Chapter
Su-mi stepped out of the grocery store, bags in hand, relieved that she had finally managed to check off everything on her shopping list. As she approached her car, she heard a faint, pitiful meowing. Curiously, she followed the sound around the corner of the building to the dumpster. There, amidst the discarded cardboard boxes and leftover food containers, she found a sight that tugged at her heartstrings. A thin, gray cat with matted fur sat beside the dumpster, her emerald eyes filled with desperation. Next to her, nestled in a cardboard box, were four tiny kittens, their eyes barely open, meowling softly for their mother’s warmth. Su-mi’s heart ached at the sight. She couldn’t just leave them here to fend for themselves. Without a second thought, she carefully scooped up the box of kittens and held it close to her chest. The mama cat hissed defensively but didn’t attack. “Hey there, little ones,” Su-mi cooed to the kittens, her voice soft and soothing. “Don’t worry; you’re safe now.” She glanced around, hoping to spot a missing owner or a collar, but there was no one in sight. She couldn’t simply abandon them again. Her mind raced as she tried to figure out what to do next. Although she had never owned a pet before, she had a natural maternal instinct that took over instantly. Su-mi pulled out her phone and called Woo-jin. “Hi sweetheart,” Woo-jin’s voice crackled through the phone. “Honey, you won’t believe what I found,” Su-mi replied, excitement and worry mixed in her voice. "What is it?” he asked, his curiosity piqued. “I found a stray mama cat and her kittens near the dumpster behind the grocery store,” Su-mi explained. “They look like they’ve been abandoned, and I can’t just leave them here. I need to help them.” “Of course, Su-mi,” he said without hesitation. “I’ll be right there. Just make sure you and the cats are safe.” Both Su-mi and Woo-jin loved animals, and often admired them as they took long walks through their property. But this was the first time Su-mi had encountered an animal in need. It awakened a sense of compassion within her that called her to action. “Thank you, Woo-jin,” Su-mi said with relief. She knew she could count on him. Within minutes, Woo-jin arrived at the scene, and Su-mi handed the box of kittens to him while she went back inside the grocery store to buy some cat food. Cautiously approaching the mama cat, she used the cat food to help gain her trust. She coaxed the feline with gentle words and soothing strokes until the cat allowed her to pick her up, enjoying the nice meal. “Let’s get them home,” Woo-jin said, his eyes softening as he looked at the little family they had just rescued. Back at their spacious house, Su-mi and Woo-jin set up a space for the mama cat and her kittens in one of the spare bedrooms. They arranged the cat food, water, and a soft blanket for the exhausted mother to nestle in with her babies. As they watched the kittens nuzzle up to their mother, Woo-jin turned to Su-mi with a smile. “You did a good thing today, my sweet.” Tears of gratitude welled up in Su-mi’s eyes as she replied, “We did a good thing together. These little ones needed a home, and now they have one.” They began to research how to care for their unexpected furry family members. Little did they know that this rescue would not only change the lives of the mama cat and her kittens but would also bring a new kind of joy and love into their own lives.
