[Neo Zone] Population: 23 Kids

Very Wet Socks

There were a couple ways Taeil went wrong with this today. The first one was not asking Taeyong more questions when he offered to take his place at a volunteer event because Taeyong had accidentally double booked.

Now he was in the rattier of the city's community centers, struggling to unload boxes of food from trucks and bring them into the building. Sure, there were some high school kids helping too, but all of them looked like they needed coffee and didn't want to be there. They were also mainly girls, all of whom assumed Taeil was capable of carrying these boxes because he was a guy.

The second mistake was coming here without dragging one of the younger kids from the cafe to help. He just didn't have anyone to talk to in between unloading boxes, so he was standing in the corner without sitting down.

And his final mistake was not wearing boots. He knew it was raining when he left, he just didn't think he would be going outside. Now his shoes were so wet he couldn't even feel them squish when he walked.

Okay maybe he was being a little dramatic, but he didn't think so. If anything he was being under dramatic.

Annnnd now his arms were going numb. Perfect.

"You guys can go take a lunch break. Just be back by 12:30." One of the ladies instructed, the high school kids immediately leaving.

Lunch was not something he had planned for. His Dad had dropped him off here on his way to work and he didn't have money to take the bus. So now he was walking halfway across the city to the Limitless Cafe because he didn't feel like going anywhere else.

He could also get dry socks if he went there.

Three puddles and a sudden heavy downpour later, Taeil was mentally cussing as he walked into the cafe. Just to see that half of the kids from the community center were already seated and drinking coffee together.

He actually almost felt like crying at that moment, but the discomfort from his wet socks overpowered it.

"Taeil! Where were you? I've been looking around the cafe all morning!" Chenle screeched, Taeil shushing him before he could draw more attention to them.

"I told you I was taking over for Taeyong at the community center today."

"Oh yeah. My bad."

Chenle followed Taeil down the stairs, watching Taeil kick off his soggy shoes, socks, shed his coat, and fall into his bed face down. Chenle sat down next to him, staring at him happily.

"Are you done at the community center now?"

"No." Taeil muttered into his pillow.

"Aww. Can you just not go back?"

Taeil rolled over onto his back. He was going to use his arm to prop up his head, but he found he couldn't lift it very high, so that was neglected.

"I mean, maybe? But that's not very nice."

Chenle frowned, an action that took over his whole face.

"What's up, Lele?"

"There's no one here to bother. Mrs. Suh banned me from behind the counter two years ago, and Ten took over the upstairs to work on prom stuff and won't let me go near it. Everyone's busy."

Chenle curled up next to Taeil on the bed, the older putting his arm around him. Chenle snuggled into his side, not caring that he was wet and cold.

"You also give the best hugs and I wanted one today."

Taeil smiled as he pulled Chenle closer to himself.

"Sorry I couldn't give you one sooner."

"It's fine. I'm still alive."

Taeil ruffled his hair, ignoring how he was starting to get hungry. He didn't want to move from his bed for the next five years, and food meant getting up.

"Don't you need lunch?"

"I never want to stand up again."

Chenle abruptly sat up, hitting his head against the top bunk. That didn't stop him from running upstairs.

Within two minutes Chenle was running back downstairs with a sandwich and a drink, placing it on Taeil's stomach.

"I'm not letting you starve."

"Thank youuuuu." Taeil added in a heart to show his appreciation, gladly sitting up to eat.

Chenle took up his place at Taeil's side once again, leaning his head against his shoulder. Taeil knew right then and there that if the others from the volunteer group didn't know he was here too, he never would've left.

Because as soon as he did head back, his new, dry socks were instantly soaked again.