Eyes Like Janggoon's
"Oh my goodness!"
Yoo Yeonju cried out in shock, and Jang Pan-ho shouted right along with her.
"Th-that lunatic! What does he think he's doing on the sidewalk?!"
Jang Pan-ho bellowed after the bicycle that had already vanished down the street.
Their feet turned of their own accord toward the Yorkshire Terrier. That was when his wife spoke.
"Oh, this won't do. At this rate, that little one is going to get hit."
She pressed the shopping bags into her husband's hands and started toward the spot where the Yorkshire Terrier stood trembling.
Yoo Yeonju made her way toward the shivering little dog, her steps slow and careful. Every instinct in her wanted to run and scoop it up, but she crushed that urgency down — if she startled it, the Yorkshire Terrier might bolt.
She was simply following her heart. She hadn't given a single thought to what she would do once the dog was in her arms. There was only one thing in her mind: that tiny creature shivering right in front of her had to be made safe.
Startled by his wife's sudden move, Jang Pan-ho called after her.
"D-dear..."
He was walking toward the Yorkshire Terrier himself — both hands already full of bakery bags, and now the ones his wife had handed him as well, four in all.
While Jang Pan-ho dithered, Yoo Yeonju reached the little dog.
The Yorkshire Terrier looked up at the woman approaching and trembled even harder than before, its hunched neck drawn tight with tension.
Yoo Yeonju gazed down at it and spoke, her voice warm and quiet.
"It's all right, sweetheart. It's all right."
Perhaps that gentle tone put it at ease. When Yoo Yeonju reached out and gathered it up, the Yorkshire Terrier didn't resist even once.
Once she had it safely in her arms, Yoo Yeonju let out a sigh.
"Good heavens. There's no strength in this little body at all..."
She looked down with aching eyes at the Yorkshire Terrier hanging limp in her embrace. Jang Pan-ho, who had come up beside her before she knew it, clicked his tongue, his own gaze filling with pity.
"It wasn't that it wouldn't run. It couldn't. Let's get this little one to Director Lee right away."
"Y-yes. Just—just a moment."
Yoo Yeonju nodded at her husband's words, then stepped into the shop directly in front of where the Yorkshire Terrier had been sitting.
"Excuse me..."
"Yes, come in!"
"No, I—well, that is, do you happen to know this little one?"
"Hmm, I don't believe so. Why?"
"I found it all alone just outside here."
"Aigoo, did it get lost? Or run away from home?"
"If anyone comes looking for it, would you please let them know? Tell them to contact Mongmong Animal Hospital, just up the way."
"Mongmong Animal Hospital? Of course, I'll do that."
The shopkeeper promised she would. After that, Yoo Yeonju went from store to store nearby, asking if anyone recognized the Yorkshire Terrier, but the answer was the same every time. So was the fact that all six shops knew Mongmong Animal Hospital.
As his wife came out of the sixth and final shop, Jang Pan-ho spoke up.
"Wandering around any more won't do us a lick of good, I reckon. Let's just go to Mongmong Animal Hospital. This little thing needs something in its stomach."
"Yes. Let's go."
"Who knows? This one might even be a patient there."
"Oh, that would be wonderful. If it has a chip, we could find its owner."
The Companion Animal Registration System had been in place for over ten years, counting the grace period. Most animals would have been registered by now. If so, reading the chip implanted in its body would lead them straight to the owner.
Holding onto that hope, the couple walked quickly toward Mongmong Animal Hospital.
When they stepped inside, Jang Sora came forward to greet them.
"Oh my, welcome, both of you!"
Jang Sora beamed as she welcomed Jang Pan-ho and his wife, her smile wide with genuine delight.
"But I'm so sorry — the Director just went into surgery."
At those words, the two of them felt a wave of relief, grateful they hadn't called ahead. If they had, they would have burdened a man about to operate with one more thing to worry about.
"That's quite all right. We were just passing by. These are for everyone to enjoy... I'm not sure if they'll suit your tastes. Please have them when you all get a bit peckish."
At his wife's words, Jang Pan-ho held out the shopping bags in his hands.
"Oh, you shouldn't have... We'll enjoy them, thank you so much. The staff are going to love these. But this little one..."
Jang Sora accepted the bags, her eyes already on the Yorkshire Terrier that had been tugging at her attention from the moment the couple walked in.
"Ah, we found this one shivering over by the shops near the bus stop."
"Oh my!"
"It isn't one of your patients, is it?"
