I've Grown, Oppa!

That evening, in the inpatient ward, Donggeuli swished her tail as she mimicked the rumbling from her belly.

"Gurgle-gurgle-grrrowl — that's the sound from Donggeuli's tummy~. Glug-glug gluuuurgle — that's the sound from Kkotnimi Oppa's tummy."

"Gurgle gluurk, gurgle gluurk."

Kkotnimi swished his tail too, calling out as if he were singing along.

If it had been nothing but hunger, it wouldn't have been any fun — but Kkotnimi found this moment utterly delightful. The reason was simple: a delicious smell was drifting in through the crack of the ward door.

The anticipation of eating soon. Kkotnimi's tail, which had been beating at a crisp moderato at the thought of dinner, began to wag faster and faster.

Allegretto, allegro...

Whirr-rr-rr-rr.

Just as the tip of his tail launched into vivace—

The ward door flew open, and a welcome voice rang out.

"Kids, time to eat."

"Heehee, food! Food!"

"Wow, food-food-food. It's food!"

Pat-pat-pat, thump-thump-thump-thump. The two of them stamped all four paws in delight.

"You must be starving, huh? Here — this is Kkotnimi's dinner, and this is Donggeuli's."

Tap, tap. The teacher set the bowls down, and identical expressions settled over Kkotnimi's and Donggeuli's faces. Eyes blown wide and round, mouths hanging open. The expressions were the same, but the meanings were not.

"Wow!"

"Whoa~ now that's something."

Both of them were reacting to the bowl placed in front of Donggeuli, but what they meant by it was entirely different. Donggeuli was overjoyed to see her own food bowl here at the animal hospital, while Kkotnimi was startled because he had never seen a bowl like that in his life. The bowl was suspended from a long, stick-like stand.

Then Donggeuli toddled straight over, planted her front paws on the bulging rest of the bowl, stretched her back up tall, and held her head high. And just like that, her face reached the food. The whole sequence looked thoroughly, comfortably familiar.

As Kkotnimi stared at the unfamiliar sight, Meongmeong Teacher smiled.

"Kkotnimi, is it interesting?"

"Yes."

"Donggeuli still has to eat with her head up, you see. That way she doesn't throw up, so it's more comfortable for her."

"Ah..."

So that was it. He thought the little one ate in such a pitiful way.

"You're thinking she looks pitiful, having to eat standing up, aren't you?"

Kkotnimi nodded.

"But she's eating on her own. And with a little more treatment, she'll be able to eat just like you."

Hearing Meongmeong Teacher's words, Donggeuli — straining to hold her body upright, making little smacking sounds as she lapped up her food — no longer looked pitiful at all. Watching her, Kkotnimi's heart eased, and he began to eat the special meal in his own bowl.

Slurp-slurp. Smack-smack-smack.

The sounds of the two of them eating formed a harmony that thumped and clapped through the ward. Kkotnimi's tail moved with the rhythm — thump to the left, thump to the right. Donggeuli was the same. Her long, sparse tail of coarse ochre fur kept the beat as well.

Dum-dum, da-da-dum.

The two of them ate in cheerful time.

That day, and the next. But the day after that, they could not. Two days later, the two of them were discharged side by side.

"Oppa! Bye-bye."

"Yeah. Take care. Eat lots."

"Okay! Don't get hurt either, Oppa."

They waved their front paws as they parted.

Where there is a meeting, there is a parting — and where there is a parting, there will be a day of meeting again.

A week later, Kkotnimi went to Mongmong ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Animal Hospital to have his surgical progress checked. That was when a yellow ball came bouncing toward him from far off. It was Donggeuli.

"Oppa~!"

"Donggeuli!"

Donggeuli ran up, spun a full circle right where she stood, and said,

"Oppa! I've gotten bigger, right?"

She did not look like she'd grown. But Kkotnimi nodded.

"Mm-hmm. You've gotten huge."

"Heehee, I'm eating this much so I can be like Oppa."

Donggeuli spread her front paws wide.

"Yeah. You're doing great."

"Heehee."

Donggeuli beamed at the praise. Kkotnimi smiled brightly back at her.

That day the two of them went up to the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠second-floor playground and played to their hearts' content. And another week later, they met again.

This time, she really did seem a little bigger.

"Donggeuli, you've grown."

"Yeah! Oppa! The teacher said I'll be able to eat crunchy food soon too!"

"Wow! That's great."

At the news that she could finally eat kibble, Kkotnimi's long tail flapped and fluttered. Seeing that, Jageun Hoesaegi came running from far off.

