~POV Jisung~

Probably to avoid this nutcase would recognize me too quickly if we crossed him again, Minho had taken off his cap to put it on my head. Then, without warning, he had grabbed my hand to take me with him, in order to leave this place as soon as possible.

We had been running for several minutes before stopping to catch our breath, in a more crowded and lit street where there were those damn cabs I had looked for so much earlier. I had gotten used to his fresh and soft hand when it let go of mine, now that we were out of danger.

It was almost 6:30 pm. In that street there were a few small restaurants where people were gathered for a drink or dinner. Bar's neon lights, food' smells and passers-by' chatter had something reassuring, almost comforting, after this fright felt in the alley.

I sighed with relief when he spoke, raising his hand to call a driver without giving me time to react.

"You should take a cab home."

At once, a car moved towards us while I turned to him, refusing to leave him alone here.

"Let's go together. We live at the same..."

But he opened the door without even considering my invitation.

"No need. I'll go to the station."

Immediately, he walked away while I stood still, suddenly feeling empty and confused. Minho was distant. Always. It was easier to win lottery than to have his confidence and even though I was aware of it, it was hurting me more than I wanted.

Since I still hadn't gotten into his vehicle, the driver was growing impatient. But I couldn't believe the way Minho had just acted, leaving me like that, without even having talked about... well, I didn't know what we should have talked about, but...

"Are you coming or not, Sir?!"

...it wasn't possible.

Closing the cab's door, I apologized before setting off in search of my neighbor. Yes, I was doing the opposite of what I had decided. I had to put distance between us, not follow him. But Minho was a minor and I was his hyung, his teacher... I just couldn't leave him here alone.

What if some shit happens to you again???

And what if something happened to him?! I'd never forgive myself!

My conscience and I were agreed on this point. That's why, after having walked the street, when I saw him got out of a tiny mini-market to go to the small deserted playground located next, I was instantly worried. 

Nervously, I approached when he sat cross-legged and opened a tin can which he put on the ground in front of him. While he waited patiently, I saw come out of a bush, a small gray cat that moved slowly towards him, before starting to lap the contents of the tuna can. 

Watching my student in total admiration for the small animal, I couldn't do anything but smile, so moved I was almost hypnotized.

Adorable...

The Minho I was seeing now was different from the ones I knew.

He wasn't my tormented and angry neighbor, or my cold and lonely student who rejected everything around him. He was relaxed and carefree. The way he looked lovingly at the little cat gave me the impression of discovering his most sensitive and fragile facet. He touched me so much I was shivering to my fingernails' tips.

Despite myself, I was falling under his spell... each second a little more.

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~POV Minho~

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I loved cats.

They were my favorite animals.

In fact, I would have liked to be a cat. Maybe I had been one in another life, by the way. I admired them. They were independent, free. They didn't need anyone to live their lives as they wanted. They had no chains, nothing to hold them in a place they hated.

I envied them so much...

"You're so cute..." I whispered to the one eating in front of me.

I was on my way to the station when I had saw him meowing on the playground. So, I have decided to give him at least something to eat before leaving. Luckily, neighborhood's people seemed to take care of him because he wasn't scrawny. He was lapping the tuna quietly and could take all his time because I didn't want to go home.

The squirrel was probably at home now. I had forced him a bit to take that cab, but I didn't want to spend more time with him. In that alley, I had already gone too far hugging him like that.

I didn't want to get attached to him.

It wasn't...

Suddenly, something hot landed on my cheek, making me startle so much I almost fell over backwards, even though I was sitting.

"Fuck!" I shouted as I recognized this idiot who had just crouched down beside me, a coffee can in his hand. "What the hell are you doing here?!"

Idiot!! Stupid squirrel !

I was angry, but he opened his can without worrying about my mood.

Was he taking revenge for the cab?! Seriously?

"Want some?"

"No."

Taking a sip, he sighed quietly as setting down beside me, while I still couldn't believe this incongruous situation was real.

What the hell...

The squirrel had no business being here. I didn't want him in those moments I felt so naked and vulnerable. He was supposed to be far away. I wanted him to be. So, why did he was here?! Annoyed, troubled, I wished him to leave when he said, looking at the cat who, insensitive to all that, continued to eat peacefully.

"Humm... He didn't even move a hair seeing me. Of the two, you're the more chicken, no?"

Excuse me?!

"I'm not."

"A cat?"

"A wimp!"

But he laughed softly.

"You're not either a cat..." He murmured without looking at me. "Just a wild kitten."

And you, a squirrel as dumb as the day is long!

