Hello Vet! How are you?

Sunday morning.

Lee Joon had been captured by Gwak Soo-ho, who suddenly showed up at his house, and was forcibly brought to the Hoengseong Intercity Bus Terminal.

“Do we really have to come all the way here just to eat some beef?”

“What are you talking about! It’s been years since I had Korean beef, so of course, we should eat it in Hoengseong.”

“Then you could’ve come here alone. Why drag me out here in dawn?”

“It’s because you’re only interested in treating patients. People need to take breaks sometimes. If you keep working like that, you’ll break down.”

“Well…”

Lee Joon fell silent at Gwak Soo-ho’s words.

In truth, he felt exhausted from the preparations for the clinic’s opening and the continuous treatments he’d been giving.

Although he had been forcibly brought here, at that moment, the fresh air felt invigorating.

“Come on, let’s grab a bowl of soup nearby, then head to the lakeside path. They say the scenery is amazing.”

Lee Joon followed Gwak Soo-ho, shaking his head in disbelief.

After finishing a bowl of soup, they began to take a leisurely stroll along the lakeside.

“I can’t believe I’m in such a beautiful place with you.”

“Look who’s talking.”

The two of them strolled while maintaining a little distance between themselves.

“It’s nice here. It’s like looking at a landscape painting.”

“Aren’t you thankful?”

“Yeah.”

The fresh air had been nice, but seeing the vast lake and green trees cleared his mind even more.

However, that feeling was short-lived.

After walking for over an hour, their legs began to tire.

Before long, without anyone suggesting it, they turned towards a nearby café.

At a café imbued with the charm of an outdoor setting, the two men took a seat at an outdoor table.

“I didn’t know there were places like this.”

“Our country has many great spots, believe me.”

While they were enjoying refreshing drinks and taking a break, an elderly couple entered the café’s garden.

“Let’s rest here for a bit before we move on.”

“Aren’t you tired, dear?”

“Hehe, taking my lovely wife and adorable princess out for the day fills me with energy.”

“So am I. It’s so nice. Bom, you like it too, right?”

Lee Joon smiled softly while observing the affectionate elderly couple.

At that moment, a cute voice that seemed to roll like marbles could be heard.

『I also love it, grandpa!』

The voice emanated a feeling of happiness.

‘A dog?’

As he was admiring the scenery, Lee Joon turned his attention.

A bichon frisé, as white as cotton candy, was rubbing its head against the grandfather’s leg.

“Cute little thing.”

Lee Joon’s smile widened as he watched the spirited bichon, then his eyes drifted towards the elderly couple.

The grandmother was supporting the grandfather as they walked slowly.

The grandfather seemed strained, his brows furrowing with each step.

What stood out even more was the bichon’s behavior.

It closely followed the grandfather, as if refusing to leave his side for even a second.

‘It would be a disaster if the dog got stepped on.’

Lee Joon couldn’t just sit there worrying, it wasn’t in his nature to do nothing.

He got up from his seat and approached the elderly couple.

“Excuse me, can I assist you?”

“Hehe, it’s fine.”

“It’s just a short walk from here. My grandmother used to have sore legs too, and I often carried her. Please feel free to lean on me.”

“Then I would appreciate it.”

“By the way, your dog is adorable. What is its name?”

“This is Bom. He’s like my treasure.”

The grandfather smiled happily as he responded to Lee Joon’s question.

“Is this spot okay?”

“Haha, thanks to the handsome young folks, I can walk comfortably.”

“Don’t mention it.”

After helping the grandfather to a seat, Lee Joon and Gwak Soo-ho returned to their table.

However, Lee Joon’s gaze remained fixed on the elderly couple and Bom.

‘Even if it likes his owner, that’s a bit much.’

A typical dog would sniff around or mark territory by wandering here and there.

Yet Bom hadn’t left the grandfather’s side once since they entered the café.

‘Is something wrong?’

Even though Lee Joon had come to Hoengseong to take a break, he naturally fell into observing Bom from a veterinarian’s perspective.

It was then.

“Cough.”

The grandfather began to cough, apparently in some sort of discomfort.

Bom whimpered in response to the grandfather’s cough.

『Grandpa!』
『No, you can’t go!』
『Don’t leave me alone!』
『Grandpa!』

Even though the grandfather’s coughing wasn’t severe, bom’s reaction was overly intense.

Observing this, Lee Joon formed a hypothesis.

‘Could it be separation anxiety?’

The way Bom clung to the grandfather’s leg and refused to let go, coupled with his extreme reaction to even a slight cough—it all seemed indicative of separation anxiety.

‘What should I do…?’

Lee Joon tentatively concluded that Bom might have separation anxiety and fell into contemplation.

Separation anxiety is a psychological issue that requires some level of training.

However, it was difficult to recommend treatment for Bom to the elderly couple in such a brief encounter.

Moreover, watching the grandfather gazing at Bom with such affection made Lee Joon question whether treatment was truly necessary.

‘Still, it’s probably best to mention it.’

Noticing that the grandmother had stepped away to order coffee, Lee Joon approached the grandfather.

