The next morning, Dong-seung woke to a figure looming over him: his roommate, Seo-yeon.
"Where were you?" she demanded. "Why is our SUV scratched? Were you drinking?"
"No," he grumbled. "I was doing charity work."
"Hmph," she scoffed. "Why didn't you bring me, too?"
"Well, I didn't know you wanted to help. Tell you what, I'll take you to dinner at a fancy restaurant."
Her eyes lit up. "Yes!" she yelled, tightening her grip on his hands.
This woman has terrifying grip strength, he thought. But he had a superior idea. Seo-yeon was usually occupied with her own activities, but what if he could artificially increase that time? The solution was simple.
Buy a cat.
Why a cat? Why not a dog? Because she was a woman! And women liked cats. His mother, his grandmother, his great-grandmother, and his uncle had told him that part of their lineage—all had cats. Some were even breeders. A dog, on the other hand, was docile and a bit stupid. It always agreed and didn't truly create conflicts.
But a cat? Oh, yeah. Most cats were arrogant bastards who saw their humans as servants. A cat would immediately voice its dissatisfaction with hisses and scratches. He still had the trauma to prove it.
"I'll go out with you later," he said, extracting his hands. "I have to go now to fix the car."
He left her dancing around the room.
My husband is going to invite me to dinner! How romantic! I must tell my friends!
She quickly messaged every female friend she had. She didn't mention the "husband" part, but she desperately wanted confirmation for her feelings.
…
"My god. I have to execute 'FELIS CATUS'!" he yelled, sitting inside his Genesis.
Man, I'm cringe. I probably need to visit a therapist sooner or later. I feel like those anime protagonists who need to yell out their attacks. Why bother? You're literally advertising what you're gonna do.
He quickly navigated out of the garage. Let's visit the mechanic first.
The shop was a small building on a large property, with cars stacked haphazardly next to each other. A small cat darted around the feet of a man smoking a cigarette while lounging in a chair.
"Can you repair my bumper?"
The man nodded, then finally stubbed his cigarette out. He wore a cap and was probably in his sixties, but judging by his muscular build, he was still going strong. Asians often live very long and stay healthy, Dong-seung mused. His grandfather, for example, lived to 102, and until he was 91, he could still drive his old Mercedes W201¹.
"You're a true tradesperson if you use multiple tools, even those you don't like," his grandpa once told him. He was also an avid fan of manual transmission, like his uncle. But he was also one of the first to realize the potential of the Internet. That was probably why he was so successful until his death.
"I just happen to have that bumper," the mechanic said.
The Genesis was guided onto a lifting platform. Dong-seung sat quietly on a rundown but comfortable office chair tucked near the office. The cat now sat close by. It was very friendly, but he didn't bother petting it. The workshop seemed unprofessional, but he noticed everything was neatly organized and the tools seemed well-used, bearing a comfortable patina.
"Son, there's something wrong with your bumper."
He showed Dong-seung the bumper. After rotating it, he saw it too: a patch of black silicone on the backside.
The mechanic ripped it off with ease and squeezed it. "Just like I thought. Son, someone is probably spying on you."
He cut the silicone open, revealing something that looked like an AirTag. "This device is probably a GPS tracker. Are you a criminal?" he asked, his brow furrowing.
"No. I am a business owner; I do programming," Dong-seung said confidently.
Silence.
"You know, Son. I used to work for the NIS. I even once went to North Korea."
Hmph. It could be true or not, Dong-seung thought, but he seemed very muscular for his age. He could truly be a veteran. He decided not to press further.
The mechanic quickly installed the new bumper and brought him the terminal.
"4 Million Won, son. And I probably just saved your life," he said sarcastically.
BRRRRRRRRRR
[Shinhan Bank: Your Balance is 207,725,027 ₩]
In his mind, there could truly be only one person capable of such a thing: his ex-girlfriend. She probably wanted revenge for ignoring her at university. Her new codename would be "Medusa." If he met her again, she would probably turn him to stone—or have her relatives do it.
Now, for the cat!
…
"Easy!"
He darted inside a somewhat modern-looking building. Everything was clean, from the neatly trimmed bushes to the interior. It also had a distinct smell, similar to a hospital. Is that antiseptic?
There, he was met by a shorter, older woman with brown hair.
"Can I ge—I mean, adopt a cat?" he asked, correcting himself.
"You're pretty bold," she laughed.
"Ah. Yes," he agreed, not wanting to anger the ajumma.
She showed him around.
There were especially lots of dogs. Some were fragile and old, some rough and playful, and, finally, the quiet ones. Many bore clear signs of abuse or seemed heartbroken from being abandoned or losing an owner.
The sight somehow reminded him of his grandfather, who had often been very lonely. Dong-seung had been the only person who visited him from time to time. He was also there when he died; his grandfather had tried to say something to him at the end, but couldn't muster the strength.
One notable thing was that the old man never complained about his children or nephews. He always told life stories, which, in reality, were carefully disguised teaching moments. He had essentially prepared a carefully curated list of life lessons for Dong-seung.
