THE ZOO [FF NCT AESPA]
The Part 14

Hendery smiled widely welcoming someone who came with Yangyang.

“Hyung, don't be too hopeful,” whispered to Hendery who didn't stop staring at Giselle who was standing shaking hands with her. Yangyang then hit Hendery's hand so that he released his hands with Giselle.

“Hehehe,” Giselle laughs awkwardly.

“If you are a member of cheers.. means.. its member Joy, yes?” Guess Hendery with the answer she already knew.

“Ne, sunbae,” replied Giselle who was staring at Hendery who was sitting behind the drum instrument.

“Ah, relax. You ‘kan friend Yangyang,” said Hendery sok familiar.

“..Ne.., op.pa,” Giselle corrected her words.

“Hyung, you look too happy.” comments Yangyang voiced softly. “dia did not join the band club, she only ‘help’ us,”

“Yes yes, I know. You're so fierce..” God Hendery to Yangyang.

A reintroduction between Hendery and Giselle leads them to a routine rehearsal performed to perform on the school stage.

Voluntarily, Giselle helped the band club to become vocalists in their performances, Yangyang took over the keyboard position, and Hendery returned to his drum position. They practice almost every day. Sometimes, Hendery and Yangyang bring their friends over to see them practice.

Today the guests present saw their training agenda were Karina and Jeno. Ever since Giselle took a break from her club activities, she has rarely met Karina. But this afternoon, Karina, who still regularly replies to Giselle, is curious about Giselle's new activities and plans to visit her in the band's club room.

Karina and Jeno sit on the couch and prepare to listen to the band and Giselle's club play. The sound of a long-inaudible drum beat began to be played by Hendery who looked very happy.

Yangyang also nimbly moved his fingers to and fro. Karina clapped a small hand following the tune of the song. Giselle was also seen singing so cheerfully. Giselle let out a happy smile that Karina had never seen before.

“Yeeeeeyyy!” Karina clapped her hands as their first song finished playing.

“Mian mian, it was wrong yes,” said Hendery who made a mistake in his drum game.

“Gwaenchana hyung, we can try once again,” Yangyang turned back facing Hendery.

“Yangyang ah, I feel his tone is too high..” said Giselle while holding her neck.

“Oh yes? Mian,” Yangyang is trying to find the right tone for Giselle.

“Anu...” Jeno suddenly stood up and voiced slowly. “a...can I play?”

“Ha?!” Karina sounded shocked to see Jeno meddling in the activities of the band club.

“Guitar?” Ask Hendery. “Of course,”

greeted him.

“Mwoya, I didn't know you could play guitar, ” Karina covered her mouth when she saw Jeno was already moving and sheathed a guitar strap on her body.

Jeno fiddles with the sound system until the sound of guitar passages can be heard. They also exchanged looks. Once again Hendery began his drumming, followed by keyboard and guitar sounds. Giselle sang the song again. The song sounded more perfect after Yangyang adjusted his tone to Giselle's voice, and with the help of Jeno who took over the position of guitarist.

The listener of the band club game is not only Karina. Johnny, who was on the floor of the school club room, listened, without the knowledge of the club room occupants, he opened the club room a little door. Johnny looked at Jeno who was trying to become the band's club guitarist. Just like the members of the band club who were playing their respective musical instruments, Jeno was seen smiling widely and occasionally humming along following Giselle's singing.

“Woooh! Yeeeyyyy!” Karina clapped her hands once more.

“Wooww!!” Johnny opened the door and clapped.

“Johnny sunbae?!” Hendery shouts behind his drum set.

Johnny smiled as he waved his hands greeting them all. “New formation?”

“Hehe, we will be performing at the school event, sunbae!” replied Hendery who was a little yelling because the distance of the drum and the door of the room was quite far. “I, Yangyang and Giselle,” Hendery appoint the band players with his drum sticks.

“You?” Johnny pointed at Jeno by raising his chin.

“Oh, aniyeyo, hyung, I just want to try it,” Jeno replied. “I've never played guitar along with other musical instruments,”

“Taeyoung how?” Johnny looked at Hendery again. “You didn't take her?”

“Hhh... Does Taeyoung hyung want to?” Hendery again threw the question after a heavy sigh he let out.

