Chapter 42
Chapter 42
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 42
Chapter Title: Nuri's Comfort
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Gray and Shadow's mouths drooped as they gazed at the sniffling Nuri.
Without anyone taking the lead, the cats rose and pressed themselves flat against the kennel.
[Don't be too sad meow!]
[Don't be sad.]
Though the glass door blocked direct contact, the cats' warmth reached Nuri.
A spark of life returned to Nuri's previously gloomy face as his melancholy eased a bit.
[Thanks woof.]
That was when it happened.
The treatment room door opened.
"Nuri, how are you feeling? Any less pain?"
It was the Teacher.
Nuri rolled his eyes, eager to see him.
But the glass door was packed with cats.
['Blocked woof.']
He couldn't see ahead, but knowing the cats were comforting him made it okay.
"You guys, what's with that? Want to turn into flying squirrels?"
[Mouse? What kind of talk is that meow!]
[I'm not a mouse. I'm a cat!]
With a thud, the two cats yelped and peeled away from the glass.
Only then did the Teacher come into view.
Nuri wagged his tail at the sight of the kindly approaching Teacher.
Nuri liked the Teacher.
When they first met, he'd been shocked to find someone who understood him.
['The most shocking day of my not-so-short dog life woof.']
The surprise was short-lived; Nuri had been thrilled.
His mom had picked his least favorite kibble, but thanks to the Teacher, he'd gotten something tasty instead.
['Almost had to eat that dry, tasteless stuff again woof.']
That was why Nuri liked the Teacher.
And he still did.
['The Teacher explained everything so it wasn't scary woof.']
The Teacher always described what he was doing each step.
Without that, the unexplained poking and prodding would have terrified him.
"But why were you guys doing that? Did you want inside the kennel? Speak up."
Click.
A sound followed, then the cats' voices.
[We don't want in there meow.]
[Right. We want in here.]
"No. Nuri's in there. You go in the empty kennel."
[No way meow. We're hugging Nuri meow.]
[Yeah. Nuri's crying.]
Silence fell after the cats' meows.
Why's that? As Nuri tilted his head,
"Good kitties."
The Teacher petted the cats.
They leaned into him, clearly loving it.
His touch looked so soft and warm.
['Wish he'd pet me too woof.']
As Nuri watched enviously, the Teacher's gentle voice rang out.
"I'm opening Nuri's kennel door now, but you can't touch him."
[Why not meow! We need to comfort Nuri meow.]
[Right. We have to stay by Nuri.]
"You know this from experience. Touch that line, and it hurts. And bleeds."
The Teacher pointed to the long line.
['Teacher said this line gives energy woof.']
And it was true.
Something unpleasant flowed in through his front leg, banishing the nausea and dizziness.
[I know that meow. Been there meow.]
[Me too. Touching it hurts. Of course we won't.]
Lee Jun felt sheepish at their confident words.
[So don't close the door meow.]
[Yeah, Nuri's lonely.]
"We should ask Nuri if it's okay."
At Lee Jun's words, Gray and Shadow whipped their heads toward Nuri.
['Better together than alone and lonely woof.']
Feeling the cats' warm hearts, Nuri slowly nodded.
The cats cautiously approached and settled on either side of him.
"Come out for a sec? Nuri needs his shot."
The cats looked up at something in the Teacher's hand—a shiny box.
[That poking thing meow?]
"Yeah. Gray's got a great memory."
[Ehem! I remember everything Big Brother does meow! It stings at first but then no pain woof.]
[I-I remember too. Poke it right and no hurt.]
Nuri grew curious watching Gray's smug face and Shadow's hasty agreement.
What made the cats rave like that?
Curiosity flickered briefly, but Nuri lost interest.
In this situation, what did pain matter?
He wouldn't see his beloved family much longer anyway.
['I've lived long enough woof.']
Nuri flopped onto the floor.
Moments later, a hand gently stroked his head.
"No more shot, so you'll feel much better soon. You'll eat when you get home."
