yang jeongin bang chan
I watched intently as the young boy, whose name I found to be Yang Jeongin, led me through the zoo. He pointed to each exhibit calmly and talked about each animal with high interest and a sparkle in his eye. It was clear that the animals held a soft spot in his heart.
He told me the names he chose to call every animal, since the zoo did not give them names so the visitors could call them what they want, and I decided to go by those.
He also introduced me to the foxes, who he clearly favored. All of it was quite heartwarming.
Jeongin stopped at one exhibit and pointed, "Find her."
I looked at him, then turned to the cage. I walked forward and looked through the clear, but sturdy, glass as I searched for an animal. Inside the exhibit held a cave shaped area in the back and many trees that were capable of being climbed by something big. There was also a small pond-like thing that was likely for drinking and maybe even bathing.
I looked closely, but still couldn't spot the creature. I turned to Jeongin, "Where is she? And what is she?"
Jeongin tapped the small plaque in front of the glass. I peered at the large letters that spelled out "Panther". I let a slight 'ah' out and turned back to the glass area.
Jeongin pointed in the direction she was located, "Look carefully. Right beside the cave, she's lying down there."
I squinted as to help me see her. I saw the flick of a tail that led to a large cat bathing in the sun.
I turned to Jeongin with a smile, "I found her."
Jeongin smiled as well, "Good job. I call her Athena, by the way. After the goddess."
I looked to Athena, "It's a very beautiful name, much like yours." I turned to see the younger's reaction to my words and noticed a light rose color covering his cheeks.
He looked at me and our eyes locked onto each other. He gave a smile. My heart did a flip.
"You're very cheesy, Bang Chan."
I smirked and gave a playful wink, "Only for you."
Jeongin shook his head, but continued to smile softly.
I leaned back against the plaque, "This was the last exhibit, correct?"
Jeongin nodded and I gave him a grin, "Want to go get coffee or something?"
Jeongin smiled and nodded once again, "I'm okay with that."
I began walking back to the entrance of zoo and walked to the employee area, "Wait for me here. I'm just going to clock out and change."
Jeongin hummed and I walked to the worker's area.
I was met by Hanna on her way out. She gave me a smile in which I returned. "You off, Chan?"
I nodded, "I'm going to hangout with someone I met today."
She tilted her head, "Lucky girl?"
I shook my head with a chuckle, "Boy named Jeongin."
She smiled at the name, "Ah- Jeongin-ah. Yeah, I'm glad he's making friends. He spends his days here and never brings company, except for his mother every once in a while."
I hummed, "Wonder why."
She shrugged, "Well, I have a date so I'll see you tomorrow." I waved the girl goodbye and went to change into my own clothes.
I threw on my all white hoodie that fit snugly on me and my pair of black jeans that hugged my thighs nicely.
I walked out, slinging my black backpack onto my shoulder. Jeongin turned to me with a slight smile and I led us out the front gate. I turned to the younger and pointed down the street, "There's a cafe down here, right?"
Jeongin nodded with a hum.
I took the silence and began walking. I could tell Jeongin wasn't much of talker, but that didn't bother me much. I had so much hectic and loud things in my life that having this short tongued boy beside me didn't seem bad at all.
I pushed open the doors to the cafe and walked in after Jeongin. The younger walked up to the line as he fiddled with his fingers, his eyes darting around. I placed my hand on his shoulder and he jumped at the touch.
I removed my hand quickly and he let out a shaky breath as he mumbled out a 'sorry'. I nodded my head towards a table by the window, "Go sit. I'll order."
At my words, his shoulders obviously slouched a bit, signalling his tension slipping away.
He told me to get him an Iced Americano and made his way to the seat. I ordered the same as him and made my way to the table with the plastic containers holding the cold caffeinated drink.
I sat down and slid Jeongin his drink, which he took with a quick lip-closed smile and 'thanks'.
I sipped at my drink, "How about twenty questions?"
Jeongin shifted in his seat, but nodded nonetheless. I took it as a sign to start, "What is your favorite book?"
Jeongin played with the straw of the coffee as he thought, "Alice in Wonderland. I like the way the author depicts all the characters and always leaves you thinking."
I hummed at his response and Jeongin sighed, "What's your favorite color?"
I sipped at my coffee once again and let the chill drink slip down my throat, "Black. It goes with everything and doesn't make a person's eyes bleed if they look at it too long."
Jeongin chuckled slightly at that. "What's your best friends name?"
Jeongin took a deep sip of his drink, "Would it be sad to say I don't have one?"
I tilted my head, "You don't?"
Jeongin shook his head, "I prefer to stay alone. Or with my mother."
I twirled the straw around, "Well, why are you with me now?"
Jeongin shrugged, "I guess you're different. I don't know. It might be weird to say, but I feel some sort of connection to you.. Like, you know, like a magnet. Some sort of unseen force that pulls us together. Maybe I am just weird," his voice drifted off.
I chuckled and looked out the window at people passing by, "I don't think you're weird. Different, yes. But I like different." I turned back to Jeongin and gave him a friendly smile. He nodded to himself and gave me a smile back.
I turned back to the window.
Jeongin's like a dot in the middle of a blank canvas. I want to draw something very pretty out of that dot.
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1082 words; edited.
thoughts ?
it's a little sad how i deleted every chapter after this and my 12k views dropped to 2k. numbers never really mattered to me anyway. as long as i make some people happy whilst reading my books.
and the last sentence is something chan actually said :)