The kitchen door creaked open and Ji-Ah stepped out carefully, holding a large cake.
Chocolate frosting.
Strawberries on top.
Little messy swirls of cream that clearly said made with enthusiasm instead of precision.
The candles flickered brightly.
Everyone immediately sat up.
"Cake!" shouted Kai-Wen like a man who had just discovered treasure.
Ji-Ah placed it in front of him.
"Alright," she said, pointing. "Don't breathe too hard. I worked very hard on that."
Lin immediately stood and raised his wine glass.
"Another toast!"
Everyone groaned.
"You already made one!" laughed Do-Yoon.
Lin ignored them.
"To Kai-Wen!"
They all lifted their glasses.
"To Kai-Wen!"
Then someone started clapping.
Soon everyone joined.
🎶 "Happy birthday to you…" 🎶
Kai-Wen covered his face dramatically while the group sang louder and louder.
🎶 "Happy birthday dear Kai-Wen…" 🎶
🎶 "Happy birthday to you!" 🎶
"Blow it!" shouted Hea-In.
Kai-Wen leaned forward and blew out the candles.
Everyone cheered.
Ji-Ah crossed her arms and nodded.
"Congratulations."
Kai-Wen grinned proudly.
"You are now one year closer to death."
The table exploded with laughter.
Min-Jea leaned forward immediately.
"And you're still single."
The laughter doubled.
Kai-Wen clutched his heart.
"You people are horrible."
Ji-Ah sliced the cake and handed out pieces.
Wine glasses clinked again.
They laughed.
They joked.
For a while the night felt light again.
Later…
Plates emptied.
Wine bottles finished.
Chairs scraped softly as everyone stood.
"Best birthday ever," Kai-Wen declared.
"Because of the food," added Soo-Min.
"Because of the cake," Lin corrected.
"Because of me," Kai-Wen finished proudly.
Eventually everyone left one by one.
"Text when you get home!" Ji-Ah called.
"Sleep!" shouted Min-Jea.
"Don't cry!" whispered Soo-Min gently.
Then the gate closed.
Silence returned.
They had helped wash the dishes and clean the kitchen, but the backyard still needed work.
Ji-Ah stacked the last plate and wiped her hands.
She went outside and cleared the table slowly under the soft lights.
The night air was cool.
The little garden rustled quietly.
Finally everything was clean.
She walked back inside.
Her body dropped onto the couch like a tired sack of potatoes.
"…I'm dead," she muttered.
Just then.
DING DONG.
Ji-Ah blinked.
"…Who is here this late?"
She dragged herself to the door and opened it.
Then froze.
Standing there was Ha-Joon.
Tall.
Calm.
Both hands hidden behind his back.
His glasses rested neatly on his nose, and a very small smile sat at the corner of his mouth.
Barely visible.
"Don't you have manners?" he said lightly.
"Can I come in?"
Ji-Ah blinked again.
"…Yes."
He stepped inside slowly, hands still hidden behind his jacket.
Ji-Ah closed the door.
"You can sit," she said. "I'll bring something."
"I already ate," he replied. "I'm full."
She nodded and leaned against the wall.
He looked at her quietly for a moment.
"I know you're sad," he said calmly.
She looked away.
"You're suffering in that house. My house."
Her fingers fiddled with the couch pillow.
"Your contract is only one year," he continued. "Soon it will be over."
Ji-Ah nodded slowly.
"Then what?" she asked quietly.
Ha-Joon cleared his throat.
Then he slipped one hand inside his large jacket.
Ji-Ah frowned. "…What are you doing?"
Slowly.
Very slowly.
He pulled something out.
A tiny ball of white fluff appeared in his hands.
A small kitten.
Soft.
Round.
Snow white.
Tiny paws stretching sleepily.
Ji-Ah froze.
Her brain took a full second to process.
"…Is that…"
The kitten blinked.
"…A CAT?!"
Her entire face exploded with shock. "You brought a cat?!"
Ha-Joon held it out toward her calmly.
"Take it."
Ji-Ah carefully accepted the tiny creature like it was made of glass.
