THE ZOO [FF NCT AESPA]
The Part 19

Johnny stretches while walking down the school field with his two best friends. “Uurgh!” Johnny opened his arms wide, which sounded like broken joints. “Capekanya..”

“Hmm.” Yuta yawns wide like a lion. “awhile we will enter semester 2, it is certain that the class is completed even more nights,”

Taeyoung glanced at the watch in his hand. Time has shown at half-seven p.m. The three of them walked limp after finishing taking an extra class at his school. Their footsteps were shaken as if there was a large stone tied around the ankles of the three 3rd graders.

“In the meantime I have to live without a karate club..” Yuta is wasting his breath sadly. “bored once.”

“Oh, I guess you don't like the club,” said Johnny at will. “you ‘kan often truant,”

“Hya who said!” Yuta tried to clarify, “ is currently as sunbae, I just help them practice and give an example of sparing only. Our focus is on the hoobae, so I have a lot of free time,”

“Iya, yes.” Johnny accepted Yuta. “hya's explanation, but eventually Taeyoung immediately got out of the boring club,” Johnny said with a laugh.

“Aniyaa, do not talk like that, literature club is not boring!” Taeyoung.

“O? You start enjoying it?” Yuta teases Taeyoung.

“Mm.. after I follow, I think the literature club is not bad,” praise Taeyoung again. “I can know a good literary work, and can hear the poems made by the literary club,”

“Mwoya, are you good at poetry now?”

“Stupid,” Taeyoung encourages Yuta who embraces his shoulder. “aku still can't, the word selection used is too difficult,”

“Wooo, romantic man.” tease Yuta again who is greeted with another push by Taeyoung.

“Mmm... Maybe the club is of some use too, you become poetic,”

“Hyaa,” now Taeyoung encourages Johnny who teases her. “you're silent,”

“Hahaha. Joking...” Johnny now embraces Taeyoung's shoulders. “I mean, you can use that science to write song lyrics, how?”

Taeyoung fell silent at Johnny's suggestion. Taeyoung had thought about that before. During his time in the literature club, he was surrounded by students with skills of poetry and knowledge of various good diction. Taeyoung learned a lot from the club. Although he has never produced any work at all, he has learned so much from the club that housed him after he quit the band club.

“Oh, Taeyoung ah, look at this,” Yuta suddenly ran after unplugging a poster stuck on a notice board in the park.

“Hya, why did you just want to pull out that paper?!” Johnny exclaimed with a gesture like he was going to kick him.

Taeyoung then grabbed the colorful poster paper. He read every single article there. It was an announcement about the inter-School band competition to be held in Seoul with about 3 weeks left. Taeyoung read every piece of writing there carefully. Registration is two days away.

“Give this to Hendery,” Taeyoung reached out her hand that was carrying the poster.

Johnny and Yuta exchanged looks and answered compactly. “No want,”

“Hya.” Taeyoung sounded annoyed at the two friends who rejected his request.

“Give yourself. Why should we?”

“True,” nods Johnny approves Yuta's rejection. “give yourself to Hendery. Invite him to join this race,” Johnny pointed at the paper in the hands of Taeyoung. “ I heard you guys are better,”

“Ck, yasudah,” with annoyance, Taeyoung saved the poster into her bag.

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

“Eh?” Jungwoo pointed at himself. He is standing in front of his class with Jaehyun embracing Jungwoo's shoulder to read the poster Jungwoo is holding after Taeyoung handed him the poster.

“A..I found it,” Taeyoung scratched his nape. He who is still stubbornly unwilling to give the poster to Hendery, he instead gave the poster to one of the broadcasting members who are quite close to him. “temp this poster on mading,”

“Waeyo? Shouldn't hyung hand over this poster to the band club directly?” Jaehyun asked curiously at Taeyoung's orders.

“H..hya, this is so that many students who see, not only the band club,” replied Taeyoung who can rotate his brain quickly. “other students who read this poster ‘kan can come as a supporter,” he continued reasoned.

“Ooh.” Jaehyun and Jungwoo nodded simultaneously.

“Mading near the entrance?” Jungwoo tilted his head, imagining the location of the ivory scattered throughout the school. He then looked at Jaehyun for recommendations.

“After the school there is also mading, which is near the sports hall,” said Jaehyun came to think.

“Hya hya, just put it in the canteen mading,” proposal Taeyoung who has planned the poster. “there most crowded,”

“Oh but there is already an announcement..”.

“Peach in mading canteen!” Taeyoung raised his voice. Making Jungwoo's friends who were passing silent.

