Disposition

“Naky, isn’t that like a thousand bucks?”

“It’s two hundred bucks, actually,” she corrects, sitting down next to you and proudly showing off the box that she brought back with her. With your own card, if the notification of it being swiped was anything to come by. “Won’t even dent your wallet!”

It definitely does. The idea of you buying that new horror game goes down the drain, but there’s worse things to lose.

“Did you even try it out before buying it?” you ask, eyeing the words written in pink. Brainwave cat ears, it says in cartoonish pink letters, with an image of what the supposed product is.

“Nope!” It’s only one word, and yet you can’t help but sigh at it. Confidence through the roof in her words as she starts to unbox her new toy. “I thought it was cool so I cashed in what you owe me and bought it.”

Least she didn’t break the bank too hard with the purchase. She’s been hanging that over your head for a while and you were getting a little angsty over what she’ll use your card for.

“So, what, you saw some people using it and thought you’d get one of your own?” You had the feeling you already knew the answer, but it never hurts to ask.

“Kinda?” Her hands stop moving. “Do the people in the TV count?”

That stumped you for a good moment. Can’t really blame the adverts for doing their job, so all you can answer is—

“I mean, I guess so.”

You watch her yank the plastic away from the unit, grab the big white cat ears and attach them to the band with an array of sensors before showcasing it to you like she’s selling the thing to you.

“See? It looks cool,” Nakyoung reiterates, carefully placing it on her head, giving the side a few taps to turn the thing on. The contraption whirs to life, giving those relaxing beeps before the ears start to move. It perks up, the ears tilting and drooping. “Wait, what’s it doing?”

“I don’t know, but at least you know it’s not a fake.” You look around the box, grabbing the manual and flipping through it, landing on what—”Looks like it’s calibrating. Give it a few and it’ll make another beep.”

“Okay!” She looks positively ecstatic waiting for it, grinning widely at you as she waits. You shake your head as her patience, and by extension, her attention to it slowly fade away.

She notices it, of course. Sees your fond smile pointed straight at her. For how troublesome she can be, which is arguably on the side of ‘very’, considering how adorably gullible she is half the time. Yet it’s part of her charm, and you would not do a damn thing to change any of it.

“What?” Nakyoung smiles, her head resting on her palm, arm supported by the sofa back.

You chuckle. “Nothing. Just–” Your fingers come up to her chin, thumb rubbing her cheek. “Thought it looks cute on you.”

“Aw–oh I can feel it moving!” She’s bouncing in joy, making her look a hell of a lot cuter than she normally already does. “It’s working, it’s working!”

There’s that faint whirring in her head, the beeping on the side of the contraption she bought not even an hour ago showing you that it is, in fact, working. The white ears move from side to side as she laughs.

“I told you it works!” The grin on her face isn’t leaving anytime soon, and you’re grinning right back at her. She starts doing this little happy dance, closed eyes and pursed lips while her arms wave in the air.

You smile, leaning back into the couch as she continues on in her own little world. The ears on her head dance alongside her antics, reinforcing how happy she is. “Alright, you’ve sold me.”

Your hand reaches up to pat her head, and she freezes. Her eyes shoot open, her arms stop swaying and the cat ears perk up.

Her hair gets ruffled as you rub her head, and the ears slowly begin wiggling again. “That’s nice,” she utters, her head leaning forward. Her arms come to rest in her lap, fingers getting twitchy. Teeth come to bite her lower lip, her body inching closer and closer to you.

The light on the side blinking blue, the cat ears never cease their excited shaking, letting you know how delighted she feels with each pat and rub of her hair. Nakyoung’s almost pressing up against you, wanting your touch.

You never thought about it before, but she acts eerily similar to a cat. Has the features of one too, the headband supporting that idea. Which, again, leaves you to ask her—

“Do you like this, kitten?”

The nickname sounded foreign coming out of you. More so that you’ve never once called her anything other than her name and the occasional variation of ‘babe’. You certainly see the appeal of the pet name when the ears on her head noticeably tilt faster, red warming her cheeks.

“W-What?” she squeaks out, thighs pressing together.

“I said–” Your free hand reaches towards one of her said thighs, covered by the soft denim as you slide upwards to her waist. “If you like this, kitten.”

“I-I–” She doesn’t know what to do, what to say. Too caught up in her mind to give you a verbal answer, but you know better. Seen this happen enough times to know what she’s thinking.

Plus the headband going haywire gives you enough of an idea to keep going.

“Come here.” You pull your hands back, parting your legs and giving your lap a good pat. “On my lap, kitten.”

Nakyoung doesn’t say a word as she shifts, getting up for a moment before she settles across your lap. Her back leaning back against your chest as you wrap your arms around her.

“Good kitten.” The cat ears give a tilt. You wonder how much charge it has left, considering it’s newly bought and neither Nakyoung nor the place she bought it from probably didn’t bother charging it first.

That does give you a very unorthodox way of finding out how long it can stay on.

“Wanna play a game, Naky?” you ask, hands coming to rest on her hips.

She turns back to look at you. “What kind of game?”

“Oh, you know–” You’re being coy with it. “Just a fun little Q and A.”

Her ears stand straight. “Like an interview?”

“Nothing too formal, kitten,” you chuckle, letting her get comfy on your lap. “Wanted to see if those ears really work.”

She’s a little suspicious of you, turning to you with narrow eyes and a raised brow. “But they do work.”

“You don’t want to see if it can be a lie detector too?” You give her hips a slight squeeze. The bullshit dripping off your lips could land you an acting career somewhere. “Could be a cool add on for it, don’t you think?”

The doubt in her eyes disappear, her expression perking up. “That does sound cool–” The ears tilt slowly. “So I just–what, answer your questions?”

“Honestly,” you add, leaning in to kiss her cheek. “And sit pretty on my lap.”

Nakyoung blushes, giving your arm a pinch while she nods. “Okay, okay.”

You lean back, pulling her with you as you let out a hum. Trying to think of a simple question to start things off. You don’t notice your thumbs tracing small circles against her sides, causing her ears to twitch again.

“I got one,” you start, making Nakyoung sit up straighter. “Did you eat my yogurt last night?”

“Wh-What?” she stutters, not expecting that question from you. “No.”

You can see the ears droop. “Naky…”

“Okay, so maybe I did,” she admits. Folding so easily under the slightest pressure, this girl. “But I was hungry and we didn’t have any instant ramen left and–”