I checked the notes on my arm. I have to go with the group to go to a zoo. Well, the zoo is not near our location, so the walk will be a bit long and my feet will have to bear it. I never walk long roads, so this time it will be a good try to prove it. I take advantage of memorizing each word I had on my arm. I have used a paste pencil and I have to be careful that it didn't rub off. Looking at the time, I saw that we still had two hours to get together. I lay down on the bed, staring at the cell phone.
Even though my parents were now with me at home on the first floor, I decided to stay in my room, having some time alone with my cell phone. There was nothing interesting. It just appears the same as always. The usual news. The usual videos. The usual video games. Nothing. Nothing to have euphoria about. Sighing, I put the cell phone on the bed and grabbed my pillow, staring at my bedroom window. It was daylight, sunlight reaching the earth. Clouds traveling wherever the wind takes them. It was a day to go out.
And you are here lying like a lazy person.
"I want to sleep..."
On the days when I did not go out to meet someone, I would always lie in bed or go out to see a movie with my parents in the main room. I was always the one who chose the movies and my parents said if they wanted to see that movie or not. Well, for some reason I always hit the dart. They seem to love the movies I have always chosen or to watch for the second time in a row. Alex was trying to get away from it all, but he's stuck with me. He is always stuck with me. He has no escape.
As I sat on my bed, I realized that I had been lying staring at the window for over an hour. In fact, it is not long before I am going to join them. Mari, Sunny, Kel, Hero, Aubrey, and Basil. Basil. Basil, a sweet boy with admirable loyalty. Basil is Sunny's best friend and I see why Sunny hangs out and feels more trusting with him. He is calm, kind and most of all polite. Basil is a child that I wished I have known more thoroughly in the moments when even Mary has not come close. Well, time cannot be reversed. But I am grateful to have met Basil.
Putting on my brown sneakers, I looked in the mirror to see if I'm presentable. Tidy hair, neat clothes without any stain. Everything neat. All right, Alex. Are you ready for another adventure?
I am always ready.
"Why are there so many people?! I thought there wouldn't be many at this time!" Kel couldn't believe that despite arriving first, there was still a line of adults, teenagers, and children still waiting to see the fantastic animals. Uh. Maybe we can try again that we come back? At least I have time now for my stomach to process my parents' food. Mari spoke.
"It doesn't matter! So we can plan in time which animals we can see first, Kel!" Mari took Sunny's hand, who nodded. I looked back, seeing the line going up and up, mainly by children being accompanied by adults. The entrance was open and our tickets were in our hands, waiting for them to be delivered and used. The animals await us.
"What place do you think would be better to go?" Mari asked everyone in particular. Hero spoke first before Kel.
"What if we go to see the elephants first? They are a little closer and the truth is they are very huge!" I could see Hero's fascinated face from being near a large elephant. Elephants are cute and cuddly. It may be my favorite animal.
"It could be, and later we can see the meerkats! They are very cute! I want to adopt one!" Aubrey said, excited with a twinkle in her eyes. Kel looked at Aubrey, still annoyed that he wasn't first in line at the zoo entrance.
"How will you adopt one? It is illegal to have a non-domestic animal!"
"Oh Kel, hush! Let me dream, alright?"
"What animals do you like Basil?" Addressing the blond boy, Basil had his precious camera in his hands, the camera he uses to store all the memories we have spent together. The photo album is never going to be full. There are still more photos to put up and adore on the sheets.
"I like flamingos! They have very beautiful feathers and they look soft" Basil, with a smile, kept talking "I have many photos of them and I wish I could stroke their feathers. They are very impressive" Basil finished, looking at the zoo bars , which could hear the sounds of animals. Some like llamas, tigers, lions and monkeys. Flamingos are also very beautiful, and they look very funny when standing on one leg. I imagine they must have a great balance to do that.
"Good news for you, Basil. I like flamingos too!"
"Really? Glad to hear that!" Advancing about three steps in line, he kept talking "Any other animals that you like?"
"Oh, many!" Taking out the five fingers of my right hand, I began to count "The elephants, the flamingos, the lion, the meerkats, the peacock, etc!" Putting my hands together, I smiled at Basil "They are all so fantastic!"
"Oh! I also like the peacock! Its feathers are so big and shiny!" Mari was overjoyed at the mention of the animal's name. The peacock has all its wings filled with different colors that create a peaceful harmony between all. They are the animals in which they make you forget about the bad times and give you all the happiness that you lacked through the colors of the rainbow.
"Right?! High five!"
Mari and I clapped our hands, eliciting a few laughs from the others. So much was the distraction that we did not realize that the line had already advanced and that now the people behind us were upset and were forcing us to move forward.
"Hey! Stop queuing and move!"
"O-Oh! Sorry!"
Mari and Sunny had stayed to see the big cats, the ones who walked majestically on the ground and the woods that were placed in their small habitat. Hero, Kel and Aubrey were arguing which animal to see next, meerkats, elephants and parrots. Kel and Aubrey did not agree with each other and began to have childish squabbles, having Hero in the middle, who tried to calm them both and told them various options of animals in which they could see later. Me and Basil were in the bird section, watching the impressive and majestic flamingos, who as a group were with their pink feathers.
Many people had also gathered together to see the large birds. Families talk and laugh with each other enjoying the sight of the animals. Children laughed and had different foods in their hands. Adults took photos with their cell phones by hand, and looked at them later to see how they turned out. Basil, having his own camera, took pictures non-stop. The flamingos were apparently very attentive to Basil's actions unlike the others present. I looked at Basil.
"How many photos did you take?"
Basil, lowering the camera, took all the photos in his hands with a charming smile. He looked at me.
"About ten photos!"
"Wow! And where do you plan to put them next?"
Basil looked at the camera and then looked at the ground. A small tint of red painted his cheeks on her smooth skin like the feathers of flamingos and peacocks.
"Actually... I was thinking of sharing some photos with you" Moving his nervous fingers at him, he looked at me "For you to have as a souvenir"
Photos? For me? I know that Basil is a kind and sweet boy, but anyway his sweetness never ceases to amaze me. Basil had taken a ton of photos to keep as souvenirs. A memory that we all could have. The zoo is not a place that you resorted to much. Seeing that my first time I went to the azo is having a happy moment with my friends, it is one of the most desired gifts that one can have.
We should create our own album.
"Aww Basil, thank you very much! I don't know what to give you in return!"
"You don't need to give me something in return! Your company is enough!"
Yes. Also with your company is enough for me. The company of this group has made me realize how lonely my life could have been if I had never crossed paths with the group in the first place. Being alone at breaks, not having someone speak to me repeatedly in class, being alone during lunch hours. Before seeing those routines made me see how normal and not painful it was. I didn't have many friends. Now, remembering those times again, a huge shock takes over my body.
I don't miss those times anymore. I am grateful that they are gone. Thank you very much Mari, Sunny, Hero, Kel, Aubrey and Basil. Thanks for everything.
How cute.
"(Y/n)... Do you want to take some pictures together?"
"Sure!"
? ﾝﾕﾸ? ﾝﾕﾽ?