Behind The Hourglass

Hopping Bunny

The five Exotics wandered around the busy streets, looking for a suitable place to eat. There were fancy restaurants and food trucks scattered everywhere, but Kris had suggested that they should look for a place that’s cheap but had a good closed dining area to keep them secured and out of sight.
 
They had been deposited in the local park where that had frantically wiped off every residual evidence that they had ever been in a desert, or forest, to try and blend in with the residents and not stand out. But they were still given questioning stares. Seeing a big crowd of boys at school and work hours with dirty ragged clothes was seemingly weird.
 
Ten minutes had passed and Kai was getting extremely hungry. His mouth craved for the succulent taste of chicken, but the older boys were still discussing where they should eat.
 
“I don’t think it would be good if we eat inside,” Chanyeol spoke out. “If the SMinions do find us here then they might injure the residents. It’d be better if we eat somewhere outside, but with a lot of people.”
 
“Ah. That makes sense.” Kris nodded. “So, where?
 
“A park?” Baekhyun suggested, sighing, not even trying to hide his lethargy.
 
“Hmm… Yes,” Kris agreed, pointing at the food truck that Kai had been staring longingly at.
 
“Yes. Finally,” Kai breathed content that they were getting the exact chicken that he wanted.
 
“No. Let’s get that,” Baekhyun stated, pointed at a small Chinese restaurant. “They have takeaway as well.”
 
Kai’s mouth fell open. “What’s wrong with the chicken?” he protested.
 
“It seems a little heavy. We should get something light but filing,” Chanyeol explained.
 
Kai huffed in annoyance. They were never going to listen to him, just because he was the youngest. There was no point in disagreeing, so Kai just obediently trudged behind them, a frown on his face.
 
Kris and Chanyeol went inside to buy the items while the rest stayed outside, keeping watch. Kai hung his head down, trying to cover himself from the Sun’s heat. Even though he couldn’t even start to compare it with the heat of the desert, he still felt light-headed. Kai unscrewed the cap of the water bottle and took a long sip.
 
“Kai, you look a little pale, are you alright?” Kyungsoo asked, concerned.
 
“I don’t see it. He’s still looks dark to me,” Baekhyun said, laughing half-heartedly.
 
Kai gave a short hard glance at Baekhyun before he turned to Kyungsoo. “Yeah, I’m just a little hot and hungry.”
 
Just as he said that, the two taller boys walked out of the store, their hands filled with bags. “Food!” Baekhyun shouted excitedly. Kris and Chanyeol chuckled. Kai’s eyes widened in awe at all the food they had gotten. He couldn’t wait to put it in his mouth; even though it wasn’t chicken.
 
Baekhyun spotted a park and suggested they should eat there. The soft grass under Kai’s feet reminded him of how they were aching. He really needed to rest.
 
“How about that tree?” Kyungsoo thrust his chin out in the direction of a beautiful tall tree.
 
“Nice.” Kai sat down under it before anyone could disagree. The rest followed, as Chanyeol started taking out all the food. Kai grabbed a carton of noodles and chopsticks, before stuffing his mouth with the delight.
 
“I think we should think of a plan,” Kris started. Kai looked up from his food for the first time, praying that he wouldn’t have to stop. “We need to fi-“
 
“Let’s eat first. I’m starving,” Baekhyun interrupted.  The others, specifically Kai, nodded vigorously.
 
Kris sighed, nodding, lost in thought as he slowing ate his food.
 
Even after they had finished filling their stomachs, Kris still had the same thoughtful expression. The Exotics took a moment to catch their breath, before Kris once again suggested on formulating a plan.

“Why can’t we just stay here for a while longer and rest?” Baekhyun suggested.

Kris shook his head. “No, that would be too risky since we’re all in the same place.”

“What about the other’s?” Chanyeol asked. “How do we find them?” Kai noticed how Chanyeol’s eye-brows were slightly furrowed, the worry clear on his face.