🐾にゃんこから、あなたを好きになるまで&守護から恋心へ - Ch20

💜💗💜💗💜 Story 💗💜💗💜💗 Gradual Adaptation Gakupo didn't withdraw his hand. He remained seated on the floor in front of the sofa, legs naturally bent, keeping himself at roughly the same height as Luka. His palm faced up, his arm holding a distance that wouldn't make her feel pressured—not reaching toward her, not trying to chase her movements, just quietly resting where it was, like an invitation she could accept or not, entirely at her own discretion. The only sound left in the room was the faint hum of the air conditioner, and Luka's breathing, not yet fully steady. She was still staring at that basin of warm water. Whenever her gaze fell on the rim of the basin, the fear from before would surface again. Her body tensed instinctively, her tail stiffened without her meaning it to, her ears pressing back slightly. But the person before her didn't move. Kamui Gakupo simply sat there, watching her patiently, neither rushing her nor showing any trace of impatience at her resistance. "I know you're scared right now." His voice was low and steady. "Honestly, I don't know how to make you understand what I'm trying to do." Luka's ears twitched slightly. She still didn't come closer, only lifted her eyes, watching him from a distance. "I'm not very good at taking care of animals. I've never had a cat before, and I've never encountered one like you, who needs me to be especially careful." He lowered his eyes a little, glancing at the basin beside him. "If someone suddenly came at me with something in their hands while I was hurt and had no idea what they wanted to do, I'd probably feel uneasy too." Luka's gaze slowly moved from the basin back to his face. "Especially since you're still injured right now, your body must be quite uncomfortable. If I were you, I wouldn't want some unfamiliar person touching me however they pleased either." Luka lowered her head, glancing at her own wound, her ears pressing back a bit more. Gakupo noticed where her gaze had gone, but didn't reach out because of it. "So, you don't have to rush to trust me." His palm remained facing upward. "I know that all you probably remember is me bringing you back from near the shrine, and taking you to see the doctor. To me, those things were meant to help you, but to you, it might have just felt like being suddenly taken away by a stranger." Luka's gaze wavered slightly. She didn't know what he was talking about. In truth, she didn't even know what she herself really was. Since waking up, all she remembered was the cold ground, a pain deep within her body, and that shrine shrouded in night. As for where she'd come from, why she was injured, why she'd ended up like this—none of it, she could recall. She didn't know if she had once been human, nor did she know if she had always been a cat. Those blank memories were like something shrouded in thick fog; no matter how hard she tried to recall, she could only grasp vague sensations, unable to find any answer that could prove where she came from. She didn't even know whether she could ever change back into some other form. So she had nowhere to return to, and didn't know if she had ever possessed anything at all. The only thing certain was now. And right now, she was sitting in this unfamiliar man's home. Gakupo watched her, and continued: "The doctor said you need rest, and you also need to stay clean. But I don't want this to make you think this place is something to be afraid of." He pointed toward the basin beside him, but didn't pick it up. "This isn't the shrine, and it isn't the clinic. You can stay on the sofa, or you can stay on the floor. You can hide if you want, or keep your distance from me if you want." His tone remained steady throughout. "I won't force you just because you're scared." Luka listened quietly. Her body still hadn't fully relaxed, but her spine was no longer arched as