NOVEL NEXT After thoroughly kicking the bear cub,
I enjoyed a sweet slumber sweeter than hot chocolate and honey bread.
That day, I was allowed to stay in bed until late.
In the moment transitioning from Saturday to Sunday, during a measly holiday.
It was a tranquil day in the apartment where even the alarm sound from my smartphone didn’t ring.
In a room where the lights weren’t even turned on, perfectly blocking the light with curtains.
There was nothing to disturb my sleep.
Instead of thinking of getting up from bed, I just tossed and turned…
Thump, thump, thump, thump.
‘…?’
The unwelcome noise from the ceiling jolted my eyelids that weren’t even considering waking up.
With my eyes half-open, they began to close again to the stillness and quiet.
I wondered if something was going on in the upstairs apartment.
It was time to shut my eyes again and drift back to sleep.
This laziness was certainly the perfect condition to fall back into the realm of dreams…
Thump, thump, thump, thump.
“Damn it…”
Once again, the undeniable noise from upstairs forced me to curse under my breath as I sat up.
Hunched over with my head down, I started to show my displeasure at being disturbed from my pleasant sleep.
Grabbing my smartphone and turning it on, bright light poked at my eyes.
I squinted one eye and barely opened the other just enough to check the prominently visible time.
8:49 AM.
Not quite the afternoon long past lunch, but still nearly early morning.
“Who the hell is…?”
The palm of my hand on my forehead rubbed across my face before moving towards my eyes.
Thump, thump, thump, thump, the stomping footsteps from upstairs pounded through again.
This time it was definitely clear.
Since I was already in a loft bed situated near the ceiling, the noises from above were more distinct than before.
Thinking back, I recalled a moving truck parked at this apartment yesterday.
Surely, it was the upstairs apartment.
“Damn it…”
I rubbed my eyes with the palms and contorted my whole body in a groan of despair.
Now not only do I have to worry about monster alarms, but also the noise from upstairs?
Don’t kid me, come on.
Time ticked away, and the clock read 11 AM.
“Yawn…”
It was time for Siyeon, who typically couldn’t hear neighborhood sounds while sleeping, to wake up.
I greeted Siyeon with a light morning salutation.
“…Did you sleep well?”
“Yeah, did you sleep well too, Mari?”
The normal response came back to my light greeting.
It was impossible to answer that formal greeting.
“No.”
“Eh? Why?”
Siyeon questioned back at my unnatural response.
At that moment, thump, thump, thump, thump. A noise that made you anxious chimed just in time.
As the noise continued, Siyeon’s displeased gaze naturally turned upwards.
“Because of that.”
Believing this would answer her question, I propped my chin on the low desk and pointed at the ceiling with my opposite index finger.
“Oh, someone moved in, right?”
“Haah.”
Siyeon sighed shortly, coming to an understanding.
No further explanation was needed, she just let out a brief sigh.
The bear doll, picking up on my deep sigh, poured a glass of cold water and chimed in with a few words.
“Do you think there might be a child?”
“Let’s hope so.”
I agreed with its words, my mind too exhausted to want to be angry.
Thus, I voiced my true feelings that were engraved in my dazed mind that couldn’t fall asleep.
“If an adult is making that racket, I just want to put them out of their misery…”
Running around causing a disturbance for the downstairs neighbors is a given.
It’s common sense, and even if you’re self-taught in home training, any elementary school student wouldn’t think to run around the house, such is the duty of a decent human being.
I didn’t want to believe that the source of the noise was an adult.
No, it shouldn’t be an adult.
“Please hold back…”
The bear doll reacted to my murderous thoughts, moving closer to my legs as if to stop me.
“I’m still holding back.”
“How about talking it out instead?”
As it claimed to be holding back, Siyeon’s mascot slowly approached me and spun around, suggesting its own solution.
Being a mascot of a magical girl, its head appeared as clear as its mind.
“I wish I could do that…”
Exhaling a long breath, I voiced a hope I didn’t dare to have.
I briefly explained to the mascot the uncomfortable truths about humans.
“Usually, humans with that much cultural awareness and common sense wouldn’t let a child run around like that.”
“…Ah!”
“Ugh.”
The mascot’s eyes widened as if it realized something.
It was only natural, and the ensuing anger turned to resignation and a sigh.
I should just go to DAIS any time now and buy myself some earplugs.
If you can’t escape, then at least adapt with the right tools.
Isn’t the use of tools symbolic of humanity?
“Okay, I’m going to DAIS for a bit.”
Having made my decision, I quickly got dressed.
