[Ongoing] [Skiz Reno Bing's Story] - Warmer than a Cat Episode 3

I arrived at the cafe a little early today.

Perhaps because the low-lying clouds were moving in faster than forecast, the warm air wafting from inside felt even more welcome as soon as I opened the door.

 

He was still silent. He looked at me and nodded slightly, and I felt like I was used to it.

 

 

“Coffee”

 

 

He said first.

 

A moment later, a ceramic cup came down on the table. Steam floated over it, and as the fragrance spread, my heart relaxed. Dori had already taken a seat next to me. Today, she sat down as if she was deliberately shedding hair on my shoes. I took a sip of coffee and looked down at Dori.

 

“I think this one is well named. Dori.”

 

Then he asked quietly.

 

"why?"

 

 

“When you say dori dori, it sometimes looks like dori, and sometimes it looks like the pupils of your eyes.”

 

I laughed playfully and he shrugged his shoulders slightly.

 

 

“Actually, I never gave it a name.”

 

My eyes widened at his words.

 

“Really?”

 

 

“Every cat has a name that they call themselves. At first, Dory was just called ‘Hey.’”

 

It was something I blurted out, but for some reason it made me laugh.

 

 

“Then what about the other kids? They don’t have names?”

 

 

He looked at me slowly. His eyes lingered for a strangely long time.

 

“I have a lot of questions. I was a quiet person at first.”

 

 

I laughed awkwardly as if I had been caught.

 

“If I stay here, I end up talking a lot for no reason. It’s comfortable.”

 

 

He turned his gaze back without saying anything. He looked out the window and spoke quietly.

 

“That’s fortunate.”

 

 

At that moment, I suddenly became curious.

 

“But…what is your name, boss?”

 

 

He turned his head slightly and looked at me,

He answered with a small smile.

 

“It’s Lee Min Ho.”

 

 

The name felt surprisingly soft. I quietly repeated the name.

Lee Min-ho. It was a fitting name.

It's strangely cold, but it feels warm.

 

 

“You talk nicely to cats, but you tell them your own name late.”

 

Let me say that,
He said, slowly putting down the coffee cup he was holding.

 

 

“My name is, well… no one asked.”

 

Those words were thrown out without warning, but for some reason they stayed in my mind.

I just heard the name,
I felt like I got a little closer to that person.

 

 

I decided to call him 'Minho' instead of 'Boss' from tomorrow. Alone, very quietly, as if practicing. Rain started to fall outside the window. Quietly, but surely, the sound of the rain coming made this space feel warmer.

 

 

And at that moment,
He walked towards me
I put a small cat doll down on the table.

 

 

“When I wipe the table, Dori keeps sitting on it. Can you take care of it for me?”

 

 

I laughed as if it was ridiculous,
The intention behind it felt strangely good.

 

Blunt words, quiet actions,

And… the look in your eyes just now.

It was definitely directed at me.