Chapter 44
Chapter 44
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 44
Chapter Title: Remembering Nuri
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That evening after Nuri departed for the dog star, Lee Jun arrived home, set the carrier bag down on the living room floor, and opened the door.
“Kids, I’m home.”
At Lee Jun’s words, the cats emerged from the carrier and stood politely with their front paws neatly together.
They were the sort who would normally bolt out the moment the door opened without so much as a backward glance, so Lee Jun found their stillness odd.
“What’s up with you all? Are you hurt somewhere?”
[Thank you, meow.]
[Thank you.]
“……What for?”
[Thank you for bringing us home, meow.]
[Thank you. It’s good to be home.]
The cats said that, then dashed off as usual, circling the living room.
“What’s with the sudden politeness?”
Lee Jun tilted his head and headed to his room.
A moment later, he stood in front of the fridge, showing the cats some treats.
“What do you want to eat today?”
[I’ll have the long soft meat stick, meow.]
[Me too, I want that.]
“Alright then.”
Lee Jun gave each cat a soft stick to hold in their mouth. They gripped the sticks tightly with both front paws, then bowed their heads in thanks.
[I’ll eat well, meow.]
[Thank you for the tasty treat.]
“Huh?”
Receiving a second round of polite gratitude from the cats so soon after the first, Lee Jun narrowed his eyes and stared at them.
The cats were already off with their treats in mouth, settling onto their respective cushions.
“Have they gotten into some new game?”
If the game was saying thank you, he welcomed it.
Lee Jun chuckled softly, sat on the sofa, and tapped his phone to play the video sent by Nuri’s owner.
In the video, Nuri was giving his final farewell, a faint smile on his lips.
“You did well. And…… thank you.”
Even with the strongest painkillers blocking the pain, it must have hurt.
Lee Jun gave a round of applause to Nuri, who hadn’t lost his smile until the end.
Clap clap clap.
Tap tap tap.
Lee Jun turned at the small clapping sounds to see Gray and Shadow mimicking him, batting their front paws together.
[Nuri went peacefully, meow.]
[Good to see he wasn’t in pain.]
The cats’ eyes glistened slightly with moisture, but they were smiling.
[Can’t see him again, meow?]
Gray pointed a front paw at the phone.
[This one, meow.]
“Oh, you mean Nuri in here?”
[Yes, meow. Seeing him go comfortably to the dog star puts my mind at ease, meow.]
[I’m glad I heard his last words.]
[Me too, meow.]
“Got it. Hold on.”
Better to watch it big, he thought, so he switched the video to the living room TV and played it for the cats.
But suddenly, the cats bolted away.
“What? I played it because you wanted to see, and now this? Truly incomprehensible creatures.”
Lee Jun picked up the remote to turn it off.
Just then, Gray dashed back, placed something in front of the TV with a tap, and touched the screen with a front paw.
It was a very careful motion, as if caressing Nuri in the video.
Shadow did the same.
“What’s this?”
Lee Jun looked down to see one of the treats he’d just given the cats on the floor.
It was missing a bite, but their intention was clear enough.
‘They want to commemorate Nuri.’
How did they come up with such a thoughtful idea? A smile spread across Lee Jun’s face.
“You all want to give treats to Nuri, huh.”
Nod nod. The cats nodded side by side.
“I see.”
Lee Jun got up, went to the kitchen, and hauled out a heap of treats.
He set up a small table and said,
“Go ahead—put anything you want to give Nuri on this table.”
Gray and Shadow’s eyes widened.
[C-Can we really give all this, meow?]
“Yeah.”
The cats sprang into action.
[This one’s tasty too, meow. Eat this one as well, meow.]
[You couldn’t eat much before, so eat a lot.]
The cats busily carried treats in their mouths to pile on the table.
Gray even brought his cherished fish plush toy and set it down.
[Hugging this keeps you warm and cozy, meow. If it’s cold at the dog star, hug this when you sleep, meow.]
[Hug this one too while you sleep.]
Shadow fetched his bear doll that he always snuggled with at bedtime and placed it under the table.
Watching them, Lee Jun fell into thought.
‘I was surprised to hear about a dog grieving over photos of departed dog friends, but it wasn’t so surprising after all.’
They’d just lacked the chance—maybe that dog wanted to leave treats and toys under the photo, just like these guys.
‘Maybe those dogs thought the same as these ones.’
Lee Jun thought of the dogs who’d visited Nuri at the hospital and decided to help them hold a memorial.
That night.
The cats refused to leave the TV.
Lee Jun asked the cats huddled in front of it.
“You all sleeping there tonight?”
[Yes, meow. Nuri might get lonely, meow.]
[Being alone for the first time must be tough.]
Gray and Shadow, who knew all too well how lonely and hard solitude was, answered in unison.
“If that’s what you think……”
Lee Jun moved their cushions over.
But the cats merely glanced at the cushions, showing no interest.
Watching why, Lee Jun let out a hollow laugh.
Normally they’d huddle back-to-back, but now they lay slightly apart. Just like when they’d lain beside Nuri in the carrier at the hospital.
‘They’ve made space for Nuri to lie down.’
Lee Jun cleared the cushions and spread a blanket wide in their place.
[Thank you, meow!]
[Thank you.]
The cats bowed politely to Lee Jun once more.
Seeing it, Lee Jun thought ‘Again?’ but smiled anyway.
“The kids must be practicing what Nuri said.”
***
The next day at work, Lee Jun contacted Ttangkongi’s owner and suggested gathering Nuri’s close dog friends for a memorial time.
“They were close, so they must miss him.”
Ttangkongi’s owner lit up after hearing him out.
