MAKNAE [twd] *editing*

【26】

James and Ben never said a single word the entire time we waited for the others.

Allen was also quiet, an aura of anger and sadness surrounding him- the sense of grief I'd grown used to seeing and feeling.

Sasha spoke briefly, mostly on their journey thus far and her promises to pull her weight if accepted into the group.

Julie stuck by her father, eyes worriedly checking on James every so often as she pleaded their case to stay.

Tyreese acted as leader, explaining how they work and that they would do everything they need and we ask for as long as it meant they could stay. After all, he had a daughter he wanted to keep safe- sturdy walls and secure fences meant more to him than most could understand.

Somewhere among the conversations and the sun setting, Carl left the room. I stayed, finding the seat between Taeyang and Sasha more comfortable than anywhere else.

"I don't think I've ever seen a single football game," I admit.

"It's not something seen in households like ours," Taeyang agrees.

"Well, here I thought you were going to ask for an autograph," Tyreese teases.

I wasn't sure when football was brought up- maybe when prior jobs/schooling was. But, Sasha had caught on the the glum look on my face when the sport was named by Tyreese, leading me to explain T-Dog's final words. Which, Tyreese grew saddened over as he was a former 'NFL' player before everything hit.

"Judging by that behemoth of a weapon I saw you toting around, I'm gonna guess you were a baseball gal?" Sasha smiles.

"That obvious?" I ask, growing my own grin.

"Taeyang here only knew baseball players and would tell us how big it is in Korea," Tyreese points to Taeyang.

"I am a walking stereotype," Taeyang shrugs.

"That bat was a giveaway, though," Sasha adds.

"My dad played up until college. Then, he had to work more in studies for his job. But, we still went to games at least once a month," I recall.

"What'd he do after?" Taeyang wonders.

I wasn't too sure on the translation, so I turn to Taeyang.

"He started in props and then in rentals for idols. Then, he went up to managing and selling," I explain.

"Ah.. Prop designer. Prop manager," he clarifies before his eyes snap back to me, "With idols? Did he ever meet TVXQ?"

My head bows in a laugh, "And here I was thinking 'Taeyang' because of BigBang."

"That was my brother's favorites. He's a sucker for G-Dragon. I am the resident TVXQ fan," he points to himself.

"He did a few pieces for them, but he never mentioned meeting them. He was just getting to that point when everything.." I hold my hands up to mimic an explosion, "But, he did meet a few Super Junior members. SHINee, too."

Taeyang sighs, placing his head in his hands as though the thought brought him some type of pain, "That is the coolest job I have ever heard of."

"You're sitting across from a NFL player and a firefighter," Tyreese reminds lightly in regards to himself and Sasha.

"But, you didn't work with Kim Heechul," Taeyang points to him, "You lose by default."

Tyreese laughs, his deep voice echoing in the cafeteria. Julie looks over, her eyes sparkling at the sound as though she hadn't heard her father laugh in years, a smile playing on her lips. Sasha does the same before a giggle of her own is escaping her mouth. Taeyang nudges my arm with a grin, pulling one out of me as well.