Regardless of who made this house for him, Moonie sure likes it a lot.
He stares at the words scribbled on the box, and contemplates for a while before reaching into his bag to pull out a Sharpie. Moonie watches him with wide eyes as he leans down to add below the words already on the box, in a smaller font.
‘Please don’t destroy me! ^w^ ’
The next day, Soonyoung finds another new addition to Moonie’s house - a blanket.
Moonie starts making biscuits on it when he approaches him. It looks new - white with little cats printed all over it. Whoever put it here must’ve bought it specially for him.
After setting up his meal, an idea forms in Soonyoung’s head. He briskly returns home and digs through his storage for an unused cat bed. He finds it after some effort, and carries it all the way back to the alley.
Moonie’s done with his meal by the time he returns, grooming himself in his house as usual. Soonyoung shoos him out and places the cat bed into his house, pleased to see that it fits just right.
“I got you a cat bed!” Soonyoung crouches down and says excitedly. “Wanna check it out?”
Moonie creeps back to his house and cautiously sniffs at the newest addition. He carefully places a paw on the soft cushion, before climbing into it and starting to make biscuits on it.
“You like it, Moonie? It was supposed to be for your… brother, but he has too many that he doesn’t use already,” Soonyoung explains, referring to his cat at home.
Moonie stops kneading the cushion and looks back at Soonyoung who’s still crouching in front of his house, watching him delightfully. His smile turns tense and he freezes when he realises Moonie is waltzing right towards him, and suddenly, Moonie rubs his head against his ankle.
Soonyoung thinks he could burst into tears at that moment.
“Oh, Moonie, was that a ‘thank you’?” Soonyoung coos, but Moonie already has his ass towards him, heading back to curl up comfortably on the cat bed. Soonyoung blows a kiss to him and practically skips his way back home.
The next day, yet another piece of furniture appears in Moonie’s house - a small stuffed plushie. Moonie’s resting his head against it, using it as a pillow.
Soonyoung’s starting to think this is some sort of game.
He rummages through the box of old cat toys he has at home. Now that Nonu’s all grown up, his interest for toys died down significantly. Still, Nonu sits beside him, watching him expectantly, tail swishing in anticipation.
“What?” Soonyoung pauses to glare at him. “You normally don’t care about toys. Now that I took them out, you’re suddenly interested?”
“Meeeow,” Nonu replies stubbornly.
Soonyoung decides on a little stuffed mouse with a long, crinkly tail. As soon as he puts it on the floor, Nonu snatches it away and trots away to hide in one of his cat beds.
“Nonu! Give it back,” Soonyoung scurries over to him and manages to grab the mouse’s tail just before Nonu enters the little cubby hole.
Nonu growls menacingly, baring his fangs at him.
“The audacity,” Soonyoung gasps dramatically. “I’m just giving one of your toys, that you don’t even play with anymore, to your new brother. Is that not allowed?”
Nonu growls again.
“Fine. Let’s see if you’re still interested in that if I do this,” Soonyoung lets go of the toy and Nonu scampers into the cat bed.
The television flickers on at a press of the remote. Soonyoung clicks on the only show he has in his bookmarks. At the sound of the animated voices in Japanese, Nonu immediately darts out of the cat bed and sits in front of the television, eyes glued to the screen.
“Just like I thought,” Soonyoung grumbles, picks the forgotten cat toy off the floor and places it into his bag.
Moonie loves the stuffed mouse. It fits right into his little mouth, he enjoys swatting at the crinkly tail, and he plays tug of war with Soonyoung. Soonyoung places it in a little box he labelled as ‘Cat toys! :D’
From then on, each time Soonyoung visited Moonie, it was a game of finding what new item the stranger had placed. At first, the difference was obvious - a food dish, a proper water bowl, a bag of treats. Then, when they ran out of things to bring, they began decorating the area with little cat stickers instead.
Soonyoung played his part too - he started bringing more of Nonu’s old stuff that he didn’t use anymore. A little scratch pole, a laser pointer, a feather stick - all of which he had to smuggle behind Nonu’s back as the feisty cat would not let it go if he caught Soonyoung ‘stealing’ it from him. Soon, when Moonie’s area started to get a little cluttered, Soonyoung’s gifts switched into the form of little doodles beside the stranger’s stickers.
It continued like that for weeks. Moonie now allowed Soonyoung to pet him, and even started to hide behind him whenever someone walked through the alley, instead of darting inside his house or crate as he usually did.
However, Soonyoung still hadn’t caught a glimpse of this stranger he was playing this game with.
Until one day, when he arrived at the alley a little later than usual.
He had been busy with sorting out enrollments at the Taekwondo center and thus left the place a few hours later than he normally did. The sky’s pitch-black by the time he reaches the mouth of the alley, sparsely-scattered streetlights illuminating the dark passageway.
Soonyoung turns round the familiar corner, about to call Moonie’s name, when he notices the presence of another figure.
He frantically ducks behind a wall and halts for a moment, in case the stranger noticed someone approaching. After a minute or so, Soonyoung tentatively peers from behind it, and sees a figure sitting on the crate beside Moonie’s house, with Moonie… curled up on his lap?!
A pang of jealousy instantly drives through Soonyoung’s heart. Moonie had never climbed onto his lap before.
He squints, trying to scrutinize the scene clearer. Not only is Moonie on the stranger’s lap, he’s kneading his thighs, making biscuits on the stranger’s slacks. His eyes are shut, and he appears to be purring.
The ache in his chest intensifies. What did this stranger do to get Moonie on his lap?!
Soonyoung’s gaze trails up to examine the stranger’s appearance. He thankfully hasn’t seemed to notice Soonyoung’s presence, his gaze focused on the furball on his lap as he strokes his fur tenderly. He’s clad in a uniform from a nearby convenience store, his long, black hair tucked underneath a cap. The cap obscures most of his face, but Soonyoung can see that his lips are curved up in a soft smile.
Soonyoung frowns deeply, but he can’t seem to stop staring. He’s not sure what’s drawing him in - the way Moonie looks so relaxed as his claws dig lightly into the stranger’s pants, the way the yellow hue of the streetlight casts a warm, comforting glow on the both of them, or the way the stranger seems so at peace as he gently smooths out Moonie’s soft, orange fur. He can’t see his eyes, but he can feel the love radiating from his gaze.
The initial jealousy morphs into something Soonyoung can’t quite name. Somehow, he doesn’t quite hate the scene in front of him anymore.
“Kitty, I have to go now,” the stranger suddenly speaks up, and Soonyoung flinches when Moonie hops off his lap as he stands up. Soonyoung watches as he picks an empty can of coke off the floor and his heart nearly jumps out of his mouth when the stranger turns to face his direction.
