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Chapter: 20
Hadam froze completely.
Facing Doigyeol in such an unguarded state, he was overwhelming.
Even the dim light of the hospital room traced along Doigyeol’s broad shoulders and long limbs, casting a giant-like shadow.
The word cute didn’t even enter Hadam’s mind.
All he could think about was the pile of clothes that had been covering him.
Layers upon layers of clothing, with underwear carelessly left underneath.
The shame of feeling as if he were completely exposed washed over him.
Would Doigyeol even know the rule that if you find clothes, you must not dig through them but wrap them properly and put them in a wooden box?
It was a rule that students at the main school had to follow, or they would receive demerits…
Hadam wanted to cry.
Meanwhile, Doigyeol observed him with an expression of interest, unhidden.
It wasn’t contempt or mockery, but pure curiosity—and yet the feeling of misery was the same.
That gaze, as if looking at a rare creature.
That gesture, reaching out to touch.
The way he treated him as a spectacle, a toy, just a fascinating little animal.
“You’re no different from the others,” Hadam thought.
A massive hand crept closer.
Instinctively, Hadam took a step back, but all he felt was the soft texture of the pile of clothes as an obstacle.
Doigyeol’s hand came closer, moment by moment.
No.
Stop.
Don’t come closer.
Please, don’t touch me.
But there was no way the silent scream in his heart could be heard.
Hadam lifted his head toward the fingers approaching him.
And with all his strength, he bit down hard on the index finger. Hard enough for his small teeth to sink into flesh.
A short scream echoed through the quiet hospital room.
Doigyeol reflexively pulled his hand back.
Hadam didn’t waste the moment.
Now.
Driven by a single thought—he had to escape—he sprang from the pile of clothes and ran.
His small four paws pounded desperately against the smooth floor.
It felt as if Doigyeol could grab him from behind at any moment.
Finally reaching the hospital door, Hadam froze in panic.
He was sure he had left it slightly open before…!
But contrary to memory, the door was completely shut.
The handle was out of reach, and there was no pet door.
He clawed madly at the door with his front paws, but it was meaningless.
“Are you trying to run away now?”
A voice mixed with surprise and disbelief reached him.
Hadam turned around in despair.
Doigyeol stood there, finger in his mouth, looking at him with an expression of incredulity.
“You make someone like this, and then just run away? Go ahead if you can, but you can’t even open the door.”
Unbelievable.
Who’s fault is this!
Shame, anger, injustice, and sorrow surged all at once.
Finally, the tears he had desperately held back fell.
One drop. Two drops.
Once they started, they poured down like a broken dam. They didn’t stop, soaking his nose and face.
His vision blurred, his body trembled in small shakes.
“Uh? Sun Hadam… you… are you crying?”
Doigyeol asked, seemingly quite surprised, and stepped closer, flustered.
Hadam pressed his face against the floor, keeping his small paws on it.
Silent sobs escaped from his little body.
He couldn’t cry like a human, letting it out, and it was even more painful.
Why am I like this?
Why was I born like this—
“Sun Hadam, hey, don’t cry.”
Doigyeol stammered.
“I’m sorry, it’s because of me, right? Don’t cry, okay?”
His helpless voice made Hadam feel even sadder.
Please, don’t talk to me.
Just pretend you don’t see me.
Internally, he begged, crying silently where no one could hear.
When I return to human form, I won’t speak to you at all.
He resolved firmly and tried to swallow back his sobs.
Click.
The sound of the door handle turning came.
“Oh my, what’s happening? Hadam, you…”
Inhwa trailed off and immediately scooped Hadam up. He gave no resistance and was held in Inhwa’s arms.
“Calm down, Hadam.”
Inhwa patted him gently and then spoke to Doigyeol.
“Doigyeol, gather Hadam’s clothes properly and give them to me.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
While crying, Hadam glanced at Doigyeol in surprise.
