Joong descended the stairs as quietly as he could, his socked feet making almost no sound on the wooden steps. The morning sun filtered through the large window above the landing, casting warm golden beams across the hallway. He adjusted his loose T-shirt, yawned, and ran a hand through his messy hair. The smell of toast and eggs filled the air, drawing him toward the kitchen like a moth to a flame.
He peeked into the kitchen first, half-expecting a pair of suspicious eyes to meet his. But thankfully, only his siblings were seated around the breakfast table.
Pond sat at the head of the table, dressed neatly in his usual half-buttoned shirt and shorts, his phone beside his plate as always. Fourth, in his pajamas and with his hair pointing in every direction possible, was busy poking the yolk of his egg.
And Love — the only girl in the family, Joong's precious little sister — sat with a piece of toast untouched on her plate, arms folded and face twisted in an expression that screamed: *I'm annoyed.*
Joong slid into the seat next to Fourth and reached for the toast basket. "Morning," he said casually, trying not to sound too relieved.
Pond looked up, offering a suspicious smile. "Morning, P'Joong. You're up late."
"I was tired," Joong replied, shrugging. He grabbed a slice of toast and slathered on butter, hoping that was the end of it.
"Where's Pa and Dad?" he asked, biting into the bread and trying to sound as nonchalant as possible.
Pond poured himself a glass of orange juice. "They had a call from the company this morning. Some urgent meeting or issue—don't really know. They left around eight."
Joong nearly sighed in relief, catching himself just in time. He stuffed another bite of toast into his mouth to hide the smile that threatened to escape.
That was close.
But his moment of peace didn't last. A dramatic huff broke through the calm morning, and Joong glanced up to find Love glaring at her untouched toast.
"What's with the face Nong, nong?" he asked, nudging her gently.
She groaned. "I didn't sleep *at all* last night."
"Why? Bad dreams?"
"No," she snapped, "*that damned cat*."
Pond had just taken a bite of his toast when Love, arms crossed and face thunderous, declared, "I swear, if I find that damn cat, I'm going to *drown it in the pool*."
Pond choked.
Fourth, mid-chew, coughed so hard he nearly spat out his egg. His shoulders shook with suppressed laughter, but his face was turning red from the effort to keep it in.
Joong, who had been calmly buttering a second piece of toast, froze. His jaw dropped open like a trapdoor, the knife in his hand forgotten. "Huh…aria na?"
Still completely unaware of the humor her words had caused, Love continued with wild frustration. "It wouldn't shut up! It just kept *purring* and *groaning* like it was dying or something! All night, right outside my window. Every time I thought it was done, it started again. I didn't sleep a wink! My eyes are literally burning."
Fourth couldn't take it anymore.
He slammed a hand on the table, burst into a loud cackle, and wheezed out, "*Purring and groaning?!* Are you sure it was a *cat* and not someone dying of loooovvveeeee?!"
Pond nearly lost it as well, but by the blessing of some godly saint…managed to hold onto his sanity a little longer.
Love narrowed her eyes at her twin, clearly unamused. "I'm *serious*, Fourth."
"I know! That's what makes it *so much better*!" he howled, clutching his stomach as he laughed.
Pond, finally catching his breath, reached across the table and smacked Fourth lightly on the arm. "Yut na! You're going to get us all murdered."
Love scowled. "I just want to sleep like a normal person. Is that too much to ask?"
"No," Pond said quickly, trying to calm the room. "It's not. I get it, okay? And if I find the cat, I'll take care of it. Gently," he added, giving her a pointed look before she could repeat the pool comment.
Joong finally found his voice. "You know, most people don't jump straight to *drowning* when they hear a stray meowing."
"I'm *not* most people," Love muttered, stabbing her toast.
"No kidding," Fourth said under his breath.
"I heard that!"
"Good."
Love shoved her plate forward and stood up with an exaggerated groan, rubbing her temples as though she were coming off a three-day bender.
"You guys *better* take care of it," she warned, pointing a sharp finger around the table like a general issuing order. "If I hear it again tonight, I swear—" She didn't finish the sentence, just turned on her heel, muttering under her breath about pool chlorine and animal control as she stormed up the stairs to her room.
The moment her bedroom door shut with a heavy *thud*, silence settled in the kitchen.
It lasted all of two seconds.
Then Fourth exploded. He dropped his head onto the table, shoulders shaking uncontrollably as a loud, uncontrollable laugh escaped him. "*Purring and groaning!*" he repeated, gasping for air. "That's what we're calling it now, P'Joong?!"
Joong tried to hold it in, biting the inside of his cheek, but Pond had already lost it. A loud snort escaped him, and soon the two of them were laughing just as hard as Fourth. Joong leaned back in his chair, one hand covering his face, and groaned, "Oh my God…"
Pond wiped tears from the corners of his eyes and grinned wickedly at Joong. "So?" he said, nudging him with an elbow. "How's your *cat* doing?"
Joong nearly fell out of his chair.
"I *knew* it!" Fourth whooped, sitting up straight and pointing at him like he'd just won the lottery. "I knew those weren't *stray* sounds!"
"Ai…" Joong's face turned scarlet. "Keep your voices down!" he hissed, glancing toward the hallway in case Love had miraculously developed super-hearing.
"Phi," Pond said between laughs, "you didn't even try to be quiet?"
"I *did!*" Joong whispered harshly. "I thought everyone was asleep!"
"Well," Fourth said smugly, "clearly *not* everyone."
Pond grinned, still leaning on Joong's shoulder. "Phi... You owe her an apology. And maybe, like, earplugs. Or a hotel room. Something."
"I didn't think it would be that loud," Joong mumbled, face still burning. "It's not like I was—" He stopped, realizing anything he said now would only make things worse.
Fourth smirked. "What? That loud? That intense? That... passionate?"
"Shut up," Joong growled, grabbing a piece of toast and hurling it at him.
Fourth caught it mid-air and took a bite, still grinning like the cat who ate the canary.