He manages to conceal himself in time, and breathes a sigh of relief as he hears the clang of the can hit the bottom of a trash bin. He counts to ten before slowly peeking out again, and his gaze softens at the sight.
Moonie is circling around the stranger, rubbing himself against his ankles as the stranger crouches down in front of his cardboard house. He’s holding out a sticker sheet under the light, seeming to contemplate which one he should use today. He finally decides on one and sticks it on the roof of the house, but he doesn’t move from his squatting position for a long while.
Soonyoung’s head cocks in confusion, wondering what he’s looking at, when the stranger’s voice sounds out again.
“Kitty, did the other person not come today? They haven’t left anything new.”
Soonyoung feels his heart skip a beat in his chest.
He noticed. He noticed Soonyoung leaving something new everyday.
Well, of course he noticed, since Soonyoung’s additions were never subtle, but hearing it from the stranger’s mouth himself seemed to strike a chord in him.
Soonyoung watches as he shrugs and stands up, retrieving his bag from the floor. He gives Moonie a few final pats on his bottom, and he’s heading off in the opposite direction.
Soonyoung waits for his figure to turn round the corner and disappear completely, before emerging from his hiding spot. Moonie spots him almost immediately and starts padding over towards him, his tail pointed to the sky as he meows welcomingly.
“Moonie, was that your other owner?” Soonyoung asks as he takes a seat on the crate. It’s still warm from the stranger’s heat.
Moonie purrs loudly, head-butting into Soonyoung’s shin. Soonyoung pats his thighs, attempting to get Moonie up on his lap too, but the cat just settles on the crate beside him.
“That’s not fair, why can you sit on that guy’s lap but not mine?” Soonyoung whines, lips curving into an upset pout.
Moonie stares up at him and gives him a long, slow blink.
“Don’t act cute. It’s not working,” Soonyoung scowls, but his heart softens the tiniest bit. “Tell me what he bribes you with to get you to climb onto his lap.”
The orange furball’s eyes flutter shut and his breathing evens out.
“You’re unbelievable,” Soonyoung huffs as he rolls his eyes, observing Moonie fake-snoozing by his side.
“I’m gonna see what tricks he pulls to get you on his lap,” he puckers his lips, crossing his arms over his chest. “Just you wait until I learn it from him.”
Soonyoung purposely leaves the Taekwondo center late again.
He’s back at the alley exactly the same time as the day before, and sure enough, the stranger is there with Moonie on his lap again. Today, the stranger’s wearing his cap backwards, so Soonyoung has a clear view of his facial features.
His skin is pale, appearing bright under the harsh glow of the streetlight. It looks like his eyes are closed from the angle Soonyoung’s in, since he’s looking down at the cat on his lap. Moonie looks up drowsily and rubs his head against his chest, which makes his eyes curve into two upturned crescents and his lips to stretch into an adoring grin.
He’s pretty.
Soonyoung mentally slaps himself at the thought. He’s here to observe how the stranger acts in front of Moonie, not to admire his looks.
The stranger vacates after leaving another cat sticker on Moonie’s house. While Soonyoung waits for some time to pass, a light bulb flickers on in his head.
He exits the alley and makes a detour until he finds himself in front of a convenience store. He pushes the door open and steps into the shop, but doesn’t see anyone behind the counter. Just as he’s about to turn around and try a different branch, someone emerges from the door labelled ‘Staff only’.
Bingo.
The stranger gives him a quick bow before busying himself by restocking one of the ready-to-eat food refrigerators. Soonyoung grabs a can of cat food before sliding up to the refrigerators, hovering around him while subtly stealing glances at him.
The stranger looks nothing like the person he saw ten minutes ago. His lips are pursed into a tight line and his actions are rough and rushed. Maybe he’s just concentrating on his job, but he doesn’t pay any attention to Soonyoung.
Soonyoung chooses a roll of kimbap and turns to him.
“Can I make payment for these?”
The stranger looks up at him, and Soonyoung feels a chill run through his spine when their gazes meet.
That’s definitely not how he looks at Moonie.
Soonyoung doesn’t even get a reply. The stranger just stands up and walks behind the register, waiting for Soonyoung to set his items down on the counter.
Soonyoung hands him his items, his gaze flitting down to his nametag.
Lee Jihoon.
“Are you a member?” Jihoon asks, rushed and curt. Soonyoung nods.
“Your phone number?”
Soonyoung recites the digits.
“Your name?”
“Kwon Soonyoung.”
“That will be 3,500 won. Your mode of payment?”
Soonyoung hands his card over to him and Jihoon takes it and taps it on the terminal without even sparing him a glance.
“The microwave’s at the back. Thank you for your purchase,” Jihoon harshly rips the receipt from the terminal and almost shoves it into Soonyoung’s hands along with his card. And just like that, he’s making his way back to the refrigerator to resume his task, treating Soonyoung like he’s air again.
Soonyoung continues standing at the counter, a bewildered look on his face as his gaze follows Jihoon.
Is this really the same person he saw with Moonie?
He walks to the back of the store, where Jihoon said that the microwave would be. Soonyoung inspects it closely, and realises it’s the same microwave as the one on Moonie’s house.
Yup, it’s definitely the same person.
Soonyoung heats up his kimbap and leaves the convenience store without sparing Jihoon another glance. He marches into the alley, where Moonie greets him as usual.
“Moonie, do you know how two-faced your other owner is?” Soonyoung complains as he prepares Moonie’s meal. “I just met him at where he works, and you wouldn’t believe how cold and curt he was to me! But when he’s with you, he’s all smiley and gentle! Can you believe that?”
“Nyam nyam,” Moonie ignores him, happily chomping on the can of food he just bought.
“This is ridiculous. Why would you sit on the lap of someone like that?” Soonyoung sighs exasperatedly. “One day he’s going to show his true colours to you and you’ll regret trusting someone like him.”
Soonyoung huffs again, his gaze falling on the cat sticker that Jihoon stuck on the cardboard earlier. The rage bubbling in him intensifies and before he can think about it, he’s pulling a Sharpie out of his bag.
Beside the sticker, he doodles a grumpy cat with sharp eyes and a mean frown. He leans back to admire his artwork, and frowns when he realises it looks exactly like Jihoon.
Soonyoung starts leaving the Taekwondo center late everyday.
It’s become his new routine now - watch Jihoon be all sweet and friendly with Moonie, get his items checked out by a grouchy and quick-tempered Jihoon, then back to the alley to rant to the orange furball.
