The Cat hides its Claws

“And then, Sadeol turned like this and kicked the ball!”

The seven naturally ended up sitting together, but the problem was that Seonhan was much more talkative than expected. He said he wanted to be Myohan’s friend, but he just kept chatting excitedly. He didn’t even eat. Myohan had thought Sadeol would be equally talkative, but to his surprise, he ate in silence mostly and made a comment from time to time.

“Wow, that’s really crazy!”

“It’s great, isn’t it?”

“Yeah! Oh, I wish I could play soccer.”

“You should, then.”

“No, the exams are near, I should be studying.”

“Really? You think you get to say that?”

Myohan couldn’t exactly join their conversation, but talking to Sadeol in private was going to be even weirder. But then, Seonhan moved his chopsticks to Sadeol’s tray as if it was only right.

Then he started to move all the meat onto his own tray. What was even funnier was that Sadeol let him do that. He let Seonhan take all the meat. He did look sad about it, but it quickly went away and he started to eat his vegetables.

“Why are you looking at me?”

Seonhan noticed Myohan’s gaze and asked with a smile. Myohan looked at his own tray. O Shin was looking at him, his eyes sparkling for a spilt second.

“Oh, it’s just, you’re eating his meat.”

“Oh, you mean Sadeol’s meat?”

“Wow, you’re taking his meat again? That’s just too evil.”

“You want some?”

Sinsul really thought it was harsh, but Seonhan didn’t care. He asked Myohan if he wanted some, so he just shook his head. What was already on his tray was too much for him, so of course he didn’t need more. Seonhan looked disappointed about the refusal. He had a mouthful of meat.

It was for a second, but Sadeol looked at him envy. Seonhan chewed and swallowed what was in his mouth in no time and asked, “You’re not thinking I’m forcefully taking his meat, right?”

Of course that was what Myohan was wondering.

“Well…”

However, he didn’t really care much about it, so he just faltered, but Seonhan said he wasn’t that bad and looked like he was about to cry. Sadeol had to explain.

“I can’t eat meat.”

Myohan looked at him. He added with a playful smile, “I’m vegan.”

Myohan felt like he had gotten hit with a blow to his head. He recalled what he had read about the tiger in the library. It could eat almost all animals, even reptiles. A vegetarian tiger? That was impossible.

Of course, he knew Sadeol couldn’t be 100% like a real tiger, but the gap was just too huge for him to understand.

“Why?” Myohan asked back and it made Yuja look up from his vocabulary cards. It was weird that Myohan was caring about someone else. He knew everyone was now looking at him, but he kept his eyes on Sadeol. He was still smiling.

“I just am!”

That was a short answer. At the same time, Myohan narrowed his eyes. When he glanced at O Shin, he seemed to think that it was interesting.

“That’s too bad.”

Myohan’s interest soon disappeared and he ended it with that remark. He could see Sadeol smiling. But only his lips were smiling, his eyes were not. He must have felt something in that remark, as he wouldn’t take his eyes off Myohan. His eyes were wavering dangerously, but Myohan pretended to be ignorant of it and raised his spoon.

“It’s not bad, it’s his own choice!”

Sadeol looked away only when Seonhan patted his shoulder with a laugh. The strangling gaze was gone and Myohan secretly let out a sigh of relief. It was good that they were seated. If he had been standing, he would have fallen again.

“I know.”

Myohan just grinned. Seonhan looked at him, gaping, and O Shin angrily put down his spoon. Yuja frowned at the sound.

“Hey, what do you think…”

“Yuja, I’m finished, I’ll go first.”

Myohan stood up, although his tray still had more than half of the food. Yuja opened his mouth to nag him once more, but then he shut his mouth to see Myohan’s relaxed face. He stood up with O Shin.

“You’re leaving early again?”

Seonhan looked sad bout it, but he didn’t try to grab Myohan again, probably because of O Shin. Before Myohan walked away, he turned to Sadeol.

“See you later.”

As he had accomplished what he had come for, there was no reason to stay there longer. Sadeol said nothing back, but Myohan walked away.

There was a huge difference between not doing something and not being able to do something. Not having meat as a vegetarian and not being able to eat meat—there was a difference between them.

He said, ‘That’s too bad,’ as a way to sound him out, and Sadeol reacted to it. His gaze hardened coldly as if his weakness had just been revealed.

Well, maybe Myohan was taking it too far. Maybe he was just a vegan and had sent that gaze because he didn’t like Myohan’s pitiful gaze. However, the tiger was a carnivore. Sinsul was so crazy about soccer because he was the dog. Then, how big was the possibility of the tiger hating meat?

“Do you think it would be okay to provoke the tiger?”

Myohan blinked slowly to the question. There was another reason that made him be sure of what made Sadeol become a tiger. O Shin’s gaze. That feeling in those dark eyes.

“So the cat is a beast as well….”

His eyes were full of interest—they were saying it was the answer, and there was no reason to ignore it. Myohan grinned and stretched his back.

“So how should I make him eat meat….”

***

The exams came closer every day, and thanks to studying together every day, Sinsul and Myo Cheong slowly started to get Yuja’s explanation.

He taught by starting with the basics and explaining quickly but clearly. Jagyeom even said he would make a great teacher with awe. Of course, Yuja just coldly said, “I’m going to medical school.”

Instead of going down to the cafeteria, Myohan went back and forth in front of Class 2 to see how Sadeol was doing. He didn’t forget to check the menu every day in case something unexpected happened.

Sadeol was gloomy when there was a lot of meat on the menu, and when there was no meat on the menu, he looked a lot happier.

To think about it, he had complained so when they ran into each other at the cafeteria.

‘Oh, I don’t like today’s menu.’

And that day’s menu had been full of meat.

At any rate, lunchtime became his and O Shin’s time alone again. He studied for the exams quietly, and O Shin looked at him from his side, from his curved nose to his red lips. He wrapped his head with a hand and pulled it close.

“…What.”

And he kissed him way before Myohan could say anything. Warm sunlight fell through the windows. O Shin poked Myohan’s cheek, which was now glowing in sunlight, and smiled. Myohan opened his eyes.

“Do you have time for this?”

The light-colored eyes glittered in the sunlight. They were always as clear as glass beads. Instead of answering the question, Myohan tilted his head. Their lips met again and they could hear their breaths.

Their lips soon parted, but they remained stuck together. Myohan could see O Shin’s soft eyelashes. He frowned because the fingers on his cheek tickled.

“I think you’re the one who enjoys this time the most.”

“Mmm.”

O Shin smiled. He really couldn’t deny it. Watching Myohan relax like a cat having a nap, and kissing him to make him purr and lean on him, he enjoyed it all.

The time belonged to them only, without any disturbers. He could be a part of Myohan’s daily life during that time, so he liked it.

Actually, Myohan didn’t hate that time either. It felt even sweeter after getting stressed out by Seonhan and Sadeol at the cafeteria. It was the only time he could recharge for the day’s exhausting schedule, and he didn’t want to abandon it. Being impatient wasn’t going to help, anyway.

“So we’re going to a meat buffet on Wednesday.”

Alone in the room, they had meaningless conversations and affectionate touches. Today’s topic was the meat buffet they would be going after the exams, but it wasn’t important at all.

“Doesn’t look like you’re looking forward to it.”

O Shin stroked his hair gently and then kissed his cheek. Myohan didn’t really enjoy eating. Having something delicious did make him feel good, but he wasn’t enthusiastic enough to look for something delicious, and most of all, he didn’t even like meat.