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William had always thought his condo felt a little too quiet.
Not empty. Never empty—because Chowon existed.
Chowon, his tiny chihuahua, his first baby, and his constant shadow for the past year and a half. The one who waited by the door like his life depended on it, who slept right on William’s chest, and who barked at the vacuum cleaner like it was a literal demon from hell.
But still… sometimes, when William came home late from practice, dripping with sweat and absolutely spent, the silence felt… heavy.
He needed something else. Or someone.
A cat. Yeah. Definitely a cat.
“Chowon,” William said one evening, crouching down so he was eye-level with the dog. “What do you think about getting you a sibling?”
Chowon tilted his head, ears flopping.
“A cat sibling~”
Chowon barked.
William laughed, hair falling over his eyes. “That’s not a no...”
So, on a rare free afternoon, William grabbed his wallet, threw on a massive hoodie, and drove to the shelter. He didn’t expect much. He definitely didn’t expect to fall in love in under ten seconds.
The shelter smelled like soap and fur and… honestly? Comfort.
There were cats everywhere— stretching, yawning, meowing, staring at him like he owed them back-rent.
Then he saw him.
A white British shorthair in the corner cage.
Thick, plush fur. Pale icy blue eyes. Big tail wrapped neatly around his paws. His expression looked permanently unimpressed, ears slightly tilted back as if he was currently reviewing William’s life choices and giving them a 0/10. And he was staring directly at him.
Not scared. Not angry. Just… calculating.
William crouched without even thinking about it.
“Hi…”
The cat flicked his tail once. Thump.
The volunteer beside him smiled. “That one’s a boy. Very quiet. Kind of grumpy, honestly. He doesn’t really ‘do’ people.”
William felt a weird tug in his chest. Oh, he’s so me.
“…He’s beautiful.”
The cat stood up, walked closer to the bars, and sniffed William’s fingers. Then, slowly— so slowly— he sat down right in front of him.
Like he’d made an executive decision. And William’s heart literally folded in half.
“I want him,” he said immediately. “I’ll take him home. Right now.”
The volunteer laughed. “You didn’t even look at the others!”
William didn’t look away from those blue eyes. “I don’t need to.”
On the drive home, the carrier beside him was silent.
William glanced over. “I’ll call you Rina.”
The cat blinked slowly. …Seriously? “…You don’t look convinced, but it’s okay. You’ll get used to it, Rina~”
The cat turned his head away with so much attitude William actually felt offended.
“You’re already judging me!”
Introducing Rina to Chowon was… a cinematic event.
Chowon barked like his life depended on it.
Rina just hissed once, a very sharp, very ‘don’t touch me’ sound, and jumped onto the sofa, instantly claiming it as his kingdom.
William stood in the middle of the room, holding a vibrating dog.
“Okay,” he whispered. “Let’s all just… breathe.”
Rina ignored him and sat with his back turned.
It took days…
At first, Chowon stayed glued to William’s legs. Rina stayed on the windowsill, watching everything with narrowed blue eyes.
William talked to them both like they were actual human children.
“Rina, don’t be rude, we share the sofa in this house!”
And slowly… very slowly… things shifted.
One evening, William came home and found Chowon lying near the couch. Not touching Rina, but close enough. Rina pretended not to notice, but his tail was swishing softly anyway.
William nearly cried. My sons are bonding!! He took about thirty photos before Rina glared at him.
Then the house started changing…
At first, it was tiny things.
William swore he had left his damp practice hoodie on the chair. When he came back from the shower? It was folded neatly on the couch.
Am I… blacking out and cleaning? Then his shoes were lined up at the door.
Then his blanket was tucked around the pillows.
Then the dishes were actually washed.
“…Chowon,” William said seriously one night, kneeling in front of the dog. “Are you evolving? Are you going to start paying rent next?”
Chowon just wagged his tail.
Rina sat on the couch, tail swishing—thump, thump, thump.
Sometimes, William felt like the condo looked… lived in. Like someone was taking care of him while he was gone. But he brushed it off.
Cats were weird. And he was forgetful.
That was the logic.
Until the night he came home early.
LYKN practice ended early because the choreo was finally clicking.
William hummed to himself as he unlocked the door, already imagining Chowon’s chaotic circles and Rina’s judging stare.
“I’m ho—”
He froze.
