Leash, Lease, and Love | Hamgeung / Neukkam Plave BxB Drabble 함긍

Leash, Lease, and Love

Eunho strolled through the bustling college town, his eyes scanning the apartment ads plastered on every lamp post and community board. His breath formed little clouds in the crisp autumn air as he clutched a worn flyer with the words "Roommate Wanted" scribbled on it. Above the cobblestone sidewalks, the leaves scattered in a fiery array of reds and oranges. It was a scene that would have been picturesque if not for the persistent weight of his search. He needed a place to call home, not just for himself, but for his loyal companion, Silver. The fluffy samoyed puppy trotted by his side, his silver fur gleaming in the soft sunlight, tail wagging in a rhythm as their footsteps marched through the sidewalk.

Eunho knew that finding a roommate who could appreciate and coexist with Silver was no easy task. The samoyed's boundless energy often clashed with the typical college student's need for quiet and order. Yet, the climbing cost of living alone was becoming a burden, and the search for a suitable roommate had become an urgent necessity. He posted an ad on the college bulletin board and various online platforms, detailing his need for someone who was respectful, reliable, and most importantly, a pet lover.

Days turned into weeks, and the replies trickled in, but none of them seemed quite right. That was until Yejun, a good friend with a knack for reading people, spoke up one day as they strolled through the quad. "I know someone," Yejun said with a knowing smile. "His name is Hamin. He's got a black cat named Bbushu, and he's just as crazy about him as you are about Silver."

Eunho's heart fluttered at the mention of a potential roommate who could understand the love for a four-legged companion. Yet, the thought of introducing Silver to a cat was concerning. The fear of their pets fighting loomed. What if Silver's boundless energy overwhelmed the more refined and collected Bbushu? Or what if Bbushu's sharp claws became a menace to the gentle samoyed? But in his eyes, Yejun is a very trustworthy person, and the promise of shared pet stories was too tempting to ignore.

Reluctantly, Eunho agreed to meet Hamin at a quaint coffee shop nestled between two university buildings. The scent of freshly brewed coffee filled the air, and the warm light spilled out onto the sidewalk, inviting passersby to escape the chill of the fall evening. Hamin emerged from across the street. His black cat, Bbushu, being held lovingly in his arms. The cat's emerald eyes surveyed the world with a lazy disinterest that only the feline species could master. Hamin's own gaze was fixed on the same flyer that Eunho held, a twinge of desperation in his heart. The small studio apartment he had shared with Bbushu since the start of the semester was feeling more and more like a cage with each passing day. The rent was too high, the walls too thin, and the loneliness too palpable. He yearned for companionship, for someone who would understand the joy of coming home to a furry face and a warm purr.

They exchanged small talks, their voices mingling with the murmur of the coffee shop's bustling hour. Eunho found himself drawn to Hamin's calming presence and gentle aura, the way his eyes lit up when he spoke about Bbushu. Despite his fears, he felt a glimmer of hope that maybe, just maybe, this could work. But as the conversation grew more serious, the question of how their pets would get along remained unspoken, a silent tension that grew heavier with every sip of their lattes.

—

The day of the big move-in arrived, and with it, the moment of truth. As they stepped into the apartment, Silver and Bbushu locked eyes for the first time. In a flash, the samoyed bolted towards the cat, tail wagging like a metronome set to a symphony of pure excitement. Bbushu, rather than retreating, arched his back playfully, his emerald eyes gleaming with curiosity. The two circled each other, a dance of sniffs and playful nips that soon evolved into a tumble of fur and laughter.

Eunho and Hamin watched in amazement as Silver and Bbushu became inseparable, chasing each other through the apartment's corridors, their laughter echoing off the walls. The samoyed's exuberance was met with the black cat's clever agility, as they played tag around the furniture and rolled in the sunlit patches of the living room floor. In the quiet moments, the two would cuddle together, Silver's fluffy white fur contrasting with Bbushu's sleek black coat, a visual representation of the unexpected friendship that had blossomed.