EVERYBODY LOVES SUNOO! 🦊

Sunoo is a cat person! (￢ω￢。)

Sunoo had always been a self-proclaimed cat person. There was something about their quiet elegance, their soft purring, and their independent demeanor that resonated with him. Cats were like tiny royalty, demanding attention on their terms and offering affection sparingly but meaningfully. Dogs, on the other hand, were an entirely different story—and not a pleasant one.

It wasn't that Sunoo hated dogs outright. He respected them from a distance and could even appreciate their cuteness in theory. But the thought of being near one made his skin crawl, a feeling rooted in both a childhood experience and a general disinterest that had only grown stronger over time.

When Sunoo was seven, he'd been playing in his grandparents' yard during a summer family gathering. The sun was warm, and he was engrossed in a makeshift adventure with his toy sword and shield. Their neighbor's dog, a large, excitable golden retriever, had squeezed through the fence and bounded into the yard.

At first, Sunoo froze, unsure of what to do. The dog, with its wagging tail and big, goofy grin, charged at him full speed. To everyone else, it might have seemed like harmless playfulness, but to little Sunoo, it was a terrifying ambush.

Before he could react, the dog leapt up, its paws hitting his chest, and its mouth nipping at his arm in what was likely an attempt to grab the toy sword. Sunoo let out a scream as he fell backward onto the grass, the dog's teeth grazing his skin. Though the bite wasn't deep, the sharp sting and the overwhelming fear etched themselves into his memory.

His parents had rushed to his aid, scolding the dog's owner and assuring Sunoo that everything was fine. But it wasn't fine. From that moment on, the sight of a dog barreling toward him sent his heart racing, his palms sweaty with dread.

Even as he grew older and the fear dulled into a more manageable aversion, Sunoo couldn't bring himself to warm up to dogs. Their boundless energy, their loud barks, their insistence on licking everything—it was all too much for him.

Cats, on the other hand, were everything dogs were not. They didn't demand your attention 24/7. They didn't jump on you with muddy paws or slobber on your clothes. Cats had boundaries, and Sunoo liked that.

Whenever the topic came up in interviews or casual conversations with the members, Sunoo would smile and say, "I'm more of a cat person," leaving it at that. But within ENHYPEN's dorm, his aversion to dogs was well-known.

The first time Jake brought Layla over for a visit, Sunoo had been less than thrilled.

Isn't she cute?" Jake cooed, holding up his Australian Shepherd like a proud parent.

Sunoo, who had been peacefully curled up on the couch with a book, stiffened immediately. Layla wagged her tail enthusiastically, clearly interested in the new human in the room.

"Uh... yeah, cute," Sunoo said, inching away as Jake set Layla down.

"She won't bite," Jake assured him, noticing the way Sunoo's shoulders tensed.

"I'm sure she won't," Sunoo replied, standing up and moving to the other side of the room.

Layla trotted toward him, her tongue lolling out happily. Sunoo's eyes widened as he sidestepped her approach, putting the couch between them.

Jake frowned, confused. "Sunoo Yaa, she just wants to say hi!"

"Yeah, well, I don't," Sunoo muttered under his breath, earning a laugh from Ni-ki, who had been watching the interaction with amusement.

"He's serious," Ni-ki said to Jake, grinning. "Sunoo-hyung doesn't do dogs."

"Why not?" Jake asked, genuinely curious.

Sunoo hesitated, feeling a bit self-conscious under Jake's questioning gaze. "I just... I've never liked them," he said finally. "They're loud, they jump on you, and they don't understand personal space."

"Sounds like Ni-ki," Jungwon quipped from the kitchen, making everyone laugh except Ni-ki, who pouted in protest.

"And," Sunoo added, lowering his voice, "one bit me when I was a kid."

Jake's face softened. "Oh, I didn't know that. I'm sorry. I'll keep Layla away from you."

"It's fine," Sunoo said quickly, not wanting to make Jake feel bad. "Just... maybe don't let her jump on me."

Jake nodded, but it was clear he was determined to change Sunoo's mind. Over the next few weeks, he tried everything—from showing Sunoo videos of Layla performing tricks to casually bringing her over during group hangouts.

One evening, Jake caught Sunoo absentmindedly petting Layla while watching a movie.

"You're warming up to her," Jake teased, a triumphant smile on his face.

Sunoo immediately pulled his hand back, as if he'd been caught doing something scandalous. "I wasn't! She just... sat next to me, and I didn't want to be rude."

"Sure..." Jake said, winking.

Despite his protests, Sunoo found himself softening ever so slightly. Layla, with her calm demeanor and obvious love for Jake, wasn't so bad. But deep down, he knew he would always be a cat person at heart.

After all, cats didn't require you to overcome childhood trauma to enjoy their company.