The Cat hides its Claws

“Well….”

Myohan closed his book. He turned to look at O Shin. He smiled. When he had that look on his face, it made Myohan get a strange feeling — it was quite hard to look into his eyes. He blinked.

O Shin muttered, ‘Cat kiss.’ And then he rubbed Myohan’s eyes.

“I don’t even eat lunch, so of course a visit to a meat buffet isn’t appealing to me…”

Someone opened the back door before he could finish saying it. They looked back at the bang! sound, and there was a tall boy standing there.

“Myohan, come out.”

It was Sadeol—he looked dead serious.

Wind blew past between them. the vegetable garden was again empty. They stood and stared at each other, just like Miho and the bully. Sadeol had brought him there. When O Shin tried to follow them, he made him stay behind, saying they needed to have a private conversation.

Myohan frowned, trying not to look into those predator-like eyes under the thick eyebrows. Was he about to punch him? Tomorrow was the weekend, and exams were going to start on Monday. He had planned not to run into Sadeol until then, but he came to him first.

Myohan really didn’t know what he wanted from him; it wasn’t Seonhan who was always saying he wanted to become Myohan’s friend. Plus, Sadeol now looked deadly and threatening.

“What do you want to say?”

In the end, he spoke first. he didn’t want to endure that heavy silence anymore. Sadeol cleared his throat, which made Myohan relax at least a little.

“You come to my class to look at me, don’t you?”

Myohan was impressed, although he tried not to show it. So he hadn’t been hallucinating when he thought their eyes had met. He had moved subtly so no one else would have been able to notice it, but Sadeol was really a beast.

“Yes,” he said matter-of-factly. He was going to say he just did it when asked why. But thankfully, Sadeol didn’t ask why. He just muttered, ‘I knew it,’ and nodded. Myohan could see him clench both fists. He frowned.

“Sinsul said you never eat lunch at school. Is that right?”

Myohan didn’t know why that dog-boy was talking about him to others, but he didn’t show it and nodded. Sadeol asked why this time.

“Why?”

Myohan tilted his head and met Sadeol’s gaze. It wasn’t as terrifying as before. He must have gotten used to it. Sadeol couldn’t be accuse him for being at the cafeteria the other day when he never ate lunch. He narrowed his eyes and countered unconcernedly.

“…What does it have to do with you?”

Sadeol mustn’t have seen it coming, as his eyes widened. He looked startled, although only for a second. He was nervous. Then he grabbed both of Myohan’s shoulders.

His hands were thick and heavy.

“I know it.”

Myohan had too many guesses to ask what he knew. He bit his lips and looked back. Maybe Sadeol had found out about the scheme he had been planning. His eyes were really close.

“There can be only one reason for you to watch me like that. Be honest.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Myohan decided to play innocent. Sadeol narrowed his eyes. His grip got stronger.

Myohan clenched his fist and tried to stay calm, although he couldn’t help thinking he was about to be devoured. Even if Sadeol could transform into a tiger, they were both humans now. Plus, they were both felids. He told himself there was no need to be afraid.

After some time, when Myohan thought he was drowning in Sadeol’s intense gaze, he sighed. And then he said with pity, “Okay, I understand. I wouldn’t be able to talk about it easily.”

About what? Before Myohan could ask that, Sadeol held Myohan’s shoulders even tighter. He frowned, but then a pair of sad eyes looked at him.

“So sad.”

Wait, sad eyes?

“…Sad.”

“Yes, that must be it. I know it all.”

Sadeol put his face right in front of Myohan’s. He backed off in surprise and pushed his hands away. Sadeol hesitated, but then he nodded and took a step back. He opened and showed his hands.

“Relax, I’m not trying to threaten you. Yes, I must tell you what I am first.”

Myohan didn’t know what was going on. He was usually quick to assess the situation, but what Sadeol was doing was just too strange. However, Sadeol didn’t notice his confusion and went on.

“Remember what I said about me being a vegetarian?”

“Yes.”

