New Family Members
On the way home, I gained some new family members. In the end, three cats followed me all the way—from the alley to the apartment entrance. I tried to shake them off at the elevator, but the striped tabby rubbed its cheek against my leg with a drawn-out nyaah—.
“Go on, get…” No. Absolutely not. I really can’t raise you guys. Haneul waved her hands, but the cats didn’t budge. Soon the elevator doors opened, and with a chorus of nya— and nyaang—, the cats piled inside after her.
‘……’
The doors closed.
In the end, that night, three new feline residents settled into Haneul’s tiny studio apartment. The tabby claimed a spot on top of the blanket. Cheese, with his yellow fur, curled into a ball beside the pillow. Kkamangi, the black cat, stuck close to the foot of the bed and closed his eyes.
Haneul stared blankly at the ceiling. The Halo floating above her head sparkled brightly. The cats seemed fascinated by it too, swatting at it with their paws.
What am I supposed to do with this?
There were problems everywhere she looked. No cat food. No litter box. She had absolutely nothing prepared. It had all happened so suddenly. And yet, in the middle of her panic, the cats had already fallen fast asleep without a care in the world.
I guess I should sleep too.
She had no idea what would happen next, but somehow it would work out. It had to.
The next morning, the moment she opened her eyes she was greeted by an endless stream of notifications on her phone.
“Eek, what is all this?”
Just scrolling through them was exhausting. Then one internet article in particular caught her eye. It was sitting at the top of the real-time search rankings.
“I keep telling you I’m not an angel,” Haneul grumbled, puffing her cheeks out like a chipmunk.
Of course, there were countless other articles related to the “angel” as well. Eyewitness accounts outside the Association building, sightings in the subway, submitted photos. There was even one of her walking through an alley with three cats trailing behind her.
“They even got a picture with the cats.”
Haneul stared intently at the photo of herself and her new companions. It had turned out pretty well, actually.
In the meantime, Kkamangi had climbed onto her stomach and begun his signature kneading. Press. Squish.
“Ah, Kkamangi! Not there!”
His paw had landed on a spot that was almost flat but still slightly rounded. Startled, Haneul quickly lifted him and set him down beside her.
Nyaah— Cheese stretched lazily at her feet. The tabby remained curled up on the blanket, breathing softly in deep sleep.
Well… there’s nothing I can do about it now.
The articles had spread like wildfire, but there was no way to stop them. She had no idea what to do. Her head hurt. She hated thinking about exhausting things like this.
More importantly—
Gurgle.
She was starving.
Better eat something first.
She had to feed the owner before she could take care of the cats. With that thought, Haneul opened the refrigerator. As expected, it was completely empty.
“Ugh……”
Her face crumpled. Even after earning ten billion won, her fridge was still broke.
Nya?Nya— The cats tilted their heads in perfect imitation of her distress.
Right then, her phone rang.
It’s Jaewon.
Haneul answered without hesitation.
“Yes, hello?”
—Hello, Miss Haneul. Good morning. Have you seen the articles?
The articles. He was talking about the ones she had just looked at.
“I did. There were so many……”
—Yes, the Association is currently preparing an official statement, so please refrain from making any separate responses and stay quiet for now. We also have a formal contract review scheduled for today. Would that time work for you?
“Yes, I’ll be there. After I eat first.”
While speaking, Haneul scrolled through the food delivery app. Her face lit up with a bright, goofy grin full of anticipation.
—Ah, one more thing. A security team will be assigned starting today. Please come out to the front of your residence in the morning.
“A security team?”
—It seems you forgot. It was included in the contract conditions.
…Right. She had completely forgotten.
A short while later, a knock sounded at the door. When Haneul opened it, two men were standing in the hallway. Both well over 180 centimeters tall. Black suits. Sunglasses. They were unmistakably bodyguards.
Nervously, Haneul spoke first.
“Um, so……”
The two bodyguards glanced at each other for a split second.
……It’s the angel.
The person we’re supposed to protect is way too cute. This is dangerous. We must protect her at all costs.
They swallowed hard without realizing it. These were veterans approaching their tenth year in the security business, yet guarding an angel was a first for both of them.
“Hello, Cha Haneul-nim. I’m Team Leader Bae of the security team.”
“I’m Team Leader Lee of the security team.”
The two answered in rather stiff, formal tones. They kept glancing at each other, clearly tense.
Haneul looked up at them and asked hesitantly.
“Ah… um, would it be all right if I just called you Team Leader Bae and Team Leader Lee?”
“That is acceptable.”
“Please do.”
They bowed in perfect unison.
It was a little awkward, but they didn’t seem like bad people. Maybe that was why she felt comfortable enough to say,
“Then, Team Leaders. I have a favor to ask……”
“Anything at all. Just say the word.”