“Hyung..”.

“Mian,” said Taeyong felt guilty at Jungwoo who gasped in shock.

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

True to Taeyoung's guess, the poster will be more visible if it is taped to the mading near the canteen, because many students will pass through the mading. Jungwoo willingly took off some mading decorations so that the poster would fit there. By interrupting some of the hordes standing in front of the mading, Jeno managed to photograph the poster and send it to a chat group consisting of core members of the band club.

“Mwoya, tomorrow is the end of registration?” A chat from Giselle appeared, initiating a conversation that discussed the poster.

“Wah, SMA band group competition? Looks exciting!” Type Yangyang ended with a passionate sticker.

“Oppa, are we coming?”

“Other members can also come, ‘kan?” Chat Yangyang appears quickly. “if many participants from this school come, the chances of winning will be even higher! Haha,”

“Good idea! Total band group in our club ‘kan there are 4,” Giselle join chiming with ending with a laughing rabbit sticker.

“Hyung, how?” Ask Jeno.

The conversation led Hendery to invite Yangyang, Giselle and Jeno to gather in the band's club room. Hendery had already sent the poster to the band's chat club and asked for their participation in the race.

“Many are not ready.” Giselle sighed reading the chat in their group that is still moving up.

“Training for 3 weeks is not easy,” Hendery read again poster Jeno shots. He read one by one the requirements that must be done to be a participant of the race.

“It looks like no one is willing, hyung,” guess Yangyang after reading the chat of the band members who are pessimistic about the race.

“Yes already, then, just let's go,” Hendery hurt his HP and clapped one time, a sign of encouragement.

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

Taeyoung is seen walking alone while looking cautious. He continued to look to the right and left as if hoping that no one would notice his figure there. Taeyoung's footsteps are getting closer to the school's mading. The mading near the canteen seemed quiet as the school's 1st and 2nd grade hours had rung. Taeyoung scrunched his forehead and walked closer to the mading.

“Mwoya?! Where's the poster?!” Taeyoung is confused. He pasted his hand all over the surface of the mading. “I'm sure last afternoon Jungwoo had pasted this poster..”

Taeyoung then ran quickly towards the building which was quite far from its present location. It was the building that used to house the entire school club room. He ran faster towards the third floor and approached the room at the very end.

DRAP DRAP DRAP

GREEKK!

“Oh!”Johnny who was standing behind the door turned his head in shock to look at his friend who opened the door of the band club room abruptly.

“We were just talking about you,” said Yuta who was also in the room.

“Hya, you two hh..hh...” Taeyoung entered the room that was already full of band members Hendery and his two friends. His breathing is still irregular after running far enough.

“You looking for this?” Johnny held up the poster Taeyoung was looking for in the mading.

“Hya! Hhh...hh... Why did you take it?!”

“I'm supposed to ask why this poster is there,” Johnny looked confusedly at Taeyoung who was wiping his sweat. “do you want to give this pad…..Aw!!”

Taeyoung manages to step on Johnny's feet without Hendery's knowledge and all of his underclassmen.

“Hya,” Taeyoung snatched the poster out of Johnny's hands. He then nudged the bodies of Johnny and Yuta in order to face Hendery directly. “you will come with this?” Taeyoung asked as she presented the poster to Hendery.

“Eh? Mm, ne, we will come,” replied Hendery while pointing members. “our other members are still not ready,”

“Oh, good then,” Taeyoung lowered her hand, she was relieved that Hendery had seen the band's race poster. “release immediately, this is no number..”

“Yong ah,” Yuta interrupts Taeyoung's orders which he addresses to his underclassmen. Taeyoung was silent and looked at Yuta. “how about you coming?”

“Mwo?” Taeyoung scrunched his forehead.

“Iya,” Johnny's large height was embracing Taeyoung's shoulder. “tadi before you came here, we had a suggestion to invite them to play as a member of the band,”

“Hya release,” pinta Taeyoung who can not withstand the weight of Johnny's big arm.

“Come on, I haven't seen you play guitar in a long time,” Johnny still whines at Taeyoung.

Seeing Johnny's mischievous behavior, Yuta followed. “Please Yong ah.”

Yangyang, Giselle and Jeno held back his smile seeing Johnny and Yuta's behavior towards Taeyoung. They try to hide their teeth that are beginning to be seen.

“Hyung.” Hendery opened his voice.

“Mmm.. Jeno will play bass on the song we will perform. So.. I guess our band will be more complete if there is a guitar game from you,”

“Tuh right!”

