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"Didn't you know that if a black cat crosses your path, you will have bad luck?" A woman said to her friend and pulled her away.
Jay meowed, trying to get the human's attention. Head hanging down when the two women left.
He was starving, and he'd been dumpster diving in a few bins, but today he wasn't as lucky. Jay lay flat on the ground, exhausted.
A mother and child came into view making Jay perk up. He scampered over to the two, hoping they'd feed him something.
The woman gasped when she came into view and pulled her child with her.
"A black cat just crossed our path! We need to walk the other way." She said, pulling the child with her.
Jay's deflated. It looks like he'd have to spend another day without food. Maybe he should wander over to a different neighbourhood.
No, he was too tired. He'd probably just have to curl up by the cardboard boxes tonight and hope no one chases him away till morning.
"Hi there, kitty!" Someone called out, clicking their tongue at them.
Jay whipped his head and saw possibly the most gorgeous man in existence, crouching down and gesturing towards him.
"Sunghoon-ah, we need to get going." Another person, standing over this Sunghoon human, said
"They can wait, I know Jungwon's going to be late anyway." The human Jay now knew as Sunghoon said
Jay took cautious steps towards the human, a little sceptical. He maintained his distance.
"Come here, little guy," Sunghoon urged, making a gesture with his hand.
Jay still maintained his distance, wary of the two humans who showed a sudden interest in him.
"Ah," Sunghoon exclaimed, "maybe you want a treat!"
Jay perked up as Sunghoon dug into his bag and pulled out what seemed to be a lunch box.
"You didn't eat today?" The other human asked
"I did, I just couldn't finish lunch because of that meeting." Sunghoon said, "Might as well give the leftovers to this little fella, right?"
Sunghoon opened the box, the smell of food wafting through the air.
"Do cats even eat curry?" The other human asked
Jay was already in front of Sunghoon, chest puffed out, waiting for the human to feed him.
"He definitely does!" Sunghoon laughed at the eager cat, petting his head affectionately, placing down his lunch box's lid and neatly putting his leftovers in it. Jay waited patiently.
"Is that sanitary?" The other human made a face
"I'll wash it well when we get home." Sunghoon said, turning his attention to the black cat."Now you eat it all up, little guy!"
Jay meowed in thanks and dug into his meal, savouring it. After a long day with no food, the curry tasted delicious.
"I guess he was really hungry," Sunghoon said, patting the cat's head. Usually, Jay would bite the fingers off of anyone who dared to touch him while he was eating, but this human's touch felt so warm. So much so that he nuzzled into it.
"He ate it all up so quickly." The other man said
"Poor kitty must have been really hungry," Sunghoon said, scratching Jay's ear and pulling a purr out of the cat.
"We should really get going now," the other human said. Jay wanted to hiss at him, but that would mean that he'd have to remove himself from Sunghoon's warmth.
The warm human sighed and gave Jay a final pat on his head before pulling away. Jay meowed in protest.
"Sorry, I need to get going." Sunghoon explained, "But I'll come back tomorrow."
Jay's ears drooped down. He knew that this nice human wouldn't come back. Besides, who would care so much about a stray cat?
__________
Jay lounged atop a fence, stretching his back lazily and letting out a yawn. He was still thinking about the kind human who had offered him curry the previous day.
Today, there was some food in the trash, but Jay had tasted heaven. He couldn't go back now.
The cat whined, alerting some passers-by, but they promptly ignored him and continued about with their day. Jay often wondered why humans were always in such a hurry. Even the human, Sunghoon, from last night, seemed to be in a hurry.
Jay wondered what the human was doing right now. He said he'd come again, but so did many others. None of them ever came back.
Something was thrown at Jay, startling him and making him jump down from the wall. An empty soda can fell to the ground a few feet away from him.
A bunch of middle school boys were laughing at him. Jay hissed at them for disturbing him.
"Look! The stupid cat got angry!" One of the boys laughed
"You shouldn't do that!" another scolded his laughing friends.
Jay was growling at the kids, claws ready to attack.