high as before. Her puffed-up fur was gradually returning to normal, bit by bit. Gakupo saw this, but didn't take it as consent. "If you don't like the water, we can take it slow." he said. "If you don't like the towel, we don't have to touch it yet either." "If you don't like me getting close, then I'll just stay here." He glanced at his own hand. "This hand too. When you want to come closer, I'll leave it here. If you don't want to, you don't have to come over." Luka looked at that hand. It was a human hand. She remembered this hand had once brought her food, and remembered, after she'd allowed it, it had gently stroked her head. Warm. Slow. It hadn't suddenly pressed down on her, nor pulled at her forcefully. Still, she was afraid. "Take your time thinking it over." Gakupo shifted his gaze slightly away, so she wouldn't have to keep bearing the weight of his eyes on her. "I won't keep staring at you, urging you to come." He truly didn't press her further. Time passed, little by little. The steam rising from the surface of the warm water gradually thinned out. Gakupo glanced down at it, then looked back at Luka. "The water might be getting cold soon." Luka's body tensed immediately. "But that's fine." Gakupo added quickly. "If it's not okay right now, I can prepare it again." Luka blinked. "It doesn't have to happen right now." He paused for a moment. "I just want you to know that whenever you're ready, I'll be here with you." Luka gazed at him quietly. "You don't need to feel like you have to listen to me just because I saved you." His voice was very soft. "I brought you back only because I didn't want to leave you injured there." Luka's ears twitched gently. "So, you don't need to trade anything for it." She didn't understand those words, but she could sense there was no ill will in his voice. "Meow..." She let out a sound without meaning to. Gakupo looked at her immediately. "Hm?" Luka herself seemed startled for a moment. Gakupo didn't reach out, just looked at her. "Were you calling me?" Luka didn't answer. After a moment, he said softly: "I'm here." Those short words made something flutter faintly in Luka's chest. She lowered her head, looking at the floor. She wanted to come closer. That thought had been surfacing for a while now. But every time she lifted a front paw even slightly, the wariness deep within her would make her stop. She was afraid. But she was also starting to wonder whether this person would truly go on respecting her the way he had shown so far. After a long while, she finally took a slow step forward. Gakupo didn't move. She took another step forward. Still, he didn't move. Luka stopped, looking at him. Gakupo simply sat where he was, palm up, waiting quietly. So she took another step forward. One step. Then another. Finally, she arrived right in front of him. That hand was right before her. Luka first lowered her head to sniff it, then carefully touched his palm with the tip of her nose. Gakupo didn't move. Only then did Luka lower her guard a little, moving past his hand, drawing closer to his leg. She first touched the tip of her nose to his pant leg. Once she confirmed he still hadn't moved, she slowly pressed her cheek against it. A gentle nuzzle. Gakupo's eyes softened. "You're willing to come closer." He didn't stroke her right away. Luka didn't leave. She simply lifted her blue eyes to look at him. There was still unease in those eyes, but the initial resistance had already lessened. Gakupo watched her quietly for a moment, then looked toward the basin beside him again. "So..." He didn't reach out directly. "Are you willing to let me wipe you down a little now?" Luka's ears pressed back again instantly. Gakupo stopped immediately. "No need to rush an answer." He waited a while longer. "If it's not okay, I won't touch you." Luka looked at him. Gakupo didn't move closer. "Is it okay?" Luka still