The Cat hides its Claws

“So, where’s you guy’s new home?”

“Not far from here. It has two rooms.”

“Wow, this area’s homes must come with huge security deposits.”

“Miho paid for it. I will earn and save money to pay him my share later.”

Jagyeom couldn’t stand his family being nice to him. They had been harsh on him for years for turning into a rat and he couldn’t just move on. That was exactly why Myohan had wanted him to forget everything, but he told him knowing was much better than not knowing, and Myohan could say nothing if that was what he thought.

“It must be so fun living with a friend!”

“Myohan, would you like to live with me?”

“Shut up, you snake.”

It was good that Miho proposed living together when Jagyeom wanted to move out from his family’s house. As Jagyeom couldn’t afford to live alone and Miho didn’t want to live alone, they agreed on finding a place to live together.

“I’m already living with him.”

Myohan pointed at Shihuang as he drank his beer. Shihuang was still snarling at the snake and snorted, but Sajun just smiled and said nothing. They all knew the two had been living together since high school.

“Oh, shit, you are all dirty bastards!”

“Cheong, you should stop drinking.”

“Is he drunk again?”

“Again? Again? When was I drunk before?”

“Sadeol and I had a drinking competition and Cheong got drunk? Why?”

After some drinking and eating, Cheong’s face turned red and he fell on the table. Myohan moved plates in front of him and pointed at him.

“Hey, just grab him. He’s not a rabbit anymore.”

“You bastard!”

“Hey, calm down.”

“Wow, he’s got a low tolerance…”

In the end, Sajun had to grab Cheong. He kept wailing and threw a huge fit, but then he soon dropped on the table and went to sleep peacefully. In the meantime, Sinsul and Chookjae agreed beer was too weak for them and ordered soju.

“Hey, I want soju too.”

“Wow, Myohan! So you’re running to the end too?”

“No, Jino’s the one who’s running.”

“Myohan, you really shouldn’t make those weird jokes.”

“Then you should stop squeaking at me.”

“Don’t speak to me like that!”

After Myohan reached drinking age, he got to find out he was quite good at drinking. It was at the welcoming party for freshmen he had no choice but to go. His seniors kept offering him drinks because he was the most good-looking freshmen, but he remained conscious long after they all fell down. Shihuang was a surprised to see that, of course.

“But you two…”

Yuja, who’d been taking sips of beer in silence, suddenly spoke. The two he was talking about had to be Myohan and Shihuang. Shihuang glanced at him as he poured soju into Myohan’s cup.

“Have been dating for some time.”

It got quiet immediately. It almost felt like the entire bar was silent. Myohan flinched for a second then he drank his soju and said like it was no big deal, “Well, I guess so.”

“…Wait.”

Jagyeom raised a question with a frown. He glanced at Sajun, and then at others.

“Isn’t that outing them?”

“Why?”

Yuja frowned and pointed at everyone.

“You all knew, don’t you?”

No one could say no. They just kept glancing at each other. They could speak again only when Jino raised a hand with wide eyes.

“I didn’t know!”

“…You are the only one who didn’t know.” Chandeul explained with a sigh. It meant he had known. Miho agreed with him.

“I could see it too…”

“Of course you could see it! Everyone could!”

“I’ve known for some time too.”

Even Seonhan and Sadeol scolded Jino for being so slow. Sajun smiled.

“As for me, I realized it the second I saw them.”

Yuja drank his beer.

“See? We all knew.”

Jino was the only one who couldn’t agree. He just couldn’t accept the fact he was the only one who hadn’t figured it out. He pointed at sleeping Cheong.

“Maybe Cheong didn’t know as well!”

“No, he knew too.”

With Shihuang’s firm confirmation, Jino truly became ‘the one who had had no clue.’ He sighed sadly and said he felt betrayed. Sinsul tried to make him feel better.

“Well, it never seemed like you would break up soon.”

“So how long have you been dating?”

“About a thousand years, give or take.”

“Maybe Myohan learned how to joke from Shihuang, they’re equally bad at it.”

Their table got noisy in no time. Sajun, who was still drinking with a smile, stood up quietly. Myohan saw him leave the bar and got up too. He held Shihuang’s hand tightly before he went out as well.