"It's just a dumb cat!" Another boy said, "It won't do anything!"
As if to prove a point, another boy pulled at Jay's tail, making the cat yowl and claw at the boy, successfully scratching at his face and hands.
"Ow!" The boy stepped away and knocked into another boy who fell down, trash cans clattering around him.
"Ew!" He yelled, uniform now dirtied by the trash that fell atop him.
"I told you not to mess with it!" The second boy said, "My mom said black cats are a bad omen. If you provoke it, you'll get cursed."
Serves them right, Jay thought, looking on smugly.
"Are you okay?" A new but familiar voice asked.
Jay perked up. Sunghoon had come back! Jay was overjoyed and went to purr and rub against the human's leg.
However, it seemed the human was more focused on helping up the boy who'd fallen into the trash and inspecting the claw marks on the other boy.
Jay sulked. It seemed like the human hadn't even noticed him.
"What happened?" He asked the kids, noticing the claw marks.
"That cat scratched me!" One of the boys accused
How dare this kid accuse him like that! Jay growled at the boy.
"Don't growl. You're scaring the kids." Sunghoon turned and said to the cat who immediately shut up. Of course, Sunghoon would pick the kids' side. All humans were like that.
"But you must have done something to provoke the cat." Sunghoon narrowed his eyes at the kids, "I don't think this little guy will attack you for no reason."
"The cat only scratched him cause he pulled at its tail!" The nicer boy of the three said
"You shouldn't treat animals like that." Sunghoon frowned, "You shouldn't treat any life like that. They feel pain too."
"But black cats are evil!" The first boy who threw a soda can at Jay tried to argue.
"Who told you that?" Sunghoon asked, "That's all just superstition. No cat is evil. If anything, you are the ones who seem evil for trying to hurt a poor defenceless creature."
The boys had the decency to look ashamed at Sunghoon's lecture.
"You're lucky. The scratches aren't so deep that you'll need shots, so you won't need shots. Just wash your cuts thoroughly as soon as possible so it doesn't get infected." Sunghoon instructed and turned to the other boy, "And you should go home and take a bath. Who knows what was in the trash."
The boys nodded and walked away, remorseful after a quick apology. Sunghoon shook his head as he watched the boys go.
"Kids these days," he mumbled to himself and turned to Jay with a smile.
"Were they too rough on you, little kitty?" Sunghoon asked, crouching down and beckoning Jay over. Slight pout on the human's face.
Jay took a step forward instinctively but stopped in his tracks when he thought back to how the human's initial reaction was to side with the other humans over him.
Jay turned his head away, seeing Sunghoon's shoulders droop from the corner of his eyes.
"Hey, kitty," Sunghoon called out, making clicking noises with his tongue, "What's wrong?"
Jay turned away from Sunghoon.
"Ah," Sunghoon exclaimed, "Are you mad at me for asking you to stop growling?"
Jay stayed turned away.
"Wow, I guess cats have egos, too." Sunghoon chuckled, eliciting a whine from the cat in question.
"Ah, sorry!" Sunghoon laughed."Sorry, I should have checked on you first. I just didn't want those brats to get you into trouble. If they think you're a feral cat, they'll catch you and put you in cat jail."
"Wait," Sunghoon caught himself, "why am I explaining all this to a cat?"
So the human thinks he's dumb. Jay made a small disapproving noise, still turned away from Sunghoon.
"Oh no, have I angered you more?" Sunghoon said, "I'm sorry, I've never had a cat before, I didn't think you were smart enough to understand me."
What's that supposed to mean?
Another offended meow had Sunghoon sighing.
"I'm sorry," he apologised again.
Jay began to walk away.
"Ah, you're not gonna accept my apology?" Sunghoon whined, "That's a shame. I even bought you some tuna 'cause I thought you'd be hungry."
"Guess I'll just have to give it to another cat then."
Jay turned around
"Oh?" Sunghoon looked at him, smug."Do you like tuna?"
He opened a tin can, the smell of delicious fish wafting in the air making Jay's mouth water, but he didn't want to give in to the smug human.
