The Seat They Saved
The instant Kkamnyang-i gave up, the room filled once more with sympathy for Salgu.
Abandoned.
That single word had become a tsunami, sweeping through the room and swallowing everything in its path. Kkamnyang-i's insistence that Salgu was on a diet vanished without a trace, drowned beneath that all-consuming wave.
For a companion animal, the terror of being abandoned — of being left alone — was beyond anything the imagination could hold. And so that word, abandoned, had plunged nearly every animal friend in the room into gloom.
Whether Salgu had said it out of misunderstanding or whether it was the truth did not matter in the slightest.
Haeng-un-i and Sapsaree, who had both been abandoned once before, grew melancholy as they remembered the day they had suddenly been left alone on a mountain. Aji felt a tightness in her chest, recalling the days she had barely survived under abuse. Jamong-i had never been left on the street, but before he met the unnie who was his family now, he had been passed from place to place. Remembering those days of trembling with the fear that he might be abandoned — that he might end up alone — his expression darkened too.
The Rascal Trio did not actually know what it meant to be abandoned. Neither did Kakkong-i or Gamja. But they had often been left alone in the house without knowing why. Of course, the rascals had been three of them — but still. Each time, the dogs had thought they were being abandoned. They did not fully understand what it felt like to be left alone, but they had a vague, aching sense of it. What it felt like not being able to see the family you loved most in the world.
If I couldn't see Ma and Pa again, that'd be real sad… what'm I even supposed to do…?
Kakkong-i quietly coiled himself up beside Salgu, gently pressing his own rump against Salgu's plump backside. The reason was simple.
When I'm stuck right up against Ma and Pa, it feels good, y'know.
It was reassuring. So he hoped Salgu might feel even a little of that same comfort. It was the only thing he could do for him right now.
Salgu did not seem to mind. He stayed still — no, he actually pressed his rump even closer. Pressed against him, Kakkong-i thought,
Teacher's gonna give us food in a bit, and I'll give some to this fella. A big guy like him, if his belly's empty too, how's he supposed to get by?
The Rascal Trio, thinking along similar lines, gradually sidled over and settled in beside Salgu. They did not go so far as to smack their rumps right up against him the way Kakkong-i had, but they sat close enough that a stretched paw would reach. Haeng-un-i had tucked himself snugly into Salgu's embrace, while Aji and Gamja, who could not move because they were on IV fluids, sent Salgu looks of aching pity.
The cats were thinking something a little different from the dogs.
For those who had survived on the streets, grieving and struggling over something that had already happened was a luxury. They were not focused on the fact that Salgu had been abandoned — they were focused on the fact that he had to keep living from here on out. And the most important thing for surviving alone was strength. Building that strength was the shortest path to survival — the royal road.
Even if he can't be like the King Boss or the Black Boss, he's gotta be at least as strong as our captain if he wants to make it.
One-eye thought this as he stared at Salgu, his remaining eye gleaming. Jjaek was of the same mind.
Look at the size of that guy. Bet he can eat a ton. And to eat a lot, you gotta be strong. Like those two.
Jjaek looked at Hoesaegi and Kkamnyang-i, who radiated charisma just by sitting there, and considered how he might whip Salgu into shape. Hoesaegi regarded Salgu with a similar gaze.
Salgu is weeeak-ong, so we gotta build up his strength-ong.
A strong spirit came from a strong body, from stamina. Hoesaegi steeled his resolve to make the crybaby Salgu strong, befitting his size.
Meanwhile, Kkamnyang-i was watching the strange turn the room's atmosphere had taken with an incredulous expression.
What's with these guys now? Did they all eat something weird?
The ones pouting at Salgu, the ones staring with gleaming eyes — they had definitely all eaten something strange as a group.
Give him a little food, make him run around a lot. That's all to get that guy's weight down, isn't it? I already told them everything. Tsk. Always making such a fuss!
Kkamnyang-i narrowed his eyes and looked around at the animal friends in the room one by one, then his gaze stopped on Hoesaegi.
And what's that guy's problem?
Seeing even Hoesaegi staring at Salgu with glittering eyes, Kkamnyang-i snorted a puff of air. Then he trotted over, hopped up onto the cat tree installed in the corner of the room, and settled in.
Kkamnyang-i, who had been trying to sleep with the murmuring voices comforting Salgu as a lullaby, suddenly lifted his head. His little nose twitched, and the corners of his mouth curled up.
"F-food's coming!"
