The Magnificent Lion
Hoesaegi was not the sort of cat to back down from a fight.
Even if he had been running away!
The fleeing Hoesaegi spun around. The instant he saw Kkamnyangi's front paw sailing toward his face, he grinned and sprang into the air.
Whoosh. He slipped past the incoming swipe with effortless ease and, without breaking stride, stretched out a hind leg in one unbroken motion. His body flowed like water.
In a flash, Hoesaegi's hind paw connected with Kkamnyangi's forehead.
Thonk!
Struck by a paw-fist right between the eyes, Kkamnyangi toppled over backward.
Flump!
Sprawled on the ground, Kkamnyangi's eyes blazed.
"Hmph. Not bad."
Still, the thought of losing never crossed his mind. He sprang up without a moment's delay and launched a second attack.
"Graaah!"
Kkamnyangi leaped straight at him. This time he unleashed his specialty — a barrage of consecutive blows. The He's Gotta Land at Least One combo.
"Yah! Yah! Yah-yah-yah!"
But the nimble Hoesaegi weaved around those small, snow-white cotton-puff fists as if it were nothing. And that wasn't all — Hoesaegi's own fluffy paw-fists bonked Kkamnyangi on the forehead twice over.
Bonk, once. Bonk, twice.
Then Hoesaegi's body whirled through the air in a full spin, his long fur billowing like a wave. And then — smack! That lush, magnificent tail whipped across Kkamnyangi's face.
Reeling from three hits in a row, Kkamnyangi's whole body wobbled. Certain of his victory, Hoesaegi beamed.
"Kkamnyangi-ong! You can't beat me-ong!"
Getting smacked in the face with a tail was infuriating enough — and now this? Rage flared up inside him, and his wobbling body snapped ramrod-straight in an instant. His eyes flashed.
Kkamnyangi threw every ounce of his strength into grabbing whatever was right in front of him.
It was Hoesaegi's front paw.
"Yeah, right! Why couldn't I beat you?!"
Kkamnyangi glared at him with blazing eyes.
"L-let go-ong!"
Hoesaegi strained with all his might to yank his paw free, but it was no use. Consumed by fury, Kkamnyangi's grip was simply too strong.
Suddenly trapped, Hoesaegi shrieked in terror — because Kkamnyangi's eyes were right in front of his face. Those terrifying eyes, caked thick with yellow gunk!
"Gyaaaong! Gyaaang!"
Don't let it touch me! Hoesaegi threw his head back as far as it would go and screamed.
"Hyaaack!"
Startled by the shriek, Sapsaree bellowed at the top of his lungs.
"Hyungnims-ayo! The hyungnims are fighting-dayo! Benefactor Hyungnim-ayo! Strong Hyungnim-ayo!"
Sapsaree barked with everything he had as he barreled toward the cats. But Hoesaegi, already off-balance from trying to dodge those eyes, was in the middle of toppling over backward.
"Uh, uhhhhh!"
Kkamnyangi was just as startled.
"Uh, uhhh, we're falling-ong!"
Hoesaegi's eyes blew wide as saucers as he cried out. Sapsaree shouted at the same time.
"Uh? Uhhh, hyungnims-ayo!"
Sapsaree dropped into a crouch as fast as he could to catch the falling Hoesaegi, but the cats were toppling faster than he could get there. In another moment, Hoesaegi would smash his head against the ground.
That was when a figure came pounding toward the three of them.
"Kids!"
Hyungnim was running toward them. But he was still far too far away to catch him.
Sapsaree couldn't catch us either-ong.
Hoesaegi squeezed his eyes shut, resigning himself to the worst.
But his head never hit the ground.
Soft!
"Huh? It doesn't hurt-ong!"
It should have hurt. Why didn't it? Hoesaegi blinked — then broke into a wide grin. A familiar, deeply beloved scent had washed over him.
"It's Hyungnim-ong!"
Lee Jun's hand was cradling the back of Hoesaegi's head. Catching the falling cat in his arms, he said,
"Kkamnyang! You can't play dangerous games like that! Hoesaegi almost got hurt."
The words had burst out louder than he'd meant, born of sheer alarm — and they sounded almost like a scolding. In that instant, Kkamnyangi burst into tears.
"Bwaaaaaah!"
Hoesaegi, Sapsaree, and Lee Jun — and even Go Gi-jin, who had just jammed his shoes on and come running — all wore identical looks of bewilderment. None of them had ever heard Kkamnyangi wail so heartbrokenly.
Flustered, Lee Jun stammered.
"K-Kkamnyangi. What's wrong?"
But once the tears had started, Kkamnyangi only cried harder, pounding the ground with his snow-white front paws.
"Waaaaaah!"
That was when Go Gi-jin stepped in, scooping Kkamnyangi up and soothing him.
"Eotta, why's our handsome, dashing Kkamnyangi cryin' so pitifully, huh? What's the matter? Did those rascals hit you?"