didn't move. "It's fine if it's not okay." he added again. "As long as you're not willing, I'll stop." Luka's eyes stayed on him, as if she were trying hard to understand his meaning. After a long while, she still hadn't backed away. Gakupo noticed this, but still didn't take it as consent. "You haven't pulled back..." he said softly. "But I still want to make sure, once more." He remained seated where he was, not reaching out to touch her. "Luka, is it okay?" This time, Luka only looked at him. She didn't flee. Nor did she make any sound of resistance. Yet Gakupo still didn't begin right away. "If you're willing, come a little closer." Luka hesitated for a long moment. At last, she nuzzled forward a bit more, her body leaning gently against his leg. Only then did a look of relief appear on Gakupo's face. "Good." But he still didn't start right away. "I'll go very slowly." He confirmed once more. "And I'll avoid your injured spot, and won't touch the bandage." Luka looked up at him. Gakupo waited quietly. "Is it okay?" Luka didn't back away. She simply looked at him with her blue eyes, her tail hanging gently behind her. Only then did Gakupo say softly: "Then I'll take it slow." But even after receiving this response, he still didn't start wiping her down right away. He simply sat there with her first, letting Luka understand—that even now that she'd come closer, he would still check with her again and again, rather than assuming, just because she'd finally approached him, that he now had the right to decide for her. --- Melayu Penyesuaian perlahan Gakupo tidak menarik balik tangannya. Dia masih duduk di atas lantai di hadapan sofa, kaki dilipat secara semula jadi, menjadikan dirinya kira-kira sama tinggi dengan Luka. Tapak tangannya menghadap ke atas, lengannya kekal pada jarak yang tidak akan membuatkan dia rasa tertekan — tidak dihulurkan ke arahnya, tidak cuba mengejar pergerakannya, hanya berdiam diri di tempatnya, seperti satu jemputan yang boleh diterima atau tidak, sepenuhnya atas pilihan Luka sendiri. Yang tinggal di dalam bilik itu hanyalah bunyi halus penghawa dingin yang sedang beroperasi, serta pernafasan Luka yang belum sepenuhnya tenang. Dia masih memandang tajam ke arah baldi air suam itu. Setiap kali pandangannya jatuh pada bibir baldi itu, ketakutan sebentar tadi akan muncul semula. Badannya secara naluri menegang, ekornya turut kaku tanpa disedari, telinganya sedikit merebah ke belakang. Tetapi orang di hadapannya itu tidak bergerak. Kamui Gakupo hanya duduk di situ, memandangnya dengan sabar, tidak mendesak, dan tidak juga menunjukkan sebarang rasa tidak sabar akibat penolakannya. "Aku tahu kau takut sekarang." Suaranya rendah dan tenang. "Sebenarnya aku pun tak tahu, bagaimana caranya untuk membuat kau faham apa yang aku cuba lakukan." Telinga Luka bergerak sedikit. Dia masih tidak mendekat, hanya mengangkat matanya, memerhatikannya dari jauh. "Aku tak berapa pandai menjaga haiwan. Aku tak pernah bela kucing sebelum ini, dan aku tak pernah berjumpa kucing macam kau, yang perlukan aku berhati-hati secara khusus." Dia sedikit menundukkan pandangan, melirik ke arah baldi di sebelahnya. "Kalau ada orang datang mendekati aku secara tiba-tiba dengan sesuatu di tangan, ketika aku cedera dan tak tahu apa yang orang itu nak buat, aku rasa aku pun akan berasa cemas." Pandangan Luka perlahan-lahan berpindah dari baldi itu kembali ke wajahnya. "Lebih-lebih lagi kau sekarang masih cedera, badan kau pasti sangat tidak selesa. Kalau aku jadi kau, aku pun tak akan mahu orang asing sentuh diri aku sesuka hati." Luka menundukkan kepalanya, melirik ke bahagian yang cedera pada tubuhnya, telinganya merebah lagi sedikit ke belakang. Gakupo perasan ke mana arah pandangannya, tetapi tidak menghulurkan tangan kerana itu. "Jadi, kau tak perlu tergesa-gesa untuk percayakan aku." Tapak tangannya masih menghadap ke atas. "Aku tahu mungkin apa