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On the corner of 6th street stood a handsome couple bathing in the warm winter sunlight. They were pressed close together and walked in unison as if blood flowed from one and then made its way to the other through their connected hands. Just as they were going to cross the street the young man tallest, and with very yellow hair started.
“Look!” he exclaimed, turning them so they would cross the street parallel to where they were going. When the light changed so they may his partner, dressed poorly for the cold weater, slowed apprehensively.
“We’ll just—” he began, but was interrupted.
“Oh, Jihoon, I’ve always wanted a cat just like that! Look at it’s wide little face.”
Jihoon held the door for him as they entered. “Soonyoung, pets are a lot of responsibility—and—” he couldn't find more to say so he held the proffered animal awkwardly. “—Cats shed, Soonyoung.”
Soonyoung picked up another with childlike eagerness. It squirmed reluctantly, squeaked briefly, and settled it’s small head in the crook of Soonyoung’s arm. He cried happily and demanded “Look!” with inane excitement. The cat Jihoon had been handed nicked one nail accidentally deep into his hand and he set it back down gently, resentfully. Soonyoung had been raised around animals and developed a trait more nurturing and loving than Jihoon had seen in most people. He imagined that he must miss being around something to care for in such an urbane and populated city, and couldn’t find it in himself to say no.
“I think I’ll call her Youngmaeng.”
Jihoon had been left with carrying the required supplies, and though they lived together he knew he was home most and would have to take good care of the cat on behalf of Soonyoung. Deciding this would show a side of himself that even he hadn’t yet known, and present Soonyoung a loving image, he was tolerant of the added responsibility.
“Isn’t she so sweet?” Soonyoung demands. Youngmaeng had been climbing on his shoulders in new found amazement. Soonyoung reached for her, hugged her close, and juggled her averse body like putty.
“Let her down, Soonyoung, she needs to get familiar with the space.”
The cat walked about their small apartment with apprehensive curiosity. She seemed to find Soonyoung’s attentive narration bothersome and hurried through the crack in their bedroom door. As Soonyoung opened the door to check on her he let out a little cry of joy. She had jumped onto their bed and found a comfortable spot on Soonyoung’s pillow.
“Jihoon, come here!” he followed Jihoon expectantly with his eyes as he emerged from the bathroom with a large container he was working a garbage bag over. “She’s lying on my side..!”
Jihoon smiled politely. “That’s very sweet, Soonyoung, but we need to show her the litterbox and then bathe her. She could have picked something up.”
“Oh, but she’s not done exploring—! What about your studio?”
Jihoon looked at Soonyoung, and then to the litterbox in his hand with intense antipathy, as if he’d been told to use it from now on. “No.”
“Why, Jihoon—!”
“Soonyoung, she’ll get in there and climb on all my equipment. That couch was a gift, what if she scratches on it?”
“She won’t!” Soonyoung defended like it was him who was being accused. “Oh, she’s just little. Do you want her to think you’re so mean?”
“Once we’ve trained her to not scratch the furniture and stay off the table,” he decides.
Soonyoung walks over to Youngmaeng and looks at her pitifully as he carries her to the bathroom. Once Jihoon adds the liter he tosses her on top of it.
“Does she already know how to use it?”
“I think so. They must have used them at the shelter.”
“Oh—she’s throwing it everywhere. You’ll have to sweep that.”
“Can’t you handle the liter and I’ll do the feeding? Don’t look at me like that, Jihoon—It’s a very fair trade, animals appreciate having a clean place to do their business more than anything.”
Jihoon doubted this but found no way to argue against it. He left briefly and when he returned he had the cat shampoo and a broom. Soonyoung obviously ignored him.
“Soonyoung,” he says scornfully. “I’m not going to take care of the litter box and then have her hate me for pouring water all over her.”
Soonyoung sighs heavily and Jihoon watches complacently from the door frame.
In the cold glow of the late evening moon Jihoon lays noncommittally on the bed. After Soonyoung had bathed the cat and was able to dry it briefly with a towel, she ran under the couch and moved from Soonyoung’s grasp wherever he reached for her. Deciding she was just throwing a short tantrum and would come out eventually, Soonyoung clung dejectedly onto Jihoon as he worked. Three hours later she had yet to poke her head from under the couch and Soonyoung was sitting fretfully outside their room so he could still see her shadow from under the couch.
“She’ll come out when she’s ready,” Jihoon says again.
“I know, but I wanted her to sleep with me.”
“Cats only sleep in places they trust, she’ll probably walk around all night and lie in a corner.”
Soonyoung lets out a little laugh and walks to the bed reluctantly. “When did you know so much about cats?”
“I looked up things about them since we’re taking care of one now.” This was only half true. Jihoon had been called a cat by majority of their friends and one day looked up feline behavior out of irritable exasperation. “You’d spoil her rotten.”
“Look what’s come of me.”
Jihoon kisses his plush, spoiled lips.