Technically, Hoesaegi had been the one doing the hitting. But Kkamnyangi was overjoyed, as if he'd found an ally in enemy-occupied territory — and a sturdy ally who would rescue him, no less. Nestled deep in Go Gi-jin's arms, he stammered out the words between hiccups.
"Hic... Hoe... Hoesaegi hit me."
"Hoesaegi hit you?"
Lee Jun looked at Hoesaegi, who flinched. But he had to say his piece.
"Kkamnyangi threw a ball at me-ong."
"He did?"
This time Lee Jun looked at Kkamnyangi. A silent Is that true?
"......Hoesaegi and Sapsaree ran away, so I just used my paw... bwaaah!"
The more he talked, the more the sorrow welled up, and Kkamnyangi wailed.
"Th-they won't play with me!"
"They won't play with you?"
Lee Jun looked at Hoesaegi and Sapsaree. Hoesaegi's face crumpled as he mumbled,
"The itchy eyes are scary-ong."
"I-I don't like the itchy stuff either-dayo. But I like Kkamnyangi Hyungnim-dayo."
"I-I like Kkamnyangi too-ong."
They didn't like the itchiness — they liked Kkamnyangi just fine. Lee Jun let out a small sigh and looked at Go Gi-jin.
"Gi-jin, didn't you tell them the eye infection isn't contagious?"
"I thought Hyungnim told 'em?"
"I thought you did."
"I figured Hyungnim already had, y'know?"
Oh no. Wearing an awkward expression, Lee Jun turned to the two of them.
"Kids. Kkamnyangi's eye infection isn't contagious."
"That's right. It don't spread none."
First Hyungnim, then Strong Hyungnim — both said it was fine. But Hoesaegi, a naturally suspicious cat, blinked. Then he answered.
"Hyungnim-ong. The story's different-ong. At Mongmong Hospital you said it was contagious-ong. But now you say it's fine-ong."
"That's right-dayo. I heard it too-dayo."
In other words, they couldn't trust what was being said now. Lee Jun gave a wry smile.
"That's because I wanted you to be careful around kids with eye infections."
"Is that so-ong?"
Hoesaegi blinked as he asked again.
"That's right."
"Hyungnim-ong. Then tell us Kkamnyangi's eye infection isn't contagious, but to be careful of other eye infections-ong."
"That's right-dayo. We thought Kkamnyangi Hyungnim's eye infection would get in our eyes-dayo."
Lee Jun grew sheepish.
"Got it. I'll be more precise from now on. In exchange, you still need to be careful around kids with eye infections."
"Understood-ong."
"Understood-dayo."
"And if you see any kids who are sick, make sure you tell me."
Having received their agreement, Lee Jun turned his gaze to Kkamnyangi. Cradled in Go Gi-jin's arms, Kkamnyangi was staring at the ground with wounded eyes.
Lee Jun followed his gaze downward. The ground was covered in lush green grass. Phew. Thank goodness. Catching Hoesaegi had been the right call. And even if he hadn't caught him — even if Hoesaegi had fallen backward — he wouldn't have been hurt too badly. The ground was soft earth, with grass on top of it besides.
If they'd been horsing around like this on hard cement or tile instead of grass... ugh, that could have been a disaster.
Looking at Kkamnyangi's face, he didn't particularly want to bring this up — but this was the kind of thing you had to address on the spot. They're smart kids. If I point it out just once, they'll be more careful when they play from now on. Thinking that, Lee Jun opened his mouth.
"Kkamnyangi, I know you're hurt, but you can't play like that. What if Hoesaegi had gotten injured?"
After pointing this out to Kkamnyangi, Lee Jun turned his head, intending to give Hoesaegi and Sapsaree the same lecture.
That was when Kkamnyangi sprang down from Go Gi-jin's arms. Then, with a "hmph," he turned his back and walked toward the building.
"Hoesaegi and Sapsaree wouldn't play with me... Hoesaegi kept hitting me, and I'm the only one getting scolded..."
The more he spoke, the more the sorrow seemed to well up; Kkamnyangi's voice grew teary again.
"I-I just wanted to play together... I even ate alone... and slept alone..."
He'd thought it would be wonderful to have all the teachers' love to himself. So when he'd slept alone with Hyungnim at night, he'd felt wonderful. But when he woke up in the morning to find nobody there, Kkamnyangi had felt so terribly lonely.
"Nngh... it reminded me of before, when I used to hide all alone... hic! Back then... waaaaah!"
When Kkamnyangi flopped onto the ground and wailed, Hoesaegi and Sapsaree startled and rushed over. Then they threw their paws around the sobbing cat.
"Kkamnyangi-ong! I'm sorry-ong!"
"Kkamnyangi Hyungnim-ayo. I was wrong-dayo. Don't cry-rayo!"
"Nngh-hic... hic!"
Comforted by the two of them, Kkamnyangi only cried more heartbrokenly. Watching this, Lee Jun scratched his head.
"Somehow I feel like I'm the one who did something wrong?"
"No-ong. I'm the one who was wrong-ong. Kkamnyangi-ong, let's always stay together from now on-ong."
