The Cat hides its Claws

“Why are you thinking so hard?”

“Well…”

“You said he owes you a favor anyway,” Myohan said nothing to that and turned. O Shin was right. The student had promised to repay for his help. He could just tell him he knew he was the sheep and demand to see him transform. But for some reason, he felt like the matter wasn’t that simple.

“Maybe it’s because it’s been going too well these days.”

Myohan had caught both the dog and the cow without trying much. But this time, he thought it would be a lot harder. O Shin was still caressing his face, pretending to be ignorant.

Myohan slowly tilted his head for a kiss, but then the doorbell rang to break the mood. O Shin frowned. Myohan didn’t want to get up, so he told O Shin to go and see who it was. He moved without protesting.

But he didn’t come back from the door for a long time. Myohan could hear a lot of noises, so he got up, but then someone familiar came in running.

“Myohan! We’ve come to visit!”

It was Sinsul. He was with four other boys. Myohan had never invited them, and there were five of them. He frowned hard with irritation. O Shin came last and shrugged to show it wasn’t his fault.

“But why is he here?” Jagyeom asked. O Shin wasn’t supposed to be at Myohan’s home, so he got suspicious when he opened the door as if it had been his home. But Myohan thought he didn’t have any reason to answer that question, so he ignored it and asked calmly.

“Why are you here?”

“We’ve come to see you.”

Sajun tried to put his butt right next to Myohan, but Myohan immediately pushed him away with a foot and looked at Jino and Myo Cheong. He could see what Jino was about to say something with twinkling eyes, so he shook his head and told him not to say a word. He was here to see the cat, of course. And as for the last, Myo Cheong frowned and pointed at Sinsul.

“I was kidnapped by Sinsul.”

“Kidnapped? No, I brought them all so that you wouldn’t be bored!”

“….Bored?”

Of course not. Jagyeom glanced at Myohan and pointed it out. He was right. Myohan was not bored at all. He had a cat, and although he didn’t know why, now O Shin was with him. And he was a cat who could sleep all day long, so of course he didn’t find that freedom boring.

Anyway, they sat down in the living room before he could ask more. Jino kept looking for the cat, but it just wouldn’t come out. It seemed to know Jino was going to bother it. They took out snacks and sodas they had brought, and Myohan had to give up. He lay down on the sofa and O Shin came to sit at his feet.

“Just clean it all before you go.”

“Of course. Oh, we tried to bring Chookjae too, but he couldn’t come because of the extra classes.”

“Just leave him alone.”

“Oh, but it’s all love and affection!”

“I’m sure he doesn’t need it.”

Myohan closed his eyes. He didn’t find the uninvited guests too bad. They were going to have fun on their own and clean up before they left.

“As we are all here,”

O Shin spoke for the first time. Sajun brought some cups from the kitchen and put them on the table. Jagyeom poured out soda and gave a cup to each person. Yes, they were ready for a party.

“Let’s have an emergency meeting.”

“Really? Again?”

Jagyeom frowned. He could remember how O Shin had done exactly that to catch Sajun. Myohan got up, took Sinsul’s soda, and drank it. Now it was quiet. O Shin looked around and said,

“First, about how to capture the sheep.”

“Sheep?” Sajun asked and Myohan went down from the sofa. O Shin stroked his hair and Sajun looked away quietly after seeing it.

“But before that, there is one urgent matter.”

Myohan had to let them know about what he had found out before they got to the sheep. Myohan checked what time it was and turned to Jino.

“Jino, lie about something.”

“Why…?”

Jino made a sad face. He couldn’t understand why it had to be him again. He gave Myohan a pleading gaze, but Myohan wouldn’t change his mind. Eventually, he gave up and started to take off his shirt.

“Don’t. You won’t transform anyway.”

“Now, what kind of bullshit is that?”

That came from Myo Cheong. Jino also couldn’t believe it either. Myohan frowned and told him to do it. His charisma overwhelmed Jino and he looked down and said,

“….Cats are not cute at all.”

1, 2, 3. Jino counted the seconds with closed eyes, but then his eyes snapped open. He jumped to his feet, looking down at his hands. All the boys, except for Jagyeom, were shocked to see it. Jino started to jump up and down excitedly, but then Myo Cheong kicked him with all his might. He was aiming for Jino’s manhood, and he fell to the floor immediately and wailed. Myohan looked at the clock once more and started to explain.

“You must know the twelve zodiac animals each have time. Ja Time, Chook Time, In Time, and Myo Time.”

“Are you talking about that ancient time system they used to use?”

“Yes, Sinsul. Your dog time is Sul Time.”

O shin looked away and laughed after hearing ‘your dog time.’ Jagyeom also muttered about it.

“In that time, you won’t transform.”

“What?”

This time, Myo Cheong got to his feet. He looked down at Jino’s head, but then he tumbled down again. Jino got surprised and held him.

“Then… Shit, something did happen then!”

“…In Sa Time, you won’t become a snake even if you touch snow. In Sul Time, you won’t become a dog even if you get drunk. In Ja Time, you won’t become a rat even if you get wet. I’ve checked.”

Myo Cheong yelled at him not to change to the subject, but Myohan just ignored him. Sajun covered Myo Cheong’s mouth and forced him to sit down. Myohan looked at him as he wriggled and spoke grimly.

“If you don’t calm down, I’ll turn you into a rabbit.”

“Agh!”

“Or I’ll prove it in Myo Time.”

Myo Cheong froze immediately. Myohan’s light-colored eyes said he meant it. He bit Sajun’s hand hard (Ouch!) to get back his freedom and became quiet. He knew Myohan was capable of keeping his words. He recalled how he had kissed him without any hesitation in that prince costume. He covered his mouth and shook his head with a sigh.

“Heh heh, then I can drink in Sul Time…”

“I will tell Yuja.”

“Just kidding, just kidding.”

But Jino and Sajun weren’t as enthusiastic about it, as not transforming for two hours a day wasn’t going to do them much good. It wasn’t a big change unless it was directly related to something essential for living, like Jagyeom said.

“And now, about the sheep.”

Myohan recalled the student he had seen at the hospital. They went to the same school and as their gym suits were of same color, they were probably in the same grade. It was possible that one of the boys here knew him.

“I think I’ve found a suspect.”

“Who is it?”

“I don’t know his family name, but…”

He could remember his sister’s voice calling him, and how he had muttered about being sick of it with hollow eyes. He shook his head to dismiss it.

“His sister called him Miho.”

“Oh, he’s in my class.”

Myohan was right, one of them did know him. It was Jagyeom. He smiled awkwardly after getting all the attention.

“We’re in the same class. His name is Miho. Gu Miho.”

“His name’s Gu Miho? Like the nine-tailed fox. That’s one weird name.”

“What are we then?”

Sajun’s question brought silence into the room. Jagyeom and Myo Cheong frowned at the same time. Lee Jagyeom, Myo Cheong, and even Byeon Sinsul were in the room. Myo Cheong said he couldn’t say such thing in front of them, but Sinsul just said, “Yeah! A bunch of weird names!”

“….No, I meant, ugh.”

He must have cotton candy for a brain. Myo Cheong complained so. Myohan stopped them and nodded to Jagyeom, inviting him to tell them more.