Puppy Echoes

I stood there dazed for a moment before finally pulling out the doll.

“Wow! It came out!”

I hugged the soft doll and turned to him without thinking.

“Look at this…”

Isn’t it cute?

The rest of the words dissolved into thin air.

The distance between us was much closer than I thought.

Our eyes met directly—I froze completely.

I’d been so focused on the claw machine that I hadn’t realized we were this close.

All I had to do was turn my head casually.

But in front of him, nothing ever goes as planned.

I stiffly stepped back one pace and dropped my head low.

Ha. Ha.

My laugh came out stiff and forced, like a broken scale.

“Sorry.

I didn’t realize… we were this close…”

“No…”

He seemed just as flustered—he didn’t move an inch.

I squeezed the doll tighter to calm my strangely racing heart.

His eyelashes are longer than I thought.

Even high-quality photos can’t compare to the real thing.

Random thoughts like that flooded in.

To thaw the sudden freeze, I held the doll out to him.

“Here, here—this is a gift for you.”

He looked at the doll once, then at me, then back at the doll.

Then he slowly shook his head.

“You worked so hard to get it yourself—I’m fine.”

“No, it only has meaning if Injun-ssi takes it.”

“Huh?

What do you mean…”

“Uh, like proof of our little adventure today!

Is that too dramatic?”

Even if it was the alcohol talking, I was still embarrassed.

My gaze wandered with nowhere to land.

I absentmindedly flicked the doll’s ear and muttered.

“Hehe, actually… when work gets tough, I hope looking at this reminds you of today.

It might even comfort you a little…”

My voice got quieter and quieter.

My ears were burning—and not from the alcohol.

I just hoped he thought it was the drink.

“Ah!

Of course, only if Injun-ssi actually enjoyed today.”

“I did.”

“Wow, really?”

“Yes.”

His firm answer gave me the courage to look up.

His steady gaze settled on me warmly.

I’d stepped back once, but it still wasn’t enough.

It still felt too close.

I sneakily pulled my right foot back.

But before I could—he stepped forward first.

“Sincerely.”

Something tickled strangely in my heart.

Did I drink too much?

Has my tolerance dropped lately?

I’d rather it be that.

I didn’t want to confuse it with anything else.

“That’s… good to hear.”

“But you worked so hard for this—it’s a bit hard to accept…”

“Come on, it’s from the heart—just take it.”

I pushed the doll into his arms without waiting.

One large hand easily held the small doll.

He was dressed all in black, but the cute puppy doll somehow suited him perfectly.

Watching him examine the doll’s round back of the head—he looked oddly innocent.

I let out a small laugh, and he lifted his head.

His dark eyes toward me suddenly became four.

The puppy in his hand and the big, dark Seo Injun—both with wide, round rabbit-like eyes.

Maybe because I’m drunk.

Why does he look so cute?

“Pfft.”

“Why are you laughing?”

“Because this doll looks like Injun-ssi.”

“…Like me?”

As soon as I said it, Seo Injun started staring intensely at the doll’s face.

Truth is, with his sharp features, he’d resemble a wolf or leopard more.

Others would probably think the same.

But today—he’s a puppy.

The way he sometimes stares blankly too.

I just watched him fondly as he had an eye battle with the doll.

Soon, Seo Injun brought the doll next to his face.

Then he suddenly bent his waist slightly to meet my eyes at the same level.

Our gazes locked—I couldn’t look away.

He tilted his head to the side and asked.

“Even like this?”

My heart dropped in that moment.

The light thumping turned into heavy pounding—uncomfortably loud.

I unconsciously held my breath and just stared at him.

His face is so small.

Same size as the tiny puppy doll.

He offered a close look, but I could barely breathe.

I hurriedly nodded, and he smiled with a “pik.”

“I thought this doll resembled Sonagi-ssi more than me.”

“Uh…”

“So I thought you were getting it for me.”

“Y-yes…”

When normal thinking stops, people just make weird sounds—that’s what I learned.

Something huge seemed to have passed, but I had no mind to care.

My rising mouth corners—I stroked my lips with fingers to hide them.

My gaze stuck to him like a magnet.

“Thank you.

I’ll treasure the gift.”

