Why am I always late?

chapter 16

The two pairs walked in two similar places, yet always kept on missing each other.

"Jiun hyung said that the parrot might have been dead already since it was exotic" Wuhyeon commented.
"just because this is a public zoo doesn't mean that it has low standards for taking care of the animals " Geumwook defended, but Wuhyeon disagreed as he shook his head.

"You're failing to see the whole idea Geumwook. We are not here just because of that bird, we're here to also find out clues about Jiun hyungs "dead" grandma".

Gunwook looked taken aback. "Wuhyeon hyung, we are literally here just for that parrot. I mean, we never knew when his grandma dropped off that parrot. Like.. it could have been over a decade ago for all I know. Meaning it could have been dead or the employees changed" he reasoned out.

But Wuhyeon immediately asked a question. "All employees changed?" He said with an eyebrow raised. But not at Geumwook, but at an employee. He was interested, so he copied Wuhyeon whos head was popping off the other side of the wall.

"Thats hanrul, a famous employee who saved thousands of people when there were tigers and lions who got out, 17 years ago" he said in a deep yet soothing voice, like in documentaries about animals.

"Wuheyon hyung, I think.. you are a genius in disguise!" He exclained, but he immediately shut him down, saying he was loud.

"So.. how do we approach him?" Geumwook asked politely, knowing he doesn't have an answer. "Well..."
Wuhyeon trailed off, scratching his head.

Guemwook then got an idea and immediately walked over to Hanrul. Wuhyeon was shock and tried to stop him, but when Geumwook was in front of him he just faced palmed.

"hi! Umm can I ask something?" Geumwook asked politely. Hanrul was busy writing something in a clipboards when he looked up to him, he smiled politely and asked what was up. Wuhyeon also went closer, acting like he was with Geumwook.

"We are actually in a bet, me and him... About how there was a red parrot" he then leaned and whispered "and I'm quite winning since there is none." He then leaned back. "And we want to ask if there is and see it for ourselves " he winked.

Hanrul giggled but shook his head in disbelief. "There is a red parrot, but I'm pretty sure it's packed full of people" Hanrul said with a smile.
"Oh! It's fine, I just want to win the bet" Wuhyeon said as he catched on.

Hanrul then lead the way to the opposite side of the zoo, making the two look idiots for going in the right side instead of the left side.

As the two went to the birdcage, Gyueum and Seo In left.

"So.. as I asked before, what are we doing here?" Seo In asked as she fiddled her hands. "Oh! Well you said you like capybaras, so I thought you'll like the zoo for our date!" Gyueum said, raising his hands. Seo In blinked, not believe him, but seeing Gyueum smile and act so confident made her heart drop.

She should really be careful of what to say moving forward.

"Ahh, well... Thanks" she forced a smile, making Gyueum feel proud for proving Nicky wrong.

"Hmm, I wonder what great attraction we could see in this place?" Gyueum wondered as he tapped his chin. Seo In looked around, and stopped when she saw a big board in the side with animal pictures.

Gyueum noticed that Seo In wasn't beside him, and when he turned around, he was shocked at her image.

She was fair as a ghost as the light shone her directly. Her white, laced up dress flowing in the air made her look like she was floating, and the black hair following the cold winter breeze made it more stunning.

She was like a spitting image of a ghost! The only difference was that she could touch things. She went closer to the board, and smiled softly at the description of tourist spots for animals. One of which was the red parrot they came across.

Meanwhile....

"It's exactly what Jiun hyung described to me!! A red feathered parrot with even red beaks!!" Wuhyeon exclaimed as his eyes widen in amazement, founding the exotic animal stunning.

"It's also... Yelling or shouting.. words? Phrases? I mean.." Geumwook trailed off. "Poppy? Does it mean someone's name?" Wuhyeon wondered.  "Why, is his grandma's name poppy?" Geumwook asked but Wuhyeon shook his head in disappointed. "Well, atleast I was right that the one shouting earlier was the bird we were looking for" Geumwook reasoned out.

Hanrul then spoke up. "The owner was whispering these words as he brought the bird to us. Even when he left he kept on muttering it, until eventually the bird picked it up and kept on shouting it" Hanrul said with a sigh. "It's a great thing the bird was exotic, or else it would have been put down"

Geumwook then raised his head. "He? The owner was a he?"

"Yeah, he was a he. He was wearing a black hoodie at the time but it was definitely a he. His voice was deep and he was also rich" he said. The two exchanged glances, their eyes asking the same question.

"Who is the owner?!?!" They quickly turned to Hanrul, who shook his head.

"Don't know, but if you want to know the manager should have the record of the owner" he said. "But he's on leave today, so someone should beee.. yep! Someones taking over for now. Although they are in break right now" he said after looking at his watch.

"Where?" Both asked in the same time, but Hanrul's eyebrow raised. "I thought you were here because of a bet?" He said with suspicion. The two looked at each other as cold beads of sweat dripped on their foreheads, laughing awkwardly as they remembered about a bet that wasn't even true.

Suddenly, Geumwooks phone rang, a single notification pop up.

"Sorry geumi shi.."

"You look beautiful..." He managed to mutter, making Seo In giggle. "Well thank you! It's the first time someone complimented me while being Starstruck!" She exclaimed with a huge smile, making Gyueum more entranced on her beauty.

Seo In turned around to the board, and as she looked down while reading at the animals in the zoo he eyes widen in surprise. "There's a capybara animal here!" She shouted with a smile.

Gyueum puffed his chest proudly, "I know!"

He did not know by the way.

As the two walked to the capybara pen, they talked about the animal.
"What do you think is a capybaras favourite food?" Seo In started.
"Hmm, probably fish?" Gyueum said that made Seo In's mind go blank.

"Wa..why?" Her lips trembled, hoping it was a joke. "Because capybaras are a type of sea animal, no?" He said without even stuttering

"They are always in water and have furs, so probably.. they are in the same family as otters!!" He said like he solved a puzzle. Seo In took a deep breath as he looked at Gyueum, her eyes slowly twitching as she slowly realized who she went on a date with.