Right on cue, his stomach gurgled. When Kkamnyang-i hopped down from the cat tree and trotted toward the door, the others rose from their spots one by one, two by two. Some walked to the door like Kkamnyang-i; others stayed guarding Salgu's side. But every gaze turned in one direction.
As they all watched the door, it opened, and in walked the Meongmeong Teacher they all loved so much.
"Hey, kids, hungry? Let's eat."
The voice that followed was just as welcome. The Strong Teacher came in beaming at them.
"Aigoo, you lot must've been starvin' somethin' fierce. How hungry d'you gotta be to sit this quiet?"
"Seems that way. I figured these guys would be running around playing, but they were all collapsed. Better feed them quick."
"That's right, hyung-nim."
That's not it — we were comforting a friend.
That was what the animals in the room thought, but the savory smell tickling their noses was so intense they could not manage a reply. Their bodies, however, were fast.
Tap-tap-tap-tap.
The dogs and cats formed a round circle. Kkamnyang-i next to Hoesaegi, One-eye next to Kkamnyang-i, then Jjaek, and beside him Jamong-i took his place. Kkotnimi, Juhongi, and Jageun Hoesaegi settled in too, and so did Kakkong-i.
But there was a wide gap between Kakkong-i and Haeng-un-i.
Kakkong-i waved his stubby front paws and called to Salgu, who was looking around with a dazed expression.
"Salgu, c'mere. Come eat over here."
"Salgu, this is your spot. Come eat with us."
Kakkong-i's blunt way of speaking, Haeng-un-i's gentle, soft voice. Then more voices calling Salgu.
"Salgu-ong, let's eat-ong."
"Salgu. Let's eat and cheer up, okay?"
"Yeah, yeah, big bro Salgu. I'll share my food with you. Eat lots."
Salgu felt a warmth in the words and faces of the animal friends calling his name. Perhaps that was why the heart that had felt like the world was collapsing because Mom had abandoned him began to move. Toward his friends.
When the heart moved, the body followed.
Thud, thud, thud.
His thick paws stepped across the floor, one step, then another. Naturally, his feet went to the spot his friends had left empty for him — the space between Kakkong-i and Haeng-un-i. When Salgu filled that empty place, a perfect round circle was complete.
Lee Jun smiled gently and stroked Salgu.
"Our Salgu, you must've been nervous staying somewhere unfamiliar for the first time today, huh? But it feels nice that your friends are looking after you, right?"
Nod, nod. Thanks to his friends, a little warmth had filled the loneliness in his heart, and Salgu nodded his thick head.
"That's right. Eat well and get along with your friends."
"That's right. Since it's the day before Chuseok, Teun-teun-i's mama made y'all somethin' tasty. Eat up, now."
Soon, dinner was laid out before the animal friends. On top of their usual kibble, colorful toppings had been added — tiny, bean-sized dumplings made from boiled chicken breast, sweet potato, carrot, and kabocha squash, sprinkled generously over the food.
The animal friends called out their thanks in loud, joyful voices.
"Thank you for the meal."
"Hehe, I'm gonna eat well."
"Hyung-nim-ong, I'm gonna eat well-ong."
"Looks so good-dayo! Thank you-dayo, hyung-nim-ayo. I'll eat well-dayo, Teun-teun-i's mom-ayo!"
As everyone cried out so happily, a greeting slipped from Salgu's mouth too.
"Th-thank you for the meal."
Then the animal friends all ducked their heads at once to take a mouthful of kibble. And then the sounds that should have followed — crunch, crackle, chomp-chomp. Those sounds should have come.
Instead, there were footsteps. Pat-pat, toddle-toddle. Of course the dogs and cats were bustling about. Seeing this, Go Gi-jin's eyes went wide.
"Wh-what's with you kids? Does it not taste good?"
Go Gi-jin had expected the dogs and cats to bury their heads in their bowls the moment they saw this delicious food and eat like they were going into battle. That was what he had thought — so this strange reaction had him completely flustered. Just as his eyes were round with surprise —
Tap. Tap-tap. Tap-tap-tap.
The animal friends set down the bits of food they had carried over in their mouths onto Salgu's bowl. Some of it was kibble. Some of it was the little dumplings.
Go Gi-jin's eyes grew even wider, but then the corners of his mouth climbed all the way to his ears.
"Aigoo, hyung-nim, look at these kids. They're sharing their food 'cause Salgu's the newcomer?"
"They really are."
"Why're y'all so darn kindhearted!"
Go Gi-jin looked at the animal friends with honey-dripping eyes, and Lee Jun smiled too.