It’s almost as if Jihoon and Moonie had formed an alliance to mock him. Despite Soonyoung acting all gentle and loving to Moonie, the stubborn cat still refused to sit on his lap.
“You’re doing this on purpose, aren’t you?” Soonyoung asks the four-legged creature one day, groaning in defeat.
“Meow,” Moonie replies, blinking at him with innocent eyes.
They definitely planned something together.
At some point, Soonyoung accepted defeat. If Moonie didn’t want to sit on his lap, then so be it. If he wouldn’t believe Soonyoung when he said that Jihoon wasn’t the warm and friendly person he was with him, then so be it. If he still liked Jihoon more than him, then so be it! What’s so bad about being Moonie’s second favourite person?
That didn’t stop him from breaking the routine, though. Every night, he still spied on Jihoon and Moonie being lovey dovey with each other like a bitter third wheel. He still felt the pang of jealousy whenever Moonie snuggled against Jihoon and he smiled tenderly at him in return. He still felt upset whenever Jihoon treated him coldly every time he checked his items out.
But that wasn’t all.
Soonyoung starts to become aware of the warm feeling that spreads through his heart every time he catches the corners of Jihoon’s lips lifting. The tingle in his heart whenever Jihoon calls Moonie ‘Kitty’ in a sweet voice. The flutter in his stomach each time Jihoon’s eyes curve into crescents.
The truck of hurt that runs over him as Jihoon slides his card and receipt across the counter without a glance or any additional words.
As he sits on the crate, silently watching Moonie munch on his plate of shredded tuna, the cat sticker that Jihoon left on Moonie’s house that day catches his eye. He runs his thumb across it as he examines it - it’s the face of a white cat with its eyes curved into crescents.
Soonyoung’s mind unknowingly drifts back to Jihoon, and his heart rate picks up against his will.
That’s when he’s suddenly hit with the realization that he isn’t jealous of Jihoon getting attention from Moonie.
He’s jealous of Moonie getting attention from Jihoon.
He buries his head in his palms. This wasn’t how it was supposed to be. He just wanted to observe Jihoon’s method of befriending Moonie so that he could do the same, but ended up falling for him instead.
“This is all your fault,” he mumbles, voice muffled by the heels of his palms.
Moonie pauses chewing to give the troubled man beside him an unbothered glance, before turning back to his plate.
Soonyoung renames his plan from ‘Operation: Get Moonie to Sit On My Lap’ to ‘Operation: Get Lee Jihoon to Smile At Me’.
It’s harder than he thinks. Jihoon’s walls are higher than Mount Everest, and thicker than the earth’s crust. No matter how high Soonyoung climbs or how hard he drills, he barely makes any progress.
Any greeting he offers is ignored. Any smile he gives is ignored. Any attempt he makes at small talk is, of course, ignored. Maybe it’s easier to be reincarnated as a cat, Soonyoung thinks.
It’s only weeks later when Soonyoung finally makes the first crack.
“Good evening, Jihoon!” He greets cheerfully as he steps into the store, used to the silence that follows. He scans the aisles to make sure that he’s really there, and finds him restocking the ice cream freezer. Soonyoung grabs his usual tin of cat food and slides up to him.
“Ooh, ice cream sounds good today, it’s so hot outside!” Soonyoung beams at him, scanning the range of ice creams available. Jihoon’s already making his way to the register before Soonyoung can even take his pick.
“Jihoon! Wait for me!” Soonyoung chases after him and sets his items on the counter. Soonyoung’s prepared to recite his membership phone number, but Jihoon just stares at the cold treat.
“Is something wrong?” Soonyoung inquires hesitantly.
“...You can take another one. It’s one plus one.”
“Oh! Okay!” Soonyoung says excitedly, scampering back to the ice cream freezer to grab another ice cream bar. After they’re done with the transaction, Soonyoung slides the extra ice cream bar back to Jihoon.
Jihoon just stares at it blankly.
“It’s for you! I can’t eat two anyway, it’ll send me straight to the dentist,” Soonyoung nudges it closer towards Jihoon.
For the first time, Soonyoung sees the deep furrows between Jihoon’s eyebrows relax.
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome! Enjoy the sweet treat!” Soonyoung exclaims and notices that the furrows immediately return.
He lightly chuckles to himself as he exits the convenience store, celebrating the completion of his first milestone in his head.
The next day, Soonyoung buys a bottle of coke with his tin of cat food. Just as he’s about to check it out, he tells Jihoon to hold on a moment and goes back to the refrigerator to grab another bottle.
Jihoon blinks expressionlessly at the pair of bottles on the counter.
“...This is not one plus one.”
“I know,” Soonyoung smirks playfully at him. “I just wanted to buy it for you.”
Jihoon’s gaze snaps up to meet his. At first, Soonyoung sees surprise, panic and shock. But it quickly tames to something softer, and Jihoon is already looking away before Soonyoung can identify what it is.
He clears his throat and begins his protocol - scanning the items, asking Soonyoung for his phone number, confirming his name, tapping his card on the terminal, and handing his items back to him. Soonyoung takes everything but the bottle of coke, in which he slides over to Jihoon’s side.
“Enjoy the coke, Jihoon!” Soonyoung bids farewell and promptly exits the store, missing the way Jihoon’s hand curls around the bottle, his gaze following Soonyoung as he hops down the street.
If this was a game, that was the final mission he completed in order to advance to level two.
“Good evening, Jihoon!” Soonyoung announces his presence as he enters the store. He spots Jihoon behind the counter, busy refilling the disposable cutlery.
“How was your day today?” Soonyoung asks, not expecting a response as usual, as he makes a beeline for the cat food.
“Good.”
Soonyoung freezes in his tracks.
Did Jihoon just respond to him?
“Th-That’s great!” His attempt to mask his surprise fails at his stutter. “I had such a tough day today. The kids at the Taekwondo center kept wanting to wrestle with me. I thought I was fit, but I was humbled by the stamina of elementary school kids.”
Jihoon doesn’t respond to this, so Soonyoung might’ve been hearing things after all.
Soonyoung decides on a chocolate bar today. He grabs two - one for himself and one for Jihoon - and waits until Jihoon scans the items before reciting his phone number.
“Okay. That will be 4,000 won. Card?”
Soonyoung halts, his head tilting to the side.
“Uh, did you miss a step? You didn’t confirm my name,” he points out.
Jihoon pauses for a beat before continuing, in a softer voice.
“...I know you’re Kwon Soonyoung.”
Soonyoung’s jaw drops to the ground.
