Chapter 15: Chapter 15 - The Name Of The Cat (2)

Ch. 15 The Name Of The Cat (2)

As I observed Tae-il, I soon came to learn that he often carried a camera with him, and had no fixed commuting time. He would come back with a mountain of magazines, and so I seemed to be correct in the assumption that he was a photographer.

Maybe he was a fashion photographer. He had a pretty cool style even if he didn’t exorbitantly dress himself.

Mr. Glasses visited the apartment frequently, and I was sure they worked in the same company. I learned from listening in on their conversations that they were childhood friends, and that there was another young woman who was their childhood friend as well. The three were so close that they often went out together for fun.

And I didn’t like that one bit. It was a strange new feeling, but the desire to monopolize my owner swelled angrily inside me.

Most of my days revolved around Tae-il—waiting for Tae-il, greeting Tae-il, being touched by Tae-il. When I was alone, I didn’t know what to do with myself. Time alone was meaningless and boring, and my only options were to nap, doze, drowse, drift, and snooze. It was only when he was home that I was freed from loneliness.

Today, I did my usual routine of waiting for Tae-il to return.

“I’m back.”

“Mi?” (You’re here?)

Whenever Tae-il returned home, he would tenderly pick me up and greet me, then he’d kiss the tip of my nose and gently set me back down onto the floor. The first time I wrinkled my nose in itchiness, but by now I found myself naturally accepting his touch. I seemed to be gradually adjusting to my owner’s expression of affection.

I loved my days with him.

Most of the time I fell asleep by the sunny side of the window. When he picked me and carried me out of the apartment, I knew where we were headed and learned to say calm.

“Let’s go,” Tae-il announced.

Before and after coming to work, he took would take me to the rooftop garden and release me into the bushes. I explored the area that I lived in before returning to him. When I had first started digging the soil near him, he seemed relieved to think that I had answered the call of nature. Of course, it was all pretend.

We enjoyed more freedom in the park when we had the chance to go there. I would sit in the wind and allow Tae-il to take pictures of me. When he waved his hand for me to move, I would move, and when he stopped and looked up, I would stay still. I even lifted my chin as he raised his hand. I was a good subject.

“Mya?” (Like this?)

My face was hot whenever I followed his requests, and Tae-il’s smiling face was so attractive that my heart tingled whenever I saw it.

I gradually grew more confident with myself in his presence. Acting cute was a natural part of a pet cat’s job after all. Even when he was doing other things, I only had to approach him and he would coo at me.

“Why are you so cute?”

Tae-il’s smile was the salve for my troubled heart. I was dizzy with happiness at the thought of being loved by someone. The only wet spot in life with him were the visits to the veterinary clinic, but I decided it wasn’t so bad. Now that I was used to being Tae-il’s model, I thought I could be content with this new life.

Of course, happiness was always accompanied by hardship.

***

“I’m sorry doctor, but I have an urgent week-long business trip. Can you take care of her in the meantime?”

My tail flicked unhappily as I sat in Tae-il’s arms. I would pout if I could, but I simply glowered at everyone and everything.

There were two things I didn’t like: 1) the veterinary clinic, naturally, and 2) that Tae-il was likely to travel again in the future.

That meant that I would be left to Si-yul’s clutches more often! How could I tell Tae-il that I could take care of the house by myself? It was next to impossible. Telling him that as a cat would spell disaster.

“Of course,” Si-yul said. “Our clinic is both a hospital and a pet hotel. You are welcome to use our services.”

Tae-il still looked concerned. “I’m worried because sometimes my business trips can be spontaneous. Will there be room available at the pet hotel every time?”

“Don’t worry. If we don’t have any available spots, I can take her to my home.”

“Thank you very much.”

Tae-il took Si-yul’s words with one hundred percent sincerity. Unlike a certain poor and long-suffering cat who was fed up with the clinic, Tae-il was always very happy.

“I’m afraid that I can’t do it for free though,” Siyul explained. “But I can give you a discount as a friend.”

“Oh, you don’t have to do that.”

“It’s not a burden,” Si-yul insisted. “I love this child, too.”

“Thank you. Maybe that’s why I feel like I can leave her to you, doctor.” Tae-il smiled at the vet.

“You have a good eye for people.”

“Myak!” (No!)

I cried out in protest, but the two men did not listen to my frightened pleas no matter what I said. They simply thought I was just a cat who hated the clinic.

“I look forward to leaving her with you,” Tae-il said, then continued on. “She won’t use the bathroom unless there’s dirt. I brought some food as well.”

“You are a good owner,” Si-yul said.

Tae-il looked flustered at the compliment. “Oh, no. You flatter me. I only did what you recommended, doctor.”

“Which is why I think you’re a good owner. By the way, have you decided on a name for her yet?”

I had been with Tae-il for a week now, but he still called me “kitty.” However, he couldn’t write down “unknown” for my medical records. It was only natural that a vet asked.

“Well, I was a little hesitant about naming her because I was afraid her original owner would show up,” Tae-il said.

“Oh, I see.” Si-yul nodded thoughtfully.

“I put up posters at the bus stop, and I posted a message on the Internet looking for the owner…”

“And? Did anyone contact you?” Si-yul asked.

“I haven’t heard from anyone.” A small smile crossed Tae-il’s face. “I guess she’s my cat now.”

I looked up at him, and he affectionately kissed the tip of my nose. He normally wouldn’t do it with ordinary cats, but I was a cat that was as obedient and loyal as a dog to her master.

My ears twitched in interest for my new name. Si-yul was thinking the same thing.

“So what are you going to name her?”

“I’ve been thinking about it for a long time, and I thought of something perfectly suited for her.”

“Hooh.”

“She’s a cat, but she has the charm and intelligence of a dog. So I’m going to call her Bow Meow.”

(TN: He calls her “개냥”, gae=dog, nyang=meow)

It took me a moment to process his words, and then my jaw dropped open. It was the same for Si-yul.

“Isn’t it cute?” Tae-il beamed. “Bow Meow.” He smiled with genuine excitement on his face.

God was a fair god. No one could be perfect, and so he had cursed the handsome Shin Tae-il with a horrible sense of naming convention.

Si-yul’s lips were pressed in a firm line as he tried to stifle his laughter. He glanced at me sitting in Tae-il’s arms, and I bared my teeth at him.

“Bow Meow—pffft— Bow M-Meow…is a very good name. It suits her.”

“Ah, do you think so?” Tae-il said, blissfully unaware.

I was absolutely not okay with this, and I looked up at Tae-il, trying to shoot “Please stop” at him with all my mind. It was a cruel name for an intelligent life form. I directed my expression of suffering to Si-yul, as he had seen and understood the pain of thousands of animals, but he seemed immune. He just shrugged his shoulders as if it were nothing to worry about, and hummed along as if it were a good thing. That man was a complete devil.

“It’s a rare name, so it’s better,” he told Tae-il. “It sounds good. Bow Meow.”

My new name was recorded at the veterinary clinic.