What the Hell Is This?
—S-scary. It... it reminds me of that time.
Ah. Is it scared because of the fence?
It was a short-lived thought.
Too focused on having a quiet, one-on-one talk without interruptions, he hadn't considered that he'd brought Ssal-i to a place that could trigger its trauma.
The iron fence encircling the rooftop vaguely overlapped with the Mapo Bridge railing in his mind. Recalling that day made his own stomach churn.
He gently stroked Ssal-i's trembling back, shivering like a Chihuahua, and said,
"Sorry, Ssal-i. I didn't think it through. Want to head down from the rooftop and talk somewhere else?"
—Y-yes. Sorry.
"No, it's fine. Honestly, rooftops kinda scare me a bit too."
As he pressed the elevator button again, Ssal-i lifted its furry face abruptly.
—...Really? But you're an adult.
He stepped into the now-open elevator and continued.
"Even adults have plenty of fears. They just hide it and don't show it."
Ssal-i followed him inside and said,
—Hmm... So holding back fear makes you an adult?
A chuckle escaped at Ssal-i's childlike words.
"Who knows? Maybe that's part of it. But Ssal-i, fear isn't always bad. Instead of shrinking away or seeing it negatively, you can turn it into a chance to grow."
—A chance... to grow?
"Yeah, a chance to grow. Knowing fear means you understand your own weak, soft spots."
He wasn't sure if Ssal-i grasped it.
Still, he pressed on.
"It might be hard to change all at once, but with steady effort, you can overcome any hardship, right?"
—Overcome... grow...
Ssal-i murmured his words back as the elevator reached the first floor.
In the meantime, the agility program for medium dogs had apparently given way to the small dogs' session.
The cafe-like indoor space on the first floor was empty.
"Ssal-i, how about we skip the walk and just chat here today? I've got some questions for you too."
Ssal-i wagged its tail like a windmill in response.
—Sure! But what do you want to ask?
There probably wouldn't be much to learn from asking a dog, but nothing ventured, nothing gained.
His ability to understand animals defied human science anyway.
He licked his lips and spoke up.
"Remember the day we first met?"
At the mention of the accident day, Ssal-i's furiously wagging tail slowed dramatically.
"When I came to on the riverbank that day—when I met you—I started hearing animals' voices for the first time."
Even as he asked, he felt ridiculous.
But the only one—animal or otherwise—he could ask about his change was Ssal-i.
"As you know, humans and animals don't usually talk. I wondered if you knew anything."
—Right. Because I asked for it.
He hadn't expected much.
But it knew? And asked for it?
Before he could follow up on the baffling words—
—Hey, who's this? Isn't this the hairless Jindo mutt that always lay around like a sack of barley? Nah, that weirdly curly fur—Schnauzer mix or something?
A standard poodle that looked full-grown approached with a sneering grin, sauntering lazily.
—The whiny bitch who always moped around is wagging at a human now? Look at this rootless mongrel punk.
The dark brown standard poodle, like a chicken leg deep-fried in old oil.
It snickered with an oddly irritating tone, prowling the area.
As if picking a fight on purpose.
—Ears clogged with fur? Hey, you ignoring me? How old are you, punk?
Ssal-i sighed wearily at the nonstop taunts.
—Five months.
—Ha, five months? Pffft. I'm two years old, kid. When an adult talks, you listen proper—why you keep—
Thwack!
Before the poodle could finish, Ssal-i's front paw slapped its face.
A perfect hook, arcing flawlessly.
And then.
Thwack! Thwack thwack!
True to animal nature, perhaps?
The relentless payback started in a flash.
Ssal-i had grown a lot in the past month, but pummeling a full-grown standard poodle with ear-boxing combos...
Ssal-i kept throwing hooks, speaking in a dry tone.
—Hey, asshole. Aren't you a mongrel? Why call me one? You're a mutt too—why keep saying it, you mutt?
—Ow, it hurts! Hurts!
It hadn't bitten, but the poodle was out of it.
Ssal-i had hit hard.
Only when dust flew from its fur did the taunter seem to learn manners, tucking tail and fleeing.
They say three Jindos can take a tiger... Mix or not, blood runs true.
Ssal-i, having chased off the poodle that looked a fist bigger, turned back to him casually, as if nothing happened.
—Sorry, mister. Where were we?
"Whoa... badass."
—What? I'm a haetae.
"Right, because you're a haetae... Huh? Haetae?"
His hand paused mid-stroke on Ssal-i's proudly posed back.
Yeah. The kind of fib a pup this age would tell.
Human kids spin tall tales in early childhood too.
With Santa real and endless playtime for imagination.
That day they'd fallen in, a giant rubber haetae float bobbed on the Han River—probably sparked it.
—It'll take a bit to explain how you started understanding animals. You got time, mister?
"Yeah, plenty."
He'd come hoping for answers, but none seemed forthcoming. Still, seeing Ssal-i's tail wag happily brought an unstoppable smile.
—So, you jumped in the Han to save me, right? I dragged you to shore, but you wouldn't wake.
"Wait—what? You dragged me to shore? Swimming?"
This was a story he didn't remember.
Nor did his dad's hospital staff or investigating cops know it.
Plus, a month ago, Ssal-i was tiny—forearm-sized. Dragging him to shore? Shocking.