“Are you all right, sir? You were coughing earlier.”

“Ah, you’re the one who helped me earlier. I’m fine. It happens often, but it’s not painful.”

“Does it happen frequently?”

“Just a small ailment. After all, as you age, something is bound to go wrong here or there.”

Despite what seemed like a grave condition, the grandfather replied with a carefree smile.

“Is that so…?”

Unsure how to respond, Lee Joon hesitated before cautiously broaching the main topic.

“But about Bom…”

“Yes?”

“It seems Bom really likes you, sir.”

“Does it look that way?”

“Yes, he hasn’t left your side even for a moment.”

“Ha…”

“So, I’m not certain, but I’m concerned that Bom might be suffering from separation anxiety.”

At Lee Joon’s cautious words, the grandfather’s eyes widened in surprise.

“Separa… what? Is Bom unwell?”

“It’s not an illness, per se—think of it as an extreme sensitivity to loneliness. It’s the fear of being away from their human companions. It’s not a sickness, so there’s no need to worry.”

“I’m glad it’s not an illness. Haha. But I doubt Bom has this separa-thing.”

“Pardon?”

“You thought that because Bom doesn’t leave my side, right?”

“Yes. Bom is showing behavior quite different from that of an ordinary dog.”

“Bom wasn’t like this from the start.”

The grandfather cast a somewhat tired smile towards Lee Joon, then gently stroked Bom as he continued speaking with a warm gaze.

“I have cancer. Stage 4 pancreatic cancer.”

“… Pardon?”

Although he thought the grandfather’s condition seemed serious, Lee Joon hadn’t anticipated it being such a grave diagnosis.

He felt an instinctive sense of guilt toward the grandfather.

“I’m sorry for bringing it up…”

“Hehe, I started it, so no need to apologize.”

The grandfather continued speaking slowly.

“I found out recently. I kept feeling weirdly tired and sick, so I went to the hospital and was diagnosed with cancer.”

“I see…”

“I’m okay. Everyone dies eventually. So don’t make that face.”

The grandfather gently patted Lee Joon’s shoulder, his hand previously stroking Bom.

“But there’s this saying, isn’t there? That animals have a sense for things beyond human understanding. Bom must be the same.”

“….”

“It’s as if Bom knows I’m going soon. Ever since my hospital visit, he hasn’t left my side, like he wants to spend even a little more time with me…”

“So that’s how it is.”

“Thanks for your concern, veterinarian.”

“How did you know I’m a veterinarian?”

“Hehe. Even in my old age, I haven’t wasted away. Watching someone look at Bom with that much love and concern, who could they be if not a veterinarian?”

“….”

While Lee Joon and the grandfather were chatting, the grandmother returned with some warm tea.

“Looks like I’ve taken up your time. I should get going. I hope you stay… healthy.”

“Thank you, veterinarian.”

The grandfather continued to smile warmly at Lee Joon.

Yet, to Lee Joon, that smile felt heavy.

As Lee Joon quietly trudged back to his place, the grandmother who had settled beside the grandfather asked.

“What were you talking about with that young man?”

“He said Bom makes us look happy, so I replied that Bom is our treasure.”

“Indeed, bom is our treasure.”

The grandfather and grandmother exchanged smiles and gazed lovingly at Bom.

In return, bom wagged his tail gently, feeling those affectionate gazes.

Still, it seemed there was a touch of sadness mixed into the wag of his tail.

‘This won’t do.’

Back at his table, Lee Joon called out to the absent-minded Gwak Soo-ho, who was sipping his coffee.

“Hey, soo-ho. You have a camera, right?”

“Yeah. Why?”

“I need a favor.”

***

One week after Lee Joon returned from Hoengseong.

He heard from the grandmother that the grandfather had passed away two days ago.

That very evening, he set off for Hoengseong.

“Thank you for coming despite having only met once.”

“It’s nothing. Was the grandfather… okay?”

“He passed with a smile next to Bom.”

“That’s… relieving to hear.”

Lee Joon offered a bittersweet smile and then produced a small box from his coat.

“What is this…?”

“Do you remember my friend taking videos of you, the grandfather, and Bom last time we met in Hoengseong?”

“Yes.”

“These are those video clips.”

“Oh my…”

“I don’t know if this will serve as a comfort… but when you feel up to it, please watch it. The grandfather was smiling so happily.”

“Thank you… truly, thank you…”

From eyes that thought they’d cried dry, tears began to fall once more from the grandmother.

Lee Joon offered a gentle hug to comfort her and softly spoke again.

“And when you do watch it, please show it to Bom as well.”

“I will.”

“Thank you.”

After casting one last glance at the grandfather’s portrait, Lee Joon slowly got to his feet.

***

Human beings cry when they are sad.

But do dogs cry too? Lee Joon was often asked this question.

And he would always answer,

“Of course.”

Yet, some of those who heard his reply did not believe him.

They claimed they had never seen a dog cry out of sadness.

However, had they witnessed this scene, they might never have made such claims again.

Awoo!

In a home in Hoengseong, a bichon frisé, its eyes brimming with tears, watched its happiest moments play out on the TV.