SLC 27

“Alright. Everything is normal, but since they say more tests are needed, let’s have you stay admitted for one more day. When you’re discharged, walk out on your own two feet just as healthy as when you were admitted.”

After saying that, which was more of a polite send off than real well wishes, Secretary Kang left the hospital room.

Mok Seongha, whom Kim Jinkyung had assumed would leave with him, stubbornly sat down in a chair in the room and asked for study books and lunch boxes to be brought from the house. Secretary Kang gave Kim Jinkyung a look full of things he wanted to say, then disappeared.

…This is why you shouldn’t have said you’d stay.

Kim Jinkyung sighed as he watched Mok Seongha sitting in the hospital room chair, reading a reference book.

“Go home.”

“I need to study. We didn’t yesterday.”

The reason why they hadn’t studied yesterday came to mind. Flustered, Kim Jinkyung looked away, searching for somewhere to rest his eyes, and spotted his bag.

“Seongha-ssi. Could you open my bag for me. It’s right next to you.”

“This one?”

Mok Seongha pulled down the zipper of the bag beside him.

“It’s open. What do you want me to take out?”

“I bought a few problem books while I was out. They’re mock exam collections. I thought it’d be good for you to start working through them now.”

As Mok Seongha pulled out the new books with a bright expression, a pen with fluffy black fur attached dropped out.

“What’s this?”

He picked up the pen and asked. Kim Jinkyung gave an awkward smile. It was a pen shaped like a black cat paw. He had seen it while choosing the books and bought it without thinking.

“Ah, it just kind of looks like you…”

“Who? Me?”

Kim Jinkyung nodded.

“My paws aren’t this small.”

Mok Seongha held the pen up next to his hand.

“No, yours are way bigger. I just thought the shape was similar. If you don’t like it, you don’t have to use it.”

Mok Seongha paused with the pen in his hand, then looked at Kim Jinkyung.

“You’re giving it to me?”

“Yes. It’s a gift.”

His golden eyes sparkled. They looked innocent, like a child’s.

…He even looks adorable.

Kim Jinkyung quickly pulled himself together and shook his head.

“It wasn’t expensive.”

“I know. It looks cheap.”

“Haha… yeah.”

“Thanks.”

The reply was simple and honest. Kim Jinkyung was surprised and looked at him.

“I’ll use it well.”

Mok Seongha smiled. It was like flowers blooming. There was nothing he could do in moments like that. He could hear the blood rushing to his ears. He quickly lowered his head and folded his feelings away.

“It’s nothing, but thank you for liking it. You must’ve gotten lots of gifts before…”

“I haven’t.”

“…What?”

“Well, you bought me problem books before, so I guess this is the second time.”

Kim Jinkyung couldn’t understand. Living in a mansion like that, and he’d never received gifts?

Seeing the question in his eyes, Mok Seongha continued.

“Who gives gifts to a beast?”

“But the Chairman is there…”

“I told you. The Chairman doesn’t like me much.”

“…It didn’t seem that way to me.”

Kim Jinkyung carefully shared his opinion.

“He doesn’t like me. Especially when I transform into a beast.”

“……”

“He tried not to look at me.”

Mok Seongha fiddled with the cat paw shape as he spoke.

“When I turned human and then changed back, he was visibly disappointed. On rainy days, he tried not to come out. So I went outside.”

Kim Jinkyung remembered the black panther lying in the garden on rainy nights.

His heart ached.

“If I suddenly transform again for no reason, he might avoid me again.”

“That’s…”

“But right now I’m staying like this, so it’s fine. I can even come to the hospital. If I were in panther form, I’d have been kicked out.”

“…Did you go see the Chairman?”

“Yeah. Earlier. I went secretly.”

“Why? You should go greet him properly.”

“He doesn’t like me.”

Mok Seongha answered plainly. Kim Jinkyung didn’t know everything between them, but he felt like that wasn’t the whole truth.

“When the Chairman told you to get married, it was probably because he was worried about you.”

“What are you talking about?”

