Chapter 1

You just stared at her. “You named him already?”

“Obviously,” she said proudly. “He looked at me, and I just knew. Look at that face. He’s got personality. And the silent rage of someone who thinks he’s better than everyone else. That’s my son.”

The cat blinked slowly, clearly unimpressed.

You blinked back. “…Oh my god. There’s two of you.”

Chaewon gasped, clutching her chest. “How dare you insult our family on day one.”

“Family?”

“Too late,” she said confidently. “We made eye contact. He’s ours now.”

“That’s not how adoption works, Chaewon.”

“It’s how love works,” she countered, scooping the cat into her arms like a newborn. “Also, he already picked me. Look at this.”

You watched as the cat squirmed violently, kicking his back legs until she had to let him go. He landed gracefully, shot her a dirty look, and strutted into your apartment like he was reclaiming ancestral property.

Chaewon gasped. “See? He knows where home is!”

“Yeah,” you muttered. “Because you left the door open.”

“Semantics,” she said, waving you off. “He’s here now. That’s what matters.”

You stared at her, then at the cat, who had hopped onto your couch and curled up like royalty. “I hate to say it, but he really does fit in.”

“I told you!” she said triumphantly, plopping down beside him. “Look at us. A happy little family.”

You crossed your arms. “You met him thirty minutes ago.”

“And I’ve never felt a bond this strong,” she said dramatically, petting the cat, who tolerated it only because he was too tired to move.

“He looks like he wants to sue you,” you pointed out.

She gasped. “How dare you! Don’t listen to them, Catwonie. You’re perfect just the way you are.”

You sighed. “He can’t understand you.”

“Yes, he can,” she said indignantly. “We’ve already established emotional communication.”

The cat meowed.

Chaewon’s jaw dropped in delight. “See?! He agreed!”

You pinched the bridge of your nose. “He’s hungry.”

“Which makes him relatable,” she said, nodding seriously.

Fifteen minutes later, she had somehow roped you into pouring milk into your best mug (“He deserves luxury,” she said solemnly), while she built him a “starter home” out of pillows and one of your favorite hoodies.

When you came back, she was scribbling something on a sticky note.

You frowned. “What are you—”

She pressed the note above the pillow fort. In perfect handwriting, it read: Kim Catwon HQ.

You groaned. “You’re not serious.”

“I’ve never been more serious in my life,” she said, admiring her work. “He deserves a brand identity.”

You folded your arms. “You’ve gone insane.”

She turned and smiled sweetly. “You love it.”

You opened your mouth to deny it… then stopped when you noticed Kim Catwon had settled into the fort, eyes closed, purring faintly.

Chaewon softened instantly. “He’s such a baby,” she whispered, gently petting him. “He’s just misunderstood. Like me, when you say I’m dramatic.”

“That’s because you are dramatic,” you teased.

She gasped. “I am a passionate artist!”

“You cried because your bubble tea didn’t come with the heart straw.”

“That was a betrayal!”

You were about to respond, but the way her eyes sparkled when she laughed made you forget the words. She looked genuinely happy — curled up on the couch in her oversized hoodie, hair a little messy, cheeks pink from excitement, cradling a cat that clearly had no idea how he ended up here.

“See?” she said softly, still watching Catwon. “He trusts me.”

“You kidnapped him from the street.”

“I rescued him from the cruel world,” she corrected. “He looked cold.”

You sighed, sitting beside her. “You’re unbelievable.”

“Unbelievably kind,” she said with a grin. “And pretty. Don’t forget pretty.”

You leaned against the couch, smiling. “You forgot ‘chaotic.’”

She smirked. “That’s part of the charm.”

The cat stretched, yawned, and nestled deeper into her lap. Chaewon made a tiny squeal, the kind that melted you instantly. “Oh my god, he’s purring! He loves me already!”

You chuckled. “Or he’s plotting.”

“Plotting how to love me more,” she said, her voice soft and sleepy now.