There was a person in his living room.
Standing near the sofa, half-turned away. He was shirtless—showing off broad, pale shoulders and the kind of back muscles that belonged in a gym edit—and he looked like he’d been caught mid-cleaning.
But the most important part?
White cat ears were twitching on his head.
A long, fluffy white tail swayed behind him.
William’s brain stalled. His heart did a backflip.
“…Oh.”
Then it caught up.
“AAAAAAAA—!” He shrieked, stumbling back into the door, hands flying to his face. “WHY IS THERE A MAN IN MY HOUSE?!”
The hybrid jumped too, eyes wide, ears flattening. But instead of screaming, he panicked quietly—tail puffing up like a dandelion as light shimmered around him.
Flash. The man was gone. And in his place… a white cat crouched behind the couch, ears pinned back. That was…
“…Rina?” he croaked.
William slid down the door until he was sitting on the floor, eyes wide and chest heaving.
Chowon came running, barking happily, tail wagging like nothing was wrong.
William laughed weakly. “Of course you’re fine with this. You’ve known the whole time, haven’t you?”
The cat peeked out slowly.
“…You were a man. A whole… shirtless man.”
Rina padded closer.
Light rippled again, gentler this time, and the hybrid appeared, kneeling in front of him.
Up close, he was… unreal.
Jet black hair. Pale skin. Those same icy blue eyes. And his lips… heart-shaped and naturally pouty. Even though he looked nervous, he looked… soft.
William swallowed hard.
“…You’re my cat.”
The hybrid hesitated. “…Yes.”
“I named you Rina.”
“…That’s a girl name,” he said softly.
William huffed a shaky laugh. “I didn’t know I was adopting a whole person! I thought I was just getting a roommate who sheds!”
Silence settled between them— strange, warm, and a little bit electric.
Chowon trotted over and immediately climbed into the hybrid’s lap.
William stared. “Chowon. Betrayal. Absolute betrayal.”
The hybrid’s lips curved into a tiny, shy smile. “He likes me.”
William watched the way his tail swished nervously.
“…You’ve been moving my stuff,” William said.
The hybrid looked away, ears pink. “I wanted it to feel nicer when you came home. You always look so… tired.”
William’s chest tightened. He was watching me? “My name is Est,” he said softly.
William smiled, still a little shaky but feeling that 'fluff' settle in. “I’m William.”
“…You’re not scared?” Est asked, his blue eyes searching William’s face.
William scratched the back of his neck. “I mean, I scream at bugs. So yes. A little. But…”
He looked at Est—at the twitching ears and the shy pout.
“You look more scared than me.”
Est’s ears tinged pink. “I didn’t want to lose this. The shelter was loud. Here it’s… quiet.”
William thought about the folded hoodies. The lined-up shoes.
“…How old are you?” William asked.
Est hesitated. “...older than you.”
William straightened up. “Then… P’Est.”
Est blinked. “…You don’t have to.”
William smiled softly, leaning in just a tiny bit. “But I want to Phi.”
Est’s tail flicked, “I’d understand if you don’t want me anymore..”
“You don’t have to go, P'Est,” William said. “You’re already family. And clearly, Chowon has replaced me with you anyway.”
Est’s ears relaxed. “I…thank you.”
William looked at those lips and the broad shoulders (which were now, thankfully, covered by a stray shirt Est had grabbed).
I am in so much trouble, William thought.
But for the first time, the condo didn’t feel quiet.
It felt full.
William didn’t realize exactly when his condo stopped being quiet. It wasn’t a sudden explosion; it was more like… a slow-burn remix.
It changed when he’d unlock the door after a ten-hour dance rehearsal and the lights would already be on. Just dim, warm amber that made the place feel like a sanctuary instead of a showroom.
And then there were the sounds.
The soft clink of a pot lid.
The rhythm of someone humming a melody William had been practicing that morning.
“I’m home~” William called out one evening, his voice sounding like he’d swallowed sandpaper from all the vocal runs.
Est peeked out from the kitchen, and William’s heart did that annoying thump thing again. Est was wearing one of William’s oversized white t-shirts, which should have been huge on him, but his shoulders were so broad the fabric strained against them.
“You’re late,” Est said, holding a wooden spoon like a scepter.