At least he had the opportunity to thank his grandfather and give him some comfort before he passed away.
On the way to the cat room, he saw a big, odd-looking dog. It had a piebald coat of beige and brown. Its face was filled with a profound desperation—an expression Dong-seung knew well. It was the look of being lost in life, completely overwhelmed. The only time he had felt that exact feeling was standing near his balcony railing, staring at his own doom.
After walking a short distance, they finally arrived.
Cats.
There was an orange cat.
"This one is around two years old, a female. She's naughty but also likes to cuddle."
Aha! I'll take you home with me. I just hit the jackpot. An orange cat? CARNAGE! he thought. Lots of carnage. This will easily fill up her time. Of course, she'll also take up real estate in her room, so I probably won't need to care for her. Of course, if Seo-yeon wasn't home, he would feed her and care for her.
The ajumma smiled, placing the cat into a carrier with careful affection. A woman's touch was always something special, he noted. She was clearly invested in this work. Respect.
"We will also need to verify your income, your living space, and your motivation," she said.
He gave the dog he saw earlier a quick glance.
"So, let's start with your income and your living space."
Dong-seung explained his living situation in detail: his roommate, his income. He even showed her his bank balance. She was not impressed.
"Alright. What is your motivation, son?"
Why does everyone call me 'son'?
"My family always had cats. Some of my relatives are even cat breeders," he said confidently.
"Very good. Let's finalize the paperwor—"
Dong-seung interjected. "I want to see that dog with the piebald fur."
…
The dog lay on the floor, barely moving. It whined quietly now and then. Dong-seung could see clearly that it hadn't been eating properly; its ribs were visible.
"This dog is male. He was socialized early, so he is tame. But after his owner died from a heart attack, he stopped eating. He starts again sometimes, but…"
Probably a cycle of grief, Dong-seung realized. The dog couldn't understand why his owner was suddenly gone. It would grieve, want to end its own life, but couldn't fully commit. Truly miserable. He knew that feeling way too well.
"He's only a year and a half old. His breed? He's a Caucasian Ovcharka. They are herd dogs, pretty smart and strong, too," she said, her expression sad.
He used to watch those rescue videos where someone would adopt a kitten or a dog. He liked seeing how they improved, finally getting their redemption. But that wasn't his main motivation; it was the connection he felt. He felt a duty to help this dog. He would probably donate some money to the shelter, too, once his income was more stable.
"I'll take the dog," he said, his voice filled with pity.
"Let's finalize everything," the ajumma said.
He clipped the leash onto the dog's collar and waited. He didn't pull or coax; he simply waited for the animal to realize that someone was offering it love and a new home. First, he sat on the floor beside it, allowing the dog to be curious and smell him. After a long moment, he slowly reached out and petted its head. When the dog finally stirred, he gently coached it to stand and walk outside.
"You did well," the ajumma remarked, her voice soft with surprise. "He wouldn't budge a single meter for anyone else. He didn't want to walk at all."
The dog's eyes were still lifeless, but the quiet whining had stopped.
…
After opening the front passenger door, the dog surprised him by jumping instantly onto the seat. It even sat upright, almost like a human. Was it instinct? Or a distant memory, triggered by the familiar motion of getting into a car?
The ajumma secured the cat carrier in the trunk. Dong-seung used cargo hooks to fasten it securely; he didn't want the cat flying around in the back like it was on a reduced-gravity aircraft, where astronauts experience weightlessness.
He turned the engine on, watching the dog carefully for any sign of fear. It remained calm.
Alright. Let's drive.
The ride was quiet. No cat or dog noises, only the hum of the engine. Then, the dog's expression suddenly changed. Its tongue lolled out, wide and goofy, and it was clearly smiling. He knows, Dong-seung realized. He likes driving around.
He'd have to take him out more often, then. But he couldn't just call him 'Dog.' He didn't want side-eyes from other owners. What about 'Agito'? It was derived from Latin, meaning "I move" or "I set in motion." It was perfect. The cat could be named by his roommate anyway.
EEEEEEEEEEE—
The screech of tires ripped through the quiet. A furious honk blasted his eardrums.
He quickly countersteered into the right lane.
"Fucking hell!" he gasped, his heart hammering against his ribs.
I almost drove into traffic. I need to focus on the road instead of glancing at Agito.
He was very curious, but having learned his lesson, he didn't want to press his luck any further.
After a quick visit to the pet store, he gathered everything he needed, from a cat tree to a big, comfy bed. Of course, he didn't discriminate; he bought the same luxury-sized items for both of them. Everything practically screamed opulence, but he saw it as a long-term investment. More than that, it was his duty to provide for them until they were old.
BRRRRRR
[Shinhan Bank: Your Balance is 203,725,027 ₩]
…
Footnotes:
^1 Mercedes W201: Known as the Mercedes 190. This car was a landmark in automotive engineering for its time, famous for a level of durability and mechanical simplicity that allowed it to run for decades with proper care.