"What, what? Something fun going on?"

"Donggeuli says she can eat crunchy food."

Ever since his discharge, Kkotnimi had seized every chance to tell his brothers about Donggeuli. Especially when they were out walking in the park and saw cats, he talked even more. So even though Jageun Hoesaegi and Juhongi had never met Donggeuli, they recognized her at once.

"Huh? That's Donggeuli, right? Donggeuli, that's awesome."

"Whoa, it's Donggeuli."

Juhongi, who'd come trailing after, chimed in.

"Wow! All the Oppas are so big! But you know me?"

"This guy wouldn't shut up about you. Heh heh heh."

"Shut up!"

At Juhongi's words, Kkotnimi barked, then introduced his brothers to Donggeuli.

"These guys are my brothers. Say ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠hello."

"Hello, Oppas!"

Just as it had been for Kkotnimi, it was the first time in either of their lives the two of them had been called Oppa. Their faces flushed red as they stammered.

"O-Oppa, she said..."

"O...ppa, heh heh heh, I'm an Oppa..."

"Ahem. Hey Donggeuli, I'm Juhongi."

Juhongi, the plump Welsh Corgi, greeted her with his specialty — a big, beaming smile. Then Jageun Hoesaegi, the Siberian Husky, opened his mouth.

"I'm Jageun Hoesaegi. Hey Donggeuli."

"Hehe, hi Oppa. But Oppa. Where's Big Grey Oppa?"

"Ghk!"

How did this little thing land a hit right off the bat?

Just as Jageun Hoesaegi's pupils began to tremble, Donggeuli's eyes sparkled.

"Ah, I get it. Hoesaegi Oppa is Big Grey Oppa."

"Mmh."

"But Oppa's way bigger than Hoesaegi Oppa, so why are you Little Grey Oppa?"

"Uh..."

Wh-what do I even say? Do I just tell her that's my name?

Yeah. Let's go with that.

He was about to open his mouth when Hoesaegi hyung-nim, sitting on a cat tower in the distance, entered his field of vision. Jageun Hoesaegi quietly shut his mouth.

Hoesaegi hyung-nim was scary enough — but even scarier was Sapsaree hyung-nim, sitting right below him and glaring this way. Sapsaree was scanning every corner of the playground on watch, but to Jageun Hoesaegi it felt as if those eyes were fixed on him alone.

Anyway, if he just told the truth about why he had become Jageun Hoesaegi, there wouldn't have been any problem — but he didn't want to.

Donggeuli looks up to me as Oppa. She'd be disappointed.

Jageun Hoesaegi agonized over a problem Donggeuli wouldn't have cared about in the slightest.

That was when—

"I am Hoesaegi-ong!"

Hoesaegi said it as he walked over, slow and dignified.

"It's Hoesaegi Oppa! Hehehe."

"Has Donggeuli been eating lots-nyaong? You've gotten all round-ong."

"Hihi, yeah! I ate tons and tons!"

"Well done-ong. Eat even more-ong! Get strong-ong."

"Hihi, okay. But is Hoesaegi Oppa Big Grey Oppa?"

Jageun Hoesaegi swallowed hard. The truth might come tumbling out of that mouth. For the first time in his life, he had met a little sister who adored him as a cool, big Oppa...

Please don't say it!

Jageun Hoesaegi poured all his pleading into his blue eyes as he looked at Hoesaegi.

That was the moment. He saw the corner of Hoesaegi's mouth lift.

It's over.

Jageun Hoesaegi's shoulders slumped. Sure enough, the answer came.

"That's right-ong!"

Figures. As if he'd ever listen to me. Tch. Jageun Hoesaegi pouted.

"I'm older than Little Grey-ong. That's why I'm Big Grey-ong."

The unexpected words sank into Jageun Hoesaegi's ears.

Huh? This hyung-nim...?

As Jageun Hoesaegi stared at Hoesaegi in bewilderment, Donggeuli answered in a loud voice beside him.

"Ah, I see. Hoesaegi Oppa, Little Grey Oppa! Hehe."

And then a thick voice followed.

"Heh heh heh. That's the big hyung-nim's generosity for you!"

"That's right. Our Little Grey is the young one."

His brothers looked at Jageun Hoesaegi with slick, knowing eyes and snickered. Ordinarily he would have rammed right into them for running their mouths like that and they'd have gone at it — but right now he didn't feel like it.

Whew. Hyung-nim saved my face.

Jageun Hoesaegi looked at Hoesaegi with eyes full of respect.