It was quite cool outside. The sun had gone down and he was grateful that he had a jacket. He spotted Sajun and followed him into a small alley. He took out a cigarette from his pocket.

“So you’re now smoking?”

Myohan went to him. He looked a little surprised, but he soon regained his usual attitude. He dropped the cigarette and rubbed his shoe on it to put the fire out. Myohan crouched down next to him.

“That wasn’t necessary, you know.”

“I don’t smoke next to none-smokers, thank you.”

Sajun didn’t ask why he had come. He just leaned against a wall and looked down at him, as if he knew why he was there.

“I know you really meant it.”

Myohan went straight to the point. Sajun said nothing to it. He just looked up at the dark sky.

“Although, I can’t know if you still feel that way.”

“What if I still do?”

The pair of light-colored eyes turned to Sajun. They shined beautifully, even in the dark alley. Myohan snorted and gave him the obvious answer.

“Give up.”

“That’s harsh. You could have been nice to the end.”

“I’m not being nice to you.”

Myohan got up. Sajun was still looking up at the sky. Myohan looked up to, wondering what he was looking at, but there was only the bright moon there.

“I came out to get some fresh air, that’s all.”

“You’re a nice cat.”

That was what Shihaung always said. Sajun grinned and put a hand on Myohan’s shoulder. He immediately freed himself from the grip, as usual.

“That’s what Shihuang always says to you, isn’t it?”

“He’s just saying it.”

“Well…”

Sajun said nothing more. Myohan realized he needed some time to think alone and turned. He could hear him take out another cigarette.

“Don’t be so gloomy when we’re all together. The rat’s worried about you.”

Instead of saying anything, Sajun put the cigarette in his mouth. That was who Myohan was. He had followed him because he was worried, but he spoke coldly as if he wasn’t worried. That was the man he had liked for two years. Before he left, he turned and pointed at what was near Sajun’s feet.

“You’d better put that in a trash can.”

Again, Sajun said nothing. Myohan left him there and went back to where Shihuang was waiting for him.

“That snake’s a romanticist, isn’t he?”

He whispered as he touched Myohan’s hair. He obviously knew where Myohan had been, so he said nothing more.

“Myohan, let’s drink until the sun comes up!”

“You shouldn’t unless you want to die by my hands.”

“Yuja, I’m a grown man now!”

“Yes, and grown men are obliged to obey the law.”

Sajun soon returned as well. He resumed drinking and laughing, but his eyes were red. And when they said goodbye, he finally looked relieved. He was the most mature of them, after all.

***

The moment they arrived home, they started kissing. They’d been living there together for some years now. As they kissed and lay down to the sofa, feeling hot from all the alcohol they’d consumed, Shihuang buried his head in Myohan’s neck.

“They all know what we are doing, weren’t you surprised?”

“I’m sure they don’t know what we’re doing right now.”

Myohan stroked his hair. They had gotten used to all that affection. He found it a little surprising that everyone knew, as he was sure they had hidden it quite well.

“It’s all for the better. It’s not like we wanted to keep it a secret from them.”

He had felt bad about not telling them about it, so it was all the better. Shihuang laughed and kissed him on his cheek. Myohan grabbed his face and kissed him.

Then, he asked, “But didn’t you say you would reward me once I found them all?”

Shihuang had promised to explain everything and reward him when he first came to Myohan. He said he always kept his word.

“You have such a good memory.”

He kissed his forehead, his nose, his lips, his cheek, his ear, and his neck. He caressed his cheek. He still looked at Myohan with affection and touched him carefully, after all the years and countless touches.

“Well, what will you do for me?”

Maybe it was the alcohol, but his relaxed voice sounded too erotic. Shihuang kissed him again and again, his hand going under his shirt to touch his flat belly.

“Anything you want.”

Myohan smiled as he kissed his lover. Shihuang’s hand was now on his chest.

“I guess you want what I am doing now.”

His feline eyes relaxed softly. Shihuang embraced him tightly. He kissed his ear and whispered to it.

“Let’s go to bed.”

Myohan said nothing and let him carry him. As they kissed and kissed, Shihuang whispered softly.

“I love you.”

Myohan didn’t bother to say anything, as he was sure Shihaung already knew his answer. They were in love, and they were going to be together forever. The night together was long.

The End.