Chapter 47: That's Not It
“How could this be? Heh heh, I never dreamed you'd be Byul-i's old owner, Director Baek. The world really is small...”
The villa owner watched as Byul-i and I recognized each other, his face etched with disbelief. He handed me a handkerchief.
“Heh heh. Since it's fate, why not spend some time with Byul-i? As you know, she's getting on in years, and it's hard for her to get around.”
“......”
“She barely reacts even when I approach her, but the moment she saw you, she got right up. I can tell how much she loves you.”
“I...”
His kind words, laced with consideration, left me speechless. I didn't deserve to hear them.
“......”
I'd never imagined Byul-i could be just a few hours' drive away by car, let alone still alive.
After the whirlwind of joy, relief, and gratitude from seeing her, dark clouds of regret and self-recrimination tightened around my throat.
“Byul-i... loves staring at the fire.”
As I struggled to speak, the villa owner smiled warmly and continued.
“She has her favorite spot. I've got it all set up, so why not bring the other pups too?”
“Ah... yes. Thank you. Really, thank you so much.”
My mind was frozen solid; I could barely muster repeated thanks. The owner nodded with a gentle smile.
“Then head to the fire pit in the middle of the lawn. I'll bring Byul-i over.”
“...Please.”
—Bro Min-hyeok. See ya later.
“Yeah. See you soon, Byul-i.”
We were drawn to each other like magnets, hating even a moment apart. But as the owner suggested, I had to hand her over for now.
Even after leaving the shop, my head swirled with thoughts of Byul-i.
As we walked back to the annex in silence, Ssal-i spoke up hesitantly.
—Dad...
“Ah, sorry, Ssal-i. Dad's out of it right now and hasn't been taking proper care of you...”
Before my apology finished, Ssal-i wagged his fluffy ears side to side.
—It hurt seeing you so shocked. I should've explained first... it might've been better that way.
“What? You knew beforehand? That Byul-i was here? Wait, you knew about Byul-i?”
—Well... remember that day you got beat up by Cheese and Goet-eo...
Ssal-i kept talking the whole way to the annex, telling a story I couldn't have anticipated.
That day with the stray cats.
While I was drunk and mumbling to myself on the rooftop, Cheese and Goet-eo had overheard. They'd passed it on to Ssal-i and the Big Rock crew.
After that, Ssal-i and his Big Rock friends had scoured high and low for Byul-i's whereabouts.
“...No wonder. You've been skipping walks lately, transforming into new shapes and wandering everywhere. It was all for Dad? To find Byul-i?”
—Yeah. I didn't plan to keep it secret from the start. I wasn't even sure we'd find her... I wanted to tell you once we did, but we found her right on time...
Ssal-i's tail drooped like a guilty kid. I ruffled his curly fur and smiled.
“Ssal-i. Look at Dad. I'm not mad at all. If anything, thanks to you and your friends, I got to see Byul-i again. You have no idea how happy I am.”
—Really?
Ssal-i's tail gained momentum, wagging furiously.
“Of course. Seriously. You've given me the most precious gift.”
—Hehe. Good. It's the best birthday present!
“Hm? Birthday present? What do you mean?”
—A birthday present makes you feel good when you get it. So I wanted to see Dad happy as my birthday gift to you. Seeing you happy makes me happy too!
“...I see.”
I stopped walking, knelt, and hugged Ssal-i close.
His heart, seeing my joy as his own, warmed me more than the chilly spring breeze.
—Hehe. Let's hurry, Dad. Grandpa Byul-i's waiting.
“Grandpa Byul-i? Haha, right. Let's go.”
To me, Ssal-i still looked like a baby, but to him—a fellow dog—Byul-i must seem like a grandpa.
Determined not to keep Byul-i waiting any longer, I quickened my pace, gathered the Big Rock crew from the annex, and headed out.
—Running on the grass is fun too!
—Ehehehe! Feels great on the paws.
—Maeng-maeng's excited too! Feels like I could live as a dog now!
—Hm. Can I transform into a dog with wings?
—Hmm. Never thought of that. Probably not?
The annex had its own dog yard, but everyone seemed thrilled padding across the vast green lawn.
I called a halt to their windmill-tail wagging and chatter.
“Everyone... thank you. Thanks to you all, I could see Byul-i again.”
—Aw, bro. After all the help you've given us? Don't say that.
—Exactly! You've helped us so much! We're just glad we could help you back!
Thunder, now a Yorkshire Terrier, and Maeng-maeng, a Miniature Schnauzer, stuck out their tongues in big grins.
—It's only natural. Anytime you need anything, just say the word.
“Yeah, thank you all so much.”
—Oh, right. Doc, there's one thing I should mention.
Il-nam-i, transformed into a Bedlington Terrier, trotted over on his fluffy, sheep-like legs.
“What is it?”
—While helping you out, we asked around here and there. So... rumors about you might've spread a bit. You know, that you can talk to animals.
I stroked Il-nam-i's fluffy back as he looked sheepish.
“It's fine. I don't know how far it's gone, but actually, it's a good thing. I've been tired of explaining it every time I meet new animals.”
—Hm. Then it's all good.
