SMS | Chapter 1.4

As Dohoon placed the carrier with the sleeping kitten in a warm spot and loosened his tie, he trudged to the kitchen. Pulling a bottle of water from the refrigerator, he filled a glass to the brim and drank it down without leaving a drop. His burning thirst wasn’t quenched by water alone.

“Not bad,” he muttered.

Opening the carrier door to check on the kitten, he heard a tiny, hungry sound. After warming up some specially prepared kitten milk, he fed it to the little one, who eagerly lapped it up before drifting back to sleep. Aside from being cold, the kitten was in good health.

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“Woof!”

Excited by the unfamiliar scent, or perhaps just happy to see him, Sowol, Yeonwoo, and Seowoo wagged their tails. Despite just getting home, Dohoon approached his dogs who seemed upset at not being petted yet.

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After warmly greeting each dog in turn, Dohoon hesitated. Although the helpers likely walked them in the morning and afternoon, he couldn’t skip their evening walk. However, he felt it would be difficult today. Leaving the sick kitten alone wasn’t an option.

“Let’s just sleep tonight,” he decided.

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As if understanding his words, the dogs showered him with affection before settling down for the night. It was indeed very late.

No unusual noises came from the cat’s room. Still, he needed to check. Upon opening the door, Elizabeth and Katerina, resting on the cat tower, acknowledged him with a glance. Thanks to the pet sitter who had played with them all day, they seemed tired. Their food and water bowls were also neatly filled.

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“I wasn’t planning on bringing more home.”

After checking on all the animals and ensuring they were okay, fatigue washed over Dohoon. He was temporarily caring for five pets—dogs and cats alike. The cats were his friend’s, left with him during business trips, but the dogs had been abandoned at his clinic by owners who never returned. While he had rehomed several before, he had resolved not to take in any more unfortunate animals, yet here he was, handed a kitten by a man he had just met that day.

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“Ha Mino?”

Reflecting on the man’s name, Dohoon’s expression grew complicated. Mino’s pale, delicate face seemed almost ephemeral. His eyes were slightly upturned but not fierce, more like a frightened animal, which intrigued Dohoon. The oversized suit soaked from the rain gave him an even more pitiable look.

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“He must have burned his lips.”

It was Dohoon’s fault for not adjusting the temperature of the tea properly. Half a year of cutting off his own desires made him prone to such careless actions. The weak moan that escaped Mino’s full lips had fanned the flames of his repressed desires.

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His lips, which could grow even redder with rougher handling, seemed capable of expressing pain exquisitely. Imagining them parting with cries of agony made the back of his neck tingle. If Mino’s pale face flushed with excitement, it would certainly be a sight.

“Shit…”

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A coarse curse slipped through Dohoon’s refined lips as twisted desires flashed a red light. His gaze was drawn to the tightly shut door of the basement storage, a place he’d rather forget.

He wanted to invite someone, anyone, to quench the burning desire within him. He could have anyone who’d willingly offer their body just by reaching out. About to scroll through his contacts impulsively, he noticed the business card of the man he had carelessly set aside. Drawn, Dohoon picked up the card, where small letters detailed Mino’s workplace, address, phone number, email, and title.

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“Ha Mino, assistant manager?”

The title was surprising given Mino’s youthful appearance. The man had confessed to being twenty-eight but his face had held a tinge of embarrassment. Twenty-eight wasn’t a significant age, but it wasn’t young either—old enough to know the world’s harsh realities.

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Yet, Mino’s face had looked so pure and vulnerable that doing anything to him felt almost sinful. If it weren’t for Mino, the kitten might have been found as a cold corpse. The thought of the sincere, compassionate man who had looked likely to cry while holding the tiny cat made Dohoon’s lower desires cool down.

Deciding to act, Dohoon saved Mino’s number and sent him a message. He knew Mino would be worried about the kitten.

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“Everything’s fine with the cat. He’s eating now.”

Relief must have washed over Mino as he quickly responded.

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“Thank you, that’s good to hear.”

Hesitating for a moment, Mino seemed unsure of what to say next, a testament to how unusual it was for him to interact this way. He typically didn’t think much about people’s looks, but Dohoon’s presence had a strange power over him, compelling enough to override all the world’s unfairness with its sheer force.

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Not realizing how captivated he was, Mino’s friend Sungjoon broke his reverie.

“You interested in that vet?”

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Mino flinched unintentionally.

“What are you talking about?”

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The way Dohoon had handled even simple tasks, like how he held a bottle, was unusually appealing. It was troubling yet true.

Sungjoon chuckled, seeing right through him.

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“You’re crazy, man. I know you haven’t looked at anyone like this before.”

“It’s not like that. He’s just a really good person.”

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“That’s what you say now…”

His own words felt awkward. Denying his interest would have been simpler, but instead, he had given Dohoon a reason to probe further, even if it was the honest truth. Dohoon was decent. Even if Mino were interested, and by some miracle Dohoon shared his preferences, it was impossible. How could he say, ‘I like being hit,’ to such a gentle and kind man?

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“Look at you. If he’s a good guy, that’s even better, isn’t it?”

“He’s not gay.”

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“So what? I read somewhere that 70% of people are bisexual.”

Sungjoon had looked that up for him, a touching gesture of friendship. Mino couldn’t help but respond with a bittersweet smile.

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“How can I tell him I like that stuff?”

Sungjoon sighed, perhaps out of pity. But he was trying to encourage his friend.

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“Lots of couples do that kind of thing for fun these days. They even sell kits in sex shops.”

“If I could be satisfied with just that, I wouldn’t be living like this.”

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Mino’s blunt response shut down the conversation, but he quickly added, grateful for his friend’s concern.

“Thanks for thinking of me. But, really… I’m okay on my own. I’ve always managed.”

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“But you seem lonely lately…”

Worried about everything, as always. Mino impulsively replied.

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“Maybe getting the cat will help.”

“Really? Are you going to take it? Is that okay?”

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“Yeah. Maybe not right away.”

“That’s good thinking. Hey, maybe you should try getting to know that vet better. Starting a relationship might not be bad. It doesn’t have to start with that stuff. Maybe you’d be happy with more conventional things.”

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If only that were possible. Mino couldn’t bring himself to answer.