Mok Seongha scoffed.

“If I don’t get married, who’s going to carry on this family? That means all that money goes to waste.”

“……”

After a brief silence, Kim Jinkyung spoke carefully.

“Do you really have no intention of getting married?”

“No.”

The answer was definitive. There was no space for doubt. There was no mischievous smile or twinkle in his eyes.

“I’m going to die alone. Leaving no one behind.”

“……”

“I have to.”

The words sounded like a will written in advance. Kim Jinkyung couldn’t offer comfort or advice.

‎

‎

‎

He suddenly woke up, feeling someone watching him. Half asleep, he adjusted his posture, wondering if he’d imagined it, and felt something touch his hand. More precisely, something tickling it.

What is it? A dream?

He turned over and tucked his hand under the pillow. This time, the sensation slowly traveled up his arm. Eventually, something gently brushed his cheek.

Who touches someone’s cheek like that when they’re sleeping?

Kim Jinkyung attempted to open his eyes to see who it was, but the wave of slumber was too powerful. He could not. It had been an exhausting day. No, a tiring two days.

He let out a slightly annoyed sound and turned the other way. He heard a soft laugh.

Sleep took over his mind as he was contemplating this. He slept soundly for the first time in quite some time.

Let me sleep. Just leave me alone.

…That laugh sounds good. Who is it?

Warm, soft, cozy fur covering him like a blanket…

…Fur blanket?

Kim Jinkyung’s eyes flew open. A mass of black fur was sprawled on his chest. He slowly lifted his head.

“Aaah!”

When he screamed, the black panther, who had been sleeping, fell off the bed. Kim Jinkyung put his hand on his thumping heart and looked down.

It was a black panther.

“Why?”

Kim Jinkyung stared with wide eyes, then checked the window. It wasn’t raining. The panther, looking just as startled, glanced back and forth between his front paws and the window.

“What do we do? Do we go home right away? Or…”

Before they could even discuss it, someone knocked on the door.

“Hello. We’re here for rounds.”

Kim Jinkyung panicked.

“Just a moment!”

He shouted, then looked around frantically.

The cabinet was too small. Under the bed was completely open. This is insane.

Then he noticed the bathroom attached to the room.

Private room, thank you.

Kim Jinkyung quickly lifted Mok Seongha, or rather the panther, to his feet.

“Hurry. This way.”

Still half asleep and confused, the black panther was dragged into the bathroom.

“Stay in here until the doctor finishes rounds.”

The panther nodded.

“Don’t come out. No matter what.”

In response to Kim Jinkyung’s warning, the panther hit the floor once with his tail. Kim Jinkyung closed the bathroom door and jumped back onto the bed.

“Yes. Please come in.”

The doctor and nurse entered together.

“Hello, patient.”

“Haha. Hello.”

Being called a patient pricked his conscience.

“The test results from yesterday are out, and everything is normal. We’ll take one more X ray this afternoon, but…”

The doctor looked around, then whispered so quietly that it sounded like he was speaking to himself.

“…It has no real meaning.”

“…Okay.”

Everyone knew it was a parade of meaningless tests. Everyone except Mok Seongha.

“Then we’ll see you this afternoon.”

“Yes. Goodbye.”

After the doctor left, the nurse checked his pulse and temperature. It was just routine, but Kim Jinkyung felt bad for causing unnecessary trouble.

“I’m sorry.”

“Huh? For what?”

“I’ll be discharged today.”

“Oh.”

Only then did the nurse smile.

“No, if Kim Jinkyung stays admitted longer, everyone will like it.”

“Pardon? Why?”

“The person staying with you.”

She lowered her voice.

“Even the nurses from upstairs came down to take a look yesterday. Is he your friend?”

Her eyes were full of curiosity.

“He’s not a friend. He’s a student I teach.”

“A student taking care of you?”

“Ah, haha.”

Kim Jinkyung laughed awkwardly.

“Is he mixed race? Or is he just wearing contacts?”

Now that the conversation had started, the nurse expressed her curiosity.