"Ah, it'd be such a waste if you don't eat this. I got it especially for you because I thought you'd like it." Sunghoon pouted
He supposed he'd show pity on the human for bringing him food.
Jay meowed and went closer, sniffing the tuna. He took a small lick, mewling at the taste and digging in.
"Eat it all up," the human encouraged
Sunghoon giggled, petting his fur again. He felt warm.
_________
Sunghoon stopped by every day with tuna, beef, and even a healthy vegetable stew. Although Jay took one bite and wrinkled his nose, not enjoying the taste, it was prompting Sunghoon to run to the convenience store nearby to buy him tuna instead.
Jay had gotten a little chubby. The people passing by him had also commented about him. It was quite rude, and Jay made sure to hiss at them.
Sunghoon, however, had taken a liking to Jay, and the cat had become quite maliable in the human's hands. Sunghoon liked to pick Jay up and give him belly rubs or squish his cheeks, and sometimes he even nuzzled his nose against Jay's.
Jay was happy that such a kind human had taken a liking to him. He walked with pride, and the other neighbourhood cats envied him.
The clouds were overcast today, Jay was craving some tuna. He hoped Sunghoon would bring him some, although he had no doubt. It seemed like he had a connection with the human.
A drop of water hit his forehead. Jay shook it off and tried to look for a place to hide. There were no boxes or shady kiosks he could take refuge under.
He ventured a little further, an empty patio to a shop calling out to him. This would be perfect! It wasn't too far away that Sunghoon wouldn't find him, either.
Jay shook the water off his fur once again. It had started drizzling. He hoped the human had remembered to bring an umbrella.
Jay lay down in the shade, away from all the rain, and watched as the humans ran back and forth. Some with umbrellas and hats shielding them from the rain, some with hands over their heads and others who just didn't seem to care about the water pouring down on them.
Jay was getting impatient. It was around the time Sunghoon usually crossed his path. Had the human accidentally walked past him? Maybe he was running late? Or maybe he wasn't coming today.
The cat sprung up. This wouldn't do. He was hungry!
Jay peered out into the road to look for any sign of Sunghoon, still under the shade of the shop. Jay frantically looked back and forth and even tried to meow a few times in case Sunghoon was looking for him.
Something prodded at his back, making Jay jump and let out a hiss.
"Shoo! Go away, you stupid cat!" A lady said
Jay tried to fight her, but she fought back by thrusting a brush at him. She'd even managed to get a hit on Jay's side, making him yowl.
He quickly fled the shop, hurt, and now wet under the heavy pour of rain. Jay meowed out curses at the lady and went on his way. He had no place to go. It was cold and he was tired from running. The weight of his wet fur slowed him down further. Finally, Jay curled against a random fence, making him as small as possible in a feeble attempt to retain some warmth.
Jay's eyes drooped close, and he let out a pitiful whine of Sunghoon's name before succumbing to a fatigued slumber.
Jay woke up warm, something plush and soft under him. He curled up further into the warmth. It enveloped him fully, and it smelled like Sunghoon.
Sunghoon?
Jay groggily opened his eyes, and the first thing he saw was a hand stroking his head. Jay leaned in and meowed, relishing the feeling of being held.
"You're up." A soft voice said, "I was afraid you'd gotten sick. You looked exhausted, and I couldn't just leave you to get pelted by the rain.
Jay sat up, blinking the sleep away from his eyes. He was on Sunghoon's lap and all around him. It was raining, but he was dry. He looked up and saw that Sunghoon was crouched against the wall in a sort of Asian squat, an umbrella strategically placed and held between his back and the wall.
"I wanted to take you home, but the place I'm renting has a no pet policy." Sunghoon sighed, "So I thought I'd keep you company until the rain let up."
Jay looked up at the human with sparkly eyes. He was touched.
"I even brought you your favourite!" Sunghoon exclaimed, opening a can of tuna for him.
This man was either an angel or an idiot.
Sunghoon let out a sneeze, startling Jay. The precariously placed umbrella was disturbed slightly, and Sunghoon's shoulder got wet.
