Don’t Mess with the Puppy! - Vol.2 Chapter 3 Part 9
Yoon Chi-young was in a very bad mood after leaving the meeting.
He was always like this after meeting his family. It felt like an unsolvable problem in his life, and he felt the frustration of facing an enemy he could never defeat. Even though he was raised as a guardian, Yoon Chi-young was also a wolf clan member with a strong sense of kinship. No matter how many times he experienced it, he never got used to being despised and guarded against by his family.
‘I miss Gyeon Heeseong…’
At times like this, Yoon Chi-young particularly wanted to see his lover. Just seeing Heeseong not be afraid of him gave Yoon Chi-young a lot of comfort. Moreover, that white and round being who had given his whole heart to Yoon Chi-young for the first time made him feel heartachingly fond.
Naturally, his steps quickened. Yoon Chi-young, who had even given up on smoking a cigarette, headed to the separate building. The sound of clear water flowing and the familiar howling of wolves could be heard from afar. But the brave puppy would not be afraid of the howling and would be waiting for him without fearing the wolves.
And on his way there, he saw the puppy sooner than expected. Heeseong was sitting outside the door of the separate building, facing the cold air.
Oddly enough, Heeseong was muttering that the black and proud wild wolf looked like Yoon Chi-young.
“Looks like Yoon Chi-young…”
“…?”
“You seem a bit unpleasant too.”
Behind Heeseong, the organization members were on standby at a certain distance as if protecting him. The new clothes Yoon Chi-young had dressed him in were loosely draped over his shoulders. Yoon Chi-young, who burst out laughing, approached Heeseong slowly, finding even that appearance adorable.
Then Heeseong staggered to his feet. Perhaps sensing his presence, Heeseong turned to the side and their eyes met. Heeseong’s black eyes narrowed upon discovering Yoon Chi-young.
“It’s Yoon Chi-young.”
“Puppy?”
The way Heeseong got up seemed somehow different from usual. His staggering appearance and groggy smile were a bit suspicious. Yoon Chi-young, sensing something strange, watched the puppy from five steps away.
Heeseong soon grinned dazedly.
“Yoon Chi-young. Even your name is fucking weird.”
Then he staggered and threw himself at Yoon Chi-young. He even rammed his small body thump into Yoon Chi-young’s arms. The scent of clean soap mixed with the smell of alcohol wafted over.
Yoon Chi-young, without budging an inch, hugged Heeseong in his arms and wrapped his body with his coat. Heeseong, with his head resting on the warm chest, was looking up at Yoon Chi-young with shining black eyes. His flushed cheeks, perhaps from being drunk, looked particularly red.
“Why are you only coming now? You’ve been leaving me alone a lot lately?”
“Why? Did my puppy miss me?”
“I didn’t miss you.”
His words were blunt, but the white tail behind him wagged so fast it seemed like it would fly off. At the adorable sight, Yoon Chi-young burst into laughter as if he didn’t know what to do with himself. Heeseong’s delinquent charm that made Yoon Chi-young’s heart flutter up and down. Moreover, his tail that couldn’t hide his emotions was so sweet it made him want to bite it.
“I said I didn’t miss you.”
“You didn’t miss me but you’re this happy?”
“What? What?”
Heeseong retorted again to the unsolicited comment and rested his cheek against Yoon Chi-young. When he stroked that head, the puppy ears slanted back slightly as if the sensation was pleasant. It was as if he was asking to be petted more.
For now, Yoon Chi-young had to set aside even that delightful feeling. He had been particularly mindful of the puppy’s diet for the sake of his health, but things had gone awry. Yoon Chi-young looked around with cold eyes, his smile fading.
“…Who gave alcohol to the puppy?”
All the organization members stiffened and froze. There was no answer to the question. In the space where even breathing couldn’t be heard, the only movement was the white tail swishing busily.
Sensing something strange, Heeseong rambled in a drunken voice,
“I drank the alcohol myself, so what? Do you want to drink too?”
The misunderstanding was easily resolved. The wolf organization members behind him were also standing by in affirmation.
Understanding the situation, Yoon Chi-young hugged Heeseong as if he had never been sensitive, gently enveloping the back of his head. When he told the organization members behind him that they had worked hard, they all relaxed and quietly stepped back. Now it was time for him to be alone with the puppy, free from the intense pheromone stimulation.
