Give Me Some Pride
“Really? Is that actually possible?”
“Of course it is. Hurry up and come sign the contract before the landlord changes their mind. Grab the second-floor keys too. The interior's all done up, so you could just move in your stuff and start operating right away.”
“That's such a relief. I was just asking on the off chance.”
The unexpected good news from the real estate boss left me stunned even in broad daylight.
We'd been looking into properties to expand after hiring more staff at Hanmaum Animal Hospital.
Our current spot still had plenty of time left on the lease, and branching out elsewhere would've been a stretch both geographically and financially.
So I'd reached out to the agent on a whim, and now they were saying we could use the long-vacant second floor of our own building?
Half of me felt a huge weight lift, the other half pure surprise.
“The landlord really likes Dr. Baek. You know how it was, right? They left the first and second floors empty planning to let their son live on the third and use the lower floors for business later. They turned down everyone else who asked to rent the second floor, even after all this time. But with Dr. Baek, they hand it over right away?”
“Wow. I'm so grateful. Could I get the landlord's contact info? I'd like to send a little gift at least.”
“Oh, no need. The landlord's a rental business owner, so I only deal with their agent. I don't even know who they are. If you wanna give a gift, give it to me. Remember how I gave you a discount on the commission before?”
“I've got a great memory for that stuff. I'll bring some premium drinks—heavy on both hands.”
“Hohoho~ Drinks sound perfect. See you soon.”
“Yes, see you in a bit.”
I slammed the stamp on the contract.
Sent the final payment.
Got the keys.
Rushed straight to the agency, and everything wrapped up smooth as silk, in a flash.
Back at the hospital, I headed up to the second floor with Ssal-i, who'd insisted on tagging along.
“Whew... Kinda nervous for no reason.”
—Hurry! Open it quick, Dad!
“Okay. Dad's got it?”
—Yeah! Hurry!
I'd already been using the first and third floors, so I had a rough idea of the layout and interior, but it still felt strangely like unpacking into a new home.
Creeeak—clunk!
I carefully inserted the key and turned it. Ssal-i bounced around, flapping his fluffy ears.
—Whoa! It's so clean! And huge!
“Ssal-i, no jumping. You'll kick up dust.”
—Hehe. You're such a worrywart, Dad!
“Keep ignoring me and running around, and it's bath time. No choice.”
—Eeeek? Nooo, I won't run anymore, Dad! I hate baths!
I lightly patted Ssal-i as he scampered under my legs, whining.
Ssal-i, it's bath day anyway.
The empty office echoed only with our laughter, stirring odd feelings.
Just a year ago, I was scraping by, stressing over rent and payroll. Now we had a whole extra floor.
And I'm not alone anymore.
As warm, fuzzy emotions bubbled up, I stroked Ssal-i. His propeller tail whipped up a cloud of dust, thumping the floor faster and faster.
More staff.
An expanded hospital.
And now the Big Rock animals as neighbors (though some were hibernating).
Without meeting Ssal-i, none of this would've happened.
Less the fruit of my efforts, more the luck of meeting him.
—Huh? Dad? Why the sudden hug?
“Just... grateful for you. And I like you.”
I knelt and squeezed the dusty, fluffy Ssal-i tight.
Until now, life had been a hamster wheel—just going through the motions since birth.
But not today.
—I like it too! Oh yeah, Dad.
“Yeah?”
—Ssal-i loves you too, hehe.
“Dad loves Ssal-i a ton too.”
The vacant chill fled, filled by Ssal-i's warmth.
His curly, plush fur brought a misty-eyed warmth to my eyes.
No clear reason, not sad, just tears welling up.
If I had to pinpoint it, maybe the long-lost coziness and security.
—Hehe, Ssal-i loves Dad so much that today...
“Yeah. Bath time now?”
—Nooo! If you love Ssal-i, no bath!
“Yup. It's bath day. Relax, Ssal-i. Tense up and I'll carry you.”
—Hwaaaang.
Chuckling at his aegyo whining, we left the second floor.
