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┊┊┊┊➶❁۪。˚ ✧
⚠️ this story contains topics as eating disorders, body dysmorphia, low self esteem, negative thinking, perfectionism and obsession. please read at your own risk. ⚠️
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It had been a month since Jake started working at Seoul Zoo.
In this time Jake had managed to get used to his work schedule with the seals. Mornings meant cleaning the enclosure, feed the grownups, check on Maki and on Makoa—a pregnant seal—and then teach Maki swimming for half an hour.
The first time he tried to teach the fluffy baby seal how to swim had ended in a disaster. Choi Seungcheol had started laughing and watched the baby seal honk for dear life, splashing the water all around the back room of the seal enclosure. Jake, trying to keep the animals nose above water, got splashed by the water and ended drenched.
Worst part of it all?
When he went to the lockers to get changed, he bumped into Kwon Jinah. The cute, shy introverted young woman with the plum colored hair. The one with the cute smile. The one who walked through the zoo with penguins.
Jake could clearly remember the first time he thought that Jinah was cute. It was something so little, insignificant—something not worth mentioning—but to Jake it felt like the worlds were turning.
The two of them had a late shift together. Jinah asked Jake, if he ever did the last route through the zoo. Jake told her he didn't. So she asked him, in her polite voice, if he wanted to join her. She could show him how the last route worked and what he had to keep in mind.
Jake was eager to learn from Jinah.
They just arrived at the panda enclosure. One of the panda bears was still out. Jinah leaned on the railing and watched the fluffy bear do its thing. Jake was standing next to her and turned to look at her, when he saw a smile creep onto her lips.
Kwon Jinah barely smiled. So seeing her smile so sincerely turned a switch in his head. Cute, his mind screamed and Jake felt heat rush to his cheeks. Jinah looked really cute at this moment.
"Do you know her name?", she asked, pointing to the panda bear. Jake shook his head, shocked about the fact he thought his co-worker was cute. "Her name is Nabi. The zoo's CEO named her after his wife." Jinah's smile was beaming.
Jake nodded. He didn't know that Jinah was related to the zoo's CEO. He thought it was just a nerdy fact she got from working here.
Ever since that day Jake thought about how cute Jinah was. How cute the little things she did were.