Haneul fiddled with her golden hair.
“Could you come with me to buy some clothes?”
“……Pardon?”
Team Leader Bae and Team Leader Lee stared down at her blankly. They quickly snapped out of it and responded with professional composure.
“Then we will bring the vehicle around.”
“Please wait just a moment.”
Wait, they even had a vehicle? Now that she thought about it, there had been a clause like that in the contract.
A car? So I get a car too?
Her heart fluttered. It had been a long-held dream of hers—riding around in her own car! Maybe that dream was finally about to come true.
Following Team Leader Bae and Team Leader Lee’s guidance, she headed to the front of the apartment building. A sleek black vehicle waited there—a polished SUV that practically gleamed under the sunlight.
One of the security team members opened the rear door for her. Haneul stood there, stunned.
Is this seriously my life now?
The sudden, surreal reality hit her. Her life had skyrocketed overnight. It was a bigger surge than any stock could dream of!
A silly little smile spread across her face.
She climbed into the plush seat with a soft poof.
So this is what twenty billion feels like.
It was finally starting to sink in.
The bodyguard in the passenger seat glanced at her through the rearview mirror. The golden-haired girl was looking out the window, her Halo casting a gentle glow throughout the car’s interior. She seemed to be smiling. Was a trip to the mall really that exciting?
……Ahem.
She was dangerously cute. The security team quickly turned their eyes forward again.
“……Is the destination the shopping mall, ma’am?”
“Yes. I need to buy clothes.”
“Understood.”
It was a short exchange. Haneul turned her gaze back to the window.
By the way, I’ve never bought women’s clothes before.
She didn’t even know her size. Would large be fine? Or was that too big? She had no idea what styles would suit her, or even which stores she should enter.
What am I going to do…?
While Haneul sat there groaning in worry, the black SUV arrived at the shopping mall. With a smooth stop, she got out and stood at the first-floor entrance. Rows of women’s clothing brands stretched out before her.
Ah, I can just ask them.
Haneul turned to the security team.
“Excuse me, do you know where to buy women’s clothes?”
The two men exchanged a glance.
“……Well.”
“……We’re not entirely sure.”
…Ah. Of course.
The three of them stood there for a moment, blankly staring at the women’s clothing stores.
In the end, they chose the most ordinary-looking shop. Team Leader Bae opened the door for Haneul first, and she stepped inside. Team Leader Lee followed close behind.
A store employee approached with a bright smile.
“Welco—”
She froze. Her eyes quickly scanned Haneul from head to toe. Golden hair. The glowing Halo. Two bodyguards in suits. Her smile stiffened for a second, then bloomed twice as brightly.
“Welcome! Is there anything specific you’re looking for today?”
“Um… I’m not really sure. I don’t have any clothes to wear right now.”
“I’ll help you! What kind of styles do you usually like?”
“Hmm. Let’s see……”
Haneul frowned and rolled her eyes in obvious confusion.
She really doesn’t know anything, does she?
The employee blinked, then gave Haneul another quick once-over with a professional eye. Soft golden hair, porcelain skin, large sparkling eyes like a doll.
She’d look beautiful in anything.
Her hands immediately sprang into action.
“Just a moment! I’ll pick some things out for you!”
In the blink of an eye, two more employees appeared. They pulled clothes off the racks, held them up against Haneul’s body to check the fit, and began selecting outfits with enthusiasm. Before long, a mountain of clothing had piled up in front of the fitting room.
“How about this one? Oh, this would look great too! It matches the gold tone of the ring above your head!”
“Ah, um… yes……”
Haneul stared blankly at the growing pile.
This is overwhelming…
In her entire life, she had never spent this much time or effort choosing clothes. Still, it wasn’t exactly a bad experience.
“Go ahead and try them on!”
At the employee’s urging, Haneul was practically shoved into the fitting room. She picked up one garment and stared at it.
But… how exactly do you put this on?
Confused, she flipped it back and forth. She couldn’t find the zipper. She couldn’t even tell which was the front or back. She tried draping it over her shoulder, then took it off again, repeating the process several times.
This isn’t working.
She urgently called out to the team leaders.
“Excuse me, Team Leader Bae?”
She knocked on the fitting room door.
“Yes, go ahead.”
“How do I wear this?”
There was a brief silence on the other side. She could hear Team Leader Bae whispering quietly.
Team Leader, do you know how?
……I don’t know either.
I don’t know either.
Another silence. Then Team Leader Bae spoke carefully.
“……We’ll call an employee over for you right away.”
“Ah, yes.”
Of course they wouldn’t know. She should have just asked an employee from the beginning.
……Haneul quietly buried that rather rude thought deep in the back of her mind.