With Ssal-i, this year would be full of good things—that baseless hope filled my heart.
I wanted to believe it today.
New Year felt like just days ago, but February was already here.
And today was the first week of February.
Hanmaum Animal Hospital buzzed with tension from the moment staff arrived.
“Starting today, I'm veterinarian Oh Ha-yoon, joining Hanmaum Animal Hospital. True to our name, I'll work as one with our patients and their guardians for the best care. Nice to meet you all.”
The daughter of Veterinary Association Chairman Oh Tae-san.
Oh Ha-yoon's first day.
“Hello. I'm the new assistant dog groomer...”
Besides her, we hired a grooming assistant and two nurses.
But Kang Ha-neul and Kim Mi-so's glares fixed solely on Oh Ha-yoon's bob haircut.
Hmm. No matter how I think about it, something's off. Why'd she come to our hospital?
Sigh. I should've checked her resume closer. But even if I missed it, why'd the director hire her?
I'd led the hiring, but they couldn't drop their guard knowing who she was.
Cute. These folks.
Oh Ha-yoon, meanwhile, smirked with her one-sided dimple, unfazed by their laser stares.
Thus, amid the scrutiny and tension, her life at Hanmaum began in earnest.
“Hello, guardian. Hi there. You must be Yeppi? What pretty eyes.”
“Oh? I heard someone besides the director would handle it, thought it'd be Dr. Kang. Didn't know there was a female vet here.”
“I've joined Hanmaum this month. Nice to meet you—hope we get along. Yeppi's here for scaling, right? Let's check the tartar first.”
A week passed.
“Lulu's ear inflammation's way down. Pugs have narrow ear canals, so they're prone to outer ear infections. I'll prescribe anti-inflammatories—just keep up the good care.”
Weeks later, Kang Ha-neul and Kim Mi-so's wariness started crumbling.
Oh Ha-yoon's work was flawless.
Time flew, and a month after she started, the new staff gathered for a group dinner.
“Ha-yoon unni~”
“Mi-so, you! Why're you so cute!”
“Eek! Can't get this close to unni. Too... too close already!”
“C'mere, cutie. Unni and you are drinking till we drop tonight!”
“Okayyy!”
Kim Mi-so and Oh Ha-yoon had rocketed to sworn-sisters level.
“Director. Shouldn't we stop those two?”
“...Looks like everyone's having fun. Enjoy yourselves.”
“Haha, guess I was overly cautious. You heading out first, Director?”
“Yeah. Got a shoot tomorrow, so I should go. If you go to a fourth round after the third, use the company card.”
“Haha. Got it. We'll eat hearty. Head on home.”
No boss around, and the party loosens up—that's the rule everywhere.
“Think I'll walk today.”
Home was two or three bus stops from the restaurant.
Chilly, but good for digestion and shaking off the buzz.
Buzzed from the lively vibes after ages, I just wanted to stroll.
“Whoa~ Rats everywhere? Pest control must've missed spots. Kids, wandering this neighborhood's dangerous. Gotta go far~ real far.”
—What? Drunk human? Ignore him.
—Yeah. Wobbling like that, he'll faceplant soon. Pathetic.
“Heh heh. If it hurts, come to Hanmaum Animal Hospital.”
—Sigh, drunk humans.
—Best to dodge. Let's go.
Best part: chatting freely with animals, no prying eyes.
I ran into dumpster-diving rat couples.
And like now, bumped into friends by chance.
“Huh? Goet-eo?”
—Eh? Doc? What're you doing here?
“Just heading home after dinner... Wait, what about you all the way out here? Told you to send Il-nami or Maeng-maeng-i if food's short. Crossing the street's risky too.”
—Not here for food. Big human... er, heh. Nero Dad feeds me daily.
Goet-eo shrugged casually and plopped beside me, glancing at his butt.
Pat pat—
Butt smack request.
As I obliged, he purred and continued.
—Plus, I learned crosswalks. Even at night, time it right—no biggie.
