After a shower and a change into clean clothes, Ches sat on the balcony with a black cat curled peacefully in his lap. Under the dim lights and the soft night breeze, their silhouettes looked calm—yet distant, as if they existed apart from the rest of the world.
Raeya, who had been curious for a while, walked quietly toward the balcony and watched them with interest.
"Hmm… I wonder what the cat's name is," she asked, leaning in a little to peek at the cat's face from behind Ches's arm.
Ches didn't answer. His eyes stared straight ahead, not even glancing her way.
"Hey, I'm talking to you. Or… don't tell me it doesn't have a name yet? Want me to give it one?" she teased with a small smile.
Still no reaction. Ches's expression remained blank—almost as cold as the night air.
"No need. His name is Ashen," he replied at last, short and flat.
"Ah, I knew he had a name. Hello, Ashen~" Raeya waved playfully at the cat.
"Meow."
"Aww, so cute!" Raeya giggled softly, her eyes sparkling at the cat's response.
But her laughter quickly faded, replaced by a hesitant look that slowly crept across her face.
"By the way… I've been thinking about telling Auntie Lily that you're here. But… I'm not sure yet."
Ches turned slightly toward her, his eyes narrowing just a bit.
"Why the hesitation?"
"Because… I'm afraid you won't be comfortable. I don't want you to react like you did the first time we met."
Ches let out a breath—almost like a scoff.
"Naive human."
"Huh?" Raeya frowned. "Why'd you suddenly call me naive?"
"Because you are. You're too kind to people you don't even know."
"But that's not a bad thing, right? I believe we should be kind to everyone."
Ches turned away again, his gaze returning to the night sky. This girl was far too stubborn for a human.
"So? Would it bother you if Auntie Lily came here?"
"Do whatever you want. It's your apartment, not mine."
Raeya blinked slowly.
Hmm… so does that mean he's okay with it or not? she wondered.
"Alright then. I'll let Auntie Lily know," she said at last.
No reply.
"Great! If you're not saying no, I'll take it as a yes!" Raeya beamed, satisfied.
Ches frowned slightly. This human really was hard to figure out.
"You're disturbing me. Ruining my peace."
"Wow, so rude." Raeya rolled her eyes. "Relax, Auntie Lily is really nice. I'm sure she can help us."
◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇
Raeya finally gathered the courage to tell Auntie Lily about Ches. She gave a brief account of how they met—that night, the fragile boy she'd found, and her impulsive decision to bring him home.
It didn't take long. That very night, Auntie Lily came to the apartment.
Now, the three of them sat in the living room. Ches was at the far end of the couch, keeping his distance as if he had no intention of getting involved. His face remained cold, but his eyes were sharp and alert.
"So this is Ches, huh," Auntie Lily greeted warmly, her tone gentle and her smile kind. "It's nice to meet you, Ches."
Ches's gaze shot straight at her—cold, piercing, and almost mocking. But Auntie Lily just chuckled softly, unfazed. Raeya had already warned her that this boy wasn't exactly the friendly type.
"Haha, you don't have to be scared of Auntie. I promise I won't eat you," she said with a big grin. "I stopped by earlier to pick up a few clothes. Here, I brought some for you."
"Wow, thank you so much, Auntie! You always know exactly what to do," Raeya said, her eyes lighting up.
"Well, you're the one who told me, right? So I figured I'd bring something along," Auntie Lily replied as she got up and rolled up her sleeves. "Now then, I'm going to cook my special steak for you two!"
"Yay! Auntie's steak is the best in the world!" Raeya cheered.
Ches remained silent, watching from his seat. But even in his silence, he observed every interaction—every smile, every laugh shared between the two humans.
And in the quiet of his heart, a question surfaced:
How can they laugh like that? What kind of life allows someone to look… that happy?
Humans really are strange.
He watched Raeya and Auntie Lily from afar. Laughter and warmth filled the room, but he stayed outside that circle. Distant. Disconnected.
And for a fleeting moment, he wondered...
Had he ever smiled like that?
Or… did he even know how?
Once dinner was ready and the delicious aroma filled the air, Raeya walked out to the balcony with a cheerful smile.
"Hey, Ches! Dinner time~" she called out brightly.
The boy didn't turn around.
"I don't need food," he said flatly.
"You always say that… Last time, you only ate an apple. And that was after I forced you."
"I told you. I don't need it."
Raeya let out a long sigh and plopped down on the floor of the balcony, pouting.
"Auntie's cooking is really good, you know. You should try it, Ches!"
Auntie Lily appeared not long after, walking up to them with a warm smile.
"Haha, sweetheart… what's going on here?" she asked gently, seeing Raeya sulking on the floor.
"Ches won't eat, Auntie. How is he supposed to grow if he keeps this up?"
Auntie Lily chuckled softly, then turned to Ches, her voice even softer.
"Ches, why don't you come eat? I cooked this especially for tonight."
But the reply came sharp and cold.
"Hah! I already said I don't need food! I'm not as weak as you humans, constantly stuffing yourselves to survive!"
Auntie Lily fell silent—not out of anger, but because something in those words struck deeper. As if this boy carried wounds or secrets far beyond his years.
She gave a small, gentle smile and brushed Raeya's hair with affection.
"Come on, Raeya. If he doesn't want to, let's not push him, okay?"
"But Auntie…"
"It's alright. Maybe he just doesn't have the appetite. Let's take it slow."
Raeya nodded quietly. They returned inside and began eating together. Even Ashen, the black cat, was happily licking at his food.
Meanwhile, Ches remained on the balcony, gazing at the quiet night sky.
"Auntie… why is Ches like that?" Raeya asked softly between bites.
"I don't know yet, sweetheart. We've only just met him. But I believe… there's a reason. Let's not rush. Let's just stay by his side, little by little."
Raeya nodded. Auntie Lily's voice always had a way of calming her restless heart.
"When you're here, Auntie… my heart feels warm," she whispered sincerely.
"Because I love you, Raeya. And I'm proud of you… for being brave enough to care for Ches with your whole heart."
Raeya's cheeks flushed red. She smiled shyly, then got up to help clear the table. Once everything was done, she carried a warm plate of food back out to the balcony.
Carefully, she set it down beside Ches.
"I'll leave it here, okay? If you're shy about eating in front of us, that's fine. I won't peek. But… you really should come inside. It's cold out here. You might get sick."
"I told you—I don't need it," he replied flatly.
"It's okay if you're not ready. But… I still hope you'll eat. Even if I won't force you."
And with that, Raeya turned and went back inside, leaving the plate behind.
Ches stayed where he was. Silent. But the smell of the food slowly crept in—warm, inviting… and somehow, strangely comforting.
I don't need to eat… But if I don't, that girl will keep bothering me. Hmph. Maybe… just one bite.
One bite.
Two.
Three.
Before he knew it, the plate was completely empty.
Ches stared at it, frowning.
Huh? It's gone already? he thought in disbelief.
And almost on cue, Raeya popped her head out from behind the balcony door.
"Wow! So you were hungry, huh? You finished the whole thing~ Wasn't it delicious?"
Ches nearly jumped.
"What? No. I didn't eat it. I… threw it away."
"Hmm~ But there's sauce on your mouth," Raeya said casually, pointing with a teasing smile.
Ches quickly wiped his mouth, his face expressionless—though the tips of his ears had turned slightly red.
"It's okay," Raeya said with a grin. "I'm just happy you ate. Now come on, it's cold outside!"
She smiled brightly and walked back in first.
Ches watched her back for a moment.
Then looked down at the empty plate beside him.
For reasons he didn't understand…
The night didn't feel quite so cold anymore.