"I was wrong too-dayo. I should've stayed by Kkamnyangi Hyungnim's side-dayo. I should've put up with the eye pain-dayo."
"Sapsaree's right-ong. Itchy eyes are way better than not having Kkamnyangi-ong."
At their apologies, Kkamnyangi slowly shook his head. A smile already on his face, he spoke slowly.
"Hic... No. You two can't get sick."
Then he spread his front paws and hugged Hoesaegi and Sapsaree. Sapsaree was so big that it was more a matter of vaguely placing his paws somewhere in the vicinity — but even that was enough. Sapsaree seemed to feel Kkamnyangi's affection, and he grinned.
"Hehe, this is nice-dayo. I like being together with Kkamnyangi Hyungnim and Hoesaegi Hyungnim-dayo."
"Me too-ong."
"I like being with you two, too."
The three of them looked at one another with equally bright faces. Lee Jun smiled warmly at the sight.
"You rascals!"
"Eotta. Look at the three of 'em smilin' like that — how wonderful is that? Ain't it just?"
Go Gi-jin laughed as he scooped all three of them into a hug. Still smiling in his arms, Hoesaegi asked Lee Jun,
"Hyungnim-ong, when will Kkamnyangi's eyes get clean-ong?"
"I-I'm not itchy. It doesn't hurt!"
Kkamnyangi insisted he wasn't in any pain.
"Is that so-ong? Then why is this still like this-ong?"
Hoesaegi pointed at the gunk stuck around Kkamnyangi's eyes.
"Ah, that? It's because it hasn't fully healed yet. It'll go away."
"Will it be gone after one night's sleep-ong?"
This whole situation had started because he hadn't told them the truth from the beginning. So Lee Jun answered honestly.
"That's probably not going to happen."
That was when Kkamnyangi spoke to the two of them, in a voice drained of all strength.
"......You two, have a good trip. Tell Lady Nana that I'm doing well."
"A greeting for Lady Nana? Kkamnyangi, you don't want to go to the therapy volunteer session tomorrow?"
"I want to go. But I can't."
"Why?"
"......Lady Nana will hate it."
Mm-hmm. Beside him, Hoesaegi and Sapsaree nodded as well.
"We can't show Lady Nana a look like this!"
"It's okay. It's because you're sick. Lady Nana will understand."
Lee Jun's consolation didn't land. Kkamnyangi only picked at his breakfast, and even after they arrived at Mongmong Animal Hospital, he remained listless.
Seeing him like this, Jang Sora spoke with concern.
"Director, Kkamnyangi seems really sick. He looks even more drained than yesterday."
"Ah, it's not that — he's like this because he says he can't go to the therapy volunteer session tomorrow."
"Why? Is the session canceled?"
"No. He says he's too embarrassed to go with his eyes looking like that."
After answering Jang Sora, Lee Jun spoke to Kkamnyangi.
"Kkamnyangi. I'll put an eye patch on you. Then you'll look all clean."
At the word clean, Kkamnyangi's head whipped around toward Lee Jun.
"What's an eye patch?"
"It's what we put on you before, when your eyes hurt."
"Ah! I remember-ong. Kkamnyangi's eyes couldn't see-ong."
At Hoesaegi's words, Kkamnyangi's tail drooped even lower.
"If she can't see my big, clear eyes, Lady Nana will be disappointed."
She'd feel the same looking at those messy eyes of yours right now-ong. Hoesaegi couldn't quite bring himself to say it.
That was when Jang Sora spoke with complete confidence.
"Kkamnyangi, don't you worry. Unnie's going to make you look magnificent. Just trust your unnie, okay?"
Kkamnyangi just blinked, not understanding what she meant.
And that night, Golmokjib was filled with nothing but the sound of Kkamnyangi's sighing until dawn.
The next morning, Jang Sora said to Lee Jun,
"Director, please put the eye patch on Kkamnyangi."
"Let's do that."
Kkamnyangi was carried into the exam room in Lee Jun's arms. Lee Jun gently cleaned the gunk-caked area around his eyes and dropped in a single drop of medicine.
"Our Kkamnyangi's being so brave."
After offering that bit of praise, Lee Jun affixed a white gauze eye patch.
"Kkamnyangi, I know it's stuffy, but hang in there."
After saying that, Jang Sora placed a lion's-mane hat on Kkamnyangi's head. That alone was enough to turn him into an incredibly cute lion-Kkamnyangi. But that wasn't the end of it. Jang Sora added a piece of glittering fabric to one side of the mane hat — precisely over the spot that would cover the gauze eye patch.
A moment later, Hoesaegi's and Sapsaree's eyes went round as saucers.
Kkamnyangi was walking toward them, his fluffy lion's mane billowing, his bearing magnificent and proud.
"H-he's so cool-ong!"
"Th-that's amazing-dayo!"
As the two of them gazed at him with sparkling eyes, Kkamnyangi preened.
"Ahahaha, how do I look?"
As if he'd never been downcast at all, Kkamnyangi grinned from ear to ear.