Chapter Text
"Dokja-ssi, have you eaten lunch?"
A soft voice called him from behind. It made Kim Dokja flinch and hurriedly clicked his browser tab shut. He hadn't realized how absorbed he was in his research.
The salaryman glanced up to find his colleague, Yoo Sangah, standing beside his cubicle wall. She wore a knowing and somehow sympathetic smile.
"Dokja-ssi… you probably shouldn't be accessing dating websites on a company computer."
“What?” Dokja blinked, "I-it's not like that! You misunderstand, Sangah-ssi." Dokja sputtered, already feeling the heat rise in his cheeks. The tender tone in Sangah’s voice only helped increase his embarrassment.
Yoo Sangah’s smile didn't waver, causing Dokja to sigh in resignation. He tentatively turned his computer to show her the screen and the previous search results: "World's Largest Cat Breed."
"Why the sudden interest in giant felines?"
"Uh… actually, I have a cat," he mumbled, scratching his neck. "He's grown pretty big since I picked him up. I was checking his potential size... just to prepare."
Yoo Sangah hummed, her expression turning strangely serious as if she was reviewing a company policy. "A cat, hmm. Dokja-ssi, this isn't good… You're actually raising your chance,"
For an unexplainable reason, Dokja began to sweat. "My chance of what?"
"Of being unmarried," Sangah said with every bit of her seriousness, "if you have a pet."
Dokja frowned. "Why are we talking about marriage suddenly? And what does that have to do with owning a pet?"
Yoo Sangah was about to launch into a detailed explanation when the sharp, grating voice of their section chief called her name and demanding her presence for an impromptu meeting.
Sangah let out a sharp exhale, which is rare from her, and Dokja could only smile apologetically despite him not having done anything wrong.
"Ah, I guess I have to go now, Dokja-ssi."
"Well, yes, good luck, Sangah-ssi. Maybe I should eat now," he said as he took out his lunch box.
"Yes, enjoy your meal, Dokja-ssi," she smiled and turned away, but then paused dramatically. "Oh! The cat!"
Kim Dokja jolted. He thought she was gone already. "Yes? What about it?"
"Please let me see the pictures next time. I'm sure you have many!" The beauty waved cheerfully and hurried away, leaving a lingering scent of expensive floral perfume.
Dokja sighed and let his shoulders slump low. "Show her some pictures, huh? I will… if my cat was a little more normal, that is."
He stared down at his desk where a compartmentalized lunch box sat. When he opened it a divine aroma of perfectly seasoned dishes and warm rice immediately wafted up and assaulted his senses.
Dokja wiped his drool. "Damn, this looks as holy as always,"
The moment he dug in, the warmth of the food seeped through his body and into his soul. The flavor was intensely lovely, giving him an SSS-Rank culinary experience with every spoonful. When Dokja finished he hadn't left a single grain of rice behind. He licked his chopsticks and closed the lunch box carefully.
Dokja gazed his lunch box for a moment and couldn't help feeling deeply grateful. He would begin to worship the cook, if he weren't already a faithful believer of the said cook. Unconsciously, a small yet genuine smile slowly crept onto his face.
Work ended exactly as it always did: late. As Dokja walked through the door of his small apartment, the memory of Yoo Sangah's words earlier in the afternoon did bother him somehow, but he decided to shove it into the corner of his mind.
"I'm home," Dokja opened the door and switched the light on. "Joonghyuk-ah."
What greeted him was not the cozy sight of a normal pet but a man a head taller than him, with the tan skin and muscular build of a legendary warrior, currently sulking on the sofa. His cat ears twitched violently at the sound of Dokja's voice, and his thick black tail swished in an annoyed rhythm against the cushion.
"Didn't I tell you to not be in the dark? Why didn't you turn on the light?"
Yoo Joonghyuk just grunted, his arms crossed tightly over his chest.
"Huh, are you angry?"
He didn't answer, instead turning his head away and scoffing.
Dokja checked the clock. 11:00 PM. "Did I come home too late? It's not that different from usual, though."
Joonghyuk sighed and Dokja stilled. He could hear a profound disappointment from that single sigh.
Suddenly Joonghyuk grabbed a tablet, fiddled with the screen and then shoved it toward Dokja, his handsome face contorted in an expression of intense annoyance.
Dokja read the headline displayed: "Premium Friday." He realized that it was the campaign that recommended people to leave work early every last Friday of the month.
"Ah," Dokja deadpanned. "That was a myth, Joonghyuk-ah."
At that, Joonghyuk went still. His ears flattened, and he looked dejected as he pointedly glanced at the table. Only then did Dokja fully notice the absolute feast spread out beautifully on the table. No doubt the entire SSS-Rank meal had turned stone-cold if Joonghyuk had really waited for him since hours ago.
"Ah…" A sharp spike of dread and guilt shot through his already exhausted body. He warily glanced at Joonghyuk who looked less angry and more heartbroken.