“And you said it’s too bad for me.”

Myohan frowned instead of nodding. He really wanted to ask, ‘What about it?’ Sadeol nodded.

“I’ve been thinking about it. Something hasn’t been right ever since our eyes met.”

His light-colored eyes flashed. Myohan got a bad feeling and had to swallow a moan. Myohan realized Sadeol was the tiger the moment their eyes met. The instincts he had as a felid told him. It meant it was probable that Sadeol had realized what he was too.

“I saw it all, you eating at the cafeteria and walking by to glance at me. Then I realized what you are.”

Of course. It couldn’t have been worse. No, no. Sadeol knowing he was a cat couldn’t matter that much.

“You are so interested in me because….”

Dozens of thoughts swirled in Myohan’s mind. But then Sadeol held his hands. His hands looked so weak in those thick, strong hands.

‘Well, I guess I have no choice.’

Myohan gave up and sighed. He had to be honest and ask him to show how he transformed. Yes, that was the best thing he could do now.

“Okay, I’m…”

However, he couldn’t say he was a cat, as Sadeol’s eyes sparkled and he said, “You’re a tiger too!”

“…What?”

Myohan gaped and froze. Sadeol’s eyes were still sparkling too much. His deadly force was long gone now.

“There’s no need to be so surprised.”

He spoke kindly and Myohan slowly closed his mouth. Well, he was surprised… No, more accurately, he was confused. Not knowing what was going on in his mind, Sadeol smiled happily and pointed at himself.

“I’m a tiger too.”

“…Oh.”

Myohan had to nod to that. Sadeol must have taken it as acknowledgment as his eyes got teary he and put his forehead on their hands.

“I knew it. No wonder you have such great reflexes.”

…It was because he was a cat, more so because he didn’t like being hit by dodgeballs.

“And you’re the first person to run as fast as me.”

As fast as? But in the race, he ran right past Myohan and left him in the dust.

“And I felt this thrill when our eyes met, so I was wondering…”

It must have been the thrill of a predator of spotting a prey.

“Then I was certain when you wouldn’t eat your lunch at all.”

He just had no appetite, that was all.

“And most of all, when you were talking to that tall friend of yours in your classroom.”

Myohan tried to pull his hand out, but then he realized he couldn’t and swallowed a sigh. Sadeol looked straight at him. Myohan got a funny thought that Sadeol was like a mixture of Sinsul and Jino.

“You said you wouldn’t eat meat even when you go to a meat buffet.”

Myohan nodded, inviting him to go on. Actually, it was getting quite funny.

“It made me realize you can’t eat meat, either.”

Everything fell into place, and it was quite hard to deny. Sadeol had never seen anyone become an animal, so the easiest guess he could make about the thing he had felt on Myohan was that he was a tiger too. In a way, it was only natural.

“We’re alike, Myohan.”

Myohan wondered what to do, but Sadeol was already giving him a trusty gaze. This wasn’t easy. Myohan just couldn’t blow the hope in those tiger eyes away as he was still holding his hands.

“…Yes, we’re alike.”

In the end, he grinned. He felt bad about lying, but he couldn’t blow such a good opportunity away. Sadeol nodded. He seemed to be so happy about finally meeting someone who was like him.

“Oh, I know what you must be going through. You want to eat meat, but you can’t…”

“I’m sorry, but…”

Myohan gathered his thoughts. How to lure the boy into eating meat, and how to safely get away once he became a tiger, and how not to be blamed by him once he found out the truth.

Sadeol’s eyes widened. Myohan went on.

“I can eat meat.”

“What? Really?”

“You can eat meat, too. of course.”

Sadeol gaped. His bulged eyes were about to come out. Myohan pulled out his hands and shook it lightly.

“I know a way.”

“How? Who?”

Myohan moaned instead of saying it. Sadeol was anxious. Myohan pretended to think about it, and then he nodded.

“Well, we’re alike, so…”

Then he asked with a grin.

“Do you want to know?”