Even a Lonely Squirrel Has Its Burrow - Chapter 67

Chapter 67

 

Sa Muheon, who checked the phone screen, couldn’t say anything for a moment. Garam waited patiently for his answer. After quite some time, Sa Muheon finally spoke slowly.

 

“…Do you not want to be with me?”

 

He was trying hard to sound calm, but his voice was slightly trembling. Garam hesitated for a moment at Sa Muheon’s reaction but then turned back to the phone to type a reply.

 

It wasn’t that he didn’t want to be with him, as Sa Muheon had asked. It was just that…

 

[It feels stifling.]

 

Seeing Garam’s reply, Sa Muheon seemed somewhat relieved, letting out a small sigh. Then, after moving his lips slightly, he finally spoke with difficulty.

 

“Then… okay.”

 

What did he mean by “okay”? Garam tilted his head in confusion.

 

Even as Garam tilted his head, Sa Muheon didn’t say anything further. Instead, he turned on the TV and played the movie series Garam had left unfinished last time.

 

He remembered. Garam felt a strange emotion stir within him. But before he could fully savor that feeling, Sa Muheon’s voice broke the moment.

 

“Watch this for now. I won’t bother you anymore.”

 

“Squeak?”

 

“I’ll be in the study… If anything happens, come tell me right away.”

 

“Piiit…?”

 

What was going on? Garam tilted his head again, but Sa Muheon got up as soon as he finished speaking. Garam thought he was heading to the study, but Sa Muheon first went to the kitchen, brought back some snacks, and placed them beside Garam before finally heading to the study.

 

Even though his constant glances toward Garam as he left were a bit distracting, it was satisfying enough.

 

Only after hearing the study door open and close did Garam’s twitching ears relax. Confirming that Sa Muheon’s presence had entirely faded, Garam leaned back comfortably on the sofa and looked at the TV.

 

He had been eagerly anticipating this movie since last time, so it was finally time to focus on it. But…

 

Garam’s head subtly turned to the side before quickly snapping back forward.

 

When Sa Muheon had been around, Garam had felt uncomfortable under his watchful gaze. Yet now that he was gone, Garam found himself oddly distracted by his absence, as if he had grown accustomed to that gaze.

 

“Piihew…”

 

Garam let out a long sigh. Still, he couldn’t just call Sa Muheon back from the study now that he was already there. In the end, Garam turned his attention back to the TV in front of him.

 

The movie was a bit less entertaining than he’d expected. He had found it enjoyable last time, so this was strange.

 

—

 

“Why is he sighing…?”

 

Sa Muheon muttered to himself, staring intently at his laptop screen. On the screen was the image of a lone squirrel sitting on the living room sofa.

 

The squirrel that had sighed moments ago now seemed focused on the TV again, as if nothing had happened. But was it his imagination, or did its expression seem oddly disinterested? Sa Muheon found it agonizing that he couldn’t fully understand the little squirrel’s feelings.

 

“Haa…”

 

Leaning back in his chair, Sa Muheon let out a deep sigh. Yet his eyes remained fixed on the laptop screen.

 

He had been slightly taken aback when the squirrel told him it wanted to be alone. But Garam’s response—that it wasn’t because he disliked him but simply felt stifled—had foolishly brought him some relief.

 

In truth, after the recent incident, Sa Muheon had been forced to come to terms with his own feelings to some extent.

 

Without even realizing it, that tiny squirrel had taken up a significant place in his heart. However, Sa Muheon thought of this as simply familial affection.

 

Garam seemed to trust and rely on him, and for the first time, Sa Muheon felt he had someone who trusted and depended on him. Naturally, he cherished Garam. Not to mention, the squirrel was adorable.

 

This must be what it feels like to have a younger sibling. Sa Muheon thought so as he looked at Garam on the screen.

 

The little squirrel stared at the TV for a long time before, as if entranced, reaching over to pick up a snack from the side. Still focused on the TV, it nibbled diligently at the snack, and its movements were irresistibly cute.

 

Sa Muheon unconsciously gazed at it with a satisfied smile, but his expression froze when he saw his reflection in the dark laptop screen.

 

Was he always making such a foolish expression? He suddenly worried about what the squirrel might think of him.

 

At that moment, the phone on his desk vibrated.

 

Bzzzz—.

 

Sa Muheon’s eyes shifted to the casually placed phone. The name displayed on the screen was unexpected.

 

“What’s this?”

 

Muttering softly, he immediately answered the call.

 

“Yeah.”

 

– Got time?

 

“Nice greeting there.”

 

Sarcasm dripped from his tone at the abruptness of the question without a proper greeting, prompting a brief silence.