“Oh, Jihoon, you remember my name now?” He coos, clasping his hands together and spinning around. “I feel so honoured! My efforts have paid off!”
Jihoon clears his throat. “That will be 4,000 won,” he repeats.
Soonyoung hands his card over, doing that silly finger heart trick when Jihoon pulls it from his fingers. Jihoon pretends he doesn’t see it, but Soonyoung catches the way his jaw tightens.
“You answered me just now, didn’t you? When I asked how your day was today?”
“Yes,” Jihoon replies reluctantly.
“I knew it!” Soonyoung pumps the air. “You just made my day better, Jihoon, I forgot that I had a tough day today thanks to you!”
Jihoon sighs loudly and continues filling up the box of paper straws once he’s done with Soonyoung’s transaction. Soonyoung pushes one chocolate bar towards him, waves goodbye and prances out of the store excitedly.
Moonie seems slightly wary at his overenthusiasm, eyeing him cautiously as he keeps giggling to himself while preparing his food.
“Moonie, your other owner remembers my name now! He’s in love with me, isn’t he?” Soonyoung sighs dreamily.
The orange cat looks at him with a skeptical expression.
“I knew you’d agree with me. Here, eat up! I’ll bring something extra special for you tomorrow.”
Soonyoung comes to realise that the process of getting closer to Jihoon is very much similar to that of Moonie.
With every day he visits Jihoon, Jihoon’s replies to him start getting longer and longer. One word replies extended into five, then into a full sentence, and by the end of the following week, Soonyoung can have a proper conversation with him.
Soonyoung’s still the one asking questions and Jihoon only replies. He learns when Jihoon’s shift starts and ends, what his days off are, how he landed himself in a job like this. Jihoon doesn’t need to ask for Soonyoung to tell him about himself, and even though he always pretends he’s doing something else, Soonyoung knows he’s listening.
He still hasn’t reached his goal of getting Jihoon to smile at him, but he’s more than satisfied with the way they are now.
And of course, he doesn’t tell him that he’s still secretly watching him play with Moonie every night. If that’s the only way he can see Jihoon smile, he’s not willing to lose it by breaking the news to him.
“What do you feel like having today? It’s on me,” Soonyoung leans against one of the refrigerators Jihoon is restocking, enjoying the feeling of the cool glass against his back. It’s become a part of his routine to buy an extra something for Jihoon while he’s here.
Jihoon pauses, and Soonyoung knows he’s having an inner monologue again.
“Knock knock, could you let me in on your thoughts?” Soonyoung scoots closer, towering over him.
“...The only one plus one we have today is for sandwiches and coffee. But I don’t feel like having either of those.”
Soonyoung chuckles heartily and Jihoon looks up at him, eyebrows raised in confusion.
“You do know that I’m not giving you stuff because I have an extra, right?” Soonyoung leans closer to him, smirking at the way his eyes widen slightly. “I’m giving it to you because I want to buy it for you.”
Jihoon looks away quickly, but it doesn’t hide the way his ears flush a light pink.
“So, what are you thinking of? I’ll get you anything you want,” Soonyoung offers cheerily.
“...I’ll just take whatever you feel like having.”
Soonyoung’s shoulders hunch in defeat and he purses his lips into a thin line.
“Okay then. I feel like having coke today.”
Soonyoung opens one of the drink refrigerators to grab two bottles of Jihoon’s favourite drink, and catches the corner of Jihoon’s lips twitching into a smile from his peripheral vision. But by the time he slams the door shut, Jihoon’s back to sporting a stoic expression.
“Please check my items out, Jihoon-ssi~”
Jihoon rolls his eyes and stands up. He’s shorter than Soonyoung - an aspect that Soonyoung thinks is unfortunate, since Jihoon loves to wear caps and he can’t see anything but the top of Jihoon’s cap from his height.
Jihoon turns to walk over to the register, but Soonyoung spots something on his cap.
“Jihoon, wait- you have something on your…”
Before Jihoon can respond, Soonyoung’s already leaning down, peeking below his visor to get to his eye level. Soonyoung smirks at the way Jihoon’s eyes are wide as saucers, staring straight at him, as stiff as a pole, not daring to move a muscle.
Soonyoung reaches forward to pick the strand of cat hair that’s clinging to the edge of his visor, and shows it to Jihoon.
“You have a cat?”
Jihoon shakes his head frantically as he snatches the strand from Soonyoung and flings it to the floor.
“Pretty sure that was a strand of cat hair,” Soonyoung teases, closely trailing behind Jihoon as the latter spins on his heel and strides to the counter. “I have a cat myself, and my clothes are covered with these.”
“...You’ve been buying cat food everyday. I can tell.”
“Ah,” Soonyoung almost blurts out that the cat food he’s been buying is not for his cat at home, but the cat they’ve been looking after together. “Do you like cats, though?”
Jihoon’s gaze drops to the floor. He gives a shy nod.
“That’s awesome! Let me show you my cat,” Soonyoung whips his phone out and starts scrolling through his gallery. “His name is Nonu, because he has these white circles around his eyes that look like he’s wearing glasses. I took one look at him and thought he looked exactly like Nobuta from Doraemon, so I named him after that.”
Soonyoung finds a picture and shows it to Jihoon, but Jihoon’s just staring at him, his features contorted in an expression that Soonyoung hasn’t seen before, almost as if he’s trying to hold back a smile.
“...Jihoon?”
Jihoon caves in and bursts into a fit of laughter.
Soonyoung stands there, speechless, still holding his phone out while watching Jihoon doubled over with laughter.
This is the first time he’s seeing Jihoon’s smile and hearing his laugh up close.
Soonyoung’s pretty sure a blush has crept up on his cheeks by the time Jihoon wipes his eyes and turns back to him.
“You said you named him after… Nobuta?” Soonyoung nods in confirmation. “Soonyoung, Nobuta is that old Japanese drama. The one in Doraemon is called Nobita.”
Soonyoung wants to die. If his cheeks weren’t red enough, he thinks his whole head is burning up now.
“Oh my god. You’re right,” Soonyoung’s eyes widen in horror and Jihoon starts laughing again. “No wonder it sounded off. Do you think it’s too late to change his name? I’ve had him for five years already, though.”
“You’re funny, Kwon Soonyoung,” Jihoon smiles at him with tears in his eyes.
Soonyoung wants to die even more. Not only is Jihoon right in front of him with that cute smile on his face, he thinks he’s funny. That’s one of the best compliments he could ever receive.
“But you’re right. He does look like Nobita,” Jihoon’s looking at his phone now, a tender grin spread across his cheeks.
Soonyoung’s heart does a somersault in his chest. He’s looking at Nonu with the same loving gaze he looks at Moonie with.