"Hmm, I don't believe I've seen it before. Give me just a moment — I'll check for a chip."
Jang Sora took the microchip scanner from the reception desk and held it over the Yorkshire Terrier's scruff.
Nothing happened.
"Let's see here."
This time she ran the scanner slowly and thoroughly along the Yorkshire Terrier's back, from the top of its head all the way to the tip of its tail.
There was no beep. No numbers appeared.
"There's nothing."
"Ah, I see. Then what should we do?"
"Well, this little one looks terribly hungry, so let me try to get some food into it first."
Lee Jun always said there was nothing sadder than going hungry, and he checked constantly to make sure the feeding station outside the window never ran empty. That way of thinking had seeped naturally into the minds of everyone on staff — an inevitable result, really, in a place where people who loved animals had gathered.
Jang Sora opened a can of the food that always got the best reaction and spooned it into a small dish.
But the little Yorkshire Terrier only smacked its lips. Jang Sora sighed as she watched the dog that wouldn't even approach the bowl.
"It must be frightened."
Yoo Yeonju gathered the shivering Yorkshire Terrier into her arms, her face full of pity, and asked,
"Then what do we do? Look how hollow its little belly is."
"I'll tell the doctors as soon as they come out. Once they hear it isn't eating a thing, they'll put it on fluids."
"We wouldn't want to be a burden..."
"We'll cover this little one's medical bills."
Jang Pan-ho put in the words so abruptly that Yoo Yeonju turned to look at him. When her husband nodded, she turned back to Jang Sora.
"Please do. We'll pay for this child's treatment."
"That's really not—"
Jang Sora swallowed the rest of the sentence. Director Lee would put it on fluids without a second thought, of course. But that's not a call I can make on my own. Still...
The Yorkshire Terrier trembling in Yoo Yeonju's arms looked so utterly spent. I'll cover it myself.
Having made up her mind, Jang Sora smiled and went on.
"Our doctors will take care of everything. In the meantime, could you tell me where you found this little one? I'd like to put up a lost-pet notice."
"Ah, yes. It was shivering right in front of the shoe store."
"Aigoo, that area is so busy. Bicycles and scooters going every which way. It must have been terrified."
As Jang Sora spoke, looking at the Yorkshire Terrier in Yoo Yeonju's arms, Jang Pan-ho took over.
"Which brings me to this — would it be possible for you to look after this Yorkie here until its owner turns up? We'll cover all the costs in the meantime."
Jang Pan-ho himself didn't quite know why he was going this far. The words simply came pouring out.
"You really don't need to worry about that."
"No. We brought it here, so it's only right that we take responsibility. Please let us pay until the owner is found."
His voice was firm. Jang Sora knew that insisting it was fine would only send the conversation looping back on itself like a song stuck on repeat. At times like this, I just need to say I understand and tell the Director. I'll contribute a little too.
Having settled that in her mind, Jang Sora agreed. Then, seeing how uneasy the elderly couple still looked, she changed the subject.
"Leave this little one with me, and would you like to see the kids?"
Jang Sora knew perfectly well why the couple had come.
"They're all up in the 2nd Floor Cat Playground."
"I do hope we wouldn't be imposing."
"Not at all. The Chuseok holiday is over, so all the boarding guests have gone home. They've probably been bored out of their minds — they'll be so happy to see you both. You should see how much Sapsaree adores Mr. Jang."
At Jang Sora's last little flourish of hospitality, Jang Pan-ho nodded.
"Then we'll stay just a short while."
"Stay as long as you like."
With that, Jang Sora led the couple upstairs.
Reunited with the three of them after some time apart, Jang Pan-ho and his wife spent a thoroughly happy stretch of the afternoon.
"Heh heh. Does this old grandpa make you that happy, you rascal?"
Sapsaree answered with a joyful, rumbling woof, lifting its head, and Jang Pan-ho stroked it with devoted care. Yoo Yeonju's expression was just the same.
"Oh my, look at you. Does Grandma make you that happy?"
Hoesaegi and Gkamnyangi had plastered themselves to Yoo Yeonju's side.
"But you two are so shy with strangers, aren't you? And such pretty little things..."
A sharp nyaahk! and a pair of indignant aoung-aoungs erupted from the cat tower, where Jjaek and One-eye had fled, scowling with all their might. They had wanted to hear they were handsome, not pretty.
"There, there. Strangers came into your space and you're upset, aren't you? Grandma here will make you something delicious later, so let's make up, hmm?"
