The morning light filtered softly through the curtains of Kaein's apartment, casting long shadows across the scattered case files and textbooks that never quite made it off the desk.
The day dawned with sunlight spilling across the streets. Kaein leaned back on the bench, legs stretched out, watching the soft breeze tug at Lior's hair whose etheral beauty reflecting on his eyes. "So," he began, his voice casual but carrying that edge of mischief, "you still haven't answered me."
"Answered you about what?" Lior asked without looking up from the book in his lap.
"Where do you wanna go for the date?"
"The zoo."
"The… zoo?" Lior's eyebrows rose.
Kaein's grin widened. "You've never been, right?"
"No. And that's intentional."
"Well, intentions can change. It's settled. Let's go."
"I didn't—"
"You did," Kaein cut in, already pulling out his phone. "I'll handle the tickets."
Lior had half a mind to cancel, but by that time he and Kaein had already reached the Emerald Grove Zoological Park. Kaein went to buy their tickets.
As he left, Lior watched his back mesmerizing how handsome a man can be and his desire to be his partner arose in his heart. But he knew that was impossible.
He was in so deep thought that he forgot Kaein had already finished buying tickets.
"What are you day-dreaming about, A-Li?" Kaein asked. For a moment, Lior was so surprised hearing that name that he thought they had returned to the past.
Kaein ignored that and held out a ticket. "Welcome to the wild side."
The morning sun filtered through the canopy of trees as we stepped into the city zoo, the chatter of excited families mingling with the distant calls of exotic birds.
Lior glanced sideways at me, his pilot's cap slightly askew. "You sure you're ready to be outnumbered by monkeys and penguins today?"
Kaein smirked, adjusting his jacket. "Bring it on. Besides, I'm more interested in seeing if you still remember how to act like a kid."
He laughed, the sound bright and free. "Challenge accepted."
The entrance arch towered above them, vines draped over carved stone animals. The air buzzed with children's laughter, the smell of buttered popcorn mixing with the earthy scent of fresh plants.
Inside, Lior accepted a folded zoo map from Kaein, only to have him laugh when he realized it was upside down.
"You're hopeless."
"I'm just… testing your observation skills," Lior replied, flipping it the right way.
They started with the aviary. A bright green parrot eyed them from a branch, then squawked, "Hello!" in startling clarity.
Lior actually blinked. "It talks."
"Say something to it," Kaein urged.
"…No."
"Oh, come on. Just a word—"
The parrot cut in with a perfect mimicry of Kaein's earlier "Come on," causing Lior to smother a laugh behind his hand.
From there, they wandered to the primate section. A small monkey scampered along a branch before stopping to stare at them intently. Without warning, it stuck out its tongue.
Kaein leaned down toward Lior. "It likes you."
"That's questionable."
"It's a compliment!"
We wandered through winding paths, pausing to watch the lazy lions basking in the sun and the curious giraffes stretching their necks toward the leaves.
At the penguin exhibit, Lior crouched low, mimicking their waddling, making me laugh until my sides hurt.
"Okay, okay, your turn," he challenged, eyes sparkling.
I tried to imitate the awkward waddle, nearly tipping over and earning a playful shove from him.
By the time they reached the petting area, Kaein had convinced Lior to try feeding the deer. Lior hesitated, palm outstretched with the zoo-provided feed, before a gentle doe approached and nibbled from his hand. His stiff posture softened, and there was something almost childlike in the way his eyes followed the creature.
"You're smiling," Kaein pointed out.
"I'm not."
"You are."
They bought ice cream next, sitting on a bench beneath the shade of a jacaranda tree. Purple petals drifted around them as Kaein took a bite from his cone. Lior, without thinking, reached to brush a petal from Kaein's hair. Their eyes met for a heartbeat too long before Kaein cleared his throat and pointed toward the flamingo pond.
"Last stop?"
The flamingos stood in a cluster, their reflections shimmering in the water. Lior stood still, hands tucked in his coat pockets, gaze fixed on the soft curve of their necks.
"They're… quieter than I expected," he murmured.
Kaein smiled faintly. "Not everything loud is worth your time. Sometimes the quiet things stick with you."
They didn't speak after that. Just stood side by side, letting the hum of distant chatter fade into the background. In that moment, it felt like the world outside the zoo didn't exist—only the two of them, the water, and the calm.
Between shared jokes and quiet moments, the years apart felt less like a gap and more like a bridge—built with laughter, memories, and the slow unfolding of something tender.
As we stood by the butterfly garden, a gentle breeze carrying soft wings around us, I realized how much I'd missed this—missed him.
Lior caught my gaze, his smile softer now. "Today's good. But next time, maybe somewhere less wild?"
I smiled back. "Only if you promise to keep chasing me."
When they finally turned to leave, Kaein said lightly, "Next time, amusement park?"
Lior glanced at him, the corner of his mouth lifting almost imperceptibly. "…We'll see."