William kicked off his shoes, his brown eyes tracking the way Est’s white ears twitched at the sound of the door closing. “Practice ran long. Choreo is killing me, P’Est.”
Est frowned, pouting just a little. “Sit. You look like you will fall over.”
William shuffled to the table and basically melted into a chair. “My legs are dead. I’m a ghost. You’re talking to a ghost.”
Est walked over and set a glass of honey-lemon water in front of him. As he leaned down, the collar of the oversized shirt slipped, giving William a very clear, very unnecessary view of Est’s collarbones and the beginning of a very toned chest.
Oh. Wow. Okay. Eyes up, William. Eyes up. “Then why do you keep dancing if it kills you?” Est asked, tilting his head.
William rested his chin on his arms, looking up at him. “Because I like it. The stage is… it’s everything.”
Est studied him, those icy blue eyes searching William’s face. “You look like you like sleeping more.”
William pouted, his inner puppy coming out. “You’re supposed to say I look cool! Like, ‘Wow William, you’re such a hardworking idol!’”
Est hesitated, his tail swishing slowly behind him. “…You look cool.”
William beamed, his whole face lighting up. “See? You get me!”
Est’s ears flicked rapidly—a sign he was flustered. Why does that make him so happy? Est wondered, turning back to the stove to hide his pink cheeks. He’s like a sun that never turns off.
Mornings became… a struggle.
William was not a morning person. He snoozed ten times and then crawled to the coffee machine. But now, the smell of food usually dragged him out of bed earlier than intended.
One morning, he stumbled out of his room in nothing but sleep shorts and a tank top that had seen better days, hair a structural disaster, sticking up in every direction.
He stopped dead when he saw Est at the counter, who was shirtless. Again.
Apparently, hybrids ran hot? Or maybe he just liked being free? Either way, the morning light was hitting the muscles of his back, highlighting every ripple as he reached for a plate.
William stood there, frozen. Okay, he’s definitely older. And he’s definitely… built. Why is my cat buff? This is a scam.
“You’re awake,” Est said, turning around.
William squinted, trying to focus on Est’s face and not, you know, everything else. “Why are you awake? It’s… it’s illegal to be awake this early.”
“You forget breakfast,” Est said simply. “Yesterday you drank only coffee. Your stomach made a loud noise when you sat on the couch.”
William’s face heated up. “I—it was an artistic growl!”
Est pushed a bowl of fruit and yogurt toward him. “Eat.”
William reached for the bowl, fingers brushing against Est’s hand.
Zap.
It felt like a literal electric shock. They both froze, eyes locking. William’s heart started thundering against his ribs, loud enough that he was sure Est’s sensitive ears could hear it.
Est pulled back first, his tail wrapping tightly around his waist. “…Sorry,” he murmured, eyes darting to the floor.
William shook his head, his voice a bit higher than usual. “No! No, it’s fine! I just… uh… I’m just still sleepy! My nerves are jumpy!”
Liar, his brain whispered. You just want to touch him again.
It was official: Chowon had defected.
The tiny chihuahua followed Est everywhere. If Est went to the kitchen, Chowon was there. If Est went to the bathroom, Chowon waited at the door.
William sat on the couch one afternoon, watching the two of them. Est seated on the floor, legs spread, folding laundry with a precision William didn’t possess. Chowon was curled up right in the middle of Est’s lap, looking smug.
“Chowon,” William said, sounding deeply offended. “You used to follow me like that. I’m the one who bought the expensive organic treats!”
Chowon didn't even look at him. He just licked Est’s hand.
“He’s warm,” Est said softly, his fingers gently scratching behind Chowon’s ears.
“I am also warm!” William insisted, crossing his arms.
Chowon then leaned up and licked Est’s chin. Est froze, his eyes widening, a tiny, rare smile breaking across his face. “…He is very affectionate.”
William gasped, leaning forward. “You let him lick your face?! Whenever I try to get a kiss, you hiss or turn into a cat!”
Est’s lips curved just a little. “You scream too much.”
“That is discrimination! Hybrid-on-human discrimination!”
William flopped backward onto the sofa cushions, burying his face in a pillow. “I’ve been replaced. In my own home. By a cat who isn’t even a cat.”
He felt a soft poke on his shoulder.
He peeked up from the pillow. finding Est was leaning over him, his white ears tilted forward, looking concerned.
“You still have me,” Est said quietly.
