black cat | woosan ✔

15

The late afternoon sun hung low in the sky, casting long shadows across the park. A cool breeze swept through the air, scattering dried leaves across the grass. San wandered along the familiar path, shoving his hands deep into the pockets of his leather jacket. His breath fogged with every exhale, mingling with the autumn chill.

He wasn't entirely sure why he came here—again. But when he spotted the small black cat lounging on the same bench, like it had been waiting just for him, he sighed in resignation.

"There you are," San muttered, crouching down beside the bench. The cat's eyes flicked up to meet his, slow and unbothered. "Living your best life, huh? Must be nice."

The cat gave a soft purr as San reached out, scratching gently under its chin.

San sat down fully on the grass, resting his elbows on his knees. For a moment, he said nothing, just listening to the rustling leaves and feeling the rhythmic purr under his fingers. Then, with a glance toward the cat, he spoke.

"So, I guess you've met Wooyoung, huh?" San said, his voice low and dry. "Bet he talked your ears off already."

The cat blinked, the same lazy, indifferent blink it always gave.

San leaned back, pressing his palms into the cool ground. "That motherfucker...Where do I even start? He's everywhere I go. Every time I think I'll get a break, there he is, acting like the world's most annoying stupidly beautiful bitch he is."

The cat gave a small meow, and San scoffed. "Exactly. You get it."

He ruffled the cat's fur absentmindedly, watching as the sun dipped lower behind the tree line. "I don't know what it is about him. One minute, I'm ready to punch him, and the next...I catch myself wondering if maybe—just maybe—he's not the worst person alive."

The cat flicked its tail, brushing it against San's hand.

"Do not look at me like that," San grumbled. "I know I sound like a mess. But seriously, have you seen him? He's all over the place—talks too much, smiles too much, and he acts like he's everyone's best friend. It drives me crazy."

He exhaled sharply, running a hand through his dark hair. "But then...I catch him doing these weirdly nice things. Like picking up trash on the sidewalk, or holding the door open for strangers without thinking about it. And it pisses me off even more, because I can't tell if he's genuinely nice or just annoying on purpose."

The cat shifted slightly, curling up tighter as if it were listening intently.

"And the worst part?" San continued, his voice softening. "He's not even bad-looking. He's undeniably so pretty. I mean, his hair? The way his blonde bangs sometimes fall into his eyes? It's irritating how good it looks on him."

San let out a frustrated groan, tilting his head back to stare at the sky. "I swear, every time I think I've got him figured out, he does something that makes me second-guess everything."

He glanced down at the cat again. "Do you think he knows how much he gets under my skin? Or is he just...like that?"

The cat purred softly in response, as if sharing in his confusion.

San chuckled, a rare sound that surprised even himself. "You're probably the only one I'd ever say this to, but...maybe he's not that bad. Maybe."

The cat's golden eyes sparkled in the fading light, and for a moment, San thought it almost looked smug.

"Yeah, yeah," he muttered, giving the cat a gentle pat. "Don't get used to it. This conversation never happened."

He stood up, brushing the dirt off his pants. "Guess I'll see you around, little troublemaker."

The cat gave a small meow as San turned to leave, his hands back in his pockets. As he walked down the path, the sound of rustling leaves followed him, mingling with the quiet hum of his thoughts.

Maybe, just maybe, dealing with Wooyoung wouldn't be as unbearable as he'd thought.