Chapter 4

"Cat"

Large, beautiful, green eyes. A small, red nose. Long, thin whiskers and puffy ears. A fur softer than the softest blanket and the cutest little paws.

Na Ri couldn't take her eyes off the small cat that had set up camp just below her apartment complex and she found herself being mesmerized whenever she looked into it's eyes while listening to the soothing sound of purring.

Cute, Na Ri thought as she continued to pet the little cat that seemed to get more and more comfortable around her.

"Good morning, Song Na Ri-ssi." Na Ri turned her head when she heard the voice of her downstairs neighbor, Jung So Ahn, an elderly lady who was always in a good mood. Na Ri simply gave her a little nod while instead using all her energy in forcefully bringing out a smile.

"What a cute cat, is it a stray?" So Ahn asked and Na Ri took in deep breath, preparing herself for making conversation with her neighbor.

"I think," Na Ri said and focused her gaze on the cat instead of So Ahn.

"Why don't you adopt it?" So Ahn then said and Na Ri nearly had a heart attack by the thought.

"I... but... that's too much of a responsibility for me," Na Ri said after struggling to get her sentence out right, for a few seconds.

"Really? I guess it does take a lot of work to keep a pet," So Ahn said in a calm tone, "I should know, I used to have a cat until a year ago when it passed away."

"I'm sorry to hear that," Na Ri said and tried sounding as comforting as possible.

"It's okay, I had him for many years, he was getting old. Very much like me." So Ahn started laughing after her last sentence and Na Ri even felt a little smile sneak up on her.

"But," So Ahn then said in a more serious tone, "if you ever decide to get a cat, then don't hesitate to ask me for advice, alright?" Na Ri gave So Ahn another nod and got a big smile in return.

"I have to leave," Na Ri then said and So Ahn quickly clapped her hands together.

"Of course you do, you have school! I'm sorry for taking up your time," So Ahn said and gestured for Na Ri to get going, "have a great day Song Na Ri-ssi."

When Na Ri finally got on the train she felt like she could breathe more freely. She was lucky So Ahn didn't take up more of her time or she would've been late for her train.

"Beware, doors are closing."

Na Ri took a step away from the door when she heard the announcement over the speaker, but just as the doors were about to close, a person jumped inside just in time.

Everyone on the train gave the man, who had just gotten on the train, a weird look, but Na Ri didn't even blink when it happened. She wasn't the least bit surprised by that anymore.

"Good morning Song Na Ri-ssi," Namjoon said in between his panting as he walked up to stand next to Na Ri. She looked at him for less than a second and gave him a quick nod.

"You must find me really stupid, seeing how I'm late for the train every morning." Na Ri didn't respond to Namjoon's accusation against her. She couldn't deny that she found him weird, but she wouldn't go as far as saying she found him stupid.

"I guess I'm just bad at morning routines, even if I have to get up at the same time every morning, I always seem to run late," Namjoon said and just continued talking like he usually did in the morning when they took the train together, "You see, I actually get up in time, but I just feel like I have all the time in the world and then out of nowhere, the time fly away and I am suddenly really late. It doesn't make any sense, does it? I think I was just born clumsy and easily distracted." Na Ri looked up for a minute, trying to show at least a little bit of curtesy, but when she was met by those big brown eyes and that honest smile, she quickly looked away again.

Eye contact is hard, Na Ri thought as she felt her heart beat faster.

"I can't imagine what my students would think if they found out how clumsy I am, they'd probably lose all respect for me," Namjoon said with a sigh and Na Ri couldn't help but steal a glance again just as he continued, "so I trust that you'll keep my secret, Song Na Ri-ssi."

"Doors are opening."

Na Ri quickly looked away when she heard the announcement and then moved to the doors and got off the train in less than a second.

"I guess I'll just see you later," Namjoon said, but he wasn't sure Na Ri even heard him as she was already out of his sight.

***

As the day went by in the large University, lunch break was slowly approaching until the long awaited sound of the bell echoed in the entire building. Down the long halls you could find people of all sorts walking in union, all towards the same destination, the cafeteria. And among all those students, wearing all sorts of clothes and fitting into all kinds of sizes, one particular young girl was walking among them with a smile plastered on her face. If you didn't look hard enough, she was easy to miss given the short height she had. But even still, she didn't allow herself to be intimidated by the large crowd and instead continued to walk forward.

