Work Text:
🗒 Entry One
Hyung was still asleep in the morning. He wouldn't wake up. I checked — he was breathing. So he was doing it on purpose.
At first, I just sat next to him and stared. Then I moved onto his pillow. Then I licked his nose — warm, as usual. Zero reaction.
I had to sit on his head. Full body weight. Hyung snored louder, but his eyes stayed shut. I waited. That was his last chance.
So I found his fingers under the blanket and gave them a nip. Not hard. Almost friendly. Hyung flinched, mumbled something, and rolled over to the other side.
I waited. Then I nipped him again.
A minute later, he sat up, looked at me with bleary eyes, and went to fill my bowl. He didn't say a word. He just went.
The system works.
🗒 Entry Two
This morning, hyung put on that soft thing and said, "Going to work." I have no clue what "work" is. My theory? He just stood on the other side of the door all day so we couldn't find him and beg for extra food.
The door didn't open all day. So he was standing there. The whole time. I'd have gone crazy from boredom in his place.
In the evening, the door clicked. I dropped everything and ran. First. Because I'd been waiting for him all day.
But hyung petted Dori first. Dori! Who'd been asleep the whole time and hadn't even noticed hyung was gone.
I stepped aside. Sat down. Started grooming myself — with the kind of look that said I couldn't care less and was just passing through anyway.
Hyung called me. I ignored him/
Then he came over himself, crouched down, and scratched behind my ear.
I allowed it. But I didn't greet him back. Let him know — that's not okay.
🗒 Entry Three
At night, there were strange sounds outside. Maybe a bird. Maybe someone walking around. I decided that hyung should open the balcony door — I'd check it out, it's my territory.
I told him that, but he didn't even stir. So I smacked his cheek with my paw. No reaction.
I said it louder — right into his ear. Hyung just winced and rolled over.
So I got down, curled up next to him, and listened to the sounds myself until dawn. Nothing dangerous happened.
But hyung should know: I was guarding him. All night. While he slept like the dead.
🗒 Entry Four
Lately, hyung's been acting weird. He sits on the couch, staring at that little glowing thing. It beeps, it buzzes — he picks it up, looks at it, and smiles. To himself. At nothing.
He used to smile like that at me and my brothers.
I tried sitting on that thing, but hyung immediately scooped me up — I got excited for a second — and set me down on the other side of the couch. Just moved me. Like an object.
Sometimes hyung sighs at it. Sadly. And then smiles again. I don't know what he's thinking about. Probably canned tuna.
One day, I'm going to knock that thing off the table. Then we'll see who he smiles at.
🗒 Entry Five
Before, hyung used to leave only in the morning and disappear until evening. I'd gotten used to it.
But now he leaves twice. The second time — right after he fills our bowls. And before that, he stands forever in front of that shiny wall where he can see himself: he fixes something on his head, turns around, practically grooms himself — just like we do before sleep. Then he goes through his soft things and puts on a different one, not the one he wears during the day.
Then he picks up that thing that smells so strong. So strong it makes me sneeze. He sprays it all over himself, and the smell lingers for ages.
He comes back home when it's already dark outside.
What's the point of going out twice a day? And why all the preening?
Honestly, I don't get him at all.
🗒 Entry Six
Today there was a loud ring — the kind that means strange people are coming into the house.
Hyung opened the door, and a stranger walked in. He smelled strange, but not in a bad way. I still yelled at him just in case, then hid in my house. So did Doongie. Only Dori ran out to greet him — he doesn't care about anything, he's stupid.
Hyung laughed and said, "Jisung, this is Dori. The others are a little shy, they need time."
Shy! I'm not shy. I'm cautious. Those are two different things.
This Jisung sat right down on the floor and reached his hand out to Dori. That traitor went straight to him.
Jisung's voice was quiet and kind of warm. Like hyung's blanket on a cold day. Hyung was smiling — the same way he smiles at that glowing thing. Maybe even brighter.
I stayed hidden until he left. Maybe I'll come out to him next time? Just to check him out...
🗒 Entry Seven
These days, hyung stares at that glowing thing in the evenings and even talks to it. He doesn't notice me. My brothers play with each other — I'm not interested. Boring.
But I found a way to get hyung's attention.
There's always something sitting on the edge of the table. I jump up, sit next to the object, and watch hyung. If he doesn't look — I start nudging it toward the edge with my paw.
Slowly. First just a little. Then a bit more.
Hyung always says, "Soonie, don't." But I don't listen. I push it more.
Then he jumps up, scoops me into his arms, and carries me away from the table. And says, "You're in trouble."
But here's the thing — the "trouble" is: he holds me and pets me. Exactly what I wanted.
Doonie tried it too. But he shoves too hard, and everything falls at once. Hyung doesn't pick him up — just sighs and gets the broom.
But I'm careful. That's a talent.
🗒 Entry Eight
Jisung came again. Hyung opened the door and literally beamed. I've never seen hyung like that before. Even when we knocked over the flower pot, he wasn't that happy.
They talked, laughed, and touched each other. I sat on top of my house and watched.
Then Jisung reached into his bag, and I heard a familiar rustling. I perked up. Could it be?..