—Oh, you didn't know. Yeah. I was smaller then, super tough, but wind blew toward shore, so a little swim got us there easy.
The poodle-slapper vanished; Ssal-i wagged innocently again.
—Hehe, no need to be so grateful. You passed out hugging me to save me—it was only right I saved you. Anyway, I barely hauled you up, but no waking. You didn't hear me. So I asked Haetae-nim.
"Haetae...nim?"
—Yeah, Haetae-nim. Oh, you missed it. There was a huge haetae in the Han.
Praying to a rubber doll—what nonsense? Dog nonsense, sure.
Before he could sort his thoughts, Ssal-i continued.
—I begged Haetae-nim: please save mister. Or at least let us talk. Then zzzzt—like ants burrowing in my head! And now I'm haetae! Had to uphold haetae dignity, all sorts of explanations...
The cute, absurd tale poured out, sparking one question.
"But Ssal-i, why that wish? For us to talk."
Unlike its bold poodle-punching, Ssal-i snorted shyly, ruffling nose fur.
—You're my lifesaver. Had to say thanks.
"Haha, really? I owe you thanks. You saved me, and now I talk to animals—all thanks to you."
—Hehe. I wished other stuff too.
"Other wishes?"
Ssal-i stuck out its jelly tongue, nodding fluffy fur flapping.
—Yeah. For you to turn puppy too! Then we could run around together.
"Haha, yeah?"
That one's scary. Loans to pay, Mi-so's salary too.
—Wished others could hear me too, but nope. Haetae-nim said full haetae power when I grow up.
"Cool. Still hear... Haetae-nim lately?"
—Nah. I'm haetae now. Spoke then to pass power.
"Haha, good."
Animals get tinnitus too, like humans—from ear vessels, muscles, brain tumors, extreme stress.
Ssal-i's improving? Relieving and impressive.
Ultimately... no answers.
Ssal-i firmly believed its prayer gave him animal speech—a pup's fantasy.
No solution to his sudden power. But a precious bond gained regardless.
He'd thought he'd saved Ssal-i.
But Ssal-i saved him too.
Without it, he'd have drowned. His hand stroked its back unconsciously.
"Oh my, Director! There you are? Thought you were on the roof—checked, no one."
Mo Hyun-ju approached as they strolled the indoor space.
"Yeah, Ssal-i doesn't like the roof much. Should've said—sorry."
"No worries. Just wondered where you were."
She eyed Ssal-i's propeller tail.
"Ohoho, my! Never seen Ssal-i like someone this much. Tail'll fall off, pup. Fall right off."
He stopped short of saying it was friendly. The poodle-slap flashed.
"If Ssal-i shows this sweet side to its new guardian, perfect."
"Guardian set?"
She shook her head.
"No, not yet. News and papers drew interest, but Jindo grows big."
Adult Jindos hit 20-30kg medium size. Ssal-i's mix would too.
In apartment Korea, medium dogs aren't easy—
—N-no... don't wanna...
"...?"
Ssal-i's tail drooped, voice weak.
—Don't wanna new home. Thought someone would be there...
—First dad... no, that guy was nice at first. Then beat, yelled... Hate new homes.
That bastard hit it regularly.
Five months old—where to hit? Last month, just four!
On Mapo Bridge, collar-strangled Ssal-i gasping recalled.
Good no voices then. Hearing its pitiful pleas, he'd have lost it.
"Director, if no one's adopting Ssal-i, can I be its guardian?"
"You, Director?"
He nodded lightly at her surprise.
"My place is on the third floor. Live alone—plenty space."
"Of course! No worries with you. Let's do papers now."
"Hold on—if Ssal-i agrees."
She eyed him puzzled.
Like, permission from a dog?
Ignoring, he knelt to eye level.
"What do you say? Come home with me?"
No need to hear—tail already windmilled.
* * *
Next day, adoption finalized.
Paperwork done Monday, but he wanted space prepped.
Post-work, he headed to the center.
Bus with dog impossible—animal taxi to Hanmaum Animal Hospital.
Mi-so really not gone home?
Nearly 9pm, dark.
Hospital lights blazed.
Told Kim Mi-so before fetching Ssal-i.
She'd rejoiced like her own, vowing to wait and see it.
Tomorrow fine, no need—but animal-lover Kim Mi-so unstoppable.
Not like he paid overtime...
"Let's go in, Ssal-i."
—Okay, Dad.
...Still awkward.
Yesterday, asked if staying over—she'd instantly called him Dad.
Dad felt heavy.
But as guardian, "mister" awkward too.
Door opened—Kim Mi-so, hand over mouth, squealing from lit interior.
"Oh my! Who's this cutie?!"
"Mi-so, you know not to rush new dogs? Might bite or hate it."
"Sorry, Director! But it's so cute!"
Up close, she quivered with delight at Ssal-i.
—Dad, I won't bite... But is she... Mom?
Ssal-i's words flustered him.
"No, not mom..."
"Pardon?"
"Ah, nothing. I'll show Ssal-i its spot."
Embarrassed, he tried fleeing with Ssal-i—but Mi-so blocked.
"Wait, Director. I'll handle that. You call this number first?"
Her triumphant face handed a memo number.
"Who?"
"While you fetched Ssal-i, call from broadcaster—asked for you. Our Ssal-i's lucky charm!"
Broadcaster...?