Chapter 53
Chapter 53
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 53
Chapter Title: Sharing Meals
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A large food bowl decorated with a bone drawing and two small, adorable ones engraved with cat faces.
The three bowls formed a triangle, with three heads hovering above them.
The two small bowls were licked clean, but the large one was only half empty.
Gray sniffed at Aji's bowl and made a sour face.
[Why aren't you eating-nyaong? You barely touched your food yesterday too, didn't you-nyaong? Does it not taste good-nyaong?]
[Yesterday's was like that, but this looks tasteless too.]
Shadow stuck his nose into Aji's bowl and shook his head.
[Uh, no... It tastes good.]
[You don't have to say that-nyaong. It doesn't even smell savory. It looks so bland-nyaong. You're amazing for eating even that much-nyaong.]
[Wait a sec!]
Shadow picked up one piece of Aji's kibble.
Crunch!
A crisp sound followed by the crunch of chewing.
Ptoo!
Shadow spat it out and grimaced.
[Ugh! So tasteless. How did you manage this?]
[Is it really that bad-nyaong?]
This time, Gray grabbed a piece and chewed it.
Crunch crunch.
He made the same face as Shadow amid the cheerful crunch that pet owners love.
[This is way too bland-nyaong!]
Gray tapped Aji's leg.
[Sorry-nyaong!]
Gray was genuinely sorry to Aji.
He had seen Aji picking at his food last night but assumed it was just adjusting to the new environment.
To think he was eating such tasteless kibble.
[I should've saved some of mine for you-nyaong.]
[Yeah. From now on, I'll share mine.]
[Let's do that-nyaong. Let's share our kibble with Aji-nyaong!]
Gray and Shadow showed their resolve.
But Aji just looked puzzled at the sight.
'Tastes great to me, though?'
The kibble in front of him was the best he'd ever had.
He couldn't understand why the cats were making such a fuss over it.
But that was just his inner thought.
'They’re so warm.'
The cats were willing to share their food with him.
Aji loved that they were thinking of him.
[Thanks.]
[It's only natural-nyaong. We can't let our comrades go hungry-nyaong.]
[Yeah. Friends share their food.]
Comrade. Friend.
Aji's face flushed at words he'd never heard before.
His black fur hid it well, but his short tail wagged gently.
The tail that had been stuck flat to his rear until yesterday was quite active today.
[No, really. This is delicious too.]
[No need to say that-nyaong. Tasteless is tasteless-nyaong.]
[Exactly. The Benevolent Brother went too far. Giving you something this bland. I'll tell him myself.]
[We'll tell him to give you something tasty-nyaong!]
Dog food has less protein than cat food and half the sodium, making it bland overall.
The cats' reactions were natural after tasting it, but to Aji, it was heavenly.
They wanted to trade this delicious food away.
[No, it's good. Really.]
Aji shook his head vigorously.
[The brother said to say if it's tasteless-nyaong. He'll give you something good if you do-nyaong!]
[Yeah. The Benevolent Brother gives good stuff.]
[No, it really is good.]
The cats' heads tilted left, then right in unison at Aji's repeated claim.
[Then why aren't you eating-nyaong?]
[Exactly. If it's good, why leave it?]
[...Me.]
Aji mumbled, and Gray asked back.
[What was that-nyaong?]
[I'll get...]
[Scolded, you say-nyaong?]
[...Yeah.]
The cats' heads tilted left, then right again.
[Why?]
[Why get scolded-nyaong?]
[...Can't eat it all.]
[Why?]
[Why not-nyaong?]
The cats genuinely couldn't understand what Aji meant.
Why leave food? Why get scolded for it?
Their four round eyes stared at him, and Aji answered slowly.
[Well, the owner hits if I eat a lot. So I can only eat a little. If I eat a lot and poop, he hits me. If I pee a lot, he hits me too...]
The two cats' big eyes widened even more.
They stared at Aji without blinking.
A brief silence passed, then Gray let out a roar.
Roooaaar-nyaong!