Sunghoon was an idiot.
The human sniffled and offered Jay his food, but the cat didn't dig in right away. Instead, he meowed and rubbed his head on Sunghoon's chest in a gesture. He wanted to convey to the human that he shouldn't stay here or he'd catch a cold.
"Do you not want food?" Sunghoon frowned. "Want me to get you something else?"
The cat whined as if disagreeing and jumped off Sunghoon's warmth, rather reluctantly, and pushed his head against the human's thigh as if instructing him to leave.
"What's wrong?" Sunghoon frowned, but Jay didn't stop pushing.
"You wanted me to leave?" Sunghoon asked, finally understanding. Jay looked at him as if confirming the human's hunch.
"Why?" Sunghoon asked, taking the umbrella in hand and holding it over himself and Jay. (mostly over Jay)
Jay gestured to the rain and then back at Sunghoon. He then fell to the floor and closed his eyes, sticking his tongue out to mimic being sick.
Sunghoon giggled at the cat's antics, getting angry meows in response.
"Sorry! Sorry!" Sunghoon apologised, "I've just never seen a cat this good at charades."
Jay meowed again.
"I get what you're trying to say. You're worried I'll get sick, right?" Sunghoon deduced, and Jay nodded."So you want me to leave."
Jay meowed happily because Sunghoon understood what he was trying to convey.
"But if I leave, who will hold an umbrella over your head? You'll get wet." Sunghoon said, pout forming on his lips.
Jay meowed angrily again because why does this human prioritise a cat over his own health?
"The rain should stop soon," Sunghoon said, "I'll go when the sun's out."
Jay side-eyed Sunghoon.
"Don't make that face!" Sunghoon bopper Jay's nose, "now eat up."
Jay meowed again.
"Come on!" Sunghoon whined, "I got this just for you. If you don't eat it, I'll be sad."
Jay meowed in protest. He didn't want Sunghoon to be sad.
So he took a bite and another and one more, seeing how Sunghoon's smile widened.
"There you go." Sunghoon said, stroking Jay's head, watching satisfied as the cat dug into his food.
"You know, I'd much rather be here with you right now." Sunghoon admitted softly. The cat would have missed it entirely if it wasn't for his keen hearing.
_____________
Something was wrong.
Sunghoon was spacing out, hand stopped mid-pat atop Jay's head.
Jay looked up from his half-eaten meal and cooked his head. Sunghoon wasn't smiling like usual. He looked tired and sad.
Jay suddenly lost his appetite.
He called out to the human with a meow, breaking Sunghoon out of his trance. He blinked and looked down at Jay, forcing a smile.
"Aren't you hungry?" Sunghoon asked, "You don't like steak?"
It was his favourite, but right now, he was more concerned about the human looking down at him.
Jay meowed again.
"I guess they were right about animals being more perceptive to emotion than humans." Sunghoon sighed
Jay stared at Sunghoon, waiting for an explanation. However, what he didn't expect was drops of water hitting his head.
There was no rain; hardly any clouds adorned the sky today, but Jay felt damp, his heart shattered when he realised that it wasn't rain falling on him but rather tears.
They traced down Sunghoon's face and dropping from his chin, finding a resting place on Jay's fur.
"Why am I crying in public." Sunghoon sighed, wiping away tears from his eyes, "I'm sorry, kitty. I've been having a few bad days lately."
Jay reached up, trying to balance on his hind legs to reach Sunghoon's face. His forelegs found support on Sunghoon's chest as he began to lick away at Sunghoon's tears.
The human giggled through his tears, holding the small cat.
"I'm gonna ignore the fact that you're living me with the same tongue you ate beef with a second ago." Sunghoon sniffled and let out a wet chuckle, "But it's adorable that you're trying to comfort me."
"Thank you so much." Sunghoon pulled the cat close to him and nuzzled into his fur. Jay felt wetness seeping into his skin, but he let the human cry, trying to offer his comfort with small purrs.
"Who would have thought my life would fall apart so much that a cat is comforting me." The human sniffled, "Thank you so much, kitty. I don't know what I'd do without you."
