Cat Mania

14. The Union's Lee Subin

"You can fight later. I'll ask the president for access to the facility. Right now, I'm looking for Jiwoo." Inhyuk excused them.

Wooin's eyes widened, "did something happen?" He had suspicions when Jiwoo didn't arrive at school today, but this just confirmed it.

Inhyuk scratched the back of his neck, "I went to visit his home but he hadn't come back from school, so I was worried something happened."

"He didn't go to school today." Wooin corrected.

"What?" Inhyuk stopped.

"Who is this "Jiwoo"?" Seongha asked.

"He's a newly awakened that Shinhwa found."

Wooin didn't seem surprised at the mention of Jiwoo being an awakener, he already knew when they accidentally encountered with each other. It was during the second time they met, when Dr. Delein attacked him...

"That kid's probably just causing trouble again." Jisuk didn't seem to care.

'Says someone.' Cale thought.

"Why are those cats here?" Jisuk rudely pointed at them.

"Hey!" Inhyuk yelled at him, "how can you do that to those precious beings!" He defended the cats, not like they needed any protection.

Jisuk gritted his teeth, "you and your cat obsessed ass!"

Inhyuk gasped, offended. "These two cats came out to look for their owner in worry!"

Inhyuk's words weren't exactly true, nor were they false.

"Anyways, I better hurry and find Jiwoo." Inhyuk picked the cats up, "I'll see you later. I'll message you the spar date."

"Hey!" Jisuk called out. "Let me come along." His face was a bit pink, from embarrassment.

"Huh?" Inhyuk's face displayed utter disbelief.

"It's not that I care for that kid! I'm just worried he'll get into trouble with another awakener!" Jisuk argued.

'That's the same thing.' Everyone thought.

"Let me come along." Wooin stepped in.

"Oh, right." Jisuk suddenly remembered, "didn't you come here to ask me about Jiwoo?"

Wooin nodded.

"Why?"

"He's my friend..."

'Friend?' Everyone thought in unison again. 'An awakener friends with another awakener?'

"Alright, let's go." Inhyuk spent no time on the details.

"I'm coming too." Seongha joined in.

They walked near the entrance of the high school Jiwoo and Jisuk attended, but he wasn't at the school. Then they wandered around the streets.

"Jiwoo." Wooin called out.

"Huh? You found him?" Jisuk looked over him, then paused.

Inhyuk followed behind, "Jiwoo! Where have you been? I've been worried!" He ran towards Jiwoo, holding his hands tightly as he whined. "The cats were so worried for you!"

Jiwoo blinked cluelessly, "I was getting food for the cats.. when I encountered someone."

"Who?!" Inhyuk shouted as he turned to look for them. His eyes met with a girl's stunned gaze. "Subin?"

"Hello." She answered back.

"What are you doing here, Lee Subin?!" Jisuk shouted angrily.

'Do they know each other?' Cale and Jiwoo thought.

But Jiwoo was the one to ask, "do you two know each other?"

"No!"

"Of course not!"

The two shouted at the same time.

"Why would I know this moron?" Subin tsked.

Jisuk grinded his teeth against each other, "back at you!"

"Subin." Seongha spoke.

Subin stopped playing with Jisuk, turning towards Seongha, "what is it now?"

"What are you doing here?" Seongha asked.

"What? You're acting like I shouldn't be here." Subin was like Jisuk in a way... She sighed, "don't get it twisted, I just wanted to see the person who beat that prideful jerk's ass!" She grinned.

"I did not lose to that weakling!" Jisuk corrected.

"Yeah, yeah. A draw, a loss, basically the same thing." Subin turned her ears off.

Jisuk fueled with anger.

"Anyways," Subin smiled, "I should introduce myself properly, I'm Lee Subin of the Union!" She offered her hand to Jiwoo.

Jiwoo shook her hand, "Seo Jiwoo!" He smiled back brightly.

Subin was a bit taken aback. "You should be more like Jiwoo." She teased Jisuk.

Jisuk tsked, "why should I please your sorry ass?!"