"Min Ji-ya!" The young girl turned around when she heard a familiar male's voice from behind and she happily waved when she saw her friend walking towards her.

"Jungkook-a!" Min Ji said to greet her friend, "what did you do to Taehyung? Isn't he going to eat lunch?"

"Oh, yes he is," Jungkook said while they both started walking forward again, "he just went to the toilet, he said he'll meet us at the cafeteria."

"Okay sure," Min Ji said and send Jungkook a smile, "how was your day so far?"

"It's wasn't so bad," Jungkook said, "we started out with a class about the History of Performing Arts in Asia. It gets a little boring after you've been listening to a professor talk for that long, but Taehyung looked like he had a harder time than me."

"It doesn't surprise me," Min Ji said with a laugh, "that boy really can't sit still."

After finally reaching the cafeteria and standing in a line for what felt like an eternity, the two friends finally had a plate full of food and was headed for one of the last empty tables in the room.

"We need a bigger cafeteria, there's not enough room for everyone," Jungkook said when he took a look around the crowded cafeteria.

"No there's plenty of room, we're just too anti social to sit together with each other and make good use of all the space," Min Ji argued and when Jungkook took another look around he did see a pattern of single and lonely chairs in the midst of the groups seated around the tables.

"Maybe you're right," Jungkook said and shrugged his shoulders before taking a bite of his food.

"Hey, what are we talking about?" Jungkook and Min Ji looked up when they heard the voice of their friend.

"Taehyung-a, we thought you had set up camp in the toilet," Min Ji said and sent a teasingly look.

"Ha ha, someone think she's funny, doesn't she?" Taehyung said and sat down next to her with his plate of food.

"I don't think I'm funny," Min Ji then said, "I am funny."

"If you say so," Taehyung just replied, still a bit annoyed.

"Jungkook told me you had a really fun class today, about the history of Performing Arts."

"Ugh don't even talk about it!" Taehyung said, his annoyance growing bigger while Min Ji was having even more fun, "I thought I was going to die by the end of that class."

"I don't think it was that bad," Jungkook said with his mouth full of food.

"Don't speak with food in your mouth," Min Ji said and raised her finger in front of Jungkook.

"There she goes," Taehyung said, "acting like a mom again."

"Well that's-" Min Ji stopped mid sentence as her gaze fell on another young girl in the cafeteria, and both Taehyung and Jungkook looked at Min Ji while waiting for her to continue her sentence.

"Did you lose your tongue?" Taehyung asked, but Min Ji didn't even listen as her eyes were glued on the tall girl standing in the midst of the chaos that was surrounding her. She wasn't moving, she wasn't standing in a line either, she was just staying in the same spot, looking around with those widened eyes full of fear. Her hands were placed on the strap of her bag and she was clenching it with all the force she had, while she continued to bite her lip as her eyes would keep flickering.

"Min Ji-ya?" Jungkook gently waved his hand in front of Min Ji's eyes, but just as he did that, Min Ji got up from her seat and walked towards the girl. She didn't hesitate for a second and walked straight up to her.

"Song Na Ri-ssi?" Min Ji said and Na Ri looked at her with even more fear written on her face, "are you alright? Are you looking for a place to sit?" Even if the words left Min Ji's lips, they never seemed to reach Na Ri as she just looked like she was mentally far away from here.

"Na Ri-ssi?" Min Ji said again and thought about reaching out to her, trying to get her out of her daze, but just then, the sound of a message ticking into Na Ri's phone seemed to wake her up and she now looked directly into Min Ji's eyes instead of staring into nothing.

"S... sorry..." Na Ri said when she noticed Min Ji in front of her and she quickly turned around and left the cafeteria.

"Wait!" Min Ji yelled but she was already out of sight, so Min Ji just let out a sigh and quietly walked back to her seat.

"So..." Taehyung started when Min Ji sat down again, "that went well."

"Oh would you just leave it!" Min Ji said and crossed her arms as she leaned back in her chair.

"But really Min Ji-ya," Jungkook then said in a soft tone that made Min Ji loosen up a bit as she looked at him, "what did you expect?"