“Come,” Johnny shrugged both shoulders. “but this ‘kan is not the first time you have invited him back to play guitar,” Johnny smiled as he folded his arms in front of the chest. He slightly imagined the figure of Hendery a year ago. “You've never seen him again. Have you given up?”

Hendery simply replied with a stupid smile. It's always been like that. He was always trying to convince everyone that he was okay. It felt like he replied to Johnny with a shout that he was tired of Taeyoung. For a long time he invited Taeyoung to return to the band club, but Taeyoung still ignored him. Hendery believes Taeyoung still likes the band club and wants to continue playing guitar. But Hendery doesn't understand what makes him so hateful to Hendery that Taeyoung continues to ignore him.

Hearing Johnny's words made Hendery remind himself a year ago. After school conditions return to normal, teachers and students move as usual. Even Hansol's photo has been taken off the school wall magazine. Hendery saw clearly the photo was on the table of his broadcasting club, the new club Hendery followed with Doyoung's forced invitation.

“This...” Hendery raised a photo of Hansol in print is quite large, the photo was lying with flowers and other mading decorations that expressed condolences to Hansol's death.

“We are cleaning the mading,” Winwin, one of the broadcasting club members, replied by turning back Hendery, Winwin is reading one by one the news content just taken from the mading, “theme next month is… oh!” Winwin was shocked when he turned around and there was Hendery there. “Hendery ah, make a surprise, I thought the media team,” Winwin held his chest.

“This...” Hendery flips a photo Hansol made the photo stare at Winwin. “want you to waste?”

“Mian,”

“Hendery ah,” Jungwoo who is also a member of the broadcasting club, came from behind Hendery. He patted Hendery's shoulder slowly.

“You how many times the media team changed the mading, the school will still continue to remember Hansol hyung,” Jungwoo tried to comfort Hendery who was still sculpting with a blank view.

“O. Right,” Winwin agreed Jungwoo's words.

“Our computer is not in use. You want to borrow, ‘kan?” Guess Jungwoo who has memorized Hendery's activities in the broadcasting club.

Hendery is not a full member of the broadcasting club, Doyoung brought Hendery into the club so that he can get the value of club liveliness that must be owned by all students. Doyoung knew that Hendery had no interest in broadcasting or media. Doyoung, the head of the broadcasting club, let Hendery do anything inside the club as long as it does not interfere with the club's activities. Likewise with Hendery's friends in the club, all have understood Hendery and consider Hendery as one of its members.

Three months after Hansol's departure and what happened to the band club, Hendery decided to consult with the osus regarding the reopening of the band's club. Hendery kept asking Doyoung what to do. Doyoung helps Hendery with instructions from Wendy, the head of the osis. Not infrequently Hendery and Kun come to meet Wendy to invite her to discuss together.

At that time Doyoung managed to bring Taeil, his senior from the Department of Chemical Engineering, in front of Hendery and Kun. The college entrance exam that will be taken by 3rd grade students is getting closer. Grade 3 students are now increasingly rarely seen on the field to play ball or spend time in the school cafeteria.

Taeil handed out juice cans to Doyoung, Kun and Hendery. “I've heard from Doyoung,” Taeil opened the conversation.

“Didn't Kun want to move? Two more months, ‘kan?”

“Three more months, hyung,” replied Kun. “After the class increase, my parents are still taking care of the files here, after that, we officially return to China,” Kun explained. Two more months is indeed the time for all students at Seo Seoul school to go to class and enjoy a vacation of class for one month. “in the meantime, I will help Hendery,”, returning the topic of his main goal to meet Taeil.

“Oh..” nod Taeil. “Well, Hendery, what can I help you with?”

“This.” Hendery thrust a blank transfer paper on Taeil. “please fill in, sunbae, this is one of the files needed for my proposal,”

Taeil tilted his head while raising the paper. “What is this?” The question that does not understand even though it has read the brief statements in the questionnaire.

“That's a questionnaire that the band members, sunbae,” Doyoung helped Hendery explain. “All band members who want to open a band club back, must fill in the reasons why the school should open this club. As well as the signature of the author as well,”

“But I ‘kan not join the club anymore, I have 2nd semester,” Taeil put the paper on the table and looked at Doyoung full of question marks.