I wanted to tell him his few truths, but I remained silent seeing the cat - his meal finished - go to curl on my neighbor's legs by playing to chew and softly scratch his bag while purring.

Cute...

"He seems to like me..." He said by caressing his fur, puffing his cheeks to blow on the feline like a child, while I looked up to the sky and sighed.

"I wonder why."

Yes... Why was it so easy to like you?

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❣

~POV Jisung~

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I shouldn't find it funny, but what could I do?

Minho pretended to be angry but he was so in love with the cat he couldn't even pout. Even when he spoke to me coldly, his voice sounded wrong. He was trying to ignore me, but he couldn't do the same with the cute fur ball playing on my legs.

After a long hesitation, he turned to me to cuddle the feline and I was sure, seeing the way his eyes shone, that under his mask he was smiling. When he came closer, my whole body froze and my heart started to beat wildly. Once again, his masculine floral scent captivated me as the cat was purring by playing with his hand. 

Seeing him unconsciously leaning more and more towards me, I was so nervous I took the floor by chewing half of my words.

"W-weren't you supposed... to be in Daejeon today?"

No answer.

"Besides... why did you come in this district?"

Again, nothing.

"Min..."

Meeeooowwwww~~~~🐱

Quick as lightning, the cat left my legs at that very moment and disappeared into the bushes, leaving us alone in a heavy silence. Turning to my neighbor, I immediately crossed his accusing gaze.

"You made him run away!"

"What? No !"

"Of course yes ! He was fed up with your questions and left!"

Saying that, he got up and dusted his trousers before throwing the empty tin can in the bin. I could guess he wasn't just talking about the cat. He was the one my questions made flee. The only cat I would never be able to tame, no matter how hard I tried...

◷

❤

◶

Then, Minho hadn't spoken to me the whole way to the station. After this short-lived moment shared with him, to see him acting again so harshly with me was unbearable and I was walking head down, ill-at-ease, when we arrived. At once, seeing he wasn't walking towards the door indicating our neighborhood's direction, I asked surprised.

"You're not going to Hongdae?"

"I'm sleeping at a friend's house."

"You go back to Daejeon at this hour?"

It was none of my business, I knew that. But it was a bit late and I was worried about him, even though he had made me understand we were neither close nor friends. Despite myself, I wondered what his childhood friend looked like when he gave me a strange look. The next second, his voice sounded like a slap in my face.

"No. At Hyunjin's house."

Ah...

Clenching my teeth, I tried not to show him how much he had caught me off guard. But in reality, I couldn't believe it. Yet, it was a good thing. Myself, I had wished he make friends in highschool. This news should reassure me. However, among the station's hubbub and the people coming and going around us, a part of me didn't want to know more.

"Y-you became really close then..."

But I asked for it.

I did it with a smile as my heart was compressed, doing my best to look natural. In front of me, Minho seemed to be torn, but passing a hand through his hair he sighed, while I struggled to keep smiling.

"Hn. Besties..."

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❣

~POV Minho~

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Later...

What a liar I was...

I wasn't Hyunjin's friend. I wouldn't go to his house, even if I was paid. But he was the perfect excuse to put an end to the squirrel's questions. Plus, it was better if he thought I had a friend. It meant I didn't need him anymore.

At the station toilet, I took off my mask to get some water on my face, before looking at my reflection in the mirror. Then slowly, I ran my fingers over the wound in my mouth corner. Thanks to the mask, the squirrel hadn't seen anything. Good. I didn't want him to get involved in my rotten life.

As I made a dull smile at my reflection, my wound hurt. It also hurted when I spoke, but the worst pain was remembering how it happened.

My friend in Daejeon... I didn't have any.

Last night, I was at home with my uncle and his disgusting friends. I brought them food, cleaned their junk like a slave. I listened to them bawl like pigs every time their football team scored, then while they watched all these gross porn videos. I had cleaned their piss and vomit in the toilets. I had endured their insults, orders and of course, that filthy game invented by my uncle.

"Every time the other team score, we're going to hit that piece of shit! Do you hear me?! You'd better pray our team doesn't take a goal, because if they don't, you're gonna feel it!"

"Come on, hit him! You too! That's all he's good for! Hit him, come on! One goal, one hit!"

All that so he doesn't take me out of highschool, so he wouldn't make my life even more miserable. My filthy life... I didn't want it to rub off on my neighbor. Han Jisung didn't belong to this world, and I refused to let him go near it, even a little bit...

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Hey sweeties !! I hope you're well !! <3 I hope you liked this chapter !! Your reviews are welcome ! ^^ Thank you for your support ! Love you little pumpkins ! 

SaaheVer.