Haru's Guardian

Jang Pan-ho swallowed hard, waiting for Lee Jun's answer.

He had already made up his mind to take Haru in as family. What he did not know was where Uriteul Shelter would stand on the matter — and that was precisely why his nerves were drawn so tight.

They wouldn't turn us down just because we're old... would they?

And if they did refuse them for that reason... well, he had no intention of giving Haru up.

I'll just tell Sujeong to move back in with us. They wouldn't be able to say no then.

He was steeling himself with that resolve when a voice spilled from the phone — a warm, gentle voice, full of joy.

Jang Pan-ho's eyes widened a little.

The answer he had been expecting was something more like, Is that true? or Have you made your decision? or It must have been a hard choice — you've made a wonderful one. Failing that, he had braced himself for the reply he had been dreading: Ah, yes. That's a fine decision. I'll pass your intentions along to Uriteul. There will need to be a screening process, you see.

And yet the answer had been that simple.

Lee Jun's reply carried the implication that Haru had been hoping to live with them all along — and that there was nothing standing in the way of this couple making a life with her. Slowly, the corners of Jang Pan-ho's mouth began to lift.

This director... he really does have a way of putting people at ease.

Now that he had made up his mind, he wanted to drive the nail in for good. He wanted to prove, right here and now, that Haru was their family — so that she ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠would never again have to go through anything like what had just happened. And so that he wouldn't, either.

Watching his wife Yoo Yeonju clap her hands in delight and Haru bouncing around the room, Jang Pan-ho asked,

"Director, then those adoption... papers. Could we fill them out right away?"

"Thank you."

"Ah — yes."

As Jang Pan-ho ended the call, a smile even deeper than before settled on his lips.

"That Director Lee is a real pro at warming a person's heart, I tell you."

"Why? What did he say?"

"Well, he called me — hoho... honestly. Director Lee went and called me Haru's guardian, can you believe it?"

"Oh my. Our director really does have a gift."

The couple laughed, and Haru bounded about even more gleefully — truly, freely, as if this were already her own home. That little heart of hers reached straight into Jang Pan-ho's.

"Look at Haru. The little thing's let her guard down completely now."

"She looks so at ease."

"Hoho, you little rascal. Haru, are you that happy?"

That was when it happened. Haru came bouncing toward Jang Pan-ho with a bright string of barks, wrapped her tiny fern-shoot paws around his leg, and nuzzled her small head against him, rubbing and rubbing.

"Hoho, you little thing."

Jang Pan-ho stroked her as he laughed. Beside him, Yoo Yeonju was laughing too.

Then his phone rang. It was Uriteul Shelter.

"Yes, this is Jang Pan-ho."

"Hoho, us old folks just wanted to do something that would make us happy — what's there to thank us for? If anything, my wife and I ought to be thanking you, Director."

"Thinking of our situation, Mongmong Animal Hospital would be best."

"That's true, but we'll work around your busy schedules. Any time at all is fine for us."

"Oh, then we'll come at that time."

While Jang Pan-ho was on the phone with the Director of Uriteul, Yoo Yeonju was on a call of her own. The moment she had texted their daughter that they had decided to adopt Haru, the phone had rung.

Their daughter was overjoyed.

"Oh, you and your talk of fate."

That was what Yoo Yeonju said. But a part of her thought that perhaps, just perhaps, it was true. She watched her husband and Haru beaming at each other with the same wide, open smile, and a warm one of her own spread across her face.

Yes. It does rather feel that way, doesn't it.

The next day.

The couple was welcomed from the moment they arrived at Mongmong Animal Hospital. Sapsaree, Hoesaegi, and Gkamnyangi were there to greet them.

"Hoho, did you all sleep well? Had your breakfast?"

"Hello, you three."

As the couple stepped inside, exchanging greetings with the three animals, Haru — nestled in Yoo Yeonju's arms — let out a great ringing bark.

Woof-woof-woooof-woof-woof!

A voice of surprising volume. And then —

Ruff-ruff-woooof-ruff-ruff-ruff!

Sapsaree barked back just as loudly, as if answering ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Haru's call. Then he threw himself against Jang Pan-ho, rubbing and rubbing, his tail wagging so fast it all but vanished. Hoesaegi and Gkamnyangi raised their voices too.

Mrrrow-mrrrow~

Nyaaah~

They wrapped themselves firmly around Yoo Yeonju's legs.

The couple had never heard the three of them make such a racket, and they were a little startled. But there was so much joy threaded through those voices that laughter rose on its own. Faces that had already been smiling all the way from home lit up as if someone had turned a lamp on them.