"I wish I could take you home with me." Sunghoon said, pulling away from Jay's warmth, cheeks, and nose turning red from the crying.
For the first time, Jay wished he was human so he could wrap his arms around Sunghoon and offer him the comfort he desperately craved.
Sunghoon cried into Jay's fur for a while longer before mumbling something about surviving his dreaded last day of work before letting go of the cat.
Sunghoon gave Jay a big, hearty hug before gently placing the cat down and standing up. He hovered for a few minutes, unable to leave, but eventually wiped his tears and pulled himself together.
"I'll come back tomorrow."
____________
Sunghoon didn't come the next day. Or the day after that.
It had been a week since Jay last saw Sunghoon. The final time he'd seen him, the human was in tears, and the cat had comforted him.
With each passing day, Jay grew more and more concerned for the human. He hadn't seemed fine the last time Jay saw him. He hoped Sunghoon had recovered.
He wasn't eating well in concern for his human. He'd lost a lot of the chub he put on from eating Sunghoon's food. The neighbourhood strays mocked him, saying his human abandoned him, but Jay didn't care.
The people around him called him a bad omen and shooed him away, but Jay didn't care.
It rained a few times that week, and he had no shelter, but Jay didn't care.
He only wished he could see Sunghoon again and make sure the human was okay. He just wanted to hold Sunghoon and reassure him.
Jay curled up on himself in the nights and wailed. He couldn't cry tears, but he was devastated and concerned. He hoped Sunghoon would come see him again. Pick him up and hold him.
He wished he could hold Sunghoon.
He wished he was human.
____________
Jay woke up feeling heavy. He had no control of his body. He lifted his head, and his vision seemed to have improved drastically, but his other senses seemed dulled.
Jay stretched his hands and-
Hands?
Jay had hands! And feet! He stood on his four limbs but lost balance.
"What the fuck?" Jay exclaimed, coveting his mouth when human speech came out instead of meows.
He stood up, on two feet this time, balancing against the walls.
He looked down at his reflection in a puddle of water that had formed from the rain last night.
He was a man! A human! Wearing a black suit. Jay still looked like himself but he was human.
"How?" He blinked confused when at once the thought of Sunghoon popped into his mind.
He needed to find Sunghoon!
Jay sprinted in a decisive direction as if his instincts were taking him to the human who showed so much kindness to him.
Now he was human too! He can repay Sunghoon for all the love and kindness he showered on Jay.
It felt like he'd been running for hours but his feet halted outside a small house. Even with his dulled sense of smell, he picked up Sunghoon's scent.
This is it!
Sunghoon is here!
Jay fixed his hair and his suit. Humans needed to look presentable.
He knocked on the door, biting his lip nervously. A human habit that he subconsciously acquired.
The door opened and Jay beamed unable to hold back his smile. It was the man he'd seen Sunghoon with the first time they met. He was at the right place. However, the man looked disgruntled and tired, eyes red and raw, skin pale.
"May I help you?" The man asked, feeble
"Um yeah," Jay stuttered, "Is Sunghoon here?"
The man frowned.
"Who are you?" He asked
"I'm-" who was Jay, "I'm a friend."
The man let out a shaky breath looking burdened for some reason. Jay frowned, heart dropping.
"I am sorry to be the bearer of bad news but Sunghoon was in an accident last week. He passed away."
Jay stopped breathing for a moment, legs going weak.
"H-how did it happen?" He found himself asking.
"I can only chalk it up to bad luck." The man said, "he was caught in an unfortunate place at an unfortunate time and a drunk driver hit him."
Bad luck.
He was bad luck.
All of this happened because of him.
Sunghoon had died because of him. All because he got attached to a human. All because Sunghoon was too kind to him even though everyone said he was cursed.
All because of him.
"Sir!" The sounds around Jay dulled "Hey! Sir, are you okay? Si-"
"Didn't you know that if a black cat crosses your path, you will have bad luck?"
Jay only wished he hadn't crossed Sunghoon's