“Ahaha, who knows.”

Kim Jinkyung looked anxiously toward the bathroom.

“I’ve never seen someone that handsome in my life. Is he training to be a celebrity?”

“No, not at all.”

“Then could you give me his contact info?”

“That’s personal information. I can’t give it out.”

“Then at least the patient’s contact…”

Something fell inside the bathroom. Both the nurse and Kim Jinkyung turned toward it at the same time.

“What was that?”

“Ah, something probably fell.”

It was definitely his tail. His tail hit the floor.

“I’ll go check.”

“No. No.”

Kim Jinkyung waved both hands. The nurse looked at him strangely.

“You must be busy. I’ll handle it. You can go now.”

“All right. I’ll come by again later.”

The nurse picked up the blood pressure monitor and stood up. The moment she left and closed the door, Kim Jinkyung jumped up and ran to the bathroom.

“What’s wrong? Did something happen?”

The black panther glared at him.

“Are you hungry? Or thirsty?”

The tail hit the floor again. It meant no.

“Then why all of a sudden…”

Just then, a human voice came from the hospital room.

“Is anyone here?”

Kim Jinkyung wanted to scream.

What is this? Why come in without knocking?

“Yes. Just a moment.”

He answered, opened the door to send them away, then closed it again within 0.1 seconds.

The black panther looked up at him as if asking what he was doing.

“The Chairman would like to see you for a moment.”

“Yes. Um…”

Kim Jinkyung quickly scanned the cramped bathroom.

One panther. One towel. One small wash basin. One bottle of shampoo. Nothing useful.

“Just a moment.”

After shouting that, Kim Jinkyung grabbed the shower head and turned on the water. He splashed it roughly over his own head, then wiped his hair with the towel. He bent down and whispered into the panther’s ear in a very small voice.

“Stay right here. Don’t move.”

After confirming the panther nodded slightly, Kim Jinkyung went out.

The Chairman was waiting outside the room in a wheelchair. Kim Jinkyung wiped his wet hair with the towel and greeted him.

“Good morning.”

“You’re diligent from early in the day.”

“Yes. Haha.”

Even as he answered, all of Kim Jinkyung’s attention was fixed on the bathroom behind him.

Is the door fully closed? There isn’t fur sticking out through the gap, right?

“Sit there.”

“I’m fine.”

“If you stand, I have to look up at you and it’s tiring. Sit.”

Kim Jinkyung immediately sat on the auxiliary chair beside the bed.

“I should’ve come to greet you first. I’m sorry. Everything was hectic yesterday.”

“Yes. I heard from Secretary Kang.”

The old man’s illness was obvious. His complexion was poor, and veins stood out distinctly against his dry skin. Even so, his piercing gaze was like that of a beast. It was hard to believe the black panther blood wasn’t from his maternal line.

“It’s nothing. I’ll be discharged soon. I’m sorry for worrying you.”

“I’m worried?”

A scowl appeared on the wrinkled lips. Cold sweat collected in Kim Jinkyung’s hands as he clenched them together.

“…For troubling you.”

Kim Jinkyung quickly tried to rephrase, but the old man’s expression didn’t change.

“Where’s the child?”

He understood that child meant Mok Seongha.

“Ah, Seongha-ssi is… briefly… outside…”

“Outside? Alone?”

The old man asked as if he couldn’t believe it.

“Just briefly. He said he was going to the convenience store downstairs to buy snacks.”

“He eats snacks?”

“No. They’re for me. Snacks I’ll eat.”

“So you told my grandson to go buy snacks.”

This is scary. I want to go home.

Kim Jinkyung clasped his trembling fingers and nodded.

After staring at Kim Jinkyung for a long moment, the old man spoke.

“What do you think of my grandson?”

Kim Jinkyung swallowed dryly.

“I think well of him.”

“You think well of him, so you’re dating him?”

“Well, that is…”

Kim Jinkyung glanced at the bathroom door.

Why did he have to turn into a panther at a time like this?

