Chasing Perfection || Lee Know

The Purrfect Accident

It started out as just another walk.

A crisp night, soft city lights glowing around them, and the usual dose of shameless gossip. Hyejin had both hands tucked in the pockets of her coat, but that didn't stop Minho from nudging her elbow every few minutes, just because.

"I'm telling you," Hyejin huffed, linking arms with him. "That was the worst text reply I've ever seen."

"Worse than 'k' with a period?" Minho raised a brow.

"Minho, she just texted back 'k' No punctuation, no emoji, just 'k'"

Minho let out an exaggerated gasp. "That's not even a reply. That's a verdict."

"Exactly!"

"That's 'I have judged you, and you have failed.'"

"That's 'you should start packing your things and disappear.'"

They both cracked up, their laughter blending with the quiet hum of the street.

"Poor guy," Minho sighed, shaking his head. "He's already in denial, huh?"

"Oh, he went full delusion mode. He texted her again—"

"Hyejin, no."

"Minho, yes."

"What did he say?"

"'Are you mad?'"

Minho stopped walking. "Oh, that's tragic."

"Right?"

"She left him on read, didn't she?"

"For three hours now."

Minho dragged a hand down his face. "Man's a goner."

"Natural selection at work," Hyejin grinned.

Minho snorted, nudging her shoulder playfully. They were still laughing when he suddenly stopped short.

"What—" Hyejin barely got the word out before she followed his gaze.

And then she saw them.

She followed his gaze and stopped short, her breath catching in her throat as she saw three tiny kittens huddled together, shivering in the cold. Curled up near the steps of a closed shop, three kittens huddled together. They were so small. So still. For a split second, Hyejin thought they were sleeping—until she noticed how their tiny bodies trembled against the cold, one of them—a grey tabby—looking up at them with wide, innocent eyes. The other two were orange and white, one with a white nose and the other with an orange nose. They looked helpless, cold, and utterly vulnerable. Hyejin's heart clenched at the sight.

Minho had already crouched down. "Hey, little guys..."

His voice was so soft. The kind of gentle she had only ever seen when he thought no one was looking. Hyejin's chest ached. The rational part of her brain told her they couldn't just take in stray cats. They had no experience. No supplies.

She had already decided to say no.

And then—

The smallest one, a grey tabby, lifted his head ever so slightly and looked right at her. His sleepy, confused eyes met hers. Her throat closed up.

He wasn't moving much. Just watching them with wide, tired eyes. He looked so small. So lost. The thought of them being out here—cold, scared, hungry—made her eyes sting. They must've been waiting for someone to find them, to save them.

Minho glanced up at her. "Well?"

Her hands were already reaching out before she could even think. The grey tabby barely resisted as she scooped him up, his tiny body pressing into her warmth. She felt him sigh. A soft, exhausted little breath against her chest. Her heart broke.