“Hoonie,” tawag ni Seungcheol sa alaga niya pagkapasok niya sa sala nila. The feline gave him a glance before returning his attention to the film playing on the tv. Napabuntong hininga muna si Cheol bago siya tuluyang lumakad papalapit dito. Hindi siya pinansin ni Jihoon.
Umupo siya sa tabi nito. “Hoon,”
“. . . .”
“Jihoon,”
“. . . .”
“Jiji,”
“. . . .”
“Baby?”
“. . . .”
“Or should I call you Woozi?” Agad na bumaling ang ulo nito papunta sa kanya. Nakabilog ang mga mata nito at nakanganga ang bibig.
“Alam mo?!”
Seungcheol smiled, trying to calm Jihoon’s nerves. Alam niyang kinakabahan at natatakot na ito ngayon, if the restlessly swinging tail is of any indication.
“Sinabi sa’kin ni Jisoo.”
The feline sighed (but Seungcheol swear he heared him curse Jisoo under his breath but let’s not mention that) before standing on four feet, medyo lumayo ito kay Seungcheol bago umupo. Seungcheol immediately and almost reflexively patted his lap na nakakuha ng atensyon ni Jihoon,
“Dito ka na maupo.”
Jihoon gave him his infamous ‘are-you-serious’ look, na nginitian niya lang. Jihoon’s tail curled and his ears laid flat on his head, he looked away before walking to sit on his Master’s warm lap. Seungcheol’s hand instinctively flew to pat Jihoon’s head.
The feline leaning on to his touch made his smile widen, eyes sparkling with something he can’t quite decipher. Jihoon sighs in pure satisfaction when Seungcheol decided to scratch the back of his ears.
“Seungcheol?”
“Hmm?”
“A–are you not scared of me?” Jihoon asked while purring at his master’s touch. Itinigil ni Seungcheol ang pagkamot dito na ikinasimangot ni Jihoon. The cat grumbled before pawing Seungcheol’s hand back to his head. Wala namang nagawa si Seungcheol kundi ang gawin ang gusto nito.
“Bakit naman ako matatakot sa cute na tulad mo? And beside, I know you won’t harm me.” said Seungcheol as he brush their nose together.
Jihoon slowly nodded. Kita ni Seungcheol ang panunubig ng mga mata nito. Seungcheol sighed before lifting Jihoon in his biceー arms, letting the feline snuggle on the crook of his neck. Itinago nito ang ulo sa pagitan ng ulo at leeg ni Seungcheol, sometimes trying to slip inside his shirt.
“. . . hindi ako kyut . . .”
Tumawa na lang si Seungcheol at pinat ang likod ng alaga niya. He silently slided his hand to unclasp Jihoon’s cruel collar, hoping the feline won’t notice—or if he does, he hope Jihoon will just ignore it.
“Cheol,” but of course, that’s not happening.
“H–hmm?”
“What are you doing? Bakit tinatanggal mo ang collar ko?”
Napaubo si Seungcheol at agad na binawi ang kamay niya, he even shook his head in protest; “W–wala lang, t–tinitignan ko lang kung nanjan pa aha hahahahahaha.”
“If your trying to release my human form, then don’t bother. May okay ako sa ganito.”
“But—”
“Ayos lang ako sa ganito.”
—or so Jihoon says, pero hindi kasi mapanatag ang loob ni Seungcheol. Bukod sa personal na hiling niyang makita ulit si Woozi, hindi niya gustong nililimitahan si Jihoon. Kasi kung tutuusin, pag tinanggal niya ang restrictive collar nito, pwede pa rin itong mag-stay sa anyong pusa niya.
At dahil na rin may katigasan ng ulo si Seungcheol, syempre hindi niya sinunod ang gusto ni Jihoon. Tinanggal niya ang collar nito at mabilis na itinago iyon sa . . . loob ng polo niya. Kung bakit doon, sabihin na lang nating masyado siyang nataranta.
“Woah,” the man said in pire amazement as he watch smoke rise out of Jihoon’s body, forming a very familiar silhouette of a man. Hindi maiwasan ni Seungcheol na pasadahan ng tingin ang nakalabas na balat ni Jih— let’s just call him Woozi, just to differentiate the two.
“Masaya ka na niyan?” Inis na sabi nitohabang magka-cross ang dalawang braso. Nanatiling nakatitig lang si Seungcheol. Umamba pa itong hahawakan ang puting tenga na tila nakadikit sa tuktok ng ulo ni Woozi, kung hindi lang siya nito inangilan.
“Whoa,”
“Stop staring!”
“No!”
“Why the hell not?!”
“Because you’re beautiful,” Manghang sabi nito na tila wala pa rin sa sarili. Hindi maiwasang mamula ni Woozi. Unang beses niyang marinig ang salitang ‘yan bilang deskripsyon sa kanya. Ugly, monster, experiment— those are some of the term he’s accustomed to hearing about himself and other hybrids.
“Y–you . . . you stupid master!”
“H–hey?!” Sigaw ni Seungcheol ng maramdaman niya ang pagtama ng kung ano sa mukha niya at ang pagkawala ng kulay pink na buhok ni Woozi sa harapan niya.
Seungcheol rubbed his hurt face with a wide grin plastered on his face. Sinundan lang ng mata niya ang pagtakbo ni Woozi sa kwarto niya. He giggled to himself, parang ginawa ng taguan ni Woozi ang kwarto niya.
“So fucking cute.”
℘ —————————————
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