Cat Mania

6. First Impressions are Everything

'What's with the noise again...?' Cale thought, as he slowly opened his eyes.

There was quite the commotion downstairs. Sounded like a rowdy kid and a worried adult. It wasn't Jiwoo, nor Kayden, Jiwoo wasn't like that, he's a quiet and kind kid, and Kayden was tamed for now.

Cale got up from the bed. No one was in the room, must've left to deal with the guests. Cale walked downstairs, "what's happening here?"

The ruckus stopped, everyone in the room turned to look at Cale.

There was a kid with dyed white hair and a neat-looking adult with slicked-back black hair. That mature man wouldn't possibly be the one causing the drama, so it must've been that rebellious-looking boy.

Cale frowned, grumpy teenager was the worst to take care of.

"A.. beautiful cat...?" The adult said suddenly. He didn't seem shocked.. more like happy, his eyes lit up and his cheeks turned pink.
(A/N: also not a ship, they're just captivated by Cale's beauty)

"Huh?"

The room was silent after his remark.

'What's with everyone?' Cale wondered.

Jiwoo panicked, 'I forgot about him!'

It wasn't that Cale was still naked, nor was it because he shouldn't be there, but because.. the reversal of his cat transformation was wearing down.. and some cat-like features showed...

Cale raised an eyebrow, 'what's with them?' He was unaware of what was happening.

'Huh? I thought the effects were perfectly performed, why is it being undone?... Unless someone is interfering...' Kayden frowned. 'Wait- no, why do I care!? That's right—it's because I was the one who showed him how to do it. Of course I would never actually care about him!'

"What is it?" Cale spoke, breaking the silence, the uncomfortable atmosphere was starting to get to him.

"Are you perhaps an awakener with cat abilities?" The adult asked, his eyes sparkled with anticipation.

'What...?' Cale was confused.

Jiwoo quickly intercepted between their conversation, "uhh, no! It's just accessories!" He made up. His acting was terrible, anyone could tell how nervous he was.

"Oh..."

Cale didn't bother asking what happened. He turned his gaze towards the kid with white hair, 'why's he so quiet now?'

"Cale.." Jiwoo whispered to him.

"What is it?"

"Can we talk somewhere else?" Jiwoo asked shyly.

"Sure?"

Jiwoo gently pushed Cale away to another room, "mr. Inhyuk, we'll be back after talking for a bit." Jiwoo sweated as he apologized.

"No problem, I also have to talk to Jisuk." Inhyuk smiled at him.

'So their names are Inhyuk and Jisuk.'

"What?! What have I done!"

"You did everything wrong!"

There bickering voices could still be heard despite being in different rooms.

"Cale..." Jiwoo tried to initiate a conversation, "I don't think the ability worked..."

"What do you mean?" Cale asked, confused.

Jiwoo became more nervous and anxious, "you might feel like a human right now but for some reason you have cat ears and a tail!"

Cale's eyes widened, "what?!" His tail sticked up from shock. 'That brat! He did a half-assed job! He said I would remain human if I didn't reverse the power again!' Cale started cursing Kayden. 'What should I do?! Those two strangers already saw me like this!' Cale regretted his decision to listen to Kayden.

"Why don't you stay here for a bit." Jiwoo offered. "I'll tell you when they're gone."

'He's really a kind kid...' Cale thought as his lips turned into a small smile, "thank you."

Jiwoo looked up at him, 'huh, he's smiling?' Just seeing Cale smile made him smile as well. "You're welcome!"