And then I smelled it. The best smell in the whole world. It smelled like that delicious puree hyung gives us sometimes — very rarely, in my opinion, way too rarely.
My younger brothers immediately dashed over to Jisung. So dumb. What if it's a trap? What if they're trying to distract us so they can do something unpleasant later? What if they want to take us to that place that smells like medicine and hurts?
But while I was thinking, they were already eating. Hyung was smiling, watching them.
When Jisung called my name, I didn't go right away. I waited. Waited a little longer. Then I finally climbed down from my house.
Not because I trusted him. Just because the puree smelled really good.
When he tried to pet me, I told him off and walked away. Hyung just laughed.
Traitor.
🗒 Entry Nine
Hyung spent a long time in the kitchen today. A really long time. I checked my bowl several times, but it was empty. So what was he even doing in there?
I decided he needed help. I went to the kitchen. Hyung told me not to get underfoot — but I came to help. He just didn't understand.
I followed him around the kitchen. Back and forth. Back and forth. Making sure he was doing everything right. Hyung kept sighing — I know it was because he was touched.
When he stepped out and left me in charge, I jumped on the counter and stuck my nose into some white creamy thing. It was so good — I'd never tasted anything like it before.
Then hyung came back and yelled so loud I almost fell off the counter. Why scare me like that?
He said some unfamiliar word — cheesecake. And then he mentioned his friend's name again. So hyung is feeding not just me and my brothers now, but this Jisung too?
To be honest, I got tired today from following him around. Helping is exhausting. But hyung petted me for so long in the evening, thanking me for everything I did — so it was worth it.
🗒 Entry Ten
Jisung comes all the time now. Hyung doesn't even ask us if it's okay to let him in. And this is our shared home.
I don't hide anymore, but I pretend I don't care. I lie on the highest spot and just watch. But I happen to come down exactly when he opens his bag. Coincidence.
He always brings something for us. Even hyung doesn't bring that much tasty stuff, even though he absolutely should.
Today I ate all the good puree, and then I thought about it and licked Jisung's finger — there was still a little left. He laughed. I asked what was so funny, but he kept laughing. So weird. Just like hyung.
After eating, I decided to keep them company — they must be bored just the two of them on the couch. They were so happy they completely forgot about their moving pictures. I even let Jisung pet me. It felt nice. I told him right away, and he kept going.
I'm starting to like this guy.
🗒 Entry Eleven
It looks like Jisung also likes sitting on hyung's lap. I get it — they're warm. I'd sit there myself, but the spot's taken.
Hyung was stroking Jisung's head and back. I know that feeling — it's nice. Jisung was purring. Not like us, but in a weird way — like from his throat or something. And they were making some sounds too. Sometimes soft, sometimes loud. I even got scared at first — what if Jisung was in pain? Or what if hyung was scratching the wrong spot? But he didn't run away, so he must have liked it.
I sat next to them and waited for them to finish. What if the spot frees up?
I didn't get to find out. Fell asleep right next to them.
Maybe next time I'll claim it first. Jisung can take the floor.
🗒 Entry Twelve
Today Jisung stayed over. At first I was actually happy — that meant there'd be someone to feed me at night if hyung didn't wake up.
But then the betrayal happened. They closed the bedroom door.
Closed. The. Door.
I stood under it and waited. Maybe it was an accident? Maybe hyung just forgot that me and my brothers live here too? I called hyung. No one opened. I called louder. Silence.
Where am I supposed to sleep now? My spot is on his pillow! I told him that again, but the door didn't open.
Doongie slept in his house. Dori — on the couch. And I sat under the door and listened. There was some rustling, someone was breathing, and sometimes there were sighs. Weird sounds.
I didn't sleep for a whole hour. I lay right at the doorstep. Just in case. In case they changed their minds. Then I realized it was hopeless and went to Dori.
In the morning, the door opened. I ran straight to hyung with questions. He didn't answer, but he went to fill our bowls faster than usual. He knows he's guilty.
But I'm still waiting for an apology.
🗒 Entry Thirteen
Jisung stays over almost every night now. Doesn't he have his own home? I'm starting to suspect he just waits outside until hyung lets him in.
The bedroom door still gets closed. Every time.
Today I put my plan into action.
I went to the bedroom before they did and hid in a secret spot behind the chair. Best observation point: I could see the bed, hyung, and Jisung. I had to find out what they do in there that's so secret.
When hyung walked in, he didn't notice me, and neither did Jisung. They didn't even look my way. Victory. I'm so smart.
They lay down. Talked about something really quietly. I even twitched my ears, but I still couldn't make it out. Then hyung turned off the light.
I waited. I thought now the important stuff would start. You know, the reason I'm not allowed in.
But they just fell asleep.
They lay down side by side and started snoring. Hyung even put his arm around Jisung. Like he does with me when he wants to pet me. Except we do that during the day, and they do it at night.
I sat behind that chair forever. Nothing happened. Just one of them sighing or rolling over every now and then.
That's it? That's why they close the door? To sleep?
I crawled out of my hiding spot and lay down at their feet. There was no room on the pillow, but feet aren't bad either.
The plan worked, even though I didn't learn anything interesting.