The kitten squeaked softly and curled into her arms.
Her expression melted instantly.
"…It's so small…"
Her voice softened.
"…Hello little cloud…"
The kitten purred faintly.
Ji-Ah stared at it for a long moment.
Then smiled gently.
"I'll name it Type."
Ha-Joon immediately clicked his tongue.
"You really don't know how to name things. I feel sorry for your children."
Ji-Ah scoffed while stroking the kitten's back. "Tell that to Pip."
He sighed.
She looked up at him.
"…Thank you."
Ha-Joon shrugged slightly.
"It's nothing."
Then he turned toward the door.
"If you want," he added calmly, "stay here instead of the house. Only for a while."
Ji-Ah blinked.
"But what about—"
"Stop complaining," he said immediately.
Her eyes widened.
"I'm not complaining!"
"You are."
"You started it!"
Ha-Joon sighed like a tired man dealing with a chaotic storm.
"It's only for a week."
Then he opened the door.
"Good night, Ji-Ah."
And walked away into the quiet night.
Behind him, Ji-Ah stood in the doorway holding the tiny kitten.
"…That annoying man," she muttered.
The kitten meowed softly.
She sighed.
"…Yeah. I know."
Later that night the house was quiet again.
The lights were dim.
Crickets hummed softly outside.
On the couch, Ji-Ah sat cross-legged with the tiny white kitten curled in her lap.
Her phone lit up.
Video call: Min-Jea.
She answered instantly.
His face appeared on the screen, hair messy, lying sideways on his bed.
"What emergency requires a midnight call?" he mumbled.
Ji-Ah shoved the kitten toward the camera.
"LOOK."
Min-Jea blinked.
"…Is that a cotton ball?"
"It's a cat!" she snapped.
He squinted closer.
"…Why does it look like it could disappear in a sneeze?"
Ji-Ah scooped the kitten up proudly.
"This is Type."
Min-Jea sat up immediately.
"You named it Type?"
"Yes."
"That's not a name. I feel sorry for your Kids."
She gasped dramatically.
"Excuse you."
The kitten meowed softly.
Ji-Ah smiled and stroked its tiny head.
"She looks so much like Earth," she said softly.
Her voice slowed a little.
"The same fluffy face… the same tiny nose."
Min-Jea watched quietly.
Ji-Ah continued talking, words tumbling out fast like a waterfall.
"I know no one can replace Earth. Obviously. Impossible. That fluffy king was legendary."
She lifted the kitten slightly.
"But I still love cats. And this one… look at her! She's so small!"
The kitten stretched a paw and grabbed her sleeve.
Ji-Ah laughed.
"See? Violent already."
Then suddenly she blinked.
"Oh."
Min-Jea frowned.
"Oh what?"
Ji-Ah leaned back on the couch casually.
"Also… I'm staying here for now. Only for a week."
Min-Jea froze. "…What?"
She shrugged.
"Here. In this house."
His eyebrows climbed higher. "What did the tyrant say?"
Ji-Ah rolled her eyes immediately.
"He told me to stay here."
Min-Jea blinked again.
"Voluntarily?"
"Maybe for a while," she said. "I mean he said Only for a Week. Are you dumb?. I repeated it like the third time now."
Min-Jea leaned closer to the screen.
"…He's getting more open."
Ji-Ah scoffed so hard the kitten bounced slightly.
"More open? Please."
She waved a hand dramatically.
"He knows I'm angry because of that woman claiming she's his fiancée, not that I care. She is the reason Earth is gone."
Min-Jea nodded slowly.
"Ah."
"So that's probably why he gave me the cat," Ji-Ah continued. "Guilt gift."
She hugged the kitten anyway.
"But I accepted it."
The kitten purred softly.
Ji-Ah smiled down at it.
"…And I love it."
Min-Jea smiled gently through the screen.
"I'm glad you're happy."
Ji-Ah scratched the kitten's chin.
Type let out a tiny squeaky purr.
Ji-Ah grinned.
"…Yeah."
"For today at least."