"I don't know..." Min Ji said as she looked out of the window, "I just couldn't bear look at her anymore and not do something."

"Don't waste all your kindness on someone like her," Taehyung then said, "use it on your real friends instead, those who care about you."

"I am!" Min Ji said and sat up straight, "but that doesn't mean I'm not allowed to be nice to others. Besides, I don't think she has any friends at all."

"You have to act friendly to have friends," Jungkook said and Min Ji immediately sent him a glare, "what? Would you call the way she just acted 'friendly'?"

"No but..."

"But what?" Jungkook asked.

"I don't think she even saw me."

"Now you're just being silly," Taehyung said, "you were standing right in front of her. Just forget about her and eat your food."

"Maybe you're right," Min Ji said.

"So Min Ji-ya," Jungkook then said, "how was your day?"

While Na Ri sat on the grass outside the school building, she had her cheap sandwich in one hand and her phone in the other while she just continued to stare at the text message. It didn't take long before the entire sandwich was gone, but her eyes were still plastered on the screen and her heart was beating fast and happily inside her chest.

"I'm proud of you."

Those words gave more strength than anything else, and she could feel the energy from every word filling up her body. She didn't even notice that a smile had formed on her face before she shut off her phone and saw her own reflection on the black screen. A true smile. An honest smile. Not forced, not fake, not there to show anyone. Just a smile that came of all the good reasons. Because of happiness.

Without any unexpected event happening and running on the energy from the text message, Na Ri seemed to get through the day without any major problems and soon enough, she was on the train on her way home. As she was walking the from the train station towards her apartment, she didn't think of anything in particular and just let her mind wander to a world far away, inspired by the soft melodies playing in her headphones. She was almost at the elevator, on the way to press the button, when she stopped in her tracks and looked down to the ground.

There.

In the same spot as this morning. There sat the little cat and looked just as cute as it did earlier. She looked it in the eyes and without moving an inch, the cat just looked up at her and into her eyes. 

After pressing 'pause' on her phone, Na Ri crouched down and held out her hand which the cat responded to by gently pressing it's cheek up against her hand while purring.

"What are you still doing here?" Na Ri whispered, afraid anyone would think she was crazy for talking to a cat, "are you alone too? No family to look after you? Not even a friend?" While Na Ri continued to speak, the cat just kept on purring and looking into her eyes.

"It must be lonely... not even having a single friend to be with. Then you have to be strong on your own... that's not always easy."

***

Back at the train station, Namjoon also got off the train and began the journey home. He could already imagine his bed inside his mind and just thinking about it made him smile. Starting a new job really wasn't easy, not even after working for a few weeks. 

The sound of his ringtone suddenly caught off his lovely thoughts and Namjoon immediately grabbed his phone.

"Hello?"

"What do you mean hello? Is that how you answer a call?" The voice of Seokjin could be heard loud and clear through the speaker, "you have to say your name so the caller knows who he's talking to."

"Well, wouldn't the caller know who he called?"

"Maybe someone else picked up the phone, I don't know," Seokjin said, "it's just proper manner to introduce yourself when you answer a call." Namjoon let out a huge sigh, feeling his energy even more drained after this short conversation

"Fine, then let me try again," Namjoon then said and cleared his throat, "This is Professor Kim Namjoon speaking, who am I talking to?"

"Yes, hello Professor Kim," Seokjin then said in a weird deep voice, "this is your best friend speaking, I was wondering if such a busy man as yourself would have time for a drink tonight."

"Well..." Namjoon dragged out the word.

"What do you mean well? Do you have plans?"

"Not really," Namjoon said, "but I'm just really tired today and I have to prepare for tomorrow's class."

"Alright I understand," Seokjin said and made fake sobbing noises, "even after moving to Seoul you still don't have time for your best friend. I guess I just value our friendship more than you do."

"Maybe I should come anyway."

"Oh?"

"To kick your butt!"

"On a second thought, you have to prepare for your class. It's your responsibility as a Professor."

"That's what I thought," Namjoon said and chuckled, "how about we figure out something this weekend? I'll keep my schedule open."

"That sounds like a plan, let's talk later then."

"Yes let's," Namjoon said, "bye."