“I paid you to teach him. Teach him. Don’t do useless things.”

“…I’m sorry.”

Kim Jinkyung gave the best answer he could.

Is he going to kill me?

“If you’re doing this for money, you’d better stop. I won’t give a single won for that kind of game.”

“That’s not it. It’s absolutely not about money.”

Kim Jinkyung felt wronged. He had refused when Mok Seongha brought up money during the contract.

“Then it’s not money, and you’re doing it because you really like him. That’s even worse. Of all things two men could do.”

The old man clicked his tongue. Kim Jinkyung felt overwhelmed by the classic chaebol elder pressure you only see in dramas. He could barely breathe.

“And after seeing that, you still feel like that?”

Kim Jinkyung lifted his head slightly.

“That?”

“Didn’t you saw it too?”

As if to confirm, the old man enquired once more.

“You mean the panther?”

“Yes. He hasn’t even been back to normal for a year.”

There was something wrong about the word “normal.” The old man continued with a frown.

“You’re not right in the head either if you still feel that way after seeing that. Get ahold of yourself. You attend a reputable university. What made you behave in this manner?

‘I told you. The Chairman doesn’t like me much.’

Kim Jinkyung remembered the expression on Mok Seongha’s face when he said that.

He intertwined his fingers, then spoke.

“…He’s cute.”

“What?”

“If you look attentively, he is cute. His fur is black and glossy, his teeth are sharp and strong, his mouth is big, and also…”

Kim Jinkyung repeated exactly what he had said before. This time, in the opposite situation.

“ His eyes are golden. They are even more radiant at night than they are during the day, just like stars.  

The old man’s expression became rigid.

“Are you saying that now…”

I’m dead. This time I’m definitely dead.

Kim Jinkyung bowed his head, preparing for the fury that would soon descend upon him. But something fell into the bathroom at that precise moment.

“What is that noise?”

As the old man turned his head, the attendant behind him moved to check. Kim Jinkyung’s face paled. He remembered Mok Seongha saying the Chairman would avoid him if he saw him changed. And remembering how Mok Seongha had acted after changing at the hotel, nothing good would come from revealing the situation now.

“Oh. Right!”

Kim Jinkyung jumped up and clapped his hands once. The attendant stopped and looked back at him.

“I have to go for tests now. The doctor told me to come right away!”

He spoke loudly on purpose, worried another sound might come from the bathroom.

“I may be old, but I’m not deaf. You can speak quietly.”

The old man scolded him.

“I’m sorry. I really need to go.”

Kim Jinkyung bowed. The old man signaled to the attendant, who moved to the door, opened it, and grabbed the wheelchair handles.

“We’ll talk again later.”

“Yes. Goodbye.”

Kim Jinkyung replied with his head lowered. After the door closed, his legs gave out and he fell to the floor, then quickly came to his senses and locked the door.

Doctor or nurse, nobody could come in for a while.

When he ran into the bathroom and opened the door, the black panther was sprawled on the floor, breathing raggedly. Kim Jinkyung placed a hand on his head. His temperature was rising.

Just like last time.

“What do I do? Should I call a doctor? No, a veterinarian?”

The black tail smacked Kim Jinkyung on the forehead. He rubbed the stinging spot and looked around.

What do I do? What do I really do this time?

At least there was no concern about people entering the hotel. The mental strain was doubled by the hospital. People would undoubtedly enter for a variety of reasons even if the door was locked.

I need to take him somewhere.

If a black panther suddenly appeared in the middle of a Seoul hospital, it would definitely hit the news. And that would reach the Chairman’s ears. No, before that, since a black panther is a dangerous animal, he might even be shot.

Kim Jinkyung grabbed his head.

The black panther seemed to think he was pathetic as he looked up at him through heat-clouded eyes.

“Just wait a moment.”

Kim Jinkyung went to grab his phone from the cabinet. He had to search for a place he could take him. As he turned on the screen with trembling hands, a new message appeared.

“……”

This is the only way.

Kim Jinkyung made up his mind and immediately pressed the call button.