The Stray Cat

Chapter 7: Sakura and Hyewon

"Nako-chan?" A peach-haired girl with round pinkish cheeks let her head poke out from the door. "You okay there?"

To her voice, the petite girl who has been pacing back and forth in her office halted her steps. "Hiichan! Wait, what are you doing here?"

"I just wanted to visit you before I head to the bakery. I bought you your favorite monstrosity— I mean your favorite ice cream and some bread. It's the new recipe I came up with." Hitomi smiled at her girlfriend.

"My pastry chef sure is such a sweetheart." A teary-eyed Nako immediately scrambled on her feet towards her then hugged her tightly.

"N-Nako-chan, th-that's t-too much f-force." The fluffy-cheeked girl tapped Nako's shoulder furiously, her face now red from not being able to breathe.

"Oops, sorry. I was just overwhelmed since I've been thinking about how my impending death is getting even nearer."

Hitomi frowned. "What do you mean?"

"Well... you see..." The shorter girl scratched her cheek.

"Hmm?"

"I just clowned Chaeyeon the other day and made a reservation for the hotel they'll be staying in..."

"I don't see the clownery there."

"...under the name of Mrs. Lee Chaeyeon and Mrs. Lee Sakura."

"Pardon?"

"I told Miss Saito that Chaeyeon was secretly married to a Japanese girl." Nako bit her lip.

"What... did you really..."

"Yeah. I think I overdid it?"

"...the words will travel fast."

"..."

"..."

"It doesn't end with that..."

Hitomi looked at her lover with a blank expression. "Uh-huh."

"I had to cut their vacation short because of an emergency I wasn't able to stop."

"..."

"..."

"Don't worry. I'll stay here to see your final moments, babe." Hitomi gave the shorter girl a gentle pat on the head while smiling sweetly at her.

Nako slapped her hand away from her head and puffed her cheeks. "Hey! Shouldn't you be helping me?!"

"But it's your fault."

"That—"

The phone on Nako's desk rang loudly, cutting her off. She screamed internally as she saw the name of the caller and was about to faint when Hitomi grabbed it from her to answer the phone herself.

"Chaeyeon-unnie?"

[Oh, Hiichan. Where's Nako?]

"Ah. She's just hiding behind me while trying to listen to the call. What's wrong?"

At Hitomi's casual voice, Nako shot her a look of disbelief as if she has been betrayed by the only person she could trust with her life.

I hate you!

The shorter girl mouthed to her before glaring.

[Tell her we're on our way to the office right now. Saku-chan just wouldn't let go of me so I decided to let her come with me. She'll stay in my private room to rest while accompanied by Nako.]

"I see. The said person is currently in a state of shock and fear." She told a half-lie. More than the shock and fear of Chaeyeon's possible punishment, Nako was angry at Hitomi at the moment... and so is she. "I'll calm her down in a bit, unnie."