William’s heart melted into a literal puddle. Don’t say things like that with those eyes, P’Est! “Promise?”
Est nodded, his tail flicking once.
Why is he so cute? William groaned internally, heart-eyes practically visible.
Nights were when it got real.
Nights were when the "Idol William" mask came off and the "Tired, Needy William" came out to play.
He’d come home, drop his bag by the door, and collapse onto the couch right next to Est. Sometimes Est would be in his human form, reading or watching a movie. Sometimes he’d be Rina, a ball of white fluff curled up on a pillow.
Either way, William talked. He couldn't help it.
“Tui tried to cook today,” William sighed, closing his eyes.
Est hummed. “Did he succeed?”
“No. We almost had to call the fire department. Lego was laughing so hard he fell off his chair.”
Est smiled—a real one this time. “You look proud of them.”
“They’re a handful,” William admitted, opening one eye to look at Est. “But they’re my brothers. It’s loud when I’m with them.”
Est looked at him, his expression turning thoughtful. “You are not lonely with them.”
William blinked, the fluffiness of the moment turning a bit more serious. “…I think I was lonelier when I came home. Before you.”
Est stayed silent for a long time. Then, he reached out and ghosted his fingers over William’s wrist. “Not now.”
William swallowed hard, the air in the room suddenly feeling very thick. Not now…
Est looked at him, eyes soft and incredibly perceptive. “… you come home quiet.”
William stared at him. Nobody had ever said that to him. Everyone saw the energy, the smiles, the "never-ending sun." But Est saw the silence.
He sees me, William thought, feeling a weird ache in his chest.
It reached a breaking point on a Friday night.
They were on the couch. A movie was playing, some rom-com William had picked because he wanted to see if Est would react to the kissing scenes. (He was a menace, he knew it).
Chowon was asleep. The room was warm.
William shifted. His shoulder brushed Est’s.
Neither of them moved away.
“…P’Est,” William whispered, his voice trembling just a tiny bit.
“Yes?”
“Can I… can I sit a bit closer?”
Est’s ears twitched. He hesitated, his tail curling around his own ankle. “…If you want.”
William scooted closer, inch by inch, like a nervous puppy. And when their arms finally pressed together— skin against skin— it felt like the whole world narrowed down to that one point of contact.
The movie was definitely playing, but William couldn’t have told you the plot if his life depended on it. The living room was bathed in the soft, flickering blue light of the TV, and the air smelled like the vanilla candle Est had lit earlier.
William was vibrating. Not because he was cold, but because P’Est was right there.
Their shoulders were pressed together, and William could feel the steady, rhythmic heat radiating from Est’s arm. He felt small, even though he was a whole 178cm of idol-grade muscle, next to Est’s quiet, solid presence, he felt like a literal puddle of mush.
I have to do it. If I don’t move now, I’m going to combust, his fingers twitching against the blanket.
“P’Est…” William whispered, his voice turning soft and airy.
“Hm?” Est didn’t look away from the screen, but his white ears swiveled back toward William, listening intently.
“I’m… I’m cold.”
It was a blatant lie. The heater was on. He was wearing a hoodie. But he was a professional at being "the baby," and he wasn’t above using his skills.
Est finally turned his head. Those icy blue eyes softened as they landed on William’s face and without a word, lifted his arm, the one draped over the back of the couch, and waited.
William didn’t hesitate. He slid into the space, tucking himself right against Est’s side. He rested his head on Est’s shoulder, nuzzling into the soft fabric of his shirt.
“Better?” Est asked, his voice low and a little bit gravelly.
“Mmhmm~” William hummed, closing his eyes. “You’re like a giant heater, P’Est. It’s not fair.”
Est’s tail, which had been resting on the cushion, slowly draped itself over William’s lap, heavy and soft, and the weight of it made William’s heart do a frantic little dance.
“Your heart,” Est said suddenly.
William froze. “What about it?”
“It’s very loud,” Est murmured. He shifted, his hand coming down to rest lightly on William’s waist to keep him tucked close. “Is it always like that? Like a drum?”
William’s cheeks flushed a deep, violent pink. He buried his face further into Est’s shoulder, his voice muffled. “Only when I’m… when I’m nervous.”
“Are you nervous?”
William let out a soft, frustrated whine. “P’Est! Stop noticing things! I can’t help it… you’re just… you’re too much.”