“Dude, it is a biggie. And I taught you for emergencies only, not casual strolls. Nighttime, half the people ignore signals, slick.
—Hmm. True?
“Obviously. Look at you guys. Other cats' turf, and you just 'Sure, won't trespass~'?”
—Hmm, yeah... Anyway, smack harder. Feels good, hehe.
“No hard smacks, dude. Nerve clusters there—too rough and sensory overload'll... Wait, never mind. So why're you here? Where's Kaos and Cheese?”
Always together, odd seeing Goet-eo solo in human turf.
—Ahem. Private business. Kaos didn't wanna intrude.
“Private... business?”
Goet-eo smirked slyly, poking me. No clue what he meant.
Not foraging, so what private biz cross-town? Kaos skipping made sense, but no Cheese either. About to ask when—
—Whoa, they're here!
Goet-eo jumped up, sharp voice leaking.
“Huh?”
He stared into the dark alley.
Six glowing eyes emerged slyly from the shadows where Goet-eo looked.
Front paws swaggering high—definitely Cheese.
...That's Cheese. Who's the rest?
Shy-pawed flanks: unfamiliar cats.
Recruiting for Nero faction—Kaos faction? Then—
—Doc. Listen. Cheese brought females.
“Ah...”
Cat mating peak: early Feb-Apr, Jun-Aug. Unneutered? Heat year-round.
Expansion? Nah, dating biz.
Strays wary of strangers—I started to slip away when—
—Since we're here, one favor.
“Favor?”
Goet-eo hesitated, then asked.
Look at this sly punk.
Like a nephew wheedling pocket money for a blind date—adorable.
“Convenience store on the way. Grab some kibble?”
—No, not that.
“Not that?”
Expected wet food cans—way off.
What else could I do for strange cats?
—Um... sorry, but. Give me some pride.
“...Pride?”
—Pretend I hit you a few times.
“......?”
The booze? Or too absurd?
Dreamlike nonsense—I had to ask again.
“Hit me? You want me to... pretend you hit me?”
—Yeah... tsk. Me and Cheese need to save face. Help a bro?
Still sounded like a thug cat threatening a beatdown. Begging with those boot-wearing-cat eyes. This cat...
First since orphanage to openly declare beating me—human or animal.
—Damn! Females see us! Know how hard female strays are here? Cooperate. Don't you wanna be uncle, man?
“Not really...”
—Oh, incoming! No time!
Free treatments, meals, Big Rock play hunts. And this in return.
Sometimes—rarely—better if I couldn't hear animals.
“...Make it quick.”
—Kehihi, pose up. I'll go easy.
Whispered that, then Goet-eo reared up, growling loud.
—Hey! What's this human doing here? Kaos faction's number two, me Goet-eo, won't forgive!
Thud! Thud! Whack! Thud thud thud!
He pummeled my legs.
—That psycho...?
—Whoa, what's up? Goet-eo oppa fighting a human alone?
—What happened, oppa? You're number two? Not you, oppa?
Cheese knew me—hunting success.
Unlike Goet-eo, sane Cheese would save me this humiliation.
—Aigoo babies. Number two's me, tsk. Wait here.
—O-oppa?! Dangerous! Don't gooo!
—Crazy! Oppas not scared of humans?
My hopes vaporized like breath in cold air.
—Goet-eo you maniac! Showing off solo in front of the girls?
—Think I'd watch you yap alone? Thug?
“Haa. Everyone, ease up... Ack! Claws! No claws! New pants, you punks!”
Vet throwing himself to boost stray cats' pride.
That was me.
—Die! Die, you slippery human!
—My girls, I protect!
Pride overriding sense, desperate cries amid sly claw pricks.
Time to bolt for real—
—Uh?!
—L-Let's go.
Pummeling duo halted, fled into dark with females.
Dunno why, but my eyes misted. Not just pain. Hangover, surely. For real.
“Ah... Living long, and...”
Trembling hands pushing up from ground—
“Uh... Director?”
“......?”
Turning, Oh Ha-yoon's bob swayed as she looked down at me.