yang kau ingat hanyalah aku membawa kau pulang dari berdekatan kuil itu, dan menghantar kau berjumpa doktor. Bagi aku, semua itu untuk membantu kau, tapi bagi kau, mungkin itu cuma dibawa pergi secara tiba-tiba oleh orang yang tak dikenali." Pandangan Luka sedikit bergoyang. Dia tidak faham apa yang dikatakannya. Sebenarnya, dia sendiri pun tidak tahu apa sebenarnya dirinya. Selepas terjaga, dia hanya ingat tanah yang sejuk, kesakitan jauh di dalam tubuhnya, serta kuil yang diselubungi kegelapan malam itu. Mengenai dari mana dia datang, kenapa dia cedera, kenapa dia jadi begini — semuanya tidak dapat diingat langsung. Dia tidak tahu sama ada dia pernah menjadi manusia, atau adakah dia sentiasa menjadi seekor kucing. Ingatan yang kosong itu seperti diselubungi kabus tebal; walau bagaimana kuat dia cuba mengingati, dia hanya mampu menangkap sedikit rasa yang kabur, tanpa dapat mencari sebarang jawapan yang boleh membuktikan asal-usulnya. Dia juga tidak tahu, adakah dia masih boleh berubah kembali kepada bentuk lain. Jadi dia tiada tempat untuk pulang, dan tidak tahu adakah dia pernah memiliki apa-apa pun sebelum ini. Yang pasti hanyalah sekarang. Dan sekarang ini, dia sedang duduk di rumah lelaki yang tidak dikenali ini. Gakupo memerhatikannya, dan menyambung: "Doktor kata kau perlu berehat, dan kau juga perlu kekal bersih. Tapi aku tak mahu perkara ini menjadikan tempat ini terasa menakutkan bagi kau." Dia menunjuk ke arah baldi di sebelahnya, tetapi tidak mengangkatnya. "Ini bukan kuil, dan bukan juga hospital. Kau boleh tinggal di atas sofa, atau di atas lantai. Kalau kau mahu bersembunyi pun boleh, kalau kau mahu menjauh daripada aku pun boleh." Nadanya kekal tenang sepanjang masa. "Aku tak akan paksa kau hanya kerana kau takut." Luka mendengar dengan tenang. Badannya masih belum sepenuhnya lentur, tetapi tulang belakangnya sudah tidak melengkung tinggi seperti sebentar tadi. Bulunya yang tegak juga perlahan-lahan kembali seperti biasa. Gakupo melihat itu, tetapi tidak menganggapnya sebagai persetujuan. "Kalau kau tak suka air, kita boleh buat perlahan-lahan." katanya. "Kalau kau tak suka tuala, kita boleh tak sentuh dulu." "Kalau kau tak suka aku mendekat, aku akan tunggu di sini saja." Dia memandang tangannya sendiri. "Tangan ini pun sama. Bila kau mahu mendekat, aku akan biarkan ia kekal di sini. Kalau kau tak mahu mendekat, kau tak perlu datang." Luka memandang tangan itu. Itu adalah tangan seorang manusia. Dia ingat tangan ini pernah membawakan makanan untuknya, dan ingat juga, selepas dia bersetuju, tangan itu pernah dengan lembut mengusap kepalanya. Hangat. Perlahan. Ia tidak tiba-tiba menekan ke bawah, dan tidak juga menariknya dengan kuat. Namun, dia masih takut. "Kau boleh fikir perlahan-lahan." Gakupo sedikit mengalihkan pandangannya, supaya dia tidak perlu terus-menerus menanggung tatapannya. "Aku tak akan terus memandang kau, mendesak kau untuk datang." Dia benar-benar tidak mendesak lagi. Masa berlalu, sedikit demi sedikit. Wap yang naik dari permukaan air suam itu perlahan-lahan berkurangan. Gakupo melirik ke arahnya, kemudian memandang semula ke arah Luka. "Air ni mungkin akan sejuk sekejap lagi." Badan Luka serta-merta menegang. "Tapi tak mengapa." Gakupo segera menambah. "Kalau tak boleh sekarang, aku boleh sediakan semula." Luka mengelip matanya. "Tak semestinya perlu buat sekarang." Dia berhenti sebentar. "Aku cuma nak kau tahu, bila-bila masa kau bersedia, aku akan bersama kau." Luka memandangnya dengan tenang. "Kau tak perlu rasa kau mesti dengar cakap aku hanya kerana aku selamatkan kau." Suaranya sangat perlahan. "Aku bawa kau pulang hanya kerana aku tak mahu tinggalkan kau yang cedera di sana." Telinga Luka bergerak sedikit. "Jadi, kau tak perlu tukar apa-apa sebagai balasan." Dia tidak faham kata-kata itu, tetapi dia dapat rasakan tiada niat jahat dalam suaranya. "Meow..." Dia bersuara tanpa disedari. Gakupo