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When Kkuma first met him, it was in Daegu.
She had recently been welcomed into this beautiful family. The man who had chosen her looked gloomy but had instantly lit up when his eyes fell on her and on this side, all she could think was, That's my human, the one I'm going to dedicate my life to.
That same man, now her Appa, she came to know was suffering from some sickness and she felt dispirited because she tried everything to make him feel better and it worked but it didn't take long for the same shadow of sadness and stress to fall on her Appa's face again. She was very young but what she understood of her species was that they cheered humans up, in a way as if they brighten the world just by existing. Why was she not succeeding in doing that with her human was beyond her.
Then it happened.
Upon his arrival, there was a sudden light in her Appa's almost lifeless eyes. And it wasn't the kind that faded in and out. It was the kind that stayed.
Yoon Jeonghan had come and with him, came a light that stayed.
Kkuma was transfixed by the blinding beauty and angelic voice in which he greeted her, "Annyeong" and talked all sweetly with her. What he didn't mention was I've come here to steal your Appa from you.
Looks can be deceiving, Yoon Jeonghan taught her.
It was great that her Appa looked happier and healthier but the way he forgot about her- not completely but majorly. Honestly, it wasn't just Kkuma. Appa had seemed to forgotten about the whole world. But there was a difference between her and the whole world; the latter didn't seem to mind, but Kkuma did.
She was possessive, petty and she didn't like Yoon Jeonghan.
🧨
When Kkuma's Appa got much better, he and Seungmin samchon took her to Seoul, where she met Appa's second family.
"Wait a minute", Yoon Jeonghan took two steps backward and looked at her, "I have met you before and I know dogs do remember", Yes, we do, "So why are you meeting them so excitedly?", Because Kkuma loves meeting new people, "And being all snappy with me?", Because it's you. The man bended and pointed a finger at her, his eyes narrowed, "You don't like me, do you?"
Kkuma barked in agreement and tried to bite that pointed finger but he was quick to pull back and also to shout, "Seungcheollie!". Kkuma rolled her eyes, "Your daughter doesn't like me!"
"There's nothing like that, Jeonghan-ah", Appa stepped out of the kitchen and walked into their direction.
"She tried to bite off my finger!!!"
"Kkuma!!!"
SUCH A TATTLETALE!, Kkuma barked loudly and sulked for the rest of the day. Because the tone Appa used on her was his upset/angry tone and she had never been on the receiving end of that tone. She didn't even do anything. Yoon Jeonghan still had his finger, right? Had it very much not bitten.
The man clearly did that to get Appa's attention.
Attention, Kkuma realised after a lot of meetings, came easy to Yoon Jeonghan. A cynosure, as Joshua samchon called him once. Even when he teased them, lied to them— Kkuma thought lying was a bad thing— but here they were, all twelve of them looking at Yoon Jeonghan as if he created the entire universe.
One night, Kkuma curled into herself and did some thinking, What if he has them all under some kind of magic? What if he is actually evil?, she could believe that. Appa once told her that many humans are evil, even though they might not seem like it.
She wanted to tell Appa, Yoon Jeonghan seems to be the king of evil.
🧨
And she had never been surer, as she watched her Appa cry, complaining to her, "A bad person, Jeonghan is a bad person".
She barked, That's what I'm always trying to tell you.
"I hate him!", Me too.
She nuzzled her Appa's chest to provide him comfort and decided, right there and then, that she would bite Yoon Jeonghan the next time she comes across him.
But when that time came, when that golden opportunity presented itself and it was only one day after, her Appa had his whole stance changed.
"I love you, Jeonghan. I love you so much!!!!", You are not God's strongest soldier, Appa.
Just one day! Kkuma was staggered, what kind of black magic, what kind of manipulation was Yoon Jeonghan's craft that her Appa couldn't even last twenty-four hours?!
Sensing that there was nothing she could do in the moment, she watched the drama unfold. They kissed in a way Kkuma had never seen two men do. Actually, only Seungmin samchon and his girlfriend. Appa's girlfriend? Yoon Jeonghan?! Is Appa going to marry him like Seungmin samchon claims he is going to marry his girlfriend? Marriage, Kkuma knew, was a serious affair between humans. It made them mates for life, just like haraboji and halmoni. Oh the HORROR!
But something was different. Kkuma never saw Seungmin samchon kiss his girlfriend like he was trying to suck the soul out of her and Appa didn't stop at that, he moved down to Yoon Jeonghan's neck and bit him, I was supposed to do that!, The other man made a sound of pleasure, You weren't supposed to enjoy that!
"You do realise your daughter is watching us make out, right?"
Kkuma averted her gaze the minute they looked at her.
"Kkuma, go away", Her Appa ordered, causing her to internally gasp.
Betrayal comes from loved ones, Yoon Jeonghan taught her.
After this event, Kkuma strictly refused to get kissed by her Appa. Not because she got upset— she did— but because the same lips that have been on Yoon Jeonghan? That was raw poison for Kkuma.
She lasted two days.
She wasn't God's strongest soldier either.