Nuri's eyes sparkled at the mention of food.
[Can eat woof?]
"Yeah."
His family had been sad these past days because he couldn't eat properly.
His sister had cried when he vomited everything up.
['If I eat, sister will smile woof.']
The thought cheered him; he grinned, and the Teacher's hand enveloped his head.
"Eat lots."
The Teacher's kind voice accompanied the soft strokes.
It was the petting Nuri had envied moments ago.
['Feels good woof.']
Feeling wonderful, Nuri closed his eyes under the touch.
Gray and Shadow crept closer, settling beside him.
Their body heat against his side made Nuri's eyes droop.
['Floor was warm earlier but I couldn't sleep... woof.']
Nuri's face was utterly peaceful as he snored softly.
***
[Bye meow.]
[Eat well. Hang in there.]
[Thanks woof.]
[See ya meow.]
[Tell us if it hurts.]
After waving his paws at the affectionate farewell from the cats, Nuri left Meongmeong Animal Hospital and arrived home ten minutes later.
"Oh, our Nuri, you did great today."
Dad scooped him up from Mom's arms and hugged him tight.
Once down, Nuri sniffed around the living room.
"Checking who visited, Nuri?"
"Worried someone came? No one's been here."
Ignoring Mom and Sister's voices, Nuri sniffed from living room to kitchen.
It wasn't about visitors, as they thought.
['My favorite scent woof.']
He sought the comforting smell of his beloved family.
Sniff sniff.
His own scent mingled with theirs, lifting his spirits.
Expression dawned on Nuri's previously blank face.
His tight mouth curved up, parting slightly to show a pink tongue tip.
That's when his favorite voice chimed.
"Mom! Mom! Nuri, Nuri smiled!"
Sister's joyful cry.
"Oh, really! Nuri, not hurting anymore?"
Mom beamed at him too.
[Feels so good woof.]
Seeing Mom and Sister smile was the best.
Nuri stared at their bright grins without blinking.
['Gotta look lots woof.']
Nuri wandered the living room and paused at his water bowl.
Lap.
He just tasted it at first.
['Tasty woof.']
Braver, he drank a few gulps.
Slurp slurp slurp.
Still fine.
Excited, Nuri drank heartily. He wanted more, but Sister lifted the bowl.
"Nuri, enough water. Try this."
Sister scooped soft food into a dish; a savory aroma tickled his nose.
Saliva pooled; appetite surged.
Long-lost sensation; Nuri swallowed.
['Yummy woof.']
Lap. One bite—pure savoriness.
Chomp chomp chomp. He polished off the bowl in seconds.
['Delicious woof. Want tomorrow too woof.']
Licking the empty bowl, Nuri heard Sister clap.
"Aww, good boy, Nuri."
Sister grinned wide. Staring at her, Nuri recalled his chat with the cats.
['If I go to Dog Star, family will be sad woof.']
He remembered the others missing their departed comrades.
[I'll remember Sister smiling woof. And Sister, remember me smiling woof.]
Nuri barked and grinned brightly.
Footsteps rushed; Mom approached.
"Was that Nuri barking just now? Really?"
"Yeah, Mom. Liquid food perked him up."
"Ha ha, how long since Nuri barked?"
"Way too long."
Everyone rejoiced at his bark. Lately, he'd barely barked.
"Hope it stays like this...."
"It will. My friend's dog had liver cancer, lived over a year."
"Surgery?"
"No, skipped it."
"Really?"
"Yeah, so Nuri might live long too."
"Yeah."
The family clung to hope.
Otherwise, they'd hug and cry over Nuri.
That would only sadden him more.
But sensing their sorrow despite their wishes, Nuri grew gloomy.
['Don't want precious family sad woof.']
He forced his drooping mouth up.
It fell again; he sprang up and paced the living room, tail wagging deliberately.
"Look at that. Nuri's really happy."
"Yeah. He'd be asleep by now usually."