"Salgu. Feels nice, right? Looks like your friends really like you."
"That's right, Salgu. Lucky you, makin' so many friends. But kids — how's Salgu supposed to eat all this much? Right, hyung-nim?"
"Yeah, you're right."
After answering Go Gi-jin, Lee Jun spoke to the animal friends.
"Kids, thank you for taking such good care of Salgu."
Well, this much is just basic, you know.
Hearing Lee Jun's praise, the animal friends puffed up with pride.
"But Salgu can't eat this much."
"Hyung-nim, why not-ong? Salgu is hungry-ong."
"That's right-dayo! Salgu cried-dayo. He needs to eat lots-dayo."
"He cried?"
"He cried-ong. He went like this, waa-waa-ong."
Hoesaegi toddled over to a nearby wall, bonked his head against it, and made crying noises. Then Sapsaree chimed in.
"Hyung-nim-ayo. Salgu could only eat a tiny bit of food-dayo. He couldn't even have a treat-dayo."
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"His mama said skinny ones are pretty, didn't she? That's why she only gave him a tiny bit of food."
At Kakkong-i's words, Lee Jun smiled faintly.
"You think that's why she gave him less? That's not it. Salgu's back hurts, so he needs to lose a little weight. That's why he has to eat a bit less."
At Lee Jun's words, Kakkong-i asked Salgu.
"Salgu, you in pain? Didn't you say you weren't?"
"I'm not hurting, though?"
Hearing Salgu's answer, Kakkong-i asked Lee Jun.
"He says he ain't hurtin'?"
"Ah, it's not that it hurts and aches right now. It's that if he keeps gaining weight like this, it might start hurting, so we're reducing it as a precaution."
At Lee Jun's words, the expressions of the animal friends in the room turned strange. Lee Jun had told the truth, but it was far too complicated for them to understand.
A glance, sharp and instant. The animal friends locked eyes.
He said it hurts even though it doesn't. That's weird-ong.
That's right-dayo. He's hiding something-dayo.
They're gonna abandon him, I'm tellin' ya. That's why he's actin' so suspicious.
Seems that way-dayo. Let's protect Salgu-dayo.
Let's build up Salgu's strength-ong.
We've got no choice but to make Salgu strong.
Everyone became of one mind and clamped their mouths shut.
Meanwhile, Lee Jun looked at Hoesaegi and the others and smiled contentedly.
I told them why Salgu needs to diet, so they won't give him extra from now on. Still, they're really so kind.
For the first time since he had gained the ability to converse with animals, a misunderstanding had arisen in the communication between Lee Jun and his animal friends. But unaware of this fact, Lee Jun spoke kindly to Salgu, stroking his broad forehead so he would not feel left out.
"Salgu, the food you got from your friends — could you give it back to them? If you eat all of this, I think your tummy's going to be too full…"
Gulp.
Salgu swallowed as he stared at the bowl giving off that savory, mouthwatering smell. He wanted to eat it all. But if he ate all of this…
No. I got abandoned because I ate too much. So I can't eat a lot.
Thinking that, sadness surged up in him. So he just stared blankly ahead. Lee Jun spoke to him.
"Our Salgu, you want to eat all of this, don't you? But let's hold on just a little. If you eat all of this, your tummy will hurt. Okay?"
Nod, nod. Salgu slowly nodded in reply.
"…Yes."
"Good. Then let's give it back to your friends."
Lee Jun portioned a little back into each of the friends' bowls. The bowl was slim again. But the friends who had shared their delicious food out of consideration for him were gathered all around. It was a grateful, good feeling that his friends were looking after him. But it could not compare to Mom no longer being by his side.
Thinking that, the food lost its taste. And at the same time, another thought occurred to him.
I-if I eat just a little, maybe Mom will come back.
Yeah. Let's just eat a little.
Salgu chewed his food very slowly. Think of Mom once, eat one piece of kibble. Picture Mom once, eat one meat-and-veggie dumpling. Eating so slowly like that, he felt a gentle presence beside him.
Salgu turned his head. The teacher was looking at him — the teacher that Hoesaegi, Kkamnyang-i, and Sapsaree hyung called hyung-nim, and the other friends called Meongmeong Teacher. Salgu looked at Lee Jun with sad eyes. Then a large hand came up over his head.
In that instant, every animal friend's expression in the room went stiff.
Lee Jun's words meant that even though Mom was not here right now, he should eat well — but the animals' misunderstanding was only growing deeper.