What if he looked through the clothes and saw my underwear?
He watched Doigyeol tensely.
Fortunately, Doigyeol didn’t rummage through the pile. Like handling something precious, he carefully wrapped the rest of the clothes in a long coat like a blanket.
“Shall I carry them?”
“No, I’ll take them. Doigyeol, you rest here for now.”
As soon as Inhwa received the clothes, she left the room without even saying goodbye.
Inhwa took Hadam to a single room one floor above.
Hadam was familiar with the place, having been there often as a child.
He didn’t lift his head even as Inhwa carefully set him down.
He hated transforming into a rabbit in front of family.
He truly felt like a ‘different species’.
No matter how much his family said otherwise, he was the only one of their bloodline who turned into a rabbit.
Inhwa gently brushed his back and whispered.
“Hadam, it’s okay now. I’m here. I’ll make sure you can return soon.”
Inhwa opened the bedside drawer and started taking things out.
“Always kept these for emergencies, and it seems we’ll need them.”
Hadam knew without looking: sedatives and syringes.
He had once hopped around trying to escape the shot.
“You must’ve been very frightened, Hadam.”
Inhwa filled a small syringe with a clear liquid.
Hadam extended one leg back while turning his back.
“You can tell without me saying anything.”
It wasn’t a compliment he liked.
Soon, the medicine was injected into his thigh with a prick.
He felt his racing heart settle quickly.
At the same time, his tension melted away, and drowsiness came in like a tide.
Inhwa covered him with a blanket.
“When you return to normal, sleep in your pajamas. You know the last drawer has them, right? I’ll hang up the ones you came in. When you wake up, go to the dorm to sleep. You have school tomorrow. I’ll leave now. Blood test will be tomorrow.”
Hadam twitched his ears.
Inhwa smiled slightly and drew the curtains around the bed before leaving immediately.
It was all for Hadam’s comfort.
After that, he barely remembered how he fell asleep.
His body recovered quickly, he struggled to keep his eyes open to change into pajamas, and collapsed onto the bed.
The liquid medication made it hard to stay fully conscious.
The one thing certain was that he fell into a very deep sleep.
No dreams—completely unconscious.
How long he slept, he didn’t know.
Upon waking, he habitually looked at his wrist—but his watch wasn’t there.
He always wore it to bed, but must have forgotten in the wave of sleepiness.
Hadam forced his stiff body upright.
Through the bed curtain, he saw a shadow.
Had Inhwa returned?
Rubbing his sleepy eyes, he called out.
“Auntie? I’m okay now. Is my watch there?”
But there was no answer from across the room.
He called again in a hoarse voice.
“Auntie?”
“…It’s me, Doigyeol.”
His heart sank in shock.
Fortunately, the sedative’s effects remained, so his heart didn’t race.
Hadam spoke coldly.
“I don’t want to talk to you. Go.”
“…I’m sorry. Earlier I—”
“Didn’t you hear me? I said I don’t want to talk. Go.”
But he didn’t move or answer.
Anger began to rise.
Do humans not understand words?
Hadam gritted his teeth.
“You think this is funny. Amusing, interesting. I don’t. I’m tired of it, ashamed. My body feels cursed, horrible.”
His voice trembled. The more he spoke, the more he felt like crying, but he couldn’t stop.
“I’ve even blamed my parents. I wish it were a disease so I could try to cure it. But this… this can’t be fixed. It’s not even a disease!”
He almost shouted, pulling the blanket over his head.
Why did he have to talk about this? He just wanted to disappear.
Breaking the silence, Doigyeol spoke calmly.
“It’s neither funny nor amusing. But yes, it is fascinating. Among the beasts I’ve seen, none were as small and cute as you.”
Is he making an excuse now?
Ridiculous.
He’s saying he’s seen big animals… what does that even mean… huh?
Hadam threw back the blanket.
And flung open the curtains.
“What do you mean by that?”