“True hyung, even so, this question needs to be filled by club members from class 1 to 3 who agreed to the club opening,” Kun responded. “Our members ‘there are 12, me, Hendery, then 3 1st grade children have filled out this approval questionnaire,”

“Three kids? Anyone?”

“Jungwoo, Joy, Jaehyun,” Hendery answered Taeil's question by taking out one-to-one fingers.

“Are the three of them going back to the music club?”

“I don't know, sunbae, for sure they have all agreed regarding the reopening of the band club. Hehehe,” Hendery grimaces pleased.

Taeil smiled at Hendery. He began writing his name on the piece of paper and thought of the exact reason why the school should reopen the band club. “So... do you hope the school can reopen this club within two months?”

“Ne,” Hendery and Kun answered almost simultaneously.

“After that, me and the new band club members will train for the new student reception event later in April,” Hendery mentioned his plans.

“Mm,” Kun nods. “I will also train new club members. School club selection day must be crowded, you will also perform a talent show, ‘kan?”

“O. Must it!” Hendery applauded, the more enthusiastic he imagined himself performing at the new student reception. “later I will perform like hyung-hyung first on club selection day!” Exclaimed Hendery who still remembers himself seeing the band's club performance at the reception of new students.

“Ahaha.” Taeil laughed as he put his signature on the questionnaire. “Nih,” he thrust a questionnaire that was full of Taeil's writing. “Hopefully succeed,”

Hendery can still imagine his pleasure when he managed to meet one by one band club members and ask them to fill out the questionnaire from the osis. He was lucky that Kun was always with him.

Kun, who is good at negotiating and has good communication skills, managed to explain and make band club members willing to fill out the question no matter whether they will join the band club again or not.

“Hhh... less one,” murmured Kun stared at the sheet of paper that was in Hendery's arms.

Aided by Taeyoung's friends Johnny and Yuta, Kun explains his mission of reopening the band's club. Taeyoung doesn't want to talk about the club at all. That made it difficult for Kun to ask Taeyoung to fill out the questionnaire. Kun only meets Taeyoung at a meeting with the literature club, while Hendery stubbornly meets Taeyoung every day, every second hour of rest.

Hendery was used to being ignored by Taeyoung. At first, Johnny and Yuta help Taeyoung ask Hendery not to see him again. But over time, the two friends Taeyoung let Hendery and even more familiar with him. The same thing Hendery asked for; namely filling out the questionnaire and returning to the band club. Already every activity Hendery broadcasting club spent to borrow the club's computer to improve the contents of his proposal. If Taeyoung were to fill the questionnaire soon, Hendery felt that everything was perfect, just give the proposal to the teacher concerned and give a short presentation accompanied by Wendy and Lucas.

That day the tired Hendery sounded annoyed and angry so much that he shouted in the hallway of the 2nd class of Social Sciences. “Aaaa!!! Hyung!!” All eyes were staring at the 1st grader who was standing in the crowded hallway. Hendery stared at Taeyoung's back who had just walked past him.

“Aglow!” Yuta Seru. He also turned his body. “Hya!!” Yuta shouted back at Hendery who was standing far away from him.

“Yuta hya,” Johnny called Yuta name slowly and asked him not to interfere with Taeyoung and Hendery's problems.

“Sst,” Johnny shook his head looking at Yuta who was standing next to Taeyoung.

Taeyoung flipped over, walking quickly to Hendery.

“Hyung, i.”

“Hya,” Taeyoung pushing Hendery's body. Making every student in the hallway and Taeyoung class makes Taeyoung and Hendery the center of attention. “mwoya neo?!”

“Taeyoung ah, Taeyoung ah,” Johnny and Yuta held onto both of Taeyoung's arms as he walked steadily closer to Hendery who was pushed back.

“Hyung..” said Hendery slowly, he walked backwards with his legs still limp because this was the first time he saw Taeyoung with a face full of emotion.

Taeyoung grabbed the paper from Hendery's hand. He lifted the paper and tore it. Right in front of Hendery. Taeyoung tore the paper into pieces. “Satisfied?” Taeyoung said briefly. “Go you,”

...****************...