"Nice to see."
They loved seeing sleepy Nuri perky lately.
Pacing improved Nuri's mood too.
But fatigue hit suddenly.
Nuri claimed the center cushion.
['Can see Mom, Dad, Sister all woof.']
Prime spot; he turned his head, watching them talk about him.
"Nuri's peppy after the hospital. The fluids?"
"Maybe more fluids a few days?"
"No issues, finish meds and long checkup in a week."
"Meds? Will Nuri take them? Never had any."
"Worried too. They're bitter; mix in treats if needed."
"Treats okay?"
"Feed whatever he wants."
"Yeah...."
Mom and Dad glanced at him again.
['Heh heh, Mom and Dad smiling at me woof. But why look sad woof!']
Thinking his own gloom colored them so, Nuri blinked.
Recalling Teacher's words:
['Meds stop pain, give energy woof. Eat all even if yucky woof.']
Nuri resolved to finish them, repeating it.
But next day.
The tasted med was awful.
Ptooey!
['Ack, what taste woof!']
Bitter and weird, lingering. First bad taste in dog life.
"Nuri, eat this to get better. Okay?"
Recalling Teacher, Nuri forced it down.
And energy surged immediately.
['True woof.']
Nuri bounced around excitedly.
"Meds working; more energy, less sleep."
Family happy.
But Nuri happiest.
['Can see family longer woof.']
His sleepiness was real, but lying down wasn't all sleep.
['Lying from pain woof.']
In pain, he'd curl in a corner so they wouldn't know.
Now no need; evenings, he'd prowl the living room, eyes bright as family gathered.
"Meds seem effective."
But effects waned.
Initially, no pain till next dose.
Day by day, worse.
Today too.
Dose time far off, yet belly agony spiked.
['Hold on a bit woof.']
Guessing Mom's imminent departure from life experience, Nuri endured.
Mom hugged him.
"Nuri, Mom'll be back soon. Rest well."
Nuri grinned at the door, seeing her off.
Thud—door closed; he collapsed.
[Ugh... hurts woof.]
Exhausted, Nuri passed out asleep.
***
Waking, cat friends stared.
[Long time, friend meow.]
[How'd you get to my house woof?]
[What're you saying meow? This is Meongmeong Animal Hospital meow.]
[Your mom ran in crying, carrying you.]
[Why...?]
No memory.
Just sleeping... oh, right, extreme pain.
[I was hurting bad woof. Not now woof.]
[Big Brother needled no-pain stuff meow.]
[Really woof!]
Nuri nodded at the line in his paw.
[Body got worse in between meow?]
Gray eyed his face.
[Not that... ate meds but hurt woof.]
Hearing Mom cry outside, Nuri continued slowly.
[Didn't want to show pain woof.]
[You're most important meow. Say when it hurts meow. Big Brother said so meow.]
Gray raised his voice, recalling.
[Right. Say it hurts. Makes it less.]
[No woof. It'll hurt more woof. I know best woof.]
Effects fading daily, pain intensifying.
Experiencing it fully, Nuri shook his head slowly.
[That's why worrying woof.]
Four eyes formed triangles staring.
[Don't worry too much meow. It'll be fine meow.]
[Yeah. Won't hurt later.]
Saying so, the cats hugged him tight.
Their instinctive comfort, knowing Nuri's time was short.
While cats comforted Nuri in the treatment room, Lee Jun spoke with his guardian in the consult room.
"Director, is Nuri in a lot of pain? Fainting means yes, right?"
"Probably. We'll up the painkillers, but it'll worsen gradually."
"Then... what do we do? No recovery, just endless pain, getting worse...."
What to say?
Lee Jun bit his lip.
"I want one more day with Nuri, but is it best for him?"
"...."
"Feels selfish holding on, but his eyes say he wants to stay with us.... I don't know."
Her sigh filled the room.
"Director, what should we do? Sigh, crazy thought, but if only we could ask Nuri what he wants...."