"Hoho, listen to those lungs. What's got you all so happy, hmm?"

Jang Pan-ho stroked Sapsaree as he put the question to Lee Jun, who was coming toward them.

"Director, why is this fellow in such a fine mood?"

"I know — Hoesaegi and Gkamnyangi look overjoyed too."

"They heard some wonderful news. Isn't that right, you three?"

Lee Jun asked them, and all three answered at the top of their lungs.

Mrrrow-hoho-hong!

Nyaaa-hoho!

Woof-wuff-wuff-hoho!

"I think Haru told them she's become part of your family. So they're celebrating."

The truth was that the three of them had heard the happy news from Lee Jun the day before and had been over the moon ever since. But he could hardly say that, so he offered a rough sketch of the conversation that had just passed between them and Haru.

"Hoho, thank you, you three."

"Oh my, is that so? Haru, want to go play with your friends?"

Yoo Yeonju set Haru down, beaming. At once the three animals and Haru — along with Jjaek and One-eye, who had been hanging back a little ways off — scampered up to the second floor without so much as a backward glance.

A moment later, the Director of Uriteul came over to greet them.

"Good morning."

"Oh, you were already here? You must have had a long trip."

"Thank you for coming all this way."

The couple offered their greetings, and the Director waved them off.

"Not at all. One of our kids had a surgery scheduled, so I came for that as well."

"Oh, is that so? Is it very serious?"

"It's the hip joint, a bit..."

Lee Jun stepped in to fill out the explanation.

"Ordinarily we'd do the surgery at Uriteul's own clinic, but this fellow's on the large side. After a hip operation, getting around is hard. Go said he'd look after him, so we're doing it here."

"That's remarkable of you."

"Not at all. I just operate and see patients. The Director here is the one who does the real hard work. Anyway — please go ahead with the paperwork. I'll go get ready for surgery."

Lee Jun excused himself with a tactful smile. Jang Sora approached them, smiling in turn.

"Would you like to come this way?"

She led Jang Pan-ho, his wife, and the Director of Uriteul into the consultation room. As Jang Pan-ho sat down, he turned to the Director.

"To think you provide surgeries like that for all the animals at the shelter. The costs must be enormous."

"Well, our shelter is in a relatively fortunate position. The veterinarians help us a great deal, and we have many sponsors. For most things, the doctors take care of it free of charge. Especially for those kids."

"Those kids?"

"The ones who have a hard time finding a good home. The large ones, the mixed breeds — the ones that aren't purebred. Adoption inquiries barely come in for them."

"Oh, the poor things..."

"Yes, exactly. That's why the doctors take such special care of them. We're truly grateful."

"I see."

"Now then, please read through these documents and sign them."

The paperwork was finished quickly.

"That's everything. For the time being, we'll ask you to upload photos of Haru on a regular basis. And for a while there will be a home visit about once a month — would that be all right? Though honestly, in Haru's case, I don't think the visits will even be necessary."

"No, if there's a rule, we should follow it. We'll do exactly as it's written here."

"Thank you."

"Ah — and Director. About the child who went into surgery."

"Yes?"

"I would like to cover that child's surgical costs, if that's all right."

"I — I beg your pardon?"

"It's nothing complicated. Even if Director Lee is volunteering his services, well... the hospital still has to run, you see. And we're so grateful for everything you've done for our Haru..."

"Oh, no, we couldn't."

"Please let us. We want to do it — to mark the occasion of bringing Haru into our family. Isn't that right, dear?"

Yoo Yeonju put her weight behind her husband's words with a smiling face, and Jang Pan-ho answered, looking thoroughly pleased with himself.

"Ahem. That's right."

"The cost will be far higher than you might expect..."

The Director's voice grew smaller and smaller.

"I've had some experience with this in the past, so I have a fair idea. Please don't worry."

"I-if you ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠insist, then..."

The Director stood up abruptly and bowed at the waist.

At the words Guardian of Haru, the couple's faces filled with a deeply satisfied smile.

After that, with the adoption process complete, Jang Pan-ho and his wife remained at Mongmong Animal Hospital until Lee Jun's surgery was finished. When the operation was over and Lee Jun heard of the couple's decision, he came looking for them in astonishment.

They were in the kitchen, drinking coffee that Ju Mi-seon had poured for them. The moment Lee Jun stepped through the door, he all but called out,

"Guardian of Haru — you don't have to do that."

"Hoho, Director. You've had a long morning."

"No, it's fine — I mean, I heard you offered to cover the costs? You really don't have to. Please don't feel any burden."

"Not at all. Compared to the way you gave me and my family our smiles back, this is nothing."

"Even so..."