Yoon Chi-young sighed lightly and easily lifted Heeseong in his arms. Even though he had fed him plenty of sea bream, Heeseong was still on the lighter side. However, Yoon Chi-young didn’t show any such sentiments in front of the fighting dog and gently asked,
“Our puppy shouldn’t drink alcohol…”
“No? Even mutts can drink alcohol.”
“Not that. You’re in recovery, remember?”
There was a specific reason why Yoon Chi-young had been particularly mindful of Heeseong’s diet. It wasn’t just to tease the puppy, saying he shouldn’t eat hot chocolate or alcohol.
Heeseong already had a hard time digesting food, and when Yoon Chi-young first brought him home, he would wake up in his sleep as if having a fit and gag while vomiting. Yoon Chi-young was the only one whose heart ached, worried that this fist-sized being might choke to death.
But Heeseong seemed to be just excited to drink alcohol after a long time.
“Fighting dogs! Should always know how to enjoy alcohol.”
At the rough drunken rambling, Yoon Chi-young suppressed his laughter and kissed Heeseong’s hair. In addition to being raised by fighting dogs, Heeseong seemed to have a naturally rough personality.
Even when Yoon Chi-young bought him toys, Heeseong would mostly pounce on them as if hunting—although they played together more often—and bite them, and he liked martial arts for sports and only action or thriller movies. In contrast, everything emotional seemed to be Yoon Chi-young’s role. Because he was busy dying of cuteness while watching the puppy stomping his feet while watching martial arts.
“I wasn’t planning on putting him to bed today. Should I just put him to bed early…?”
Yoon Chi-young had intended to scold Heeseong for drinking alcohol, but his heart softened upon seeing his gentle face. Entering the house, Yoon Chi-young laid the roundest fighting dog in the world on the bed. Heeseong, seemingly pleased with the fluffy blanket, rolled over on his stomach and busily wagged his white tail sticking out from his pants. Seeing this, it seemed like there wasn’t much difference between when he was human and when he was a puppy.
“Drunk and can’t even recognize your lover.”
Yoon Chi-young lightly spanked Heeseong’s bottom. The puppy turned back, baring his teeth, but that was it. Yoon Chi-young began to undress Heeseong one by one, starting with his socks. After being surrounded by intense pheromones and having a battle of wills, he just wanted to smell Heeseong’s pure scent.
Perhaps because he was drunk, Heeseong asked various things he never usually asked.
“Hey… Yoon Chi-young. Why do you keep being nice to me?”
“Why? Can’t I even take off my lover’s socks?”
“What… We never even agreed to be lovers.”
Heeseong grumbled and turned over. The gentle face looking up at the ceiling seemed flushed from the alcohol and showed dissatisfaction. Yoon Chi-young burst into laughter. He even straddled Heeseong’s body and brought his face close, asking secretively,
“Ah… our puppy needed a gradual process.”
“Haa…”
Heeseong avoided Yoon Chi-young’s gaze, looking disgusted. He now seemed too lazy to even respond to such remarks.
But to Yoon Chi-young, it seemed like Heeseong was agreeing. That he needed such a process. As proof, Heeseong was weakly resting his cheek on Yoon Chi-young’s arm placed next to his head as if he were upset.
Soon, Heeseong, who had closed his eyes, mumbled with imprecise pronunciation,
“It’s weird…”
“What is?”
“I… have always wondered why you like me.”
I’m so happy I could die. As soon as he heard Heeseong’s words, Yoon Chi-young bit his molars and suppressed his laughter of joy.
Yoon Chi-young deliberately didn’t answer that. The puppy was finally subtly showing that he liked Yoon Chi-young and grumbling, so if he teased him as usual, he might ruin the confession.
He wanted Heeseong to say what was on his mind and realize it himself a bit more.
“All I’ve shown you so far… is just my beastly side.”
You knew, huh? Yoon Chi-young thought the puppy was indeed smart. He didn’t know Heeseong was good at self-objectification too.
Not knowing that sentiment, Heeseong, with his eyes closed, rambled on, tapping his arm on the bed.
“Before we knew each other, I threw chips at Kwon Gihyeok’s face first… I punched you first… When I hadn’t been in human form for long, I ran away and then picked a fight with Yang Hye-chan.”
“……”
“I’ve lived as a fighting dog, so that’s all I can do… Why do you like me?”
“I guess I’m attracted to bad boys.”