That was when Hoesaegi and Gkamnyangi began licking their lips, meowing in eager little voices — it had been delicious, they were saying, and they wanted more.
At that, Jjaek and One-eye cried out again. This time the meows came out bright and laughing, almost like a song.
Watching them, Yoo Yeonju's eyes curved into a smile.
"All right. I'll make you something delicious, I promise. And something for Sapsaree too."
Sapsaree barked in delight, its tail beating back and forth.
It was a time that left everyone content. And yet Jang Pan-ho's heart was not quite at ease, the image of the shivering Yorkshire Terrier still lingering behind his eyes.
Lee Jun found the couple still surrounded by animals, so absorbed they had lost all track of time.
"Ah, you should have just come by... These look wonderful. Thank you."
"Heh heh. This one here told me the Director is fond of sweet rice cakes."
"In fact, I just had one a little while ago. The rest of the staff are enjoying them too."
"Oh, I'm so glad they tasted good."
"Thank you again. And... perhaps it's because you two came, but the kids are in the highest of spirits."
How did he always know exactly the right thing to say? The couple gazed at Lee Jun for a long moment. When they brought up what had happened earlier, he took the subject up at once.
"That little one is fortunate — no infectious disease, and no heartworm either. It hasn't been eating properly, so there's some hypoglycemia, and the liver values are a bit elevated. Even so, at that level, it should improve steadily."
"Oh, what a relief."
Yoo Yeonju smiled, bright with gladness, and a smile touched Jang Pan-ho's lips as well.
"That is truly fortunate."
"I also checked just now, and there are no lost-pet notices out for that little one. The owner may not have posted one yet..."
"I see."
"We'll search as thoroughly as we can."
"Thank you, Director. Which brings me to this. Until that little one's home is found — would you be willing to look after it here?"
"That was already my intention."
"I'm grateful. And... I already mentioned this to Manager Jang, but please send the bill to me."
"Ah, please don't trouble yourself over that."
"No. I'm the one who's uncomfortable. I'm doing this for my own peace of mind, so I must insist. That aside... ahem. Director."
"Yes, please go on."
"About that little one. If, by some chance, the owner never appears — what happens then?"
"What happens? It would go to a shelter, of course."
Yoo Yeonju said it like a lament, and Lee Jun nodded.
"That's generally the case."
"Th-those shelters... that is, the ones where, after a certain number of days, they... they euthanize them. Those places?"
Neither Jang Pan-ho, who asked the question, nor Yoo Yeonju, who listened beside him, looked well.
"There are places like that, and there are places that aren't."
"Hah. I see. So places like that do exist, then."
"But Director — could a little one that small even survive in a place like that?"
"Before any of that, finding that child's guardian would be best. Or seeing it meet a good new one."
Lee Jun put it gently, circling around the harder truth.
"Then we'll leave it in your hands for now."
"Of course."
"We ought to be going. We've stayed far too long."
"Yes, dear. Let's go."
Jang Pan-ho and his wife came down to the first floor. On the way, Yoo Yeonju spoke up.
"Director... could we see that little one just once before we go?"
"Of course. Please wait just a moment."
Lee Jun soon came back with the Yorkshire Terrier. An IV line was taped to one of its spindly front legs, and it was still trembling from head to tail.
Its eyes, so large they seemed to take up half its face, brimmed with tears as it looked at the couple.
The moment Lee Jun set it on the floor, the Yorkshire Terrier toddled over on tiny clicking steps and leaned its whole body against Yoo Yeonju's foot. Then it wrapped itself around her leg as if trying to hold on.
"Oh my..."
"Hmm."
The couple looked down at the Yorkshire Terrier. As Yoo Yeonju quickly lowered herself, Lee Jun spoke.
"Oh, sweetheart, what are we going to do with you? Find your mom soon, all right?"
As she stroked the Yorkshire Terrier, Yoo Yeonju's voice was thick with pity — so thick that the next words tumbled out of her mouth all on their own.
"That's right. We'll come again tomorrow."
"Then I'll see you both tomorrow."
After Lee Jun saw them out, the couple's hearts were heavy. There was the hopeful wish that the owner would be found quickly — but a larger worry sat beneath it.
"That little one... we need to find its owner soon."
"But what if we can't? Those round eyes... they looked just like our Janggoon's..."
"Hmm..."
His wife had spoken aloud the very thing Jang Pan-ho had been thinking. The Yorkshire Terrier they had just seen had resembled their precious dog, Janggoon, a great deal. The eyes his wife had mentioned, especially, had been the very image of Janggoon's.