CHAPTER FOUR

[Don't have to drop out]

Yoosung: I passed!

I passed with flying colours!

Jaehee Kang has entered the chatroom.

Jaehee Kang: Well done!

Hard work will always yield success.

ZEN has entered the chatroom.

707 has entered the chatroom.

ZEN: If you stop playing video games…

You can actually do well

707: But now you're going to fall behind in LOLOL!

Everyone will forget you

Nameless Yoosung

Worst armour

Worst weapon

Can't even kill a snail

Yoosung: NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

all my hard work!

my years of levelling up!

asdkfnaldsfnaklndfkl

ZEN: Don't do it

It's a trap

Jaehee Kang: You have to keep up with your studies.

You must think long-term.

Yoosung: i konw

btu hvae t kep up

ctna gvie pu on ym gluid

Jumin Han has entered the chatroom.

Jumin shook his head when he read what was written, stroking Elizabeth who was in his lap.

707: Hey! Hey!

Tell me more about the new cutie!

ZEN: New cutie?

Who has a new cutie?

I want to meet her.

707: Elly's cute little sister!

Jumin Han: Her name is Elizabeth the 3rd.

And I do not know what else you want me to say about the kitten.

707: What's her name?

When can I meet her?

Is she as cute in person as she is in the photos?

Jaehee Kang: She is very cute.

707: What?

Jaehee got to see her?

You think she's cute?

Jaehee Kang: I have nothing against cats as long as I don't have to catsit.

They are aesthetically cute.

Their hair is not.

ZEN: ACHOO!

Jumin Han: I have no thought of a name for her as of yet.

I planned to help her find her owner.

That is, if she has one.

I whined, rubbing my cheek against his. I didn't want another owner! I didn't have another owner! What if he gave me away to someone who didn't like me – who wouldn't treat me well?

He turned to me. "What's wrong? Don't want to leave me?"

"Mew!" I bobbed my head, blinking my eyes as coyly as I could.

"Were you abused or abandoned?" he wondered. "Whoever your owner was couldn't possibly have taken good care of you if you were left in an alley and don't want to go back.

"I would love to keep you, especially when you're such a good kitten and you can keep Elizabeth the 3rd company while I'm at work."

He lifted one of my legs to rub the soft padding of my paw. "So delicate and fragile… But there is something undeniably intelligent about you. Perhaps… Perhaps I shall name you Catherine the Great."

It wasn't my name, but it also wasn't a bad one. It could've been much worse like Pooky or Turtle. Those names were cute referring to other pets, but as a former human, it was rather offensive.

"Mew!" I licked his cheek to express my acceptance.

For now, I was going to be his Catherine the Great.

"I do hope you will not overthrow me, kitten."

ZEN: Where did that guy go?

707: I want to see her!

Jumin Han: I have decided to keep her since she does not wish to leave my side and I will not force her.

Her name is Catherine the Great.

ZEN: What is with those strange names?

Jaehee Kang: What about finding her owner?

They will miss her and she'll miss them.

Jumin Han: No, she expressed her desire to stay.

I will not force her to leave.

ZEN: The trust fund kid can't even afford to buy his own pets now?

Jaehee Kang: How did she express it…?

Jumin Han: It is not about affordability.

It is about doing what is right.

If she is happier here, I see no reason to return her where the environment is less than ideal.

Jaehee Kang: Mr. Han…

There will be trouble if anyone knew you stole someone else's cat.

Jumin Han: I will handle that accordingly if the situation arises.

I am certain that I will be able to sufficiently compensate them if they ask for her back.

ZEN: Of course he thinks everything is about money

707: I don't see any missing posters for Catie

Jumin Han: There won't be any if she was absued or abandoned.

She is safest with me.

I will not allow any harm to go her way.

[photo of Catherine the Great on Jumin Han's shoulder]

707: I'm so jealous!

I'm going over there right now!

Jumin Han: You will not make it inside.

Security has your face on record.

You will be thrown out immediately.

707: But Little Catie is so cute…

How can she stand living in such a stuffy place…

Jumin sighed, causing me to tilt my head.

Jumin Han: I will be going now to tend to my two princesses.

707: What?

No! No!

You can't keep both!

I want one!

Gimme!

Jujuuuuuuu~!

Jumin Han has left the chatroom.

Jumin pulled up a photo of a male with red hair and showed it to me. "If you see him, run. He is a cat abuser."

"Mew?!" I cried in alarm. He wasn't serious was he?

"Every time he sneaks in here, Elizabeth the 3rd would become stressed and shed more than usual." Despite his words of annoyance, their friendship seemed alright.

"Mew…"

"Are you tired? You are still recovering. You should rest more." He placed Elizabeth on top of the covers and had me in my bed. "Sleep well. I will spend more time with you tomorrow."

I yawned and gave a long stretch before curling up.

Jumin smiled.

His kitten was indeed interesting. She seemed to be very aware of what was happening around her.

When he walked into his room to investigate, he hadn't expected to see her perched on his nightstand, watching cartoons. It had been a bit of a shock and he found it a bit difficult to just treat her like a normal cat.

Catherine the Great.

That was an appropriate name for her. He couldn't imagine a simple name because none of those would ever live up to how extraordinary she was.

"Elizabeth the 3rd, how do you like your new sister?" he asked, holding her close against his chest.

"Meow." She seemed to smile and roll on to her back for him to rub her belly.

He obliged, spoiling his princess. "I'm glad you two get along."

He laid down in bed with Elizabeth the 3rd by his side.

His mind began to wander to how he came to own her. It was Rika who gave her to him because she thought he seemed lonely and V started the naming tradition. Elizabeth the 3rd quickly became the queen in his life.