Except for one thing — they just sleep. Like we do. Just without us.
Dummies.
🗒 Entry Fourteen
Lately, a lot of new things have appeared in the house. I don't understand where they come from. Maybe hyung goes hunting at night and brings them while we're asleep? But they don't smell like food, so what's the point?
Some new soft thing on the couch. Two mugs that weren't there before — they have cats drawn on them, but not us. I checked. I even licked one just to be sure. Definitely not us. Dori said it's an insult, and I agree with him.
There's also a big box now. I love boxes. But hyung didn't give it to us — he put it in the corner and filled it with soft things. Why put soft things inside a box? They can just lie around. Doongie tried to climb in, but hyung pulled him out and said, "That's Jisung's stuff."
Jisung's? So now he's bringing his things into our house? Into our box...
Hyung's been acting strange. Thoughtful, but happy at the same time. Smiling to himself. Stopping in the middle of the room and staring at nothing. I checked — there's nothing there. Just a wall.
Maybe he's sick? But he eats normally and pets us like always. Even more than usual.
The worst thing happened this morning. Hyung didn't feed us on time.
I went to my bowl. Empty. I waited. Still empty. I went to hyung — he was sitting with that glowing thing, smiling. I told him it was time. He didn't hear me. I said it louder. Zero reaction.
So I screamed. The kind of scream you do when someone steps on your tail. Hyung jumped, looked at the clock, and said, "Oh!"
Oh? He said oh? We're starving here, and he says oh?
He did fill the bowls. But five whole minutes later than usual. Five minutes! My stomach was already so, so empty, and my strength was leaving me. I barely made it to my bowl. Doongie and Dori were outraged too, but I was the loudest. Because I'm the oldest. It's my duty to monitor the food.
Hyung apologized afterward. He petted me, said something about "moving" and "chaos." I didn't understand, but I accepted the apology. I can forgive him once. But if it happens again — I'll cause such a "moving " that he won't forget.
Jisung's stuff in my box — that's one thing. But my food is sacred.
🗒 Entry Fifteen
Jisung doesn't leave now. At all.
He sleeps in my bed, eats in my kitchen, sits on my couch.
I'm so confused.
I asked hyung — why is he still here? Hyung didn't answer. I'm starting to suspect he has hearing problems.
I even asked Jisung himself if it wasn't time for him to go home, but he just smiled at me and said — cutie... What does cutie have to do with anything??? I asked a completely different question.
When hyung goes to work, Jisung stays with us. Shouldn't hyung be taking him along? What if he misbehaves without supervision?
But Jisung spends all day sitting at his black box, pressing things on it. He walks around the room with that glowing thing and talks into it.
Why does he do that when he could just lie on the couch?
Dumb.
I tried to tell him how nice it is to warm up in the sun during the day — the sun that hits hyung's bed — but he didn't listen to me.
Although the black box is warm too. I checked while Jisung was in the kitchen — I lay on top of it and felt good right away.
But then Jisung came back and shooed me off. Said he had to work. But people work behind closed doors, and he's just sitting here...
He's so weird. But that box is really warm. I'll be back.
🗒 Entry Sixteen
Jisung has been living with us for a while now. I counted — a really long while. About since hyung changed the curtains, and then changed them again. Long, basically.
During this time, I made a list.
The Bad.
Jisung takes my spot on the couch. Takes my spot on the bed. Takes my spot on hyung's lap.
His stuff is everywhere. His smell is everywhere.
And he looks at me and says some weird word. The same one, every time. He doesn't explain what it means. Sounds suspicious.
The Good.
He spends a lot of time at home. Which means — more attention for me and my brothers.
He treats us with the best snacks. Almost every day.
He scratches behind the ear better than hyung. His fingers are longer. And he never stops too soon.
He talks to me — I tell him something important, he looks at me and answers. Sometimes he answers wrong. But he tries.
Doongie and Dori adore him. I'm more reserved, of course, but... I've also started feeling calmer when he's around.
And most importantly: hyung laughs with him more than before. He's become softer, calmer. Maybe because now he has someone who pets his head and scratches behind his ear? I've suspected for a while that hyung needed that too.
The good outweighed the bad. I counted twice. Still more good.
So he can stay. I give my permission.
But there's one thing I do differently now.
At night, I don't sleep in the bedroom anymore.
Because one night, I sneaked in as usual. Curled up, got ready to sleep. Nice. Quiet. Warm.
And then they started making such strange noises that I actually jumped. First hyung was breathing heavily and puffing. Then Jisung. Then both at once.
They were tangled together so tightly that I thought it was a fight. The bed was shaking.
So I jumped on the pillow — in case they needed help. I looked at them. Both red, sweaty, and somehow smiling.
They looked at me and burst out laughing.
I got out of there faster than I get out of the bathroom when the water starts running.
The next day, I checked on them — alive, intact, healthy. Even more cheerful than usual. I didn't understand anything. And I decided I didn't need to.
Now I sleep in my bed. Or on the couch. Or in the other bed. But at night — not a single paw in the bedroom.
They can figure out their own games. I'd rather sleep in peace.
They're weird, sure. But they're mine.