The Sickly Transmigrator Hides the Fact that He Became a Puppy - Chapter 2.1
A good part-time job ad had popped up.
It was a pet-friendly café located between the school and the orphanage, with favorable pay and hours, and best of all, Yi Hyeon could walk home after work. But had this café always been here? He had walked this route for three years but had never noticed a pet café.
Still, it was a perfect opportunity for Yi Hyeon, so he headed there as soon as his classes ended. At first, he was hesitant about working part-time as a high school senior, but Yi Hyeon, who was determined to at least step onto the threshold of a university, wanted to avoid the worst-case scenario—being accepted into a college but unable to attend due to lack of tuition.
‘I just need to get into college. If my grades aren’t quite good enough, I’ll apply to a lower-ranked school.’
As he opened the café door, a woman, who appeared to be the owner, greeted him warmly with a smile.
“Alright, just bring in the director’s consent form, and we’ll be good to go.”
“Okay, see you in a week then. By the way, when did this place open?”
“Why do you ask?”
“I walked by here just a few days ago, but I don’t remember seeing it.”
“It hasn’t been long. And the interior doesn’t really catch the eye, either…”
Grumble.
Yi Hyeon hadn’t heard his stomach growl that loudly in a long time. He had skipped breakfast after oversleeping this morning. At school, a sudden fight broke out during lunch, causing his tray to spill.
Since he was already getting free meals, he felt too self-conscious to go back for seconds, so he had just gone back to class. Now, his stomach was protesting loudly. Hearing the noise, the owner quickly filled a plate with items from the display case.
“Take these and share them with your friends.”
“No, really, I’ll eat as soon as I get home.”
“Then you can have them after dinner.”
“You don’t have to give me these. But thank you so much.”
“Oh, it’s nothing. We’ll be seeing each other often from now on.”
Yi Hyeon felt a warmth in his heart at her kind gesture.
As he left the café, he imagined the happy faces of his siblings when they saw the desserts. He walked toward the bus stop, thinking about how to surprise them. After walking for about three or four minutes—
“Please! Just let me stay with him until his birthday! Please, just until then!”
A desperate voice made Yi Hyeon freeze in place and look around. There was no sign of anyone in danger, but he spotted a small, unrestrained Pomeranian dangerously running near the road.
It was a four-lane road with cars speeding by, and if the dog wasn’t rescued quickly, something terrible might happen. Strangely, there was no owner in sight, and passersby seemed oddly indifferent to the dog.
Suddenly, the Pomeranian, who had been running around energetically, froze, startled by something, and stood still.
“Please, I’m begging you. I won’t ask for anything more.”
That voice again, the same desperate woman’s voice.
Determined to save the dog first and figure things out later, Yi Hyeon rushed over and scooped up the trembling little white fluff ball. The dog squirmed frantically, trying to escape his grasp, and as Yi Hyeon gently patted its back to calm it down—
Screech, crash!
Out of nowhere, a car veered off the road and slammed right into Yi Hyeon.
* * *
Yi Hyeon tossed and turned, his nose catching a cool, refreshing scent.
‘That scent…’
It was the same one he’d smelled in the gym storage room and again near the water fountain with Han Joon. He wondered why he was suddenly smelling it now. Confused, Yi Hyeon slowly opened his eyes.
‘Where am I? And why does it smell like Han Joon here?’
A dog began to whimper.
Startled by the sound of a dog whining, Yi Hyeon tried to sit up but groaned at the sharp ache in his muscles. He planted his hands on the ground to support himself and froze.
‘What’s this? Dog paws?’
Two small, fluffy white bundles of fur were placed on the ground where his hands should have been. Could these belong to the dog he had just heard?
‘But there shouldn’t be paws here…’