When Rika passed, he only doted on Elizabeth the 3rd more because that was all he had left of her. Even now, he missed the blonde angel very much. She had done so much greatness. How could she succumb to such a fate?

"Mew…"

I batted away the hand that was rousing me from sleep. I was too warm and comfortable. I wasn't ready to wake up yet. Besides, as a cat, didn't I have the right to just sleep all day?

"Catherine the Great…"

"Mew…"

"You need to take your medication."

"Mew…"

Needless to say, I was glad when I didn't have to take that disgusting concoction anymore, but it also meant that he no longer took me with him to the office.

I didn't mind Elizabeth's company, but it just wasn't the same. I needed human interactions, even as a cat. I needed people to talk to me and remind me that I wasn't just a small, furry animal.

The only thing that kept my brain from melting out of my ears was TV. How ironic…

If only I could gain access to his computer. That would be an infinite source of entertainment.

"Meow…" Elizabeth brushed by me, flicking her tail in my face as she passed by.

What did she want?

When I didn't follow, she beckoned me again with an elegant, "Meow," while looking at me.

Curious, I complied, quietly padding through the penthouse after her. She stopped in a room with large TV and jumped on to the expensive leather carpet.

"Meow!"

I tried to jump after her, but only ended up on my butt. How could this body be so inept? Why was I so tiny? I was obviously a grown woman before I was turned into a cat, so why was I not an adult cat?

"Meow." Elizabeth tilted her head, watching me pout.

With a huff, I tried again, flailing like an idiot, until she caught the scruff of my neck and helped pull me on to the couch beside me.

I shook my head and clumsily rolled on to my stomach. "Mew…" I rubbed my head against her body in appreciation.

I slapped my paw on the remote a couple of times and changed the channel until I was satisfied with what I saw.

The large screen was enormous and I was small enough for it to feel as if I was in the show. My head moved back and forth, trying to catch all the action.

As I watched, Elizabeth was quietly minding her own business with a toy between her paws.

After the episode ended, I felt myself begin to grow sleepy. What was it about being a cat that made me want to sleep all the time?

"Meow…" Elizabeth scooted against me. Her warm, fluffy body was like a comforting blanket around my own.

"Mew…"

I was such a lazy cat, but how could I not be when Jumin spoiled me? Besides, it wasn't as if I even had any responsibilities anymore. In fact, since he was my "owner," I wasn't even responsible for myself.

It was such an odd feeling, something that definitely took adjusting to, but I really felt like I needed something more. There had to be a way to change me back into a human being.

There just had to be.

When I woke up, I sneaked away from Elizabeth and began to explore the penthouse more thoroughly.

Would Jumin be freaked out if I tried to communicate with him through writing or text? Would he toss me out?

I began to pace, wondering what I should do.

Another option was to run away and try to find someone who could help me, but it was already proven that I had no survival skills. I'd die before making down two blocks.

The door opening made me jump.

I saw Jumin walk in and Elizabeth came out to greet him. He had the softest smile on his face as he held her.

I settled at the foot of the couch, watching him, until Elizabeth jumped out of his arms.

"How are you, Catherine the Great?" He picked me up and instead of cuddling me like he did with Elizabeth, he placed me on his shoulder.

That seemed to be my place. I was able to nuzzle again him.

"Mew…" I sighed, half slumped over against him.

"What's wrong?" he asked, going to his room and deposited his cell phone on to the nightstand. "Have you been bored?"

"Mew!" I bobbed my head.

"I have never looked after such a young kitten before." He looked thoughtfully at me, tapping my nose. "I guess you'll need more attention. Assistant Kang will be busy at work these next few days, but maybe I can have someone else come by."

Someone else?

I stayed with him as he called someone named "V."

"I'm glad you're back. If I hadn't called, would you have contacted me?" he asked. His voice was even, but something in his eyes flashed sadness. If I hadn't been so close to him, I would never have seen it.

I clicked my tail across his cheek, causing his lips to quirk up just the slightest. His hand came up to scratch behind my ears. I purred happily, rubbing the top of my head against him.

"Yes. Now is a good time. I will see you later." He hung up. 'Kitten, V is going to drop by. He'll be staying here for a couple to keep you company while I'm at work."

I didn't really want anyone else here, but maybe if Jumin trusted him, it'd be fine.

It wasn't long before someone came in. I could hear Jumin greeting them, so I walked out to see who V was.

When I saw the blue-haired man, I froze. Something about him seemed familiar, but I couldn't quite place why. Maybe if he didn't have these sunglasses on his face, I'd recognise him.

"Catherine the Great, this is V." Jumin brought his hand down to the floor, so I leapt on to it and made my way to his right shoulder. "Good girl."

"Did you call me here to meet your new friend?"

I froze.

That voice.

That voice was also painfully familiar.

I had met V before.

Not too long ago…

I gauged the distance between the two men and decided to take a chance. I flew towards V and as expected, I wasn't going to make it. As I was falling, V managed to catch me in his arms. "Careful!"

"Mew…" That was embarrassing…

I shook my head and slowly climbed up his body to his shoulder.

I had to know who this V was, but I needed to see his face in its entirety. With a huff, I reached up and batted his sunglasses away.

The moment our eyes met, I cried out and jumped away. Luckily, I landed on my feet, but fear and memories of intense pain assaulted me. I managed to stagger my way under the couch with my paws over my eyes.

This was wrong.

This was all wrong.

Jumin was this asshole's friend! Did that mean that he also knew what happened to me? Was this entire thing a lie?

Who can I actually trust here?