Dokja launched across the room and tackled his oversized cat in a desperate hug, burying his face in Joonghyuk’s broad chest. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, Hyuk-iiiiiie! Don't worry, I'm going to eat it now!"
Yoo Joonghyuk didn't return the hug and remained silent, his golden eyes boring into Dokja in silent threat. Noticing the disapproving glare, Dokja quickly dashed to the kitchen sink to wash his hands. Then he gracefully took his seat on the floor and offered his cat a sheepish grin. Joonghyuk clicked his tongue in annoyance but still moved to reheat the meal.
Once done, Joonghyuk took a seat directly opposite his owner. He watched Dokja eyeing the food with sparkling eyes and full of anticipation. Joonghyuk had to consciously suppress the faint curve of a grin that threatened to break his brooding façade.
When Dokja finally tore his gaze from the food and glanced up, his expression was softened by genuine gratitude. "Thank you, Joonghyuk-ah. I am going to eat this well."
Joonghyuk just gave him a dismissive nod, silently gesturing for Dokja to hurry up and start.
For all the clever words his mouth could spin in any other moment, Dokja didn't speak while eating because he became utterly engrossed in his food. He would occasionally let out a soft moan of satisfaction at the taste or unconsciously move into a little happy dance in his seat.
Joonghyuk let a satisfied smile form on his usually stoic face at the sight, though still carefully hidden by his hand.
Dokja licked his lips, but his technique was messy, leaving a faint stain of sauce near the corner of his mouth. Joonghyuk clicked his tongue in exasperation, swiftly took a napkin and reached across the table to gently dab the mess away.
Dokja stilled for a brief moment, looked up at him, then grinned widely with his mouth half-full before continuing to eat. Joonghyuk simply watched before he finally picked up his own chopsticks and ate.
"Ah… you really stuffed me good, Joonghyuk-ah. I feel so full, I'm so happy," Dokja sighed, leaning back to lie flat on the cool floor, feeling blissful.
"Sigh... sleepy…" Seconds later, his consciousness was already drifting, washed away by a deep wave of exhaustion.
Joonghyuk gazed down at his owner with disappointment. He rose from his seat, hauled the dead weight of the shorter man up, and dragged him toward the bathroom.
Without a word, Joonghyuk began to undress him swiftly and without care, dropping the clothes into the hamper. He dropped the still half-asleep man into the bathtub, then turned the hot water faucet on and aimed the stream directly at his owner in vengeance.
"Gah! It's so hot! Too hot! Joonghyuk-ah, you brute!" Dokja yelled, snapping wide awake.
Joonghyuk just huffed with small vindictive pleasure, his ears twitched in amusement. He squeezed a generous amount of shampoo onto Dokja's head and began to wash the hair with powerful strokes, not intended to be gentle at all.
"Ah! Slower, slower, Joonghyuk-ah!"
That only encouraged Joonghyuk to go harder.
"Hey! Slower, I said! And careful with the foam, it's getting in my eyes. Ow, it stings!"
Joonghyuk responded by turning the hot water on once more. Dokja shrieked pitifully.
He eventually left Dokja to rinse and finish, taking his own clothes off and dressing in fresh sleepwear while cleaning the empty lunch box he had packed that morning. He couldn't help but smirk at the sight of the completely clean container.
Joonghyuk was so busy feeling so smug that he didn't hear the bath door click shut and Dokja walked behind him.
"Ah! That was so good, Joonghyuk-ah. It felt like rebirth. Also, the lunch was as godly as usual!"
Joonghyuk instantly snapped his expression into his signature constipated look and closed the lunch box lid. He glanced at Dokja and frowned when he saw the man was already reaching into the fridge. Joonghyuk caught his hand before the fingers could touch the cold beer can.
"Don't drink. You have to sleep now."
He spoke the command so close to Dokja’s ear and noticed the shorter man shivered at his voice. Dokja looked at Joonghyuk, then back at the beer wistfully. Joonghyuk glared at him. Dokja sighed, defeated, and closed the fridge door. Joonghyuk smirked and quickly ushered him toward the bedroom before Dokja could change his mind and whine about wanting a can of beer, or more.
Joonghyuk carefully dried Dokja’s damp hair with a soft towel before allowing him to lay on the mattress. The salaryman had already dozed off again during the process.
He was deep in sleep when Joonghyuk laid him down and tucked the blanket tight around him. Dokja stirred only long enough to mumble against the pillow, "You spoil me too much, Joonghyuk-ah. If I can't marry anyone after this, you better take responsibility."
Joonghyuk just huffed, turned off the light, then lay himself beside his owner. He wrapped his arm around the smaller body and shifted him closer. The big cat buried his face in the slope of Dokja’s shoulder to inhale the sweet scent, lips and sharp canines brushing against the pale skin when he whispered, “You fool.”