Her Kitten, His Human

Trip To The Shelter

"GO BACK TO YOUR F*CKING COUNTRY!!" Y/N winced when the beer can collided with your temple.

"I am Korean", came your low resigned mutter.

You ignored the drunken men shouting slurs and hurried to get out of the cold autumn air. You got in your car and jammed the keys into the Prado's ignition. You sighed in bliss at the warmth that entered the car. Y/N rested your head on the steering wheel with a sigh. Things like this didn't happen often, it was better not to dwell on the negative. You sat up after blinking away the pain in your temple and pulled into the busy Korean streets. You relaxed as you sat in traffic. Your striking green hazel eyes on golden-brown skin. Your hair was reddish-brown and naturally curly. You were due for a cut, it had grown past your shoulder blades. Y/N continued to stare at your reflection. Your skin was darker than your Korean father but lighter than your African-American mother. Where did that place you? In a lot of awkward situations. The traffic soon cleared and you pulled into the underground garage of an apartment complex in Daechi- dong. You went in and used the exclusive elevator that would take you directly to the top. Y/N swiped your card and went in. The lights came on with a click and you sighed to yourself.

"Empty", you shook your head, "I don't know what I was expecting." You went to the bathroom first to check your temple. The bruising would be temporary. Good, you didn't want the responsibility of explaining a bruise to your mother. You'd just cover it with your hair if it didn't go down in time. Y/N moved briskly and quietly through the large flat. Minutes followed and you had showered and was enjoying a movie with dinner. The shrilling of your phone caught your attention. You paused the movie and answered without checking the caller I.D.

"Y/N-ya! You're going to make me old before my time", your cousin and director scolded you, "did you get home safe?"

"I'm sorry I forgot to call Unnie", you replied meekly, "I'm home."

The silence in the background made Go-Eun's heart sour. "Y/N-ya does it get lonely sometimes?"

"Un", you nodded honestly.

Your father had a stroke and had landed himself in the hospital. Your mother spends most of your day with him. So they called their eldest and unmarried daughter into the town to keep an eye on the family business. You was a well-renowned architect by profession but worked under an alias as someone who valued their privacy. Y/N also worked from home a lot which gave you a lot of time to spend with your sisters, nieces and nephews. Simply put, you weren't used to being alone and now you had a big empty flat to yourself. Your mother returned after hospital visits and stayed on weekends, but for the most part, Y/N was alone.

"Why not adopt a hybrid?" Go-Eun suggested, "and if you don't want something that long term. Maybe, foster one? You work from home most days so they wouldn't be left unsupervised."

You listened intently. The idea of opening your home didn't sound bad. "What do you suggest Unnie?"

And that's how you found yourself in Seoul, a twelve-minute drive from your apartment. A friend of your cousin recently adopted a hybrid and had a recommendation. The closest shelter was E.X.O in Seoul. Y/N stood in front of the hospital like building, rocking in place. You had doubts that you could do this. You shook them off. You weren't adopting immediately, only observing. After a deep breath, you entered the building. It was clean but homely. Warm colours painted the waiting area. Glass case displayed collars, tags, leashes even accessories. The wall behind the receptionist was in line with what seemed to be medication and their certificate to show they were a legal shelter. A short male greeted you at the front desk, his eyes were distinctly feline.