“You wouldn’t believe it. One of his favourite things to do is to watch Doraemon. He can sit in front of the television for hours without moving,” Soonyoung recounts. Jihoon’s smile just grows wider, and Soonyoung’s heart pounds faster.
“He’s a rascal. Never listens to me,” Soonyoung smiles fondly, before continuing in a softer voice, “I think he’d listen to you, though.”
Jihoon’s gaze diverts to the register, his pink cheeks growing a shade darker.
“We’ll see.”
‘Operation: Get Lee Jihoon to Smile At Me’ might’ve been completed, but now Soonyoung was hungry for more.
Lucky for him, without knowing it, he had cleared another mission and advanced himself to level three.
“Good evening, Jihoon!” Soonyoung’s shrill voice pierces through the store as waltzes in. He looks around but doesn’t catch sight of the shorter man, so he proceeds to the shelf with the animal products.
To his surprise, he finds Jihoon standing there. Not restocking the shelf or counting stock. Just standing there.
Almost as if he was waiting for him.
Soonyoung flashes a dazzling grin at him. “Jihoon! You didn’t see me for one day. You missed me, didn’t you?”
“In your dreams,” Jihoon rolls his eyes, but he smiles.
“What did you do on your day off?” Soonyoung absently picks a tin of shredded chicken off the shelf before sauntering away, walking backwards so that he’s facing Jihoon.
Soonyoung does not expect Jihoon to start following him.
“I practiced my guitar. I’m posting another cover soon,” Jihoon replies, arranging a row of bagged chips as they walk down the snack aisle.
“That sounds cool! I wanna hear it too.”
“It’s not that good,” Jihoon grins shyly, but Soonyoung knows he’s just being humble.
“Is there anything you’re craving today?”
“Soonyoung, you have to stop buying me stuff.”
“But I want to,” Soonyoung halts in his footsteps and sticks his bottom lip out. Jihoon stills too, staring at Soonyoung pouting at him like a baby for five seconds before letting out an incredulous chuckle.
“You’re unbelievable, Kwon Soonyoung.”
“What was that? You said you’re craving coke?” Soonyoung places his hand against his ear, leaning slightly towards Jihoon. “What a coincidence! Me too!”
Jihoon sighs and buries his face in his hand, but it’s mostly to conceal the stupid grin that’s etched on his face.
Jihoon watches resignedly as Soonyoung skips to the counter with two bottles of his favourite drink and a tin of cat food in his hands. He scans the items, taps around on the register, and turns back to Soonyoung.
“That will be 4,000 won.”
Soonyoung frowns. Since when had Jihoon skipped this many steps?
“You didn’t key in my membership! How could you forget your loyal customer?”
Jihoon points to the screen facing Soonyoung. “I did. Look.”
Sure enough, the bottom right corner reads ‘Member: Kwon Soonyoung’.
Soonyoung blinks in confusion as he processes the situation, before it dawns on him.
“Jihoon, you memorized my phone number?!”
“It’s only eight digits. Plus, you’ve been coming everyday for like, the past month,” Jihoon defends, but his words just fly over Soonyoung’s head.
“Oh, Jihoon, I didn’t know you liked me this much,” Soonyoung bats his eyelashes at him, leaning forward so far that half his body is on the counter. “Is today our first day together?”
“Get off the counter, Kwon Soonyoung,” Jihoon swats at his arms. “Pay up. I… actually have something for you too.”
Soonyoung’s ears perk up and he quickly withdraws himself to tap his card on the terminal. Once the transaction goes through, Jihoon pulls something out from below the counter.
It’s a can of cat food, and a small box of cookies.
“This is for Nonu, or, Nobuta,” Jihoon mocks, stifling a giggle when he sees Soonyoung’s lips purse into a thin line. “And… this is for you. It’s a new arrival at our store. I’ve tried it already, and it’s pretty nice. I think you’ll like it too.”
Soonyoung gapes at the two items on the counter.
“Are you allowed to steal from your own store?”
“Kwon Soonyoung!” Jihoon whacks his bicep with the can of cat food. “I bought these with my own money! Now shoo. And… thank you for the drink.”
“Thank you for the cat food and cookies too,” Soonyoung gives him a sultry wink. “I’ll see you tomorrow, Jihoon.”
His mind drifts off into wonderland as Moonie munches on his meal in front of him. He replays today’s highlights in his head - Jihoon following him around the store. Jihoon smiling and laughing with him. Jihoon memorizing his number. Jihoon buying stuff for him.
There’s no other explanation for this. Jihoon was in love with him.
“It’s probably too soon to ask for his hand in marriage, right Moonie?” Soonyoung asks for the orange cat’s opinion. Moonie licks his bowl clean, and immediately starts sniffing the items in Soonyoung’s hand.
“That’s for your brother, you greedy little thing,” Soonyoung hides the tin behind his back, but holds up the cookies in the air like it’s his most prized possession. “And this is for me. All given by your sweet, precious, adorable owner.”
Moonie gives him a bored, judging look before retreating into his little house.
Soonyoung thinks he has a gift for taming cats.
If Jihoon counts as one, of course. Soonyoung thinks he’s not much different from one, anyway.
Jihoon now follows him around the store as Soonyoung decides on what to buy. He smiles at him and laughs at his jokes. He tells him what new arrivals taste good and passes them to him over the counter.
He’s achieved far more than he expected. ‘Operation: Get Lee Jihoon to Smile At Me’ had exceeded its goal by tenfold.
So Soonyoung comes to the decision that there’s no reason to keep the secret about Moonie from Jihoon anymore. He’s a little apprehensive about how Jihoon would react, but he knows it has to happen sooner or later.
Soonyoung approaches his usual hiding spot and peeks behind the wall.
Huh. Jihoon isn’t there today.
He checks the time on his phone. He’s exactly on time, so maybe Jihoon is late, or something came up at the store.
Soonyoung doesn’t think too much about it and emerges from the hiding spot, walking towards Moonie’s area.
That’s when he sees it.
At first, he thinks his eyes are playing tricks on him. But as he goes closer, his footsteps picking up pace, his heart sinks to his feet at the wreck in front of him.
Moonie’s area is absolutely destroyed. His cardboard house is crumpled and tattered, his toys strewn all over the hard concrete, the crate from ‘Moon’s Kitchen’ overturned, a huge hole in it.
And Moonie is nowhere to be found.
Sirens start to wail in his head as his chest grows tight with panic. Who did this to Moonie? Where was he hiding now? Would he be injured?
