Slice of Life: Episode 12 - Powered by Love

There are moments with pets that stop your heart. Namu has always been a calm, well-behaved cat who never causes trouble — but there is one incident from about five years ago that still brings tears to my eyes just thinking about it. Namu was around one year old at the time.

I got a call saying Namu had collapsed, foaming at the mouth. I left work early and rushed to our usual vet by taxi — only to find a line so long it would have been over an hour's wait. When I finally arrived, Namu was sitting on Halbae's lap, completely drained of energy. Even for a naturally calm cat, seeing her that limp and lifeless was heartbreaking.

I heard the full story then. The usual vet had too long a wait, so Halbae had run to another clinic 200 meters up the hill. Halmae suggested waiting for a taxi, but Halbae just started running. With Namu's carrier — Namu weighs over 5 kilos, plus the weight of the carrier — carried by a 75-year-old man, uphill. Halmae said she couldn't keep up even without carrying anything, and was completely stunned by how strong and fast he was. I couldn't believe it either when I heard it. Is this what they call the power of love?

💡Satoori Spotlight : 욕봤데이

"미안타, 나무야. 욕봤데이."
"I'm sorry, Namu. I'm sorry you went through all that."

욕봤데이 (yok-bwat-de-i)

욕봤데이 is a Gyeongsang-do dialect expression meaning "you've been through a lot" or "that must have been rough." It's the kind of thing you say to someone who has endured something hard — a quiet acknowledgment of their struggle, wrapped in warmth. Coming from Halbae, a man of very few words, this one phrase says everything.

You might use it when:

• Someone has had a hard day: "오늘 욕봤데이." (You've had a rough day.)
• After someone recovers from illness: "많이 아팠제, 욕봤데이." (You were so sick — that must have been hard.)
• When someone has traveled a long way: "멀리서 오느라 욕봤데이." (What a journey — you must be exhausted.)

🐾 Butler's Note

From the very first day Namu came home, she has always been Halbae's shadow. That day was no different — the two of them were home alone together. Halmae had gone out and left Halbae with a task to take care of before she returned.

Since they live in a house, bugs are a recurring battle, especially in summer. The routine is simple: put Namu upstairs, spray pesticide on the first floor, wipe everything down thoroughly with a wet cloth, and only then bring Namu back down. That was Halbae's mission for the day.

He managed the first two steps — Namu upstairs, pesticide sprayed. But Namu kept wanting to come back down, and Halbae, not wanting to keep her waiting, brought her down too soon. The floor hadn't been wiped clean properly. If Halmae had been home, she would have scrubbed every corner until she was satisfied. But Halbae, bless him, had done his best — and Namu, being Namu, walked across the floor and groomed herself shortly after.

The pesticide was labeled safe for humans. But Namu is small, and cats are sensitive in ways we don't always anticipate. It didn't take long before something was clearly wrong.

Both Halmae and Halbae were beside themselves with worry. By the time I arrived, all three of them — Namu, Halbae, and Halmae — looked utterly exhausted. Thankfully, Namu recovered well after treatment that day, and nothing like this has ever happened again.

Halbae stroking Namu's head and quietly saying "I'm sorry you went through all that" — I still think about that moment. Some people don't need many words.

💬 Let's chat!

Every pet owner has had at least one moment that stopped their heart. Has your pet ever given you a scare like this? If you have a story of a close call and a happy ending, I'd love to hear it in the comments! If today's episode touched your heart, please leave a like and subscribe 🐾