 

– Oh, right. Hello, how are you? Do you have time?

 

But the caller soon resumed speaking, sounding unusually flustered. Sa Muheon clicked his tongue lightly and tried to calm the person down.

 

“Eun Suhyeok. Get a grip and speak slowly.”

 

– …Haa.

 

At Sa Muheon’s words, Eun Suhyeok sighed, seeming to collect his thoughts.

 

– It’s just… something complicated came up.

 

“What is it? Hard to explain over the phone?”

 

– Yeah.

 

A firm response came back. The fact that it was something that needed to be discussed in person made it clear that it was an important matter.

 

Sa Muheon deliberated for a moment. If it had been anyone else making such a request during this time when he couldn’t take his eyes off Garam, he would have dismissed it outright. But Eun Suhyeok was different.

 

Eun Suhyeok, a university classmate, was almost the only person Sa Muheon could call a friend. They were both beastfolk, and they had a natural rapport. Moreover, Eun Suhyeok was the only one who could tolerate Sa Muheon’s difficult personality to some extent.

 

It was the first time Eun Suhyeok had ever called him to say he had a concern. Because of this, it was hard to cut him off as he would with others.

 

“…About an hour or two should be fine.”

 

After some consideration, Sa Muheon gave the maximum time he could compromise.

 

– Yeah. That should be enough. Let’s meet tomorrow.

 

“Tomorrow?”

 

Eun Suhyeok immediately set up a meeting for the next day, as if it was urgent. Hearing this, Sa Muheon, unable to hide his confusion, asked again, but Eun Suhyeok specified an exact time and ended the call.

 

Sa Muheon raised one eyebrow at the abruptly ended call. Still, he calmed himself, thinking that it must be something very pressing. Looking at the small squirrel on the laptop screen helped him settle his heart even faster.

 

Although tomorrow’s meeting would only require a short outing, he couldn’t leave Garam alone. Watching the screen, he promptly called someone else.

 

—

 

From the morning onward, Sa Muheon had been pestering Garam. The same type of questions continued throughout the day and didn’t stop even by evening.

 

“Are you sure you’ll be okay without me?”

 

“Squeak.”

 

When Garam nodded, Sa Muheon blatantly showed a sullen expression. But Garam didn’t even blink. How many times had Sa Muheon asked this question since morning? At first, every time Sa Muheon feigned sadness, Garam would anxiously hover around him, but now he wasn’t fooled anymore.

 

When Garam simply turned his head away in response to his pitiful act, Sa Muheon finally stopped pretending and lightly patted Garam’s head.

 

“Alright. You can handle being alone and are so brave.”

 

“Piiit!”

 

This was absurd. Anyone would think Garam was a two-year-old child.

 

Moreover, strictly speaking, it wasn’t like Garam would be left alone to guard the house.

 

Last night, after spending time in the study, Sa Muheon had come out with a serious expression and sat Garam down to ask if it was okay for him to step out briefly. Garam had hesitated for a moment but eventually nodded. Although he was slightly worried about being alone, he couldn’t always depend on Sa Muheon forever.

 

However, even after getting Garam’s agreement, Sa Muheon had called Jang Seokgyu for backup and had earnestly instructed Garam to contact him immediately if anything went wrong. It was only natural that Garam had looked at him with an incredulous expression.

 

“Squeak.”

 

Garam tapped on his phone screen. The time for Sa Muheon’s departure was approaching.

 

Just then, the doorbell rang. It seemed Jang Seokgyu had arrived.

 

Sa Muheon stood up, making no attempt to hide his reluctance. When he opened the door, Jang Seokgyu appeared.

 

“Hello.”

 

“Squeak.”

 

Garam bowed politely, and Jang Seokgyu chuckled warmly, nodding back.

 

Sa Muheon, who had been watching their exchange with a crooked smile, fixed his gaze on Garam.

 

“I’m really leaving now.”

 

“Squeak.”

 

“Don’t cry from loneliness while I’m gone. Keep your phone close and call me if anything happens.”

 

“Piiit.”

 

Garam nodded repeatedly at Sa Muheon’s words, yet he kept talking without any sign of stopping. Finally, Jang Seokgyu, unable to take it anymore, cut him off.

 

“You’re running late, aren’t you? Don’t worry about things here and just head out.”

 

“Alright. Baby, rest well.”

 

Leaving a final farewell for Garam, Sa Muheon reluctantly left the house.

 

Once alone with Jang Seokgyu, Garam turned to him with a mixed expression.

 

“Baby… is that what he calls you?”

 

“…Squeak.”

 

The embarrassment was all Garam’s.