< Chapter 14 >

At the sudden question, Haewon thought of the background image on his phone, Dog Seori.

“I do. Why?”

“You’re not really the type.”

“What type?”

“The perverted kind who enjoys teasing others.”

“How did you know?”

He didn’t deny it and kept moving his hands. After a moment, his lips parted again.

“Dogs are much better than people.”

“Why?”

“They’re the same inside and out.”

His tone was casual as always, but there was a faint trace of exhaustion in it.

Seori’s eyes trembled slightly. Though his words were few, she could sense what he meant.

Haewon was always surrounded by people, and just as many rumors followed him.

‘They all throw themselves at him just because he has money.’

That kind of attention could be hostile, playful, or simply opportunistic.

It was strange how Haewon always handled it with calm indifference, sometimes even retaliating. But maybe that was only how it looked from her point of view.

After all, how many people could stay unaffected after discovering what someone they cared about was really like?

The guilt she had buried deep inside began to rise again. She wasn’t so different from the people he described.

The dog he cared about was someone who secretly despised him. Thinking about it from his side made her shiver.

Maybe she should tell him everything.

The reckless thought crossed her mind for a second before she closed her eyes. From the moment she left that house, her life would never be safe again.

‘Don’t get involved and find another way.’

Still, the memory of his cold, piercing gaze frightened her more than anything else. She must have really been drunk.

“Hey.”

“Don’t say hey. Say Seok Haewon.”

Her voice came out quiet and faint.

“Don’t get too attached to that dog.”

It wasn’t something someone with a puppy photo as their wallpaper should say.

“Why? You have one too.”

Seori bit her lip, unable to deny it. Even drunk, she couldn’t bring herself to say that Dog Seori was gone.

Her lips trembled before she finally whispered,

“That’s why I’m saying this.”

She only wanted him to avoid the pain of loss someday when Dog Seori disappeared.

After that cryptic answer, Seori went silent again.

‘What is she even talking about?’

Haewon let out a faint laugh as he sat up, then froze.

Tears were falling from Seori’s eyes, soaking into the sofa. Her small shoulders trembled.

The woman who never flinched at anything was crying.

Haewon stopped moving for a while, then reached out to hold her shoulders.

“Sit up.”

She brushed his hand away weakly. It wasn’t even real resistance.

“Kim Seori.”

He pulled her again, a little firmer this time.

Not wanting him to see her crying face, she turned away and covered it with her hands. Her body slipped from the edge of the sofa.

Haewon caught her in time and pulled her back up. Her face was streaked with tears and completely disheveled.

He licked his lips and spoke in a calm, sure voice.

“So there really is something wrong.”

Tears rolled down her cheeks in a steady rhythm.

Haewon’s expression hardened. When he reached out, Seori flinched.

“Tell me.”

His hand stopped midair, then carefully brushed the strands of hair sticking to her cheek.

“Tell me what I can do.”

“…”

“You came to me for a reason. You must want something from me.”

Seori’s eyes quivered.

It was his calm tone that made her crumble. The feelings she had forced down suddenly spilled over.

“I’m scared.”

Her hands gripped his shirt tightly. Fear that had built up for so long burst out of her as tears streamed down her face.

“I’m scared…”

He wiped her tears with his sleeve.

The tears came faster than he could keep up, soaking his sleeve completely. She cried silently, without making a sound.

Haewon leaned forward, lowering himself to her level, and gently wiped her face again. His sleeve was already damp.

“What are you afraid of?”

“…”

“Hm?”

She rubbed her eyes with the back of her hand, struggling to stop herself from crying.

Maybe it was the tone of his voice, calm and gentle, as if he would listen to anything she said. Her tears refused to stop no matter how hard she tried.

The truth was, she was afraid.

Afraid of turning into a dog and back again at random. Afraid of the absurdity of it all. Afraid that it might never end.

And she resented Dog Seori for it.

If she was going to put her through something this cruel, she could have at least appeared before her. Then Seori could have yelled, scolded, or forgiven her.

That foolish, infuriating Dog Seori.

“But I still miss you, Seori…”

Haewon frowned slightly in confusion.

‘She’s scared, but she misses someone?’

Trying to make sense of a drunk woman suddenly speaking in third person was impossible.

“I still have more to say.”

Suddenly, Seori grabbed Haewon by the collar and pulled him closer. His breath caught in his throat.

Her teary light brown eyes stared straight into his.

“There’s something really important I need to say.”

Her thoughts were a complete mess.

That she was a dog. That the dog was his. That she had somehow gotten used to being treated like a pet. All of it was maddening to even think about.

“Wha… what I mean is…”

Even ignoring all that, there was still something else that bothered her most. Her grip slowly weakened.

“Stop kissing me so much, please…”

With that soft complaint, she collapsed against his chest.

Her slow, steady breathing filled the room.

Haewon let out a hollow laugh after a long pause.

“Ha… ha…”

His lips were smiling, but his eyes were dry and dark.

‘I wonder.’

Who was this creature she missed so much, feared so much, and kissed so often?

* * *

When I woke up, the city was glowing orange beyond the glass wall.

I groaned and touched my forehead, then froze. My hand was human, not a paw.

‘I didn’t turn into a dog.’

So alcohol wasn’t the cause after all.

Right now, I was just a normal person suffering from a hangover. My eyes were swollen and heavy enough that I didn’t even need a mirror to know how bad I looked.

‘What exactly happened last night?’

I tried to remember, but only fragments came back.

The restaurant, Haewon’s apartment, and… crying?

‘…Crying?’

Panicking, I yanked the blanket over my head. Why did I remember him wiping my eyes?

‘Did I seriously cry?’

I drank to see if alcohol would trigger the transformation, not to turn into a sobbing fool.

Honestly, it would’ve been better to turn into a dog. I could’ve barked once and denied everything.

‘…I need to run away.’

I rolled off the bed and grabbed my jacket.

There was no way I could face Haewon now. The thought of him seeing me at my weakest made me want to disappear.

As I peeked out the bedroom door, a soft voice came from above.

“It’s fine. Seok Haewon isn’t in the living room.”

“Really?”

Relieved, I looked up slowly.

There he was, mirroring my position, peeking into the living room from the other side.

Our eyes met. He smiled mischievously.

“…”

I nearly fainted and stumbled backward until I hit the wall.

Straightening, he leaned casually against the doorframe.

‘Where did he even come from?’

I pushed my hair behind my ear and forced my expression to stay calm.

“Sorry, but I don’t remember anything.”

“Sorry, but I don’t remember anything.”

He mimicked me word for word, voice overlapping mine perfectly.

Haewon smirked, clearly amused.

“I knew you’d say that. You’re as shameless as ever.”

“If you knew, you could’ve just ignored it.”

“Why would I?”

He spun my phone between his fingers, resting it against his chin. After a short pause, he asked,

“Are you seeing Professor Shim?”

So that rumor had reached him too. I wasn’t surprised, but it still irritated me.

“My type is younger, puppy-like guys. Not old professors.”

Professor Shim wasn’t my type, and Haewon was the complete opposite, more like a hunting dog than a puppy.

“Yeah, I figured. He doesn’t seem like your type.”

He chuckled as if expecting that answer all along.

Without realizing it, I clenched and unclenched my fists. Something about his voice and the sharpness in his gaze felt different.

After knowing him for so long, I could tell right away.

Seok Haewon was angry.