He turns around, preparing himself for a hunt, when he comes face to face with Jihoon. He’s panting and his already-pale skin is a shade whiter.
“Soonyoung…” Jihoon’s voice is shaky and strained. “Have you seen a-”
“I’ll help you find him,” Soonyoung cuts him off, gives his shoulder a light squeeze, and bolts down one of the dim passageways.
Soonyoung weaves through the alley, checking the drains and the stacks of debris while calling Moonie’s name. It’s difficult to see since the streetlights are sparse, so Soonyoung whips out his phone to turn on his flashlight.
The search continues for a long while without any promising leads, and with every minute that passes, the impending doom creeps closer and closer to Soonyoung. He doesn’t want to believe that whoever did this took Moonie away, or worse, his life.
Soonyoung’s flashlight sweeps over a blot of dark red liquid on the floor. He inspects it closer, and finds another a few inches away from it. He follows the trail and finds that it ends under a parked car.
“Moonie?” Soonyoung calls out, crouching down to shine his flashlight under the vehicle.
A timid meow resounds from the gap, and Soonyoung nearly cries from relief.
“Moonie! It’s me,” Soonyoung reaches his hand in. “It’s okay, you can come out, I’m here to help you.”
Soonyoung feels the brush of whiskers on his fingers, but the cat refuses to emerge from the dark.
“Soonyoung? Did you find him?” Soonyoung looks up to find Jihoon pacing towards him.
“Yeah, but he won’t come out. I think he’s scared,” Soonyoung gestures to the space in front of him. “He might listen to you, though.”
Jihoon squats beside him and Soonyoung watches as he takes over.
“Kitty~” Jihoon calls in a tender voice. “Kitty, I brought treats for you. Can you come out so we can eat them?”
True enough, that was all it took for Moonie to come crawling out from underneath the car, straight into Jihoon’s outstretched arms.
“He’s bleeding,” Jihoon scoops the wounded creature in his arms, examining his injuries. “I think he got beaten up by some crazy drunkards. I’ve seen a few in this area, but I didn’t think they’d bother him.”
Soonyoung’s busy with retrieving his Taekwondo uniform from his bag and arranging it in his arms so Jihoon can place Moonie on it. His blood stains the white fabric, but Soonyoung couldn’t care less.
“There’s a vet around here. Let’s go.”
Soonyoung leads the way with Moonie wrapped up in his arms, whimpering softly. He leads them to the vet he normally brings Nonu for his checkups, and Moonie is in safe hands in no time. The vet tells them to wait outside while she examines his condition.
Soonyoung hands Jihoon a packet of wet tissues, and they start wiping Moonie’s blood off their hands. The silence between them is thick and uncomfortable, and Soonyoung knows it’s not just from the worry they have for the injured furball in the examination room.
Jihoon’s intuition is impeccable. Soonyoung knows he’s connected the pieces. But he still hasn’t said a word to him about how he knows of Moonie’s existence, how he knew he was looking for him, how he knew Moonie would listen to Jihoon more than him.
Once they’re done cleaning up, they sit down side by side at the clinic’s reception. Soonyoung glances over at Jihoon every few seconds, wringing his hands nervously, but he can’t seem to find the courage to start speaking first.
Jihoon caves in eventually, heaving a loud sigh.
“So it’s you.”
Soonyoung winces at the three words, bowing his head down.
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you earlier.”
Jihoon just lets out a sharp laugh, his lips curving up into a coy smile.
“It’s okay. I knew it was you anyway.”
Frankly, Soonyoung should’ve seen this coming.
“What?!” He shoots up from his seat to face Jihoon, gaping at him with wide eyes. “You- how…”
Jihoon’s eyes curve into crescents as he stifles a giggle at Soonyoung’s outburst. He purses his lips, scratching his head like he’s trying to form a coherent sentence.
“I don’t know how to put this nicely. Honestly, Soonyoung? You suck at hiding.”
Soonyoung deflates instantly, his bottom lip sticking out into a pout.
“...Really?”
“Yes. Please sit down,” Jihoon pats the chair beside him, and Soonyoung does as told. “If it makes you feel better, I didn’t know it was you at first. I knew someone was watching me, but I only found out it was you much later.”
Soonyoung’s gaze is still on the floor as he fiddles with his fingers, like he’s a child who’d just been caught stealing from the cookie jar.
“Why didn’t you tell me you were taking care of him too?” Jihoon questions in a quieter, gentler voice.
Soonyoung contemplates as he chews the inside of his cheeks, but ultimately decides to tell him everything.
“I was jealous of you at first! I didn’t understand why Moonie would sit on your lap and not mine. I thought you had some tricks up your sleeves, so I watched you. And after some time I… I realised that I was jealous of Moonie instead, since you only smiled at him. It’s pretty, you know? The way you smile when you’re petting him,” he confesses, cheeks heating up rapidly.
“You refused to smile at me, so the only time I could see it was when you were with him. Then you started warming up to me… I was going to tell you, I swear! But… this happened first.”
Jihoon remains still, taking in Soonyoung’s words.
“Are you… you’re not mad at me, are you?”
Jihoon hesitantly meets his gaze, and Soonyoung’s amused to find his cheeks dusted a faint pink too.
“You’re unbelievable, Kwon Soonyoung.”
Jihoon turns away, but Soonyoung can still see the hot, red tips of his ears sticking out from his cap. He beams triumphantly, swinging his legs back and forth.
“Moonie? Is that what you call him?” Jihoon pipes up after a minute of silence. “Because of ‘Moon’s Kitchen’?”
“Yeah!” Soonyoung confirms enthusiastically. “And you call him…”
“Kitty,” Jihoon replies flatly, and Soonyoung can’t help but let out a snort. “Shut up. I’m bad at names, okay?”
Their conversation ends on a cheerful note, and the vet emerges from the room some time later. They heave a sigh of relief in unison when she announces that Moonie’s all good except for a fracture on his left hind leg. He’s definitely not able to go back to the alley, so Soonyoung offers to keep him at his place since he already has all the necessary stuff.
Soonyoung makes an appointment to pick Moonie up the following morning, since he has to stay the night for observation. He’s about to pay the consultation fees, but Jihoon beats him to it.
“Hey! I wanted to pay,” he frowns, and Jihoon mirrors him, crossing his arms over his chest.
“You’re already doing your part by taking him in. We’re taking care of him together, aren’t we?”
Jihoon’s words evoke a strange, bubbling feeling in Soonyoung’s chest.
‘We’re taking care of him together.’
It’s like he’s implying that Moonie’s their child, and they’re co-parenting him.
