RAINBOW

Don’t you just love the feeling of getting back home after a long day and taking a shower? Well, I do. Most cats tend to hate water, but I love the feeling of cold water drops running down my skin, the feeling of washing off the bad vibes of the day, and the sensation of feeling fresh and smelling of soap afterward makes me happy. And that’s where I was now, taking a well-deserved shower and thinking of what dish should I prepare for dinner today. It’s late, I’m tired and hungry so it needed to be something simple, easy, and fast to make. 

‘Ramen?’ Vivi suggested in the back of my mind. 

‘It’s a good idea, Ramen it is.’ I smiled, then got out of the shower, dried off with a towel, and changed into some comfy pajamas. When I got to the kitchen, I took out my ingredients and began preparing dinner. I added some eggs, spam, and a few veggies, but it was missing something. A little kick of flavor. ‘Right!’ Opening the fridge’s door, my eyes looked for a specific ingredient that was meant to give that kick to my ramen. 

“Aha! There you are.” I took out a big jar that was hiding in the back and almost fainted as I noticed it was almost over. “No! It can’t be, I’m going to die without it.” 

‘You are so dramatic, there’s enough for today.’ Vivi sighed at my dramatic reaction. ‘And it’s just kimchi, you can just buy it at the store later.’

“Just kimchi?! How dare you say that? It’s the perfect sour, salty, umami flavor that fits every dish.” I scolded him, giving him a lesson about why kimchi is so great.

‘You say that just because you love watching those Korean dramas. I told you, you have an obsession.’ I rolled my eyes hearing his ‘argument’, which was mostly true.

“Yes, but no. Kimchi is a great companion for a lot of dishes and there’s nothing wrong with watching K-dramas, they are entertaining.” I took the jar to the counter and opened it, taking in the fermented smell of it, it wasn’t the best one but it made my mouth water. “I need to refill this jar. I can’t believe it’s almost over. Hopefully, there’s enough for now.”

I put the remaining kimchi on a cutting board and with the help of a knife I cut it into pieces and then dumped it in the pot, a few minutes boiling and it was done. I moved to the living room and sat on the sofa, eating my food while enjoying a great K-drama. Vivi acted like he hated them but he was just as obsessed with them.

My obsession began when I was young…

~oOoOo~

“But Daddy, why can’t I go with you?” I asked with teary eyes as I watched him get ready to go out with Mason. It was unfair, I wanted to go with them too and have fun.

“Because you have to stay here with your Papa, kitten.” Daddy Layton finished putting his boots on and then looked at me with a smile, he caressed my cheeks with his hands. “We don’t want to leave him alone right? You know how he gets when we go out without him.”

“I know but I want to have fun with you.” I nodded, leaning to his touch, I always liked how his big hands felt warm and gave me the comfort I needed.

“Believe me, Vic. It’s not fun at all.” My brother sighed standing next to our dad. “It's super boring, we have lessons and stuff you wouldn’t like.” He left a soft pat on my head making me pout.

“But you get to spend time with Daddy, Uncle, and Byron.” I crossed my arms on my chest, showing how upset I was. 

“And you get to spend time with Papa and be lazy at home, I wish I was you. Your life is way easier than mine.” He said pinching my nose, I frowned ready to fight him, I hate when he does that.

“Mason. Don’t say that to your brother.” Daddy scolded him, giving him a serious glare and probably telling him to wait outside through the pack’s link. He turned back to me with a slight smile on his face. “Ignore him, kitten. I promise we will play together once we come back, okay?”

“Fine! Whatever.” I huffed and walked away from him, into the living room, not even saying my goodbyes, I heard him call my name but I ignored him and then I heard the door closing, they had left. 

I huffed still with crossed arms, I was bored and I wanted to play so I went to look for the only person in the house beside me: Papa Jamie. I looked for him in the kitchen but he was not there, not even in the backyard or in his study, but I knew he was not at work since it was his day off. ‘Where is he?’ 

I was getting impatient and then I heard it, noise coming from his room, foreign voices speaking in another language. I opened the door and peeked inside to find my Papa on his bed, eating lime chips while his eyes were fixed on their TV. 

“Joo-won is so handsome.” Papa Jamie said, eyes fixed on the screen not even noticing I sat next to him.

“Who is Joo-won?” I curiously asked him, Papa shouted startled at my sudden presence, and paused the show he was watching.

“Omg! Sweetie you scared me. I thought you were taking a nap or something.” Papa calmed down looking at me, caressing my hair.

“I’m not tired, I’m bored and I wanted to play with Daddy but he left with Mason.” I said pouting while crossing my arms, he giggled and then hugged me.

“Well, I can play with you.” He smiled snuggling with me on the bed, making me giggle.

“But you are busy watching TV.” I answered, remembering that I had interrupted his previous activity.