“Your voice is too tight,” Taeyoung hits Yuta slowly who suddenly yells beside Taeyoung.

“Ayolah... hyung,” Yangyang begged while rounding his eyes with a hopeful courtship. Hendery slightly nudged Yangyang because he had called Taeyoung with the designation ‘hyung’ without being asked.

“K..Please..op.pa,” Giselle follows Yangyang's movements. He also did not hesitate to call Taeyoung familiar with the designation ‘oppa’.

“Hya. look at them,” Johnny pointed at Giselle and Yangyang who increasingly issued a contrived expression of pity that made Taeyoung hold back his laughter.

“Alright,”

“Ne?!”

“Aaaa! Really, oppa?!”

“Hya Taeyoung ah!!”

The exclaim of excitement sounded loud and compact. They all did not believe that Taeyoung would help the band club to enter the race held in less than a month.

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

“Hyung,” call Ten, the member of the sausage, on Doyoung who is entering the sausage room.

“Hmm?”

Ten gives Doyoung a piece of paper. “What is this? Is there a meeting? I have night class,”

“Aniyeyo, hyung,” Ten smiled as he shook his head. “It's from band club,”

“Mwo?!”

Ten, who knew that Doyoung had always been interested in the development of the band club, let Doyoung quickly pull the paper out of Ten's hands. Doyoung also read it. It was a license filed by band member Hendery on the grounds of attending the band race. They are allowed to not be able to participate in learning activities on that Friday.

“Hyung, read again his name,” pinta Ten, provoke curiosity Doyoung.

“Hmm? Wae?” Doyoung also reread the name of the student who applied for permission on Friday in 3 weeks. “Hendery, Yangyang, Giselle, Jeno,….. Taeyoung?!” yells. “There's Taeyoung?!”

“Ne hyung, I was also shocked, hehe,”

“Mwoya? He's back at the band club?”

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

Yangyang, Giselle and Jeno automatically opened their mouths and pecked. They stood before Taeyoung who was playing his melody guitar. Taeyoung's fast-moving fingers amazed the three band members.

“Wuaah..”

The three of them clapped their hands.

“Tool once.” Jeno shook her head at Taeyoung's guitar playing that she had never seen before.

“Ey, never mind, you make me shy,” Taeyoung said while hiding her smile on her head. “quickly return to position,” Taeyoung pinta on her three hoobas.

After deciding on the two songs they will perform at the race. They also regularly practice hampipr every day. On Thursday, they let the practice room be fully worn by the new members. But other than that day, Taeyoung even took the time to train for an hour at the last lesson before he took additional lessons.

Taeyoung also trained Jeno several times, which is growing in his bass game. He also advises Giselle on food choices that will help maintain Giselle's sound quality. Hendery's feelings grew even more joyful at Taeyoung's activeness in his band club. Until now Taeyoung has not registered as a member of the band, but his presence back in the band is enough to make Hendery happy.

“Ssaem!” Giselle's voice made the rest of the band speechless and set their eyes on the door of the room.

“Annyeooong,” greet Kang ssaem who smiles happily until his small eyes are shaped like a crescent moon. He slightly danced his way up to Giselle.

“Annyeong haseyo,” all Kang ssaem students bow respectfully.

“From now on, I became the band club's founding teacher,” he said.

“Waaa..” Giselle and Yangyang clapped together.

“I will also train your vocal, Giselle ah,”

“Gamsahamnida, saem!” Giselle smiled cheerfully and bowed again.

“Gamsahamnida, ssaem,” Hendery emerged from behind his drum kit. He then stuck his hand out to Kang Ssaem to invite his teacher to shake hands. “I'm the head of the band club, please help him,” he said while smiling at the teacher he often joked with.

“Oh, ne, ne, Hendery ah,” Kang ssaem tightly shook Hendery's hand. “ssaem too, please help. Ahahaha,”

“Oh yes, ssaem,” Hendery then rewinded his steps to point at Jeno with his palm. “This is Jeno, from grade 1, majoring in Computer Engineering,”

“Annyeong haseyo, Jeno imnida,” hello Jeno introduced herself to a teacher she did not know.

“A yes, I still remember you,” Kang ssaem shook Jeno's hand and patted her shoulder. “you brought a lot of fans on the show yesterday, ‘kan?” Tempta Kang ssaem who still remembers the riots caused by Jeno fans at the school anniversary event yesterday.

“If this one is Taeyoung hyung, from class 3 majoring in Social Sciences,” Hendery continues to introduce its members to the teacher in his Music department.

“Annyeong haseyo, Taeyoung imnida