Est didn’t pull away. Instead, he leaned his head down, his soft black hair brushing against William’s forehead. “I like it,” Est admitted, his voice barely a breath. “The sound. It means you’re here.”
William pulled back just enough to look at him. Up close, Est was even more devastating. The way his white ears were pink at the base, the way his lips were parted slightly, and the way he was looking at William like he was the only thing in the world that mattered.
“P’Est…” William’s voice was trembling now. “I… I don’t want to be just your ‘owner.’ Or your roommate.”
Est’s tail flicked nervously. “What do you want to be, William?”
William reached out, his thumb ghosting over the back of Est’s hand. “I want to be the person you wait for. For real. I want to be the one who gets to hold you like this every night. I… I really, really like you. Like, ‘my-heart-is-going-to-explode’ like you.”
He bit his lip, looking like a kicked puppy, his big brown eyes searching Est’s face. “Is that… okay? Or is it too weird?”
Est stared at him, his eyes shimmering. He didn't answer with words. Instead, he moved his hand from William’s waist to his cheek, his thumb brushing over William’s skin with a tenderness that made William’s breath hitch.
“It’s not weird,” Est whispered. “I’ve been yours since the day you knelt in front of my cage and told me I was beautiful.”
William let out a shaky, happy breath. “Really?”
“Hmm..”
Est leaned in, his movement slow and deliberate, giving William every second to back away. But William did the opposite. He leaned up, closing the gap, his hands finding purchase on Est’s broad shoulders.
When their lips finally met, it wasn’t like the movies. It was better.
It was soft and tasted like the tea they’d shared earlier. It was hesitant, a shy question, but as William let out a soft, needy moan into the kiss, it deepened. Est’s hand slid into William’s black hair, holding him steady, while William’s fingers curled into Est’s shirt, pulling him closer, wanting to be as close as humanly possible.
It was warm. It was safe. It was home.
When they finally pulled apart, both of them were breathless, foreheads resting together. William’s brown eyes were wide, glassy with a mix of shock and pure, unadulterated joy.
“So…” William whispered, his grin widening until it was the brightest thing in the room. “Does this mean I get to keep you? Like, for real? ... Mine?”
Est’s lips curved into that rare, heart-shaped smile, his icy blue eyes melting into something much deeper. “You’re stuck with me,” he murmured, his thumb tracing the line of William’s jaw. “Even when I’m grumpy. Even when I’m shedding on your expensive black hoodies.”
William let out a muffled squeal and threw his arms around Est’s neck, squeezing him so tight he nearly tipped them over. “Finally!”
Est chuckled, a low, rumbly sound that vibrated right against William’s chest. He wrapped his arms around William’s waist, pulling him flush against him, his broad shoulders acting like a literal shield against the rest of the world. “You’re so loud, William... I can hear your heart from the kitchen.”
“I’m your loud,” William corrected, nuzzling into the crook of Est’s neck, breathing in that scent of vanilla and soft fur. “Your loud, ridiculous, messy boy. You're the one who signed up for this by cleaning my shoes, P'Est~”
Chowon, sensing the shift in the air, didn't want to be left out. He hopped onto the couch, wiggling his way into the tiny gap between their chests and barking once, sharp and proud, the official guardian of their new secret.
William laughed, a bright, bubbly sound, petting the dog with one hand while his other remained tangled in Est’s hair, refusing to let go. He looked around the condo—at the warm amber lights, the stack of laundry Est had folded, and the way the shadows danced on the walls.
It didn't feel like a sterile apartment anymore. It felt like a nest.
“This feels perfect P’Est,” William whispered, his voice dropping to a sleepy, contented hum as he leaned his head back onto Est’s shoulder.
Est didn't just nod. He shifted, pulling the soft blanket up over both of them, his white ears relaxing completely as his tail curled securely around William’s ankle, tethering them together.
“Yeah…,” Est breathed, kissing the temple of William’s head. “Now sleep, William. You have practice tomorrow.”
“Mmm... only if you’re here when I wake up.”
“I’m not going anywhere.”
As the credits rolled silently on the TV, William finally drifted off—not tossing and turning, not talking to the empty air, but anchored by the weight of the man beside him. And for the first time, when he closed his eyes, he didn't just feel the quiet. He felt the love.