It was a sincere remark, but Heeseong opened his eyes drowsily with a dissatisfied expression. His eyes looking up at Yoon Chi-young, who was straddling him, were filled with annoyance and contempt. But he didn’t push Yoon Chi-young away and exhaled a drunken sigh. Even though he was in human form and had no reason to be wedged next to the bed, he didn’t run away.
“I get it, I won’t do that anymore.”
Still, Yoon Chi-young was quick-witted. He couldn’t act carelessly anymore when the puppy sincerely wanted to talk.
This time, he hugged Heeseong tightly in his arms. Even though it might feel suffocating, Heeseong didn’t push Yoon Chi-young away but rather gently wrapped his arms around his waist. The hand stroking Yoon Chi-young’s broad back, seemingly satisfied in his embrace, was gentle.
Yoon Chi-young bit Heeseong’s earlobe and said,
“Our first meeting was in the gambling den corridor, remember?”
“Gambling den corridor? Ah… yeah…”
Heeseong answered with little interest. He seemed to be drunk not only on alcohol but also on peacefulness, as if he would fall asleep at any moment.
Yoon Chi-young arranged Heeseong’s hair and quietly said,
“I have a strong wolf bloodline, and for several years, I couldn’t properly control my pheromones, so I was particularly sensitive to pheromones even in human form…”
Yoon Chi-young spoke in a husky yet calm voice. Puppy ears twitched on top of Heeseong’s black hair. His pleasant-sounding voice always made Heeseong feel at ease, if only the content wasn’t included.
“Then one day, I met a beastmen who only gave off a gentle scent even when passing by.”
“…Puppy scent?”
“Yeah. Puppy scent.”
“Puppy scent…”
Heeseong mumbled along as if he didn’t understand. He had no idea what his own scent felt like.
But Yoon Chi-young, who had inherited the wolf’s blood so intensely that it was painful, was different.
“Living among beastmens wearing strong perfume, I thought I would go crazy from pheromone shock and end up killing everyone or hurting myself…”
Yoon Chi-young lifted his head as he spoke. In his warm embrace, the puppy looked even more pliant. Although his expression was a bit dazed, it was adorable how he focused only on what Yoon Chi-young was saying. The sound of his tail busily brushing against the blanket underneath must have been his tail. Yoon Chi-young fiddled with Heeseong’s puppy ears and smiled brightly.
“Then I met our puppy.”
“…Oh please.”
Heeseong turned his head, finding it absurd. Still, Yoon Chi-young seemed to be just happy, nibbling on his own fingers. From the black wolf ears sprouting on top of his head to his gray eyes full of laughter and the corners of his mouth raised in joy, everything was the same as when he was biting Heeseong in his puppy form.
But something didn’t sit right with Heeseong. Lying weakly, Heeseong slightly pulled out his hand that Yoon Chi-young was nibbling on and turned his head.
“It just means you were born with a body that rejects all other beastmens…”
“But I was born to only like puppies.”
“…Psycho.”
His words were rough, but his folded puppy ears twitched. Heeseong seemed to want to hide his expression, so he buried his head deeply in Yoon Chi-young’s shoulder again. But Yoon Chi-young had already noticed that Heeseong’s ears had turned red to the tips. They were always just white before, so they definitely hadn’t turned red because of the alcohol. Yoon Chi-young spoke as if it were a new revelation, a smile playing on his lips.
“You know I’m only into puppies, right?”
“……”
But there was no answer. The sound of his tail busily brushing against the blanket had also subsided. Something was strange. Yoon Chi-young’s smile faded in puzzlement.
“Puppy?”
“Hey… you…”
Heeseong seemed to want to say something, hesitating. Yoon Chi-young was even more concerned about his uncharacteristic hesitation. He lifted his body a little from the embrace to see Heeseong’s face.
The look in Heeseong’s eyes, which had been excited from the alcohol, had changed. Unlike before, his eyes were downcast with a hint of moisture. When Yoon Chi-young brought his face closer, Heeseong briefly made eye contact but quickly averted his gaze and mumbled,
“…Never mind.”
“……”
Yoon Chi-young sometimes remembered seeing this expression on the puppy. After being betrayed by Park Geon-tae, he had often seen Heeseong looking miserable with these dead black eyes. Even though Yoon Chi-young wanted to comfort him, Heeseong would push him away, so he couldn’t even bring up the subject.