She was her Appa's daughter. Duh!
🧨
That day of the kiss commenced the Yoon Jeonghan-ification of her Appa's world.
He started coming over more, started staying more; the two men were practically joined at the hips. His stuff could be found anywhere, his cute— silly noises could be heard anytime. The house started smelling like Yoon Jeonghan. Even though it was a lovely scent and especially calmed her during her menstruation cycle— which Kkuma would never accept— initially, she pretended it used to make her nauseous. So much so that her Appa thought she was badly sick.
She was, of Yoon Jeonghan.
He roamed around the house like he owned it, he wore Appa's clothes—
The first time he did that, Kkuma tried to pull it off him. The sight was ruining her morning, what was she supposed to do? Watch?!, "Kkuma, what are you doing? Bad girl", He tried to shoo her away. It was her Appa's favourite shirt and she didn't want to rip it, but she did want to rip it off this intruder.
She couldn't do it though, because of her short legs.
What she was really frustrated about was that Yoon Jeonghan wore nothing in the lower half. That would've been easier, Kkuma huffed. Honestly? He was tainting the sanctity of the house by roaming half-naked. Humans aren't supposed to do that. This man had no shame. Kkuma wanted to bite him or scratch him, at least but she figured it wouldn't be taken well by her Appa.
However, he was already bitten. Not only once, but on several occasions. Especially when he came out of Appa's room. Sometimes, there were really angry marks on him. Kkuma was pleased, but what confused her was that it seemed like so was Yoon Jeonghan. She didn't know what happened behind the doors. How would she? The room which had always been opened for Kkuma in the past had started staying locked. A lot. Yoon Jeonghan would lock it, Appa would let him.
At times, she did hear strange noises; pained moans, frustrated groans, screaming, something hitting something or someone etc etc. It seemed as if Appa was torturing Yoon Jeonghan. But if that was what was happening, why would the latter keep asking for more?
And, anyway, Kkuma knew Appa wasn't capable of torturing anyone, especially Yoon Jeonghan. He looked at him, treated him like he was the most precious thing in the world. He gave Kkuma's species a tough competition when it came to the love he showered on Yoon Jeonghan. She didn't know humans were capable of such unconditional love, such unparalleled devotion.
The peak and pure happiness that filled her at the sight of her human, overflowed from Appa at the sight of Yoon Jeonghan.
He just didn't have a tail to wag.
🧨
If Kkuma wasn't this small creature— really fate's fault, not hers— she would accept that Yoon Jeonghan didn't only bring his scent or stuff to her Appa's house. He brought life. And made sure to fill every corner with it.
Appa had started being the happiest and never really stopped after that. There were moments of sadness, of course, but it was nothing that Kkuma or or The Yoon Jeonghan couldn't make him smile through. Even if he was stressed, injured, he sought to Yoon Jeonghan as if he was the medicine to every pain, solution to every problem.
And strangely, Yoon Jeonghan always knew what Appa wanted, what he needed. Even without any exchange of words. Kkuma thought humans needed words to converse.
It wasn't like they didn't fight or hurt each other, it was rare but they did. Yet they always came back to each other, their bond stronger than before.
If Kkuma was bigger creature, she would accept Yoon Jeonghan.
But she wasn't.
🧨
Sometimes, the man played as if he wanted her to.
Kkuma once heard Yoon Jeonghan's voice on her Appa's phone, "I have seen Kkuma a lot, but she doesn't like me", With a rather dramatic sigh, the man continued, "Kkuma always runs away when I'm around. She gets along with people. I think it's just me", Of course, it's you.
He, once, himself asked her, "Why don't you like me?", Because you take Appa's attention away, because I can't smell Appa's scent with yours being all over him, because it feels like he loves you more. Really, Kkuma thought a lot that if given a choice, who would Appa choose? This man or her?
The only answer Kkuma had to calm herself with was a diplomatic one; that they were two different beings, had totally different places in Appa's life.
But then, out of nowhere, Yoon Jeonghan would make an appearance with a particular hairstyle and he would look like her. To make it worse, Appa would address him with her name. And if all of that didn't happen in reel life; rather in real one, Yoon Jeonghan would stick his tongue out at her. Seriously, it's because of these antics of yours THAT I DON'T LIKE YOU, Kkuma would snarl.
Yoon Jeonghan definitely pulled stunts like this on purpose. But in Appa's eyes, there was nothing wrong with this. In his eyes, Yoon Jeonghan could do no wrong. Appa not only adored him when he did something cute— SILLY. Appa adored him; always, never any less.
A fool in love - Kkuma's Appa.
"Pretty, pretty. Kkuma is pretty", Appa was happily placing a bow on Kkuma's hair. She was loving it...until, "Just like Jeonghannie", Really?! Kkuma shook her head so wildly, the bow went flying and she ran away.
Kkuma just couldn't accept Yoon Jeonghan.
🧨
Actually she could. As her rival.
Appa's lips were latched onto Yoon Jeonghan's skin against the kitchen counter as if the latter wasn't sitting in the former's lap on the couch just a few minutes ago. Get a room.