“I have to go now, the guy from the previous shift is probably fuming right now,” Jihoon’s voice jolts Soonyoung out of his thoughts. “Let me know how he is when you pick him up tomorrow, okay?”
Soonyoung nods and bids Jihoon goodbye, watching him fly down the street.
As soon as Soonyoung sets Moonie’s carrier on the floor of his apartment, Nonu is already circling it, sniffing at it curiously. Soonyoung swats him away as he pulls at the zip and opens the bag, peeking in.
Moonie doesn’t move an inch. He’s squashed himself to the far end of the carrier, pupils wide with fear.
“Welcome to your new home, Moonie! You’ll be living here with me and your brother, Nonu, from now on,” Soonyoung introduces, before turning to the eager black cat. “Be nice, Nonu, you’re probably freaking him out.”
Nonu ignores and pushes past him, straight into the carrier. Soonyoung’s about to pick him up and drag him away, afraid that Nonu’s presence would be too overstimulating for Moonie.
But to his surprise, Nonu gives Moonie’s bandage a whiff, bumps noses with him, and immediately plops himself on the ground to start grooming Moonie’s fur. Moonie seems a little taken aback at first, but soon succumbs to the comforting feeling and lets his eyelids droop shut.
A warm, fatherly smile spreads across Soonyoung’s cheeks at the heartwarming scene in front of him. He pulls his phone out of his pocket to take a video to send to Jihoon.
Soonyoung taps on his messaging app, and that’s when he realises.
Oh. He forgot to ask for Jihoon’s number.
It’s no biggie, he thinks, he’ll just show it to Jihoon when they meet at the convenience store tonight, when his phone starts buzzing violently in his hand.
Soonyoung jerks back forcefully, almost dropping the hunk of metal on the floor. He peers at the caller ID. It’s an unknown number.
He waits for it to ring two more times, before warily tapping on the green button.
“Hello?”
“Soonyoung? This is Jihoon.”
Soonyoung panics for a second, trying to recall how and when did he give Jihoon his number-
Oh, right. Jihoon has his number memorized.
“H-Hi Jihoon!” He tries to mask his flusteredness. “Did you just get off work?”
“Hmm, it’s been a few hours. I just woke up from a nap,” Jihoon finishes with a yawn.
Ah, that explains why his voice is so uncharacteristically low and hoarse.
And sexy.
“Is Moonie back at your place?”
“Y-Yeah!” Soonyoung tries not to think about that last adjective. “He’s still in his carrier. I think he’s not comfortable with the new environment yet. He’s getting along well with Nonu, though. Hold on, let me show you-”
Soonyoung removes the phone from his ear and taps the video button. He points the rear camera to the two cats cuddling in the carrier, and hears Jihoon’s low chuckle echo from the speaker, followed by a comment saying how adorable they look together.
At the familiar voice, Moonie’s ears perk up and he stares at Soonyoung’s phone with wide, interested eyes.
“Oh, it seems like Moonie recognises your voice. Do you… Is it convenient for you to turn on your video?” Soonyoung requests carefully, before hurriedly adding. “For Moonie to see you! He might… relax more… if he… yeah…”
He doesn’t get a response, but Jihoon’s screen pops up a few seconds later.
Soonyoung gawks at the sight in front of him, the sudden rush of blood to his head making him slightly dizzy.
Jihoon is in bed. Shirtless. Blanket pulled up to his chest, exposing his defined collarbones and the dip between his pecs. His long hair is sporting a fancy bed head, sticking out in all directions.
Screw it, Jihoon is sexy.
“Oh sh-” Jihoon seems to realise his state of undress from Soonyoung’s reaction. His screen goes black, and Soonyoung hears some rustling behind the camera.
Jihoon appears again, this time wearing a shirt and a cap, but Soonyoung can’t erase the image of a shirtless, messy-haired Jihoon from his mind.
“Sorry about that,” he clears his throat awkwardly. Soonyoung offers a meek smile and shakes his head before pointing the screen to Moonie.
“Kitty~ How’s your new home?” Jihoon calls affectionately, and Moonie mrrps in surprise, leaning forward to rub his head against Soonyoung’s phone.
“He just tried to headbutt you through my phone,” Soonyoung informs, and Jihoon laughs fondly.
“Give him a while. I think he’ll be brave enough to come out soon, especially with Nonu all over him like that.”
Soonyoung hums in agreement, turning the screen back to face himself. He stays silent, but he refuses to meet Jihoon’s gaze through the screen. Jihoon might’ve known him for only over a month, but he’s able to read Soonyoung like an open book.
“Yes, Soonyoung?”
“You know… since Moonie prefers you… do you perhaps… want to, uh, help Moonie warm up to this place? Before your shift starts?”
The tips of Soonyoung’s ears burn hotter when Jihoon just giggles at his hesitance.
“If you want me to go over, you can just tell me, you know,” Jihoon smirks, seeing through Soonyoung’s intentions like a glass ball. “Okay. Send me your location. I’ll go over after I take another nap.”
Soonyoung can’t sit still for the rest of the day.
He tells himself, it’s just Jihoon, he sees him almost everyday! He’s just going to be sitting on his couch instead of restocking the convenience store shelves or playing with Moonie. It’s no big deal, right?
But now, every time he thinks of the other man, the image from that morning flashes in his head again. Soonyoung digs the heels of his palms in his eyes, but it’s to no avail.
Jihoon shows up at his doorstep in the late afternoon. He’s clad in an oversized shirt and shorts, and his usual cap. Soonyoung tames the flock of butterflies in his stomach and steps aside to let him in.
“Moonie’s out of the carrier now, but he went to hide under the sofa instead,” Soonyoung updates him. Jihoon nods, peels back the cap on his head, and runs a hand through his black, luscious locks.
Soonyoung watches the scene unfold in front of his eyes, swallowing tensely.
“Moonie..?” Jihoon tries. The orange furball peeks its head out of the gap, but stares at Jihoon in confusion.
“Kitty?” Jihoon makes another attempt.
Moonie emerges from underneath the sofa with a crisp meow, hobbling over to Jihoon and bonking his head against his ankle.
“I guess he only responds to his name in our respective voices,” Jihoon chuckles, moving to sit on the sofa. Moonie manages to hop up with some difficulty, and makes himself comfortable on his lap.
Long strands of hair fall over Jihoon’s face as he looks down to smile at Moonie. Jihoon reaches up to tuck them behind his ear, and Soonyoung’s breath catches in his throat.
Jihoon is ethereal, and Soonyoung can’t take his eyes off him.
He’s snapped out of his daze when he feels a dip in the seat beside him. Nonu has hopped up on the sofa to join them and is sniffing curiously at Jihoon.