And perfectly timed, Namjoon was standing right in front of the elevator to his apartment complex when he ended the call. And before he knew it he was standing on the external gallery, his apartment in near sight. But that wasn't what his eyes were focused on anymore. Instead they were placed on the tall figure walking further ahead, arms filled with all sorts of things, blocking her sight entirely and making it impossible to open the door to her apartment.

"Wait wait wait," Namjoon shouted as he rushed to her side, "why are you carrying all that stuff on your own? Here let me take some of it."

"Thanks," Na Ri said and was finally able to pull out her key and unlock her door. As she walked inside, Namjoon followed right behind, not even thinking a second time before entering his neighbor's apartment.

"What is all this anyway?" Namjoon asked after putting it down on the floor in the hall. 

Small bowls, a soft pillow, something that looked like a litter box and stuffed toys.

"Are you getting a cat?" Namjoon then asked and as if on cue, the small cat jumped out from it's hiding and scared Namjoon half to death.

"Alright I guess that answered my question, since when did you decide to get a cat?"

"Today," Na Ri answered while keeping herself occupied by finding places to put all her new stuff.

"Today? I didn't picture you as a spontaneous person."

"I... She was walking outside all alone..." Na Ri started but couldn't finish her sentence because of her shaking voice.

"Ah, she's a stray? You have such a good heart, taking in a cat," Namjoon said and gently petted the cat, "I didn't know we were allowed to have pets here." As fast as lightning, Na Ri turned around and stared at Namjoon with horror in her eyes.

"Ah... don't worry, nobody really follow rules like that," Namjoon tried calming her down when he saw the fear all over her face, "one of the downstairs neighbors have a dog. Besides, I won't tell anyone even if they ask." Na Ri seemed to calm down a bit from Namjoon's words and she quietly got back to what she was doing, not caring about her neighbor who just stood awkwardly in her hall.

Unsure of what to do with himself, Namjoon just took a look around in the apartment that mirrored his own to perfection, at least if he looked at the skeleton. The interior was completely different, and everything was much more neat than his place had ever been.

"Do you have a maid or something?" Namjoon said and Na Ri shook her head, "how do you keep everything so clean?" Since he didn't get any response from Na Ri and no order to leave, Namjoon let himself inside and started looking around more curiously.

"You have no TV?" Namjoon then asked and Na Ri turned around when she noticed his voice had gotten clearer. She hadn't even noticed he had walked inside.

"It... distracts me..." Na Ri said while thinking of a nice way to tell someone to leave.

"You're much more mature than I ever will be," Namjoon just said with a laugh and then took a step inside the small kitchen, "do you still have some of my mom's side dishes left?"

"Ah no... I ate it all," Na Ri said and took a step away from Namjoon.

"Is that so? I'll tell her to bring some more."

"N... no! There's no need... for that." Na Ri tried sounding firm but her voice still came out weak.

"Don't worry, she's happy someone will eat her food now that her only son moved out," Namjoon said, "well, I guess I'll let you get settled with your cat then. Oh, did you think of a name?"

"Cat."

"Cat?" Namjoon looked at Na Ri and expected her to say it was a joke, but her face stayed completely serious.

"Yes," she said without blinking.

"Well that's... that's a great name. Very... descriptive... fitting..." Namjoon was stumbling all over his words as he didn't know how to react to what Na Ri had just said so instead he quickly changed the subject, "it's nice to have a pet. I used to have a dog, well I still have a dog I guess. He just lives with my parents. His name is Moni, I had him for many years." Na Ri just looked at Namjoon as he continued to talk about this dog until he finally seemed to finish his story and walk to the door.

"Good luck with your cat," Namjoon said after putting on his shoes, "I'll talk to you later." Na Ri just nodded and then closed the door behind him. For a while, Na Ri stood with her back resting against the door as she just let out all the air she had been holding in since he entered her apartment.

"Meow!" Na Ri looked down at the cat who was looking up at her with big eyes.

"I know," Na Ri said and sighed, "that man sure knows how to talk."

Hello everyone!

I hope you enjoyed this first chapter. Remember to stay warm and eat healthy and take care of yourself. Stay safe.

Also, don't forget to leave a comment down below.

Love, Annalise~