Whether animals knew about me or not didn't matter anymore.
All my focus was on the little fluffball lounging on a cushion by the bonfire, gazing at the flames.
“Hoo...”
My hand trembled faintly holding the five leashes. The pups sensed my tension through them.
—Dad, let's go.
“...Yeah. We should.”
Like gazing at a crush, my body was rigid as ice—until Ssal-i's words gave me courage.
It was a strange feeling.
I'd just seen Byul-i moments ago, yet now I trembled even more.
What should I say?
What would Byul-i say to me?
Would she ask why I never came looking?
A torrent of thoughts choked my breath. But.
Step. Step.
I pushed my worries aside and walked toward the fire.
No matter how harsh her words, I couldn't keep Byul-i waiting any longer.
“Heh heh. You've arrived.”
“Sorry for the trouble.”
“It's routine—no trouble at all. I've got the fire going. Add logs from the pile when it dies down. And wear the fire gloves.”
The owner's shadowed wrinkles glowed handsomely in the firelight.
I truly thanked God for placing such a wonderful person by Byul-i's side during our time apart.
“Thank you.”
“There's a fence under the fire pit, so the pups won't get hurt. Still, keep an eye out. Well then... up we go.”
The owner, who'd lit the logs, smiled and stood.
“I'll be at the shop if you need anything. Oh, and I left Byul-i's favorite treats nearby. Share with your pups if they like them. Byul-i doesn't eat much anyway.”
“Thank you for your kindness.”
The owner gave Byul-i a light pat on the cushion and headed back to the shop.
Byul-i's milky-white eyes turned to me.
—You're here?
“Yeah. I'm here, Byul-i.”
Ever since gaining the ability to hear animals, I'd felt a disconnect with many former patients.
The cute-whining Chihuahua was macho; the ever-biting Doberman was a total softie. Differences abounded, big and small.
But not with Byul-i.
Our past conversations, when I couldn't understand her, now felt seamlessly translated—no awkwardness at all.
As if we'd been talking since the day we met.
“Ah, pups, say hi first. This is Byul-i, my...”
—Bro's little sibs. We know.
—Yeah! Grandpa Byul-i already met Ssal-i bro and Il-nam-i bro a few times.
“Already... met?”
Maeng-maeng's words hit me like a slap to the back of the head.
Ssal-i jumped in.
—Yeah. We've come a few times. Maeng-maeng, Nureoguman, and Thunder are new, but Ssal-i and Il-nam-i have talked with him. So don't worry about us, Dad. You two chat. We'll play later.
My baby Ssal-i had grown so thoughtful—it tugged at my heart.
“Thanks, Ssal-i. And thank you all.”
—Hehe. No biggie. We'll play over there. Follow me, guys.
—Let's go, Ssal-i bro!
—Heh heh. I'm the fastest.
Under Ssal-i's lead, they cleared out in a flash. Soon, only Byul-i and I remained by the fire.
And then.
“B-Byul-i...”
Alone at last, time rewound me to childhood.
—Hee hee. Bro, you're over thirty now, huh? Still such a baby. After all this time, you gonna cry the whole visit?
“N-no. Sorry, Byul-i.”
Byul-i blew a puff of breath, ruffling her bangs, and tottered toward me unsteadily.
—Hoo, Min-hyeok bro. My legs are... kinda weak. Can you pick me up?
“Ah, sorry. Of course.”
I gently lifted her onto my lap.
As a kid, she'd felt sturdy. Now, as an adult, she was so small and light.
Byul-i, whom I'd longed for so much—now right here, words stuck in my throat like a lump.
—Didn't you miss me, Min-hyeok bro?
“N-no! I missed you so much. It's just...”
—Me too. I missed you a ton. So smile now. I wanna see your smile.
“......”
What nonsense.
I'd known it since we first met.
'That's stage 4 cataracts... Surgery would be tough.'
Her snow-white eyes, like unmelting cataracts, couldn't see me.
“Right. Of course. Seeing you after so long, how could I not smile?”
—Hee hee. Your smile makes me happy.
Byul-i, who'd known me as a 10-year-old kid. To her, was I still that boy?
Even back then, without hearing her voice, she'd been considerate like this.
During clumsy walks or baths.
She'd always looked at me with that warm gaze.
But regardless of her big heart, I owed her an apology.
I pried my lips apart—like magnets—and spoke.
“Byul-i. I'm... really, truly sorry. Back then, I...”
—We were all so young. Even if I'd been in your shoes, I couldn't have done anything. It was sad, but your family had no choice but to let me go.
She called me bro, but Byul-i was always the mature one—then and now.
“...No. Wrong is wrong. Even with Kang-hyuk bro's dog allergy and his major surgery recovery, I shouldn't have let you go like that. Not for just a little while, but this long...”
Self-loathing, anger—all tangled, words failed me.
To calm me, Byul-i licked my hand wet.
—It took a while, yeah. But we met in the end. So forgive your family too.
“...Huh?”
Byul-i tilted her head up, smiling softly at me.
—Ssal-i told me. You cut ties with your family completely?
“......”
—If it's because of me, don't. And if it's about the organ donation... even more so. It's not like that, bro. Not like you think.
“...What?”