segera memandangnya. "Hah?" Luka sendiri turut terkejut seketika. Gakupo tidak menghulurkan tangan, hanya memandangnya. "Kau memanggil aku ke?" Luka tidak menjawab. Selepas seketika, dia berkata dengan perlahan: "Aku di sini." Dua patah perkataan pendek itu membuatkan sesuatu bergetar halus di dalam hati Luka. Dia menundukkan kepalanya, memandang lantai. Dia mahu mendekat. Fikiran itu sudah muncul sejak sekian lama. Tetapi setiap kali dia mengangkat kaki depannya sedikit, kewaspadaan jauh di dalam dirinya akan membuatkan dia berhenti. Dia takut. Tetapi dia juga mula tertanya-tanya sama ada lelaki ini akan terus menghormatinya sebagaimana yang telah ditunjukkannya selama ini. Selepas sekian lama, akhirnya dia melangkah perlahan ke hadapan. Gakupo tidak bergerak. Dia melangkah lagi ke hadapan. Masih tidak bergerak. Luka berhenti, memandangnya. Gakupo hanya duduk di tempatnya, tapak tangan menghadap ke atas, menunggu dengan tenang. Maka dia berjalan lagi sedikit ke hadapan. Satu langkah. Kemudian satu lagi. Akhirnya, dia sampai betul-betul di hadapannya. Tangan itu berada tepat di hadapannya. Luka menundukkan kepala dahulu untuk menghidunya, kemudian dengan berhati-hati menyentuh tapak tangannya dengan hujung hidung. Gakupo tidak bergerak. Barulah Luka sedikit menurunkan kewaspadaannya, melepasi tangannya, mendekati kakinya. Dia menyentuh hujung hidung pada seluar Gakupo dahulu. Setelah pasti dia masih tidak bergerak, barulah dia perlahan-lahan menekankan pipinya ke situ. Menggeselnya dengan lembut. Mata Gakupo menjadi lembut. "Kau sudah sanggup mendekat." Dia tidak terus mengusapnya. Luka tidak beredar. Dia hanya mengangkat mata birunya memandangnya. Mata itu masih ada rasa cemas, tetapi penolakan pada mulanya sudah berkurangan. Gakupo memerhatikannya dengan tenang seketika, kemudian memandang semula ke arah baldi di sebelahnya. "Kalau begitu..." Dia tidak terus menghulurkan tangan. "Kau sanggup ke kalau aku lap sikit badan kau sekarang?" Telinga Luka serta-merta merebah lagi ke belakang. Gakupo segera berhenti. "Tak perlu tergesa-gesa jawab." Dia menunggu lagi seketika. "Kalau tak boleh, aku tak akan sentuh." Luka memandangnya. Gakupo tidak mendekat. "Boleh ke?" Luka masih tidak bergerak. "Tak boleh pun tak mengapa." dia menambah lagi. "Asalkan kau tak mahu, aku akan berhenti." Mata Luka memandangnya, seperti cuba bersungguh-sungguh memahami maksudnya. Selepas sekian lama, dia masih tidak berundur. Gakupo perasan perkara ini, tetapi masih tidak menganggapnya sebagai persetujuan. "Kau tak berundur..." katanya perlahan. "Tapi aku masih nak pastikan sekali lagi." Dia duduk di tempatnya, tidak menghulurkan tangan untuk menyentuhnya. "Luka, boleh ke?" Kali ini, Luka hanya memandangnya. Dia tidak lari. Dia juga tidak lagi mengeluarkan bunyi penolakan. Namun Gakupo masih tidak terus memulakannya. "Kalau kau sanggup, mendekatlah sedikit lagi." Luka teragak-agak agak lama. Akhirnya, dia menggeselkan dirinya lagi sedikit ke hadapan, badannya bersandar lembut pada kakinya. Barulah kelihatan sedikit rasa lega pada wajah Gakupo. "Baiklah." Tetapi dia masih tidak terus bertindak. "Aku akan buat dengan sangat perlahan." Dia mengesahkan sekali lagi. "Dan aku akan elakkan bahagian yang cedera pada kau, dan tidak akan sentuh pembalut luka itu." Luka mendongak memandangnya. Gakupo menunggu dengan tenang. "Boleh ke?" Luka tidak berundur. Dia hanya memandangnya dengan mata birunya, ekornya tergantung lembut di belakang badannya. Barulah Gakupo berkata dengan perlahan: "Kalau begitu aku akan buat perlahan-lahan." Tetapi walaupun sudah mendapat jawapan sebegitu, dia masih tidak terus mengelap badan Luka. Dia hanya duduk dahulu bersamanya, membiarkan Luka faham — bahawa walaupun dia sudah mendekat, dia tetap akan memastikan kerelaannya berulang kali, bukan kerana dia akhirnya mendekat lalu menganggap sudah wajar untuk membuat keputusan bagi pihaknya.