"This old man wants to do it, so just close your eyes and accept it. And frankly — who else are we supposed to trust with our Haru's care from now on? We need you here."

"That's right, Director. If Mongmong Animal Hospital thrives, our Haru will be at ease too. Please accept it."

"We just want to be able to come here comfortably, that's all."

"If that's how you feel... then I'll work even harder."

"Hoho. Thank you."

"That aside — is Haru still playing?"

"Hoho, yes. The little thing doesn't even glance our way anymore. Whether she knows she's family now or not, she's so absorbed in playing with her friends she hasn't a thought to spare."

"Which is why we've been sitting here drinking Chef Joo's coffee and eating her bread."

There was not a trace of unease on the couple's faces as they spoke to Lee Jun. And Haru, playing in the playground, was no different.

Woof woof woof.

Barking at the top of her lungs, racing around with her friends, Haru's face was as bright as a clear sky.

From atop the cat tree, Hoesaegi looked down and asked her,

"Haru-ong, feeling good-nyaong?"

"Yeah! I love it, I love it so much!"

"Look at that. She's actually pretty cute when she smiles like that."

Beside him, Gkamnyangi gazed down at Haru and the corner of his mouth curled up.

"That's right! Haru's so, so cute! An' Grandfather's smilin' too!"

What Haru being cute had to do with Jang Pan-ho smiling was anyone's guess — but Sapsaree laughed a big, happy heh-heh-heh all the same, thoroughly delighted.

A week later, the Director of Uriteul appeared at Mongmong Animal Hospital.

"You made it."

"Director, thank you. Because of you, this fellow Deokgu can run around again."

Deokgu was the Uriteul dog whose hip Lee Jun had operated on a week earlier — a big Tosa mix, illegally raised as a meat dog before being rescued, who had been living at Uriteul for two years now.

"Don't thank me. Haru's guardian is the one who paid for it."

"Even so. You only charged at cost. Truly, thank you."

The Director turned his gaze to Go Gi-jin, standing beside Lee Jun.

"Dr. Go, I really can't thank you enough. Without you, this fellow would have had a terribly hard time."

"Ah, it ain't nothin'. This big fella here's just too sweet-natured..."

Go Gi-jin looked down at Deokgu, sitting beside him.

"Deokgu, go on now an' have ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠yourself a good time, hear? I'll bring ya somethin' tasty next week."

Whine, whine.

Deokgu, massive as he was, rubbed himself against Go Gi-jin and whimpered.

"Gijin, looks like Deokgu's taking this goodbye pretty hard."

"Yes, well. These ones are always hungry for affection."

A shadow passed across the Director's face as he looked at Deokgu. Lee Jun's expression darkened for a moment too, watching him.

So many dogs. So few hands.

"Still, ours is a very happy shelter. Thanks to all of you doctors and our sponsors, we don't euthanize — and when they're sick, you heal them like this."

The Director put on a deliberately bright face as he spoke, then went on.

"Well, we'll be on our way. Thank you."

"Of course. I've already spoken to Uriteul's clinic about Deokgu's rehab. Gijin and I will come by before long."

Lee Jun and Go Gi-jin walked the Director and Deokgu out to the parking lot to see them off. They waved at the departing car, and as they headed back inside, Go Gi-jin said,

"Aigoo, even in the daytime the wind's startin' to turn cold. Weather like this, I could go for a nice hot stew..."

Just then, a little meow of a notification sounded from Go Gi-jin's pocket.

"Eh? What's this now?"

He pulled out his phone and looked at it.

"Huh? An obituary text. Must be the cold — these last few days, the death notices just keep rollin' in."

"They really do."

The message that had just come in was a group text from the Seoul Veterinary Medical Association. Lee Jun's phone, sitting in the director's office, had almost certainly received it too.

Then another little meow of a notification.

"Huh? Look at that, texts comin' in like crazy. W-wait, what in the world?"

Go Gi-jin's voice rose as he read.

"What is it?"

"I-it's sayin'... Senior Ji-wook passed away?"

"What? Ji-wook? Park Ji-wook?"

"That's what it says."

Lee Jun's eyes went as wide as they could go. He hurried to the director's office and found his phone.

It was not only the Seoul Veterinary Medical Association. Alumni group chats, classmate group chats — a whole stack of obituary notices had come in. There were several missed calls as well.

Lee Jun called Choi Woo-jin first — the earliest of the missed calls.

"Woojin, what happened? Did Park Ji-wook have some kind of illness? Or was it an accident?"

"What? Why?"

Park Ji-wook had been treating cancer since their school days, and by now his name was fairly well known as an oncology veterinarian.

"Of course I'm going."