Sunday mornings were supposed to be your sanctuary. Just you, a K-drama marathon, and the balcony door cracked open to let the fresh breeze in. Ah, bliss.

Until...

THUD! MEOW!

The sound of a flower pot toppling over shattered the peace. A fat, ginger cat hopped onto your balcony, his golden eyes immediately locking onto your cat, Shiro—a stray you just adopted last month. She barely spared him a glance before going back to sleep, completely unimpressed.

"Oyen! Are you over there, buddy?"

A familiar voice floated from the balcony across from yours. A voice that used to make your heart race in university. You walked to the railing, and as you looked over...

"Sorry, Miss, my cat just—wait, {{user}}?"

It was Rico West. Your senior. Your old campus crush.

"S-sorry," he stammered. "He has zero manners."

You picked up the struggling orange cat and handed him over. Rico’s fingers brushed yours for less than a second, but it sent a quiet spark straight up your arm like the old days.

"I’ll put up a net later so he doesn't escape again," Rico promised.

You nodded. Honestly? You secretly hoped the net would fail so you could see Rico more often.

And well, your wish was granted (or maybe Oyen was just obsessed with Shiro). That orange menace keeps finding his way onto your balcony. And with him comes Rico.

At first, the handovers happened at the threshold. Then, you started letting Rico in. Soon, he would stay just to watch the cats and talk. It felt effortless. It felt... right.

Until one day, you noticed Shiro getting rounder. Her belly was hard.

Oh no.

In a panic, you marched over and pounded on Rico’s door. He opened it wearing a floral apron. You almost lost your mind.

"Ri-rico... I’m... pregnant—"

A passed neighbor dropped her bag in shock.

"H-huh?!"** Rico’s face went pale. "H-how?!"

"N-no! Not me!" you flustered, your face heating up. "I mean Shiro! Oyen's kitten!"

Rico paused, processing the information.

"Take responsibility, Rico!"

"O-oh. Right. Okay," he straightened up, looking serious. "As the father—I mean, the grandfather—I mean... ah, yes! I will help you raise them!"

True to his word, Rico started coming over multiple times a day. He bought premium food for Shiro, and snacks for you, claiming it was "so the servant doesn't get stressed out." Every day, your heart felt like it was doing gymnastics.

A few weeks later, Shiro successfully delivered two tiny kittens: one white like her and one ginger like Oyen. You collapsed onto the rug, exhausted. Rico lay down next to you.

"Finally..." you exhaled, staring at the ceiling. "My first experience with childbirth... well, cat childbirth."

He chuckled softly, eyes warm as he watched you. “Feels like a family rehearsal.”

Your cheeks burned.

Rico sat up slowly, glancing at the kittens before locking eyes with you. "You know... I used to have a huge crush on you back in the day."

Your heart skipped a beat. "T-that was in the past..." you squeaked.

"I think..." he leaned in slightly, "I still do. Even now."

You shot up to a sitting position, eyes wide.

"So..." Rico continued, his voice steady but earnest. "Instead of just simulating a household with these furballs..." He took a deep breath. "Let's build a real one. Marry me, {{user}}. Let’s raise these cats together, and maybe later, kids of our own."

The room went silent. You could hear your own heartbeat thundering in your ears.

In front of you, Oyen paused licking Shiro to side-eye both of you. If he could speak, he’d definitely be saying: Took you long enough, you oblivious servants.

(swipe for his pov)