The Cat hides its Claws

After going to the school store every day, Myohan found out that Chandeul went there every day after having lunch. For the first few days, they nodded to each other when their eyes met; Myohan was currently able to get close enough to him to ask what he was buying.

The problem was that Chandeul’s eyes still showed fear as he looked at Myohan.

“He’s here.”

Sinsul ran into Seonhan on his way back with snacks. Sadeol spotted Myohan from afar and jumped up and down happily. Sajun said a few more stupid things and got almost killed by Myo Cheong. Chandeul came out of the cafeteria only after all of them had left.

Myohan stood up, looking at his still chubby face. Jagyeom asked with wide eyes.

“He’s the pig?”

Myo Cheong scowled before Myohan could say anything. He wasn’t happy about being outside on such a cold day. He shuddered and stomped a foot.

“Hey, shit, he’s too thin. There’s no way he’s the pig.”

“Cheong, you must get rid of your prejudice that all pigs are fat.”

“That’s more of a fact than a prejudice.”

As Miho glanced at Myo Cheong glaring angrily at Sajun, he muttered,

“But he does look like a pig.”

Myohan heard all of their complaints. He snorted and said,

“If he gets scared and runs away, I’ll make all of you pay for it.”

He headed to the store before anyone could stop him. Sinsul yelled, “Myohan! But I also bought you a snack!” Still, Myohan told him he didn’t need it.

It was quite hot inside the store. He undid his coat buttons and sat down in a corner.

Chandeul came in soon afterwards. He looked a little excited. He just had had his lunch, but his eyes shined as he looked at the snacks. Myohan got himself a pile of snacks, paid for them, and moved towards Chandeul.

“Oh!”

Anyone could have seen that he was doing it on purpose. Myohan bumped into him while he was distracted by the snacks and dropped a pastry. Chandeul didn’t notice what he was doing, as he was facing away from him.

“Oh, hi again.”

Myohan said hi, as if their meeting again was nothing but a coincidence. Chandeul looked at him with wide eyes. He quickly picked up Myohan’s pastry and offered it to him. But Myohan looked down at his arms full of snacks, looking troubled, then he grinned.

“You have it.”

“Huh?”

After that he quickly walked out, before Chandeul could stop him. Then he dropped what was in his hand. When he was outside again, he gave the snacks to Seonhan and Sinsul who were still arguing. Seonhan took all the snacks and looked at Myohan with twinkling eyes.

“Wow, Myohan, are you giving these to me?”

“But I bought your snack too!”

Myohan nodded, narrowed his eyes, and looked back at the school store. Chandeul was picking up what he had dropped, still holding the pastry.

“Stop taking Sinsul’s snacks, eat these.”

“Friend…!”

Myohan sounded as if he didn’t care at all, but Sadeol was really touched by his gift. Myohan hadn’t asked about it, but Sadeol was probably misunderstanding about something. Well, he had told him he wasn’t a tiger, so he thought it would be fine. He didn’t bother to point it out, so he went back to the bench. Miho, who was looking at the shuddering Jagyeom with pity, looked up.

“What did you do?”

“Nothing much.”

“Can we please go inside? The cold’s killing me now.”

Myohan couldn’t agree more with Myo Cheong. O Shin stood up and wrapped an arm around Myohan’s shoulder. He was wearing nothing more than his school uniform, despite the cold. Myohan really couldn’t figure out how he managed it.

Before he went inside, he looked back, and he could see Chandeul looking around the place. He saw Myohan and his friends, but Myohan pretended not to notice his gaze and walked away. Chandeul was clearly wondering if he should call out to him, but he couldn’t bring himself to approach the group.

“Setting up a trap is always basic.”

Myohan took off his coat the moment they were inside. Then he pointed at his chest. The thing that was supposed to be on his neat vest was nowhere to be seen. He grinned as he looked at those confused eyes.

“I’ve cast a bait.”

“Your nametag?”

Jagyeom asked with wide eyes. He was always the most clever of the lot. Myohan smiled.

“I’m not going to the store anymore.”

He had seen Chandeul pick up his nametag and how he was looking for him to give it back. He had finally done all he needed to do. He had cast a bait, so he just had to wait for the boy to bite it. O Shin muttered under his breath,

“Sly cat.”

But Myohan just shrugged innocently. If becoming a familiar face couldn’t make him lower his guard more, he needed to take stronger measures. Of course, Chandeul could just ask someone else to return the nametag, but Myohan decided to trust his gut. He was going to get proof of him being a pig, no matter what, once he approached him.

“Now I’m really curious.”

He stretched his back. Most of all, there was something he really wanted to know.

“Why is he so afraid of me?”

It had been a long time since he turned into a cat. Chandeul couldn’t be afraid of him just because he smelled like a cat. I will make sure he doesn’t get to run away once he comes. He smiled cunningly, just like O Shin said.

***

Chandeul didn’t go to find Myohan. Or, more accurately, Myohan avoided him. He was always around so that Chandeul wouldn’t give up his hope, but he never gave him a chance to return the nametag. Thankfully, Chandeul didn’t ask anyone else to return it, and he was constantly eating something.

“It’ll be our turn next year,”

Jagyeom muttered sadly, as Jino’s smartphone said something about ‘the coldest University Entrance Exam ever.’

“We still have a year left,”

Sajun said unconcernedly. Myo Cheong smirked and said, “You’re so positive, sunshine.”

That day, the University Entrance Exam would be held. As Myohan’s school was one of the test sites, they were given a day off from school and were currently resting at Myohan’s place. Yuja and Chookjae weren’t there, since they had to hand out chocolates and hot packs to their seniors who would take the exam. They were probably at the school gate right then.

“Has that Chandeul seen you?”

“That gochujang friend?”

Sinsul asked, his mouth full of tangerine. Myohan covered his mouth and told him to eat and then talk. He shook his head.

“He will come.”

He wasn’t worried it might never happen. Chandeul was trying to return his nametag, and it was him who was not letting him do that. Myohan was just not ready; to get the pig, hold him so that he wouldn’t run away, and make him confess everything.

“Hey, snake.”

“Yeah?”

He kept thinking that getting evidence and threatening him with it would be the best. He had felt at least a little guilty when he threatened Jagyeom, but at the moment, the idea felt only right and natural.

“That video you took….”

But actually, it wasn’t exactly his taste. Then he suddenly remembered how Sajun had threatened him and looked at him. Back then, he hadn’t imagined he would be hanging out with that snake at his home.

“Show it to me.”

Sajun tilted his head. It had happened so long ago and he would be unable to know what video he was talking about. Then he realized something and exclaimed. He stretched out a hand, touched Myohan’s cheek and grinned.

“I was lying.”

Myohan’s eyes turned furious immediately. O Shin slapped the hand away, but Sajun still looked relaxed.

“Of course I couldn’t film that short moment. I was lying to provoke you.”

“Crazy bastard,”

Myohan cursed. He frowned, having found out he had been fooled, but then he couldn’t believe he had never doubted it. The other boys couldn’t know what they were talking about. He could hear Sinsul whisper, “Wow, he looks really evil.”

“Plus, taking a video without your agreement would have been a crime.”

“What video?”

“I’m sure that pervert’s done something weird.”

That time, Jino didn’t try to stop Myo Cheong. He just nodded quietly. Myohan just waved a hand and said they didn’t need to know, as he didn’t want to bother explaining all that. His cat came out from one of the rooms, waving its tail gently.