“That’s a wonderful idea. I wanted to comfort Nuri’s mom but wasn’t sure how. Everyone’s dog owners, so talk would turn to dogs right away and feel awkward, but just sitting quietly didn’t seem right either. Your idea—she’ll definitely be happy.”
“The kids will love it too.”
“I’ll make the calls.”
“Thanks.”
“I should be thanking you. Who else thinks of us like this? But anyway……”
“Yes, go ahead.”
“Director, something’s off with our Ttangkongi.”
“Off how?”
He had a guess.
‘He must be faithfully following Nuri’s words.’
Lee Jun grew a bit curious how the dignified Ttangkongi would show affection.
“He’s gotten so clingy. Yesterday he came and leaned against me while I watched TV, and today he’s hugging my husband’s leg as he heads to work. He’s not like that usually…… It’s different, and I’m worried.”
“No need to worry. He’s doing it because he loves you.”
“Really? That’d be great, but…… Anyway, could you check on our Ttangkongi later?”
“Sure.”
That evening, with Ttangkongi’s owner’s help, Nuri’s close dog friends gathered at Meongmeong Animal Hospital.
The TV that usually showed disease explanations or prevention guidelines now played Nuri’s video, with a small podium below it.
Ttangkongi stared at Nuri on the screen, then walked over to Lee Jun.
[Vet doctor, thank you. Big brother will be thrilled.]
Leaving those words, Ttangkongi turned and headed back to the TV.
Lee Jun’s lips quirked up at the sight.
Ttangkongi had always called him ‘Vet fellow’ or ‘Vet teacher.’
But now it was ‘Vet doctor.’
‘He really meant it.’
The dogs placed treats they’d shared with Nuri on the podium.
Some, like Gray and Shadow, even brought cherished toys to offer.
“Kids…… thank you. Nuri will love this.”
Nuri’s owner was grateful to the dogs commemorating him.
She’d been shocked they’d visited to hug him, but this was beyond.
She was thankful to the dogs for giving their treasures to Nuri, but even more to Lee Jun for making this possible.
“Director, thank you.”
“I should thank Nuri instead. Thanks to him, I understand the kids’ hearts so much better.”
Lee Jun turned to the dogs chatting about Nuri.
[Seeing big brother Nuri smile puts my mind at ease.]
[Yeah. Looks like big bro ain’t hurtin’, so happy.]
[What a relief. Worried sick what we’d do if big bro was hurt.]
[Sure is.]
Just then, the TV showed the moment Nuri closed his eyes, smiling at his owners.
[Like big bro said today, gotta do it. Hug your moms tight. Like this.]
Mongi walked over and hugged his owner tight.
His small short body could only reach her leg, but she was moved.
“Mongi!”
[Ahem, I followed big bro too.]
Ttangkongi leaned against his owner, smiling as he watched Nuri close his eyes feeling his family’s warmth.
[Same here. Thanked my mom and dad for raisin’ me good.]
[Me too, but……]
The dogs sought out their owners like Mongi, wrapping front legs around legs.
“Oh my goodness.”
“Kids!”
Smiles bloomed across the moved owners’ faces.
Nuri’s owner was no different.
“Kids, thank you for remembering our Nuri.”
Watching, Lee Jun thought of Nuri.
‘Did you see, Nuri? Thanks to you, these kids will get even more love.’
Already beloved, now expressing affection so openly—who wouldn’t adore them?
The owners’ eyes brimmed with love for their wholehearted dogs.
The animals and owners, chatting late into the night, said goodbye to Lee Jun as they left the hospital.
[Vet teacher, thank you. Good to honor big bro together.]
[Thank you.]
[Teacher, seriously so grateful. Got to see Nuri big bro go, anyway thanks.]
The owners added their thanks.
“Thank you for setting this up.”
“No regrets later—love them with all your heart.”
“Didn’t know animal friendships ran this deep. We should meet more often.”
“That’s something the kids would love to hear.”
“Truly grateful, Director. Honestly, I hesitated coming. Thought seeing the kids would make me miss Nuri more.”
“I can imagine.”
“But glad I came. Never dreamed so many would commemorate our Nuri.”
Nuri’s owner told the dogs,
“Kids, let’s meet at the park Saturday. Auntie’ll bring treats.”
She walked off with springy steps.
Lee Jun watched until the owners were out of sight, then went back in.
The cats had been waving front paws from the cat tower the whole time.
“Such affectionate creatures.”
Lee Jun gave them a pleased smile and tidied the lobby. As he finished, his phone beeped.
“What’s this guy calling for?”
Seeing the screen, Lee Jun answered immediately.
-Big brother. It’s me.
The gravelly booming voice hit his ear the moment he picked up.
“You’re overflowing with energy this late?”
-Wahaha. Had none left, but hearin’ big brother’s voice fills me right up. Doin’ well?
The volume contradicted his words, rattling Lee Jun’s eardrums.
“I’m fine. You? Something up?”
-Nah, livin’ good thanks to big brother. But big brother.
“Yeah.”
-So can’t I crash at your place a bit?
“My place?”
-Yeah. Small animals come by sometimes here too, but dang. They’re so tiny, feels like any slip and somethin’ bad happens. So help me out, big brother?
“You know I opened up? Place is small, not many cases. Old hospital maybe, but ah—want me to ask Woo-jin? They’re hiring vets.”
-But big brother’s hospital is perfect. Honestly, what fancy equipment in this countryside spot? Just basics to learn.
“Yeah?”
-Big brother, take me in for half a year. I’ll handle cleanin’ and chores myself!
“Cleaning what…… Fine. Come on over.”
-Big brother. Thank you.