You should’ve known the peace wouldn’t last.
When you woke up the next morning, the first thing you saw was Chaewon, hair a total bird’s nest, sitting cross-legged on the floor in her pajamas, staring at Kim Catwon like she was plotting an elaborate heist.
The cat sat across from her, regal as ever, licking his paw with the quiet dignity of someone who knew he was above everyone else in the room.
You yawned. “Why do you look like you’re about to declare war?”
“Because,” she said gravely, “he stinks.”
You blinked. “What?”
“He rolled in something last night,” she whispered, wrinkling her nose. “Something evil.”
You stared at her for a moment. “…You mean dirt?”
“Evil!” she repeated, pointing dramatically at the cat, who looked deeply offended. “I sniffed him earlier and almost died.”
You rubbed your temples. “Chaewon, he’s a stray. Of course he’s a little—”
“Don’t say it,” she hissed. “My son is perfect.”
“He’s filthy.”
Her eyes narrowed. “Then we must purify him.”
You froze. “…Please tell me you’re not thinking what I think you’re thinking.”
She stood up, fists clenched, voice full of determination. “It’s bath time.”
Ten minutes later, you were both in the bathroom, sleeves rolled up, staring at Kim Catwon in the tub like two generals facing their greatest enemy.
“Okay,” you said cautiously, “we’ll do this gently. Cats hate water, so we’ll take it slow.”
Chaewon nodded. “Got it. Gentle.”
Then, with absolutely no hesitation, she reached out and splashed water onto him.
Kim Catwon made a sound that could only be described as the cry of a betrayed god, launched himself out of the tub, and scrambled up the shower curtain like a caffeinated spider.
“CHA—”
“I panicked!” she yelled, ducking as he launched a counterattack, his claws swiping through the air with the precision of a ninja.
“Why did you do that?!”
“I WAS TRYING TO BE EFFICIENT!”
You grabbed a towel, trying to block the feline assault, while Chaewon, now crouched behind the toilet, yelled, “CATWONIE, PLEASE, I’M YOUR MOTHER!”
He hissed.
She gasped. “He hissed at me!”
“Because you splashed him like he’s in a carwash!”
“He needed cleansing!”
The next five minutes were absolute chaos. You were both slipping on wet tiles, yelling battle plans like you were storming a fortress.
“Distract him!” she shouted.
“With what?!”
“Offer him treats! Or— or— sing to him!”
You blinked through the chaos. “You want me to serenade the cat?”
She threw you the treat bag. “DO YOU HAVE A BETTER PLAN?!”
Miraculously, after an exhausting twenty minutes, the feline fury calmed down long enough for Chaewon to gently towel him dry.
He glared at her with the intensity of someone vowing revenge.
“There,” she said triumphantly, wrapping him in a blanket burrito. “Clean and adorable. He’ll forgive me soon.”
You stared at the three scratches on your arm. “…He’s definitely plotting your death.”
She pouted. “He wouldn’t hurt his mom.”
Kim Catwon immediately turned his head away.
Chaewon gasped. “He’s giving me the silent treatment!”
You tried not to laugh. “Guess betrayal runs deep.”
She frowned, clutching the cat-burrito closer. “No. I’ll win him back. I’m good at this.”
“Good at what?”
“Emotional manipulation,” she said proudly.
You blinked. “You mean apologies?”
“Same thing,” she said sweetly.
36 likes from PinkBlood, kryphtot, weewoo, KMJU, NakkoMinju, roses_are_rosie, DJNayeon, chaitea, ShinyKoala, Battoussaaii, ahyeonsahyeons, z.look, Seeunsoon, x-ddd-x, JadeHare, ringo, summoning eru, bethesda, yunaships, and FrostOrca, .