I’d have to walk quite a distance with this small frame to reach DAIS.
It’s best to hurry.
“I’m hungry…”
Siyeon whined about her hunger.
She had only thought of herself all morning, and if I went to buy tteokbokki or kimbap, that would just about be lunch.
Thinking this was the perfect timing, I asked her what she wanted to eat.
“What should I get?”
“Tteokbokki… and kimbap!”
Seeing her respond as if she had been waiting for me to ask, I felt a bit taken aback.
Food from outside does taste better.
“Alright, just wait while you watch TV.”
I grabbed my wallet and headed outside, shoving it into my little pocket that fit my small body just perfectly.
The protruding pocket caught my own eye.
I awkwardly shoved my feet into my sneakers, fumbling around as I straightened the heel part.
Thud, thud, I tapped the front of my sneakers on the ground as I made my way to the market.
Just as I made it to the first floor of the apartment…
“Hmm?”
A small four-legged animal dashed into the apartment flower bed with a quick leap.
If it were an animal of that size in the city, it could only be a cat.
They usually wouldn’t come this close to the entrance, so why were they here?
As I looked around, I noticed a feeding bowl that could only have been placed there by a human.
One was a food bowl, and one was a water bowl.
“What’s this…?”
Just as a dreadful realization hit me, there was a coated paper near the entrance that caught my eye.
[Stray cats, the neighbors of urban ecosystems.]
[1. Stray cats are precious lives.]
Something or other…
[2. Stray cats are pest control officers.]
They catch mice and so on.
[3. Stray cats are residents of our neighborhood.]
So please do not remove their feeding bowls.
“Wow, seriously, I’m going to lose it.”
Seeing lines that no sane human would utter, I couldn’t help but click my tongue in astonishment.
Was there really a cat mom living in this apartment?
Even if I put off speculating on who the person was, it was dizzying.
How can I possibly express this mixed feeling of sighing and admiring along with hatred and anger?
“Just endure, endure…”
Clenching my fists, I tried to hold back the rising fury.
I wouldn’t face criminal punishment as a minor, but let’s at least refrain from killing.
I wanted to kick the feeding bowl away right then and there, but I managed to contain myself for now.
“Hoo, ha, huh…”
Two short breaths.
Let’s remember the words of our ancestors, “If you endure three times, even murder can be avoided.”
But if it’s not a human, is it alright to just kill?
No… Although their actions resemble those of a small animal, legally they are still considered human.
I must endure. I must.
For now, let’s go buy some earplugs.
After walking for a while, I passed by the market and headed to DAIS first.
I bought some easy-to-carry earplugs and placed them in the opposite pocket of my wallet.
Now on my way back, I should buy just one serving of tteokbokki and about three rolls of kimbap.
Honestly, for just Siyeon and me, two would be enough, but considering the bear cub and Siyeon’s mascot, I’ll buy one more.
“That’ll be 13,000 won.”
One serving of tteokbokki, 4,000 won.
One roll of kimbap, 3,000 won.
‘This is really expensive…’
Reflecting on the times when a cup of cup-bokki was 500 won and one roll of kimbap was 1,000 won, I handed over the money and accepted two black bags.
I’ve heard that American folks have discovered the taste of kimbap, so I wonder how much more its price might rise.
Anyway, it was when I joyfully held two black bags returning to the apartment.
The moment I stepped outside, there were now about three cats near the entrance that I had only seen one before.
My mood soured as I prepared to chase them away…
But like true wild animals, they were quick to sense danger and swiftly ran off.
“Hey! You can’t just do that!”
Then, a low, sharp female voice echoed nearby.
“If you run at them like that, they’ll just run away!”
“Ah, I just wanted to pet them!”
Managing to show a smile despite my anger, I glared at that brazen face.
She must have seen me as a little kid because she didn’t even bother to conceal her cat-mom tendencies.
Ah, so you’re the one, huh?
“Oh, I see, you have to approach cats slowly, understood?”
“Ah, I got it. It’s my first time seeing, where do you live?”
“Yeah, I just moved in yesterday. See that place over there?”
Following the direction of her pointed finger, it led to right above our house.
“Aha?”
I responded with a sigh and a vacant gaze, expressing my understanding.
No wonder all the bad luck was compacted into today; it was because of this crazy lady.
I had already sorted this out in my mind.
A cat-mom plus an upstairs noise-maker, this lady must be thoroughly out of her mind.
Besides, judging by her appearance, she looked like she was in her thirties; calling her ‘lady’ doesn’t quite fit.
There should be a limit to how little conscience one has.