"Your palm has pretty lines", Get a spine first, Appa.
"What are you even saying, Coups-ya?", Yoon Jeonghan giggled. Appa kissed his palm, he giggled some more.
Then he walked out, passed by Kkuma. Right at that moment, she let out a pained scream. Appa rushed out, "Princess, what happened?!"
"I was away", Yoon Jeonghan looked at her in confusion from a distance, "I didn't even touch her".
Kkuma just licked the spot where Yoon Jeonghan supposedly stepped on her.
"Aigo aigo", Appa picked her up and caressed her and kissed her, "Be careful, Jeonghan".
"I swear I was two whole inches away."
But Appa wasn't listening to him. He was already walking away with Kkuma, whispering, "He didn't mean to hurt you".
Yoon Jeonghan just stood there looking between the spot where Kkuma was on the floor and Appa's arm, where he was but now wasn't anymore, his confused eyes narrowing. Oops. He caught her smiling.
🧨
"Tell me, like your Appa, do you also think I wouldn't be able to take care of you?", Let's be honest, you wouldn't be. Glad Appa thinks so.
But that question wasn't actually meant for Kkuma, it was for Appa who entered the place just at that moment.
"You are half-lying on the couch and it probably has been hours", Three, yes, "Did you think of taking Kkuma to walk?"
"She doesn't like me. Is that my fault?", The lazy man whined and gave a side-eye to Kkuma, whispering, "Bite me". Oh, I will, Kkuma growled and was this close to attack when-
"Kkuma, sit!!", Only if she was a cat. She wouldn't be so weak for her human.
"Since Mingyu can take such good care of Kkuma, why don't you marry him?", Kkuma doesn't mind, her ears perked up, she wagged her tail in approval.
"Baby..."
"No, why are you with me when I can't take care of your daughter?", Kkuma realised this wasn't about her.
But was she going to be sacrificed? Most likely.
✨
So, now here she is.
"Are you trying to make your father see I'm not taking good care of you?", Yoon Jeonghan speaks as soon as he enters the Yoon-Boo apartment.
Yes! That's the plan.
Kkuma raises her head, gives him one look and goes back to her comfortable position without giving a glance to her unfinished food once.
Since Appa and Seventeen samchon are gone for some award ceremony in Japan and Seungmin samchon and his girlfriend are also not in town, she is given to Yoon Jeonghan. Much to her dismay. She doesn't like Yoon-Boo apartment. Ugh. First, this is Yoon Jeonghan's place. Second, she doesn't like the photos that are hanging on one of the walls of the living room. They look couple-y. Kkuma deems it unfair to Appa. If Kkuma was Appa, she would've peed all over Yoon Jeonghan to mark her territory.
Some suppressed sniffling makes her raise her head again. She is quite shocked to find the noise coming from Yoon Jeonghan and, curious, follows his line of vision. Appa is crying on TV. Yoon Jeonghan is crying in his living room. Usually the latter would be a sight for sore eyes, seeing how rare it is for Yoon Jeonghan to cry, but this particular scene causes Kkuma to feel an ache.
She believed Appa would take this military service of Yoon Jeonghan bad, but here the man, himself, is taking it worse.
She gets up and makes her way to the couch. To her as well as Yoon Jeonghan's surprise, climbs up. He looks worn out and Kkuma has seen Yoon Jeonghan, in this state, many times, staying sprawled out on the couch until Appa, himself, takes him to the bathroom. But these days, he would take a shower as soon as he comes home and changes into Appa's clothes.
He smells like Appa.
And for the first time, Kkuma realises that Yoon Jeonghan doesn't wear Appa's clothes to stake his claim on the man, but for himself to be claimed. Guess there's no need for peeing.
Yoon Jeonghan subtly tries to wipe his tears but new ones just keep on sliding down, "I miss your Appa". Instead of I do too, Kkuma makes a soft noise of I know.
It's not like Kkuma sees her Appa's love and misses Yoon Jeonghan's. Appa loves loud and proud but Yoon Jeonghan loves in silence, in the shy glances he steals at Appa when he's not looking, in the soft words he whispers to him which turns everything else to just noise and nonsense, in the gentle embrace he holds him in until world becomes a little too perfect.
Kkuma goes into his lap and nuzzles his chest to provide him comfort. Jeonghan chuckles, "Are you finally accepting me as your other Appa?", Now, you are just pushing it.
✨
You see Kkuma doesn't like Yoon Jeonghan till date. She thinks they would always have a point of beef; her Appa. But there are times when Yoon Jeonghan suddenly appears and tells Kkuma to move and, himself, lies in the space she was in; beside her Appa. Kkuma lets him. Because even in sleep, Appa smiles blissfully when he feels the man's presence around him, The said man smiles back triumphantly, as if there's nothing else he wants from the world. Appa pulls him close and they fit into each other's arms like they are meant to be.
So, if her Appa comes back home and she catches his attention first, "Princess!", she would deliberately start running around so that he goes straight to the man who has been waiting for him like a dog waits for its human, more than the dog has waited for her human.