“…I don’t believe those words.”
“Why?”
“I…”
Yoon Chi-young was anguished every time Heeseong hid his true feelings like this. It felt like watching a frightened puppy crouching and curled up tightly. When Yoon Chi-young reached out his hand, Heeseong would act rough and be wary, but in fact, Yoon Chi-young knew that Heeseong wanted affection more than anyone else.
Yoon Chi-young quietly waited for Heeseong. He gently stroked Heeseong’s cheek, silently telling him it was okay to speak. As expected, the puppy needed time.
After waiting patiently, Heeseong spoke in an unsteadily trembling voice without even making eye contact.
“Even Park Geon-tae was nice to me at first…”
“……”
“He also said I was his only family.”
Moisture began to cloud Heeseong’s voice. The drooping puppy ears were lifeless, and his face crumpled miserably as if he were about to cry.
“But after he started dating a pretty noona, he changed…”
“……”
“How do you know you won’t become like that too?”
“……”
Yoon Chi-young looked down at Heeseong with silent, downcast eyes. And he inwardly felt sorry for the puppy. He had heard that mutt tribes, especially fighting dogs, valued loyalty, so betrayal must have been an even greater shock. It seemed he hadn’t given the puppy enough time to process this sorrow. It was his fault for keeping Heeseong by his side, citing pheromone shock and separation anxiety.
“But… monogamy and marriage, what the hell. I, I… don’t believe you.”
Heeseong spoke with tears welling up in his black eyes. The way he held his breath tightly, not wanting to be caught crying, and the way he bit his lip also looked precarious.
Yoon Chi-young knew that Heeseong had a lot of pride. But to say such things. It must have been a chronic pain caused by the wounds of being abandoned twice in the past, along with the alcohol. His heart ached. Yoon Chi-young was willing to wait until Heeseong’s trust formed, no matter how long it took.
This time, he brought his face close to Heeseong and spoke as if whispering,
“You don’t have to believe me, puppy. Believe me when you want to believe.”
“……”
“It doesn’t matter because I’m suggesting everything because I like you.”
At those words, tears finally spilled from the corners of Heeseong’s eyes. Yoon Chi-young deliberately didn’t react at all for Heeseong’s sake and just watched.
“You’re so unpleasant….”
Heeseong couldn’t even hide his tears, perhaps because he had a lot weighing on his heart. Rather, he buried his head in Yoon Chi-young’s shoulder again and weakly sobbed.
“Hic….”
“……”
Yoon Chi-young quietly embraced Heeseong. He had only been mindful of his own pain due to pheromone shock. He was so sorry for recognizing Heeseong’s wounds this late.
Heeseong, who had been crying while holding back, spoke between sobs,
“It’s okay that my mom and dad abandoned me. Because I was, ya know, weak and sick.”
“……”
“But this time… it’s different. I really tried my best… I tried to fulfill my purpose….”
Heeseong forcibly turned back into a puppy, not wanting to show his weak side. Inside the neatly dressed new clothes, a fist-sized lump was protruding. After staying like that for a long time without coming out, Yoon Chi-young directly lifted the clothes and took out the puppy.
The puppy was crying. Even when Yoon Chi-young gently picked him up, the puppy was limp, tears streaming from his large eyes.
“Ah….”
Yoon Chi-young sighed and lay down, placing the puppy against his forehead. What could make this tiny thing cry so miserably? It felt like a lump was forming in his own chest.
Yoon Chi-young knew that Heeseong was still very young. But this young one had been abandoned twice in his life. Yoon Chi-young knew about the puppy left alone in a house where no one came, and about Heeseong who only looked for his brother even after being betrayed by him. But seeing him cry like this, regret he had never felt before surged in his heart.
“I really want to kill Park Geon-tae….”
If only he had been by Heeseong’s side sooner. If only he had dealt with Park Geon-tae earlier… Futile thoughts followed endlessly. Yoon Chi-young sighed and wiped away the puppy’s tears.
The puppy, who had been crying miserably, howled towards the wall. A sad, whimpering howl rang out softly. Yoon Chi-young stayed by his side, letting the puppy cry to his heart’s content. Until the little one cried himself to exhaustion and fell asleep.
That day, the puppy burrowed into Yoon Chi-young’s clothes and fell asleep for the first time. Without any premonition of the painful events that would unfold the next day.
***