[That's ridiculous-nyaong!]
Kyaaaaooo!
[That guy's insane!]
Shadow growled too.
[Should've scratched him more yesterday-nyaong!]
[Yeah. Should've bitten harder!]
The cats yelled furiously.
But then, as if on cue, they sat down and hugged the cowering Aji.
***
Meanwhile, Lee Jun's face crumpled as he watched the ward on the monitor.
"Insane."
The word slipped from Shadow's mouth now came from Lee Jun's.
"Pardon?"
Gong Jeong-ah was shocked to see the soft cats suddenly turn fierce and angry.
Even more surprising was them hugging the dog with the world's most pitiful looks.
She was curious why they'd gotten mad, but she was clutching her hands and sparkling-eyed at the scene.
Hearing that from Lee Jun was a bigger surprise.
"Ah, it seems Aji suffered even more than I thought."
"What do you mean...? Is it related to the cats getting fierce just now?"
"Yes."
"How...?"
"You see the kibble left in Aji's bowl?"
"Yes."
"I thought he left it yesterday because of the environment change killing his appetite. Or maybe he just eats small amounts since he always ate little. You'll see later, but Aji is..."
Lee Jun paused, sighed, and continued.
"He's really skinny. I thought his stomach had shrunk..."
That's why he hadn't pushed Aji to eat more last night despite the small amount.
Better to increase gradually than risk tummy trouble from overeating suddenly.
"And?"
"He got hit for eating a lot."
One might wonder how he knew, but that wasn't the point now.
"Hit?"
"Yes. Hit for eating a lot and pooping a lot."
"What kind of psycho is that?"
Gong Jeong-ah exploded in anger.
"Who does that? Doesn't he poop himself?"
Her anger made crude words slip from the actress's mouth.
"Exactly. People like that should never own animals again."
"Ugh, seriously. That psycho. I want to give him a taste of his own medicine."
"Agreed."
"Pathetic jerk. How cowardly to do that to animals that can't even speak?"
"Right? The problem is there are so many like him. Public cases are bad enough, but hidden home abuse like Aji's is rampant. Because they can't speak, like you said."
"I'm so mad."
Gong Jeong-ah's pale face flushed red to her neck.
"Hold on."
Lee Jun stood and said to her.
"I'll go reassure Aji that he can eat it all."
"Can I come too...?"
She swallowed her plea, calming herself.
She knew abused animals like Aji feared strangers since getting into animals.
"Not yet. He's still very anxious. But everyone's fondness here has relaxed him a bit... I'll ask him."
"Yes... Huh?"
Gong Jeong-ah blinked in surprise at his casual reply, but Lee Jun was already out.
"Ask him? Does Aji nod or something?"
She tilted her head and fixed on the monitor.
Meanwhile, Lee Jun entered the ward.
The cats hissed fiercely as he opened the door.
[Where's that guy-nyaong?]
[Where is he? Just say. I'll bite him hard right now.]
[Right-nyaong! We went too easy yesterday-nyaong. I'll bring the comrades and turn him to mincemeat-nyaong!]
[Yeah. Bluebird will join forces too.]
"Calm down. You'll get in big trouble."
[Aji suffering is the big trouble-nyaong!]
[Right. That guy needs chewing up good.]
Lee Jun thought as he listened.
'Evergreen and Bluebird together make over a hundred. If they all attacked at once, it'd be no joke.'
Unrealistic, but imagining it was satisfying.
"Punishing that guy matters, but Aji's recovery is priority. Got it?"
[Y-Yeah-nyaong. Give Aji tastier stuff-nyaong.]
[Yeah, he got hit 'cause he's weak. Needs to eat lots and get strong.]
"Heard that? Eat a lot."
[But still...]
"It's fine. This is all yours. Eat it all, and you'll get more. You saw Gray and Shadow clean their bowls yesterday, right?"
[Yes.]
Aji nodded.
"But today? Less kibble than yesterday?"
Aji shook his head.
"Eat it all, get more. That's how it works. So finish this."