“What if you watch it with me? It’s a k-drama called ‘Secret Garden’, I think you will like it.” He suggested with a smile on his face while he brushed some of my hair strands. “We can eat chips, drink soda, and even eat ice cream in bed, but don’t tell your Daddy.”

“What’s a k-drama?” I asked confused and Papa laughed before leaving a soft kiss on my forehead.

Papa explained to me what it was and I nodded, accepting his request to watch this Korean show with him. My eyes fixed on the screen as he hit the play button before putting the drama from the start; apparently, it was his favorite and he liked to watch it from time to time.

And just like that, as time passed, we were on the last episode, not even noticing when Daddy and Mason had come back. I could see why Papa loved this k-drama so much, a knock on the door interrupted our moment and Daddy peeked his head inside, Papa pressed the pause button.

“Baby, it’s late and I’m tired. Can I come to sleep in the room now?” Daddy asked and Papa just threw a pillow to his face, as well as his pajamas. 

“Go sleep in the other room or something. We are not sleeping until it’s over.” Papa Jamie said, giving him a mean glare for interrupting his k-drama time.

“Yeah, Daddy. Go sleep somewhere else.” I said not even looking at him, my eyes on the screen, waiting for Papa to resume the series.

“Fine. Good night to you two.” Daddy sighed, taking his things and closing the door. Papa resumed the drama and we kept watching and sobbing as we had binged the whole series in one day.

~oOoOo~

Since then we started watching them together until I moved out and went to study abroad. I missed those times, we were happy back then, while Mason and Byron were going all around with Daddy Layton and Uncle Rendall, I stayed at home with Papa Jamie connecting with him over dramas, cooking, and other things. But now I just get constant nagging about when am I going to get married or have children; it’s stressful.

But enough of getting depressed, I shook my head, finished my ramen, and after cleaning the dishes, I walked to the balcony to pick up some clothes that I had washed the day before, while I was picking them up I noticed how the light on the balcony next door was on. ‘Kang Dae must be home.’ I wondered what he was doing.

‘I want to talk with our mate.’ Vivi said, moving his tail from side to side. 

‘You can’t Vivi, you have to wait and I’m tired.’ I yawned and got back inside the apartment, closing the door behind me with difficulty because of the clothes I had in my hands. After putting every piece of clothing in its place, I jumped on my bed and curled up falling asleep.

KANG DAE

Eating dinner while watching the news was a new experience for me, I used to spend dinner with the other servants back in the McRaytan Manor. But now everything was different, I no longer had anyone to talk to while I ate, so having the news as background noise was the best option. Once I was done eating, I felt observed, I looked around the room with my guard up, and when my eyes fixed on the balcony, bright green eyes looked back at me; a small black silhouette with green eyes.

A cat.

I smiled and got close to the balcony door looking down at him, as soon as I opened the glass door, the cat entered my apartment, passing through my legs rubbing on them, and marking me with its scent. I’ve always liked animals, I think they are better than most people in this world; probably even better than me. A meow broke me from my thoughts as I saw the cat jumping on my sofa and looking at me as if asking me to sit on the couch with him. I laughed and sat on the sofa looking at it, admiring its black fur and green eyes, they reminded me of something, someone… 

‘Rainbow…’

I smiled slightly at the thought of that omega, his eyes were similar to the cats. I wondered if he was already home, it was late so he probably was sleeping already. I still couldn’t understand why I was so attached to him, it was the first time I wanted to mate with an omega so badly.

Something heavy got on my lap, I looked down to find the cat lying there, purring and looking at me asking me to touch its fur and I followed its demands, carefully caressing it.

“You are such a lovely cat,” I asked as if it was going to give me an answer back. I giggled as the cat just purred moving its head in my hand and asking for more caresses. “You really love this, huh? You must be a spoiled kitty.”

it. I wondered who it belonged to,  it was in very good care for a stray cat; maybe it belonged to someone living in the building, but to be jumping from balconies, it was a fearless cat. It must be a loved cat to be so loving and friendly. Their owner must be worried about their cat, what if it's lost? 

“Did you escape from your owner’s house? Do you live in this building?” I asked curiously, the cat moved his head closer to the palm of my hand and gave me a soft lick. A sweet scent hit my nostrils, it was a similar scent to Rainbow’s, could it be him? The cat's owner?

A meow broke me from my thoughts as the cat jumped down my lap and walked back to the balcony, curious I followed its moves. Giving me one last rub on my legs, the cat jumped to the veranda and then onto the balcony next door, Rainbow’s balcony. The cat gave me one last look and then entered the apartment, squeezing through a small gap between the door and the frame; it seemed that Rainbow had left the door ajar.

I wanted to see him, to hear his rushed heartbeat and his beautiful voice. A memory came to my mind, we had talked about a date but we didn’t settle the day or time. I’ll have to ask him once we meet again.