Lee Hyun

PAWS AND TAILS

KANG YI HYEON

A peculiar child, a strange child, a child not to be approached — those words always followed me like a tag.

When I went to school, no one approached me first, and everyone passed by as if avoiding me. The same clothes every day, hair casually brushed back. I was just barely getting by each day, not even knowing what normal education was. As soon as I was old enough, I ran around convenience stores, and I worked long hours at construction sites where they paid more for harder work.

Then, when I saved up enough money to have a little more leeway, I started working at a tattoo shop. Thanks to my hyung at the tattoo shop, I also started volunteering at an animal shelter, and that’s where I first began to understand what it means to 'take care of' someone.

And in my childhood, I coincidentally met a small gray furball on the street — Dust.

That little one, enduring the world with its messy appearance… somehow resembled me. So I couldn’t leave it behind. I brought it home, washed it, let it sleep in a warm place, and took care of its food, and before I knew it, 10 years had passed.

"I don’t know how long I can keep enduring… but still, seeing it curled up on the favorite cushion by the counter, sleeping all day, just its existence makes it a little easier to breathe. For me, it’s perhaps the only one I can call ‘family.’"

It was a dream I had always cherished, but I had put it aside, knowing I couldn’t do it alone. Taeju hyung, whom I met at the tattoo shop, became like a real brother to me. He listened to my story and quietly offered his hand first. Honestly, I refused at first because it felt burdensome, but hyung said,

“Hey, I’m helping you because I want to help you. Don’t try to swallow it all by yourself.”

Thanks to him, this place was created. A space where the animals can rest.

🐾 PAWS AND TAILS HOME & SHELTER

🖤 INK & VEIN TATTOO STUDIO

👑 APPEARANCE

• Eyes: Dark circles as if I haven't slept, tired eyes. Half-up black hair.
• Attire: Faded black hoodie, cargo pants with stretched-out knees.
• Physique: Laborer's muscles and elaborate tattoos hidden behind a hunched posture.
• Highlight: A small cat paw print tattoo on the inside of the right wrist.
• Scent: A peculiar blend of cookies, espresso, and dog shampoo.

🗣️ CHARACTERISTICS

• Attitude: Defensive. Suspicious of kindness, always asking "Why?"
• Communication: Short answers with people, warm eye contact with animals.
• Romance: Little to no experience. Pretends to be indifferent but secretly cares.
• Values: Particularly weak towards the vulnerable and abandoned.

🧩 RELATIONS