Chapter 14

It was always fascinating to see people moving on the big screen.

While Gyuyeon was out, Naru sat glued to the TV.

Ever since he’d learned how to use the remote, he turned it on whenever he was left alone. Time flew when he stared blankly at it.

He didn’t watch many programs—just two kinds: dog documentaries and the home shopping channel. The latter only when food was involved.

Today, his favorite dog documentary was on.

A program called ‘Street Dogs’ showed the hardships strays endured.

<Dogs wandering the streets are vulnerable. Just a few days ago, on one road, tragically…>

A calm narrator’s voice filled the room.

When the story shifted to a dog hit by a car, Naru’s expression darkened. His eyes welled with tears.

The blurred roadside on the screen pulled his thoughts back to his family.

He thought of his youngest sibling.

So young that even holding human form had been unstable.

He couldn’t remember everything clearly—he’d been little himself—but he remembered enough. They’d been forced from the home where they once lived. His mother had warned them not to walk the streets as humans, so the family moved on together as dogs.

His older siblings fussed over the youngest, who couldn’t transform well, and followed after their mother in a rush.

They couldn’t find a new home right away. One night, they huddled under a bridge. The next morning, just one road stood between them and safety—when tragedy struck.

The exhausted youngest collapsed right in the middle of the road. His mother noticed too late. She rushed to save him.

The road had seemed quiet. She hadn’t expected a freight truck to come barreling through.

His older siblings leapt out to help, but some were struck, others disappeared, and the rest fled in panic.

Naru alone stayed behind, guarding the mother and youngest who never returned.

The rest was even sadder.

He sat there crying until strangers captured him and sold him to his previous owner. He never found out what became of his family.

Remembering what he’d buried for years made the tears spill freely.

When he’d been trapped with his old master, he never thought about family. He had no time for such things—only surviving abuse.

But since escaping and meeting Gyuyeon, finding some peace, thoughts of family sometimes slipped through. The comfort made him ache.

He sat crying in front of the TV.

That was when Gyuyeon returned.

He had just come back from the errand service, unsettled by what he’d heard. Seeing Naru, his brows knit deeper.

In his hand was a small shopping bag with the clean logo of his café.

Even though he’d been irritated at Naru’s request for macarons, he’d bought them anyway.

“Are you crying right now?”

“Krrr…”

Incredulous, Gyuyeon brushed his hair back.

He’d asked him to bring macarons—yet here he was, delivering them, only to find him watching TV and crying. It grated on him.

His words came out harsher than intended.

“You’re so carefree. Totally carefree.”

“It’s not like that…”

“I told you already. I’ll control even the little things.”

Naru nodded. Strangely, he didn’t mind. Being controlled meant staying close to Gyuyeon.

“Don’t cry whenever you want. Cry only if I let you.”

“If you allow it… I can cry?”

“Yeah. I can’t stand seeing you sniffling, so stop.”

Anyone else would have bristled at such words. But to Naru, it felt warm—rough words twisted into comfort.

Gyuyeon tossed the shopping bag at him. Inside, colorful macarons were carefully packed, Seoyeon’s handiwork.

Naru’s red-rimmed eyes lit up with a smile, as if nothing had happened.

That flower-bright smile almost made Gyuyeon falter.

“What are you smiling at.”

“Because I like Gyuyeon…”

A quiet murmur, but clear.

Naru always spoke his feelings bluntly.

Gyuyeon could never get used to it. Born into privilege, never forced to bow his head, he was used to hollow flattery. Genuine words were rare.

But Naru was different.

“I really like you.”

“Hey, get off.”

Before he knew it, Naru had flopped into his arms, clinging tight.

Usually, he’d shove his forehead back without hesitation. But today, it was harder.

Naru hugged tighter, shaking his head as if to say ‘I won’t let go.’ His small frame against Gyuyeon’s tall body looked tiny—needlessly endearing.

This time, Gyuyeon didn’t push him away.

He thought of the report he’d heard, the sight of Naru crying while he was gone. Pity prickled. He let him cling.

‘What is this? Normally, I’d have shoved him off by now.’

Puzzled, Naru peeked up at him.

Sure enough, Gyuyeon wore his usual expression—raised brow, rough gaze, lips pressed thin. Cold, but his actions… warm.

“You’re really not going to push me away?”

“…”

“Really?”

“Move.”

The innocent question snapped him back. He belatedly pressed a hand to Naru’s forehead, pushing him off.

Those wide eyes, those small lips moving faintly—too cute. He almost nodded.

‘Could this naive brat be a fox, charming people without knowing?’

Shaking off the thought, he sighed.

“So, where are you going?”

“To wash up.”

Naru clung to his sleeve. Afraid he’d leave him alone again.

He freed himself and stepped into the bathroom.

Left in the living room, Naru untied the ribboned box and picked a sky-blue macaron. Sweet aroma filled his mouth. The soft texture and sugar matched his pounding heart.

‘Did Gyuyeon open his heart to me? Can I look forward to this?’

Even this small gesture made him feel like he’d been confessed to.

But Gyuyeon’s mind spun differently.

Naru’s parents hadn’t looked for him. He was terrified of being cast out. And Gyuyeon, seeing him cling so desperately, felt his head split.

From his view, Naru was insane.

Insane—and yet, dangerously close to becoming ‘cute.’

“Yoo Gyuyeon, you’re insane. You crazy bastard. You’ve lost it.”

The idea that he found this nouveau riche brat—this nuisance—cute made no sense.

“Haha. Crazy…”

He laughed hollowly, twisting the faucet. Cold water chilled his skin, clearing his head.

When he came out, towel drying his hair, he glanced at Naru. The boy sat on the sofa nibbling macarons, looking oddly quiet.

Lost in thought, he didn’t even notice Gyuyeon watching. His mouth moved busily, chewing sweets.

Earlier he’d run up declaring his feelings. Now he acted like nothing happened. Unpredictable. Maddening.

With a frustrated sigh, Gyuyeon turned away and shut himself in his room.

Naru only realized he’d come out when the door closed again.

He wanted to say something, but gave up.

Setting the empty box on the table, he lay on the sofa, blanket pulled over his head.

There was too much to think about.

While Gyuyeon washed, he wriggled happily beneath the blanket, recalling the moment he hadn’t pushed him away. But the joy quickly soured.

His previous owner had been kind at first, too. Later came the cruelty.

Of course, Gyuyeon wasn’t like that man. But still—just because someone was kind at first, could he really give him his whole heart?

He wanted to. But he was afraid.

‘If I open my heart to Gyuyeon and he doesn’t accept me… what will I do?’

The thought hurt too much. He shook his head hard, banishing it.

For now, there was only one thing to focus on: opening Gyuyeon’s heart, little by little.

Then, an idea sparked.

‘What if I tested his feelings? Just a little. A tiny bit.’

If Gyuyeon found out, he’d be furious. But Naru decided to try anyway.

Would Yoo Gyuyeon truly cherish him from now on, or not?