“Hi, you must be Nonu. Can we be friends?” Jihoon sticks out a finger and Nonu kisses it with his nose. He gives Jihoon a long, intense look, before rubbing his black, furry body all over Jihoon’s arm.
“See, he already likes you more than me,” Soonyoung huffs as Jihoon chuckles. “I wasn’t wrong when I said he’d listen to you more.”
After coating Jihoon’s shirt with his fur, Nonu pads over to a cubby hole adjacent to the sofa and settles in it. He chirps softly, and Moonie immediately rises from Jihoon’s lap to join him in the cubby hole, curling up beside him as Nonu starts grooming his fur.
The pair watch them flirt with each other, affectionate smiles etched on their faces.
“I don’t think you need my help to get Kitty to warm up to this place. Nonu’s doing a great job,” Jihoon concludes, and Soonyoung agrees with a nod.
“Did the vet say anything? When can he remove the bandage?” Jihoon probes as he crosses a leg over the other. Soonyoung’s gaze flits down against his will, eyeing Jihoon’s exposed, milky thighs.
“Uh, I have to… bring him for a checkup next week… then they’ll see if he still needs the bandage,” Soonyoung realises he’s sweating. When did the room get this hot?
“Okay. Let me know when you’re going. I’ll come with you.”
Soonyoung nods fervently, wiping his sweaty palms on his shorts.
“Um… is there… anything you’d like to do now? There’s still a few hours before your shift starts…”
Jihoon doesn’t reply, so Soonyoung looks up at him, only to see him with his eyebrows raised, watching Soonyoung with an amused expression.
"I could ask you the same. Is there anything you want to do now?”
Soonyoung shrinks under his gaze.
“Wh-What do you mean?”
Jihoon shifts an inch nearer to Soonyoung so that the sleeves of their shorts are now overlapping. They haven’t even made contact, but Soonyoung thinks they’re already too close.
“Did you want me to come over only to help Moonie get used to this place?”
Soonyoung feels like his insides are getting twisted. His heart’s thrumming in his ears, breath coming out in short puffs, and there’s nothing in his brain but static.
“How honest can I be?” His voice comes out tiny, mouth running faster than his mind.
Jihoon leans towards him, close enough that Soonyoung can see his own panicked reflection in his pupils.
“Tell me everything, Kwon Soonyoung.”
Soonyoung’s gaze drops to his lips, which curve into a coy smile once Jihoon notices him staring. It’s barely inches away from him - it’s so tempting to just lean down and-
“I really want to make out with you right now,” he blurts out.
Jihoon leans back with a satisfied smile, like that was the reply he was expecting. For a second, Soonyoung thinks he got played, until Jihoon moves to stand up and sits back down on Soonyoung’s lap, his legs folded on either side of his thighs.
“Is this okay?”
The contrast of his tan skin against Jihoon’s pale skin is striking. Soonyoung’s mind short circuits, his hands freezing in midair.
“Wow,” is all he manages to breathe out.
Soonyoung’s breath hitches when Jihoon shifts forward so that their chests bump each other. He has to look up at Jihoon from this angle, and realises the new view is not too bad.
Especially when Jihoon looks down at him and his long hair falls over his face. Soonyoung’s hand moves on its own, reaching up to tuck the soft locks behind his ear.
Soonyoung’s hand stays on the edge of his jaw, holding it gently. He caresses his thumb against his cheek once, and Jihoon has just enough time to wet his lips before Soonyoung leans in to close the gap between them.
Jihoon’s lips are as soft as Soonyoung expected them to be. They move against Soonyoung’s unsurely, so Soonyoung takes the lead and leans in closer to capture his bottom lip. He pulls at it and sucks lightly, drawing a soft mewl from the man above him.
The faint sound seemed to fill Soonyoung with an unexplained sense of confidence. He curls his other arm around Jihoon’s waist, pulling their bodies closer together. Jihoon grows pliant in his grasp, placing his hands on Soonyoung’s shoulders for support.
Soonyoung continues nibbling on Jihoon’s bottom lip, enjoying the contented sighs he pulls from his throat. He tilts his head and presses closer, swiping his tongue against the slit between his lips. Jihoon grants him access, and Soonyoung’s tongue enters the wet cavity.
Jihoon’s sounds start to grow higher in pitch as Soonyoung explores the wet heat of his mouth. He’s bunching the fabric of Soonyoung’s shirt in his fists, and Soonyoung feels a dangerous heat start to pool in his gut. He quickly pulls away before things get too escalated.
Jihoon’s lips chase Soonyoung’s even after they’re separated, and he looks mildly disappointed when his eyes flutter open. Soonyoung admires Jihoon’s half-lidded eyes, his pink, swollen lips glazed with their spit, the rise and fall of his chest as he catches his breath.
As oxygen slowly fills his lungs, Soonyoung’s mind clears up, and reality comes crashing into him. He registers Jihoon’s weight on his lap, and bursts into a fit of chuckles.
“What’s so funny?” Jihoon pulls his hands back, mildly offended.
“No, it’s just-” Soonyoung gestures vaguely. “This whole thing started off with me wanting Moonie to sit on my lap, but here we are. You ended up on my lap instead.”
“Why? Would you prefer it if Kitty was on your lap now?”
“No,” Soonyoung replies hastily, tightening his hold on his waist. “This is better. This is way better.”
Jihoon seems to be satisfied by his answer, traces of a smile clinging to the corners of his lips.
A faint chirp resounds from beside them, and they turn to see Moonie back on the sofa, watching them questioningly. He inspects their compromising position, and decides to crawl onto Soonyoung’s lap, fitting himself in between their bodies.
Soonyoung’s jaw falls open as he watches the orange cat tuck his paws and tail under his body, eyelids drooping shut at the warmth of their shared heat.
“This was what I had to do to get you to finally sit on my lap?! Was this your plan all along?” Soonyoung splutters exasperatedly. Jihoon lets out a hushed chuckle, reaching down to stroke Moonie’s fur.
“Actually, I take it back,” Soonyoung’s expression softens after a moment. “Thank you, Moonie, for bringing Jihoon to me. This is the best.”
He takes in the scene in front of him, a relaxed smile slowly spreading across his cheeks. Jihoon looks up at him, eyes curved into those cute crescents that he fell in love with, and Soonyoung can’t help but lean forward to press a chaste kiss on his lips. Jihoon giggles at the action, the sound filling his chest with a warm, fuzzy sensation.
Soonyoung thinks if this was a convenience store, he just bagged the best one plus one deal - he bought a cat, and got his other cute owner with it for free.