"Hihi, Oppas, let's go play over there!"

"Sure."

The three of them walked slowly along the park path, matching Donggeuli's toddling pace.

A few days later, the three rascals arrived at Evergreen Park.

They hadn't been since Kkotnimi got sick, so it had been nearly a month. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠The three of them were bursting with excitement. They'd been playing at the Mongmong Animal Hospital playground in the meantime, but coming out to the wide-open park playground felt wonderful.

"Wooow~"

"Heh heh heh, let's run, let's run."

"Playground! I'm here!"

The three of them poured out all the energy they'd been storing up.

Thud-thud-thud-thud.

They ran like racehorses. And as they ran, it turned into a competition before they knew it. Jageun Hoesaegi, with the longest legs, took the lead.

"I-I'm in first!"

As if laughing at that, Kkotnimi the muscle king sprinted.

"As if."

Juhongi, bouncing along on his short legs, had no intention of falling behind either. He put on a burst of speed.

"Wooooow. I-I'm in first!"

"Pathetic. Don't you dare come after my spot with those stubby legs!"

As Kkotnimi and Juhongi closed the gap, Jageun Hoesaegi poured on even more speed.

Thud-thud-thud-thud. Da-da-da-da. Wa-da-da-da.

Just as the three of them were running with everything they had — thud. Jageun Hoesaegi suddenly went down. His legs had tangled mid-sprint, and he'd fallen.

"E-eaaaaaagh~~~!"

A scream loud enough to blanket the entire park. The other two, startled at the sight of their fallen brother, barked with all their might.

Keong, woof-woof-woof-woof. Meong, bark-bark-bark-bark.

Two booming barks, and a scream that sounded as if he were about to pass out. The Rascal Trio's owner, who'd been watching the three of them play with a fond smile, jumped in shock.

"H-Hoesaegi~~~~!"

The rascals' guardian went white and came running, gasping.

"Hoesaegi, are you okay?"

When his owner touched the sore spot, Jageun Hoesaegi screamed even louder.

"Graaaagh..."

Just as the pain was about to snuff out Jageun Hoesaegi's consciousness, the Rascal Trio's owner made a call.

Shortly after, Lee Jun and Go Gi-jin came running, out of breath. Lee Jun had a medical bag in his hand; Go Gi-jin carried a large carrier.

"Aigoo, ya little rascal — that leg bone's broken, ain't it?"

"Could be a break, could just be a crack."

"T-Teacher?"

"It hurts a lot, doesn't it?"

"...I-it hurts."

"Yeah. Just hang on a little and you'll be okay."

When the teacher stroked his head and said he'd be okay, strangely, it seemed to hurt a little less. Lee Jun had only given him a painkiller — but Jageun Hoesaegi, who didn't know that, thought it hurt less because Lee Jun had petted him.

Rushed to Mongmong Animal Hospital in the carrier, Jageun Hoesaegi ended up admitted.

"Nnngh. What kind of state is this?!"

Jageun Hoesaegi groaned, staring at the cloth wrapped round and round his leg. Then a voice came from beside him.

"Nnngh, where are you hurt?"

Jageun Hoesaegi's ears pricked up from where he lay groaning. Then he lifted his head. Across from him, a long-eared fellow was groaning and looking right at him.

"Who are you?"

"I'm Mungchi."

The very culprit who had destroyed the little mouse plush and the fish plush — Hoesaegi's first toys from Lee Jun. Of the Beagle Cotton Ball brothers, it was Mungchi who answered.

"I'm Jageun Hoesaegi."

"Is there a Big Grey too?"

"Th-that's right. Hoesaegi hyung-nim is the big hyung-nim, and I'm Jageun Hoesaegi."

Recalling how Hoesaegi had said they were big and little according to age, Jageun Hoesaegi spoke with pride.

"Hoesaegi, ahh, that cat? He's your hyung?"

To talk about the Hoesaegi hyung-nim he respected like that—

Twitch. A vein suddenly popped on Jageun Hoesaegi's forehead.

"Wh-what did you say?"

Jageun Hoesaegi shot to his feet, putting weight on the cast without thinking.

That instant.

"Gyaaaaah!"

A groan spilled from Jageun Hoesaegi's mouth. Mungchi's eyes went wide.

"D-did they stick a pointy thing in your leg like me?"

"Huff, huff — they didn't stick anything in, though?"

Jageun Hoesaegi, barely recovering, answered. Then came the reply:

"What, so it doesn't even hurt that much. They stuck something this big in my leg."

Mungchi snorted.