No, no, stop.

Don’t think more.

“Today was really fun.”

Stop it, Sonagi.

Get a grip.

“Na gi-ssi.”

Really stop.

Even if brain hurts, hold it.

No, no.

“Can we meet like this again sometime?”

“Yes!”

The thin thread of reason I’d been holding snapped.

That ended our first little rebellion.

I saw the puppy doll again by chance two days later.

Three trending words on SNS strangely connected: Seo Injun, puppy, commute.

I thought he adopted a puppy or something.

Searched his name—photos of him today, dressed all in black as usual.

Nothing different, still handsome as ever—that’s what I thought.

“Uh uh…?”

In the photo, something was attached to his bag.

Angle bad—not clear.

Hurried clicked another photo.

This time clear.

Cute puppy doll attached to his bag.

“What.

This… real?”

The doll I gifted.

Just in case, searched yesterday’s photos too.

Stripe shirt, slacks—same bag.

Doll solidly attached there too.

Serious expression greeting camera photos long line.

Meanwhile doll from bag cutely dangled.

Where that from—countless comments.

Quiet watched that, desk diving buried face.

“Uaaaa!”

Cold glass touched cheeks heat no sign cool.

Shampoo scent hair messed wild.

Innocent lips bit hard eyes tight closed.

Why only this person see smile comes.

First pleasant heart thump why gradual heavy.

Dry swallow careful text sent.

[That day safe went home?]

Send pressed breath held reply waited.

Soon vibration.

[Yes.

Thanks to you enjoyed.]

Mouth corners sky high rose again.

Just text yet voice somewhere hear seem.

Long text watching new text arrived.

[Ah, before got doll well carrying around.]

[Photos saw! Hehe Thank you.]

Forced emotion suppressed plain as possible sent.

But effort vain.

[Hard times every want see.]

This way one time collapse.

Text see hand stopped.

Consecutive three texts chest tight gripped.

Fingertips heat felt trembling breath exhaled.

This fanship right.

As fan like keep such feelings come right.

“…What to do.”

No, perhaps a bit more.

Strange rumor circulated world.

Me with Tran variety appear.

But surprisingly me related heard nothing.

Even lie yet too specific me party tempted too.

Fans SNS through steady this fact? ask.

Perhaps me unknown between, alcohol drunk between contract did wonder immediate internet opened.

Search ‘Jangma variety’ typed few communities rumor circulating posts only.

This time Twitter same words searched.

Internet similar accurate content no.

Then fans fun reactions many small curiosity arose.

‘Jangma nim’ searched ‘Jangma broadcast’ typed.

Before fans have fact amazing daily searched lately frequency reduced.

Long time name search fresh.

Definitely Seo Injun collab after fans reactions increased.

Various feedback careful read first see word eye caught.

“InJang… couple?

This what.”

My fan name person InJang couple too good 3 min once shouting.

Me unknown between fans made abbreviation perhaps.

Think meaning infer not first searched.

Long loading end numerous posts down lined.

「InJang couple love…」

「Fanfic gods thank ㅠㅠㅠ InJang couple fave」

「InJang couple rice eat!!!」

Two names shortened couple nickname seem.

Between high level words mixed alone strange became.

Famous celebrity who think scrolled.

Chance fan uploaded drawing discovered.

Preview face cut link clicked full visible.

Straight man shy man hugging drawing.

Black white but face slight red man top not wearing.

Very handsome man hand other man chest on.

InJang couple male male seem.

Me related not think back about uneasy feel.

“Uh…?”

Left this man strangely Seo Injun resemble.

“…Wait.”

Seo Injun resemble man hugging another man strangely really strange but.

“Perhaps this me?”

Seem me.

First delusion illusion thought.

But drawing right bottom me bought mask same design seen.

Black mask shy man foot below dropped.

Dazed watched eyes doubt enlarged looked.

Right.

Me have mask same.

Perhaps InJang couple me Seo Injun linked name.

Seo Injun In Jangma Jang.

That realize drawing detailed look mind not.

Late startled phone desk threw seat up.

Soon face heat rose burning.

Both hands head wrapped slow phone away.

Me Seo Injun with.

Dare me that Seo Injun with?