[Give him tasty stuff-nyaong!]
[Lots of it!]
The cats chimed in from the side.
"Got it. Aji, anything you want to eat?"
Aji blinked. What did he want?
Then he remembered envying another dog at the clinic once.
[...Long and smells yummy... They said it's super soft...]
Aji dredged up the memory haltingly.
"Ah, soft stick?"
[Those are good-nyaong!]
[Yum.]
The cats licked their chops.
"Aji, finish your meal, get a soft stick."
[Really okay to eat it all?]
Aji double-checked with Lee Jun.
"Of course. Finish the meal, then snack time."
Lee Jun petted Aji gently.
Aji tensed briefly, then relaxed.
It was a kind touch on his head, not a hit.
Noticing, Lee Jun smiled.
He kept petting as he said,
"No need to fear anymore. Your old owner is gone."
[If he comes back, I'll teach him-nyaong!]
[I won't let him off either.]
"See how strong they are?"
[Yes.]
Remembering the cats attacking his owner yesterday made him feel okay even if the owner returned.
"Oh, and someone wants to see you? Really nice person."
[Who...?]
Aji's neck shrank, but Gray spoke.
[Trust the brother-nyaong! If he says good, it's good-nyaong!]
[Gray's right. Benevolent Brother is good.]
Now "Benevolent Brother" flowed easily from Shadow.
"Wants to give you treats. Okay?"
It was the vet teacher endorsed by Gray and Shadow.
Aji nodded slowly.
[Yes.]
Lee Jun nodded at the camera and stood.
"I'll grab snacks. Wait a bit."
He petted Aji once more and left.
Staring at the closed door, Aji blinked.
'Weird.'
Why? Met the teacher yesterday, but why so nice?
Why are these cats nice too?
And everyone else looked at him warmly.
Even the huge scary teacher got mad at his owner for him.
[Heh, hehehe.]
It felt strange and awkward, but he just laughed.
The cats urged Aji on.
[Eat up-nyaong!]
[Yeah, eat quick.]
[Okay.]
Aji sighed at his bowl.
A sigh of relief.
'The teacher said it's okay to eat it all.'
Tears welled in Aji's big eyes.
***
Crunch crunch crunch.
Aji's chewing sounds brought motherly smiles to listeners.
Gong Jeong-ah in the exam room, Animal World Forever staff, Jang So-ra, and Go Gi-jin all smiled the same.
"Ugh! Turning a good eater into a stick?"
The soft-hearted Go Gi-jin teared up and gripped PD Park Ju-hwan's arm tight.
"PD-nim. Never let that guy's face on screen. Please, yeah?"
"Ah, got it. Okay, so release my arm..."
Park Ju-hwan squeezed out a reply, arm nearly breaking.
"Ah, got excited. Haha."
Go Gi-jin laughed and loosened, letting Park sigh in relief.
Gong Jeong-ah laughed too.
"PD-nim, you must honor Strong Teacher's request. Or else."
"Urk, seems so."
As Park stepped back, Gong continued.
"I beg you too. Like Director said, worried that guy might abuse more animals."
"You'll make sure he can't, right PD-nim?"
Lee Jun backed her.
"We'll amp up the editing. Aji's story will outrage viewers without it anyway. Haha."
Park laughed heartily, then added.
"If Gong Actress holds Aji and sheds one tear—no, just sighs, viewers will see that guy as a traitor."
"Oh come on, PD-nim. Such exaggeration."
"Hoho, just facts."
"True. Ratings skyrocket with Gong Actress's narration alone."
Lee Jun thought while hearing the broadcasters.
'With her empathy, she'll understand Aji's hardship.'
He grabbed the promised snack from the shelf and offered it to Gong Jeong-ah.
"Gong Actress, want to give this to Aji?"
"Me? Is that okay?"
"It will be."
As she took it, Lee Jun added.
"You'll be the one giving Aji his first treat."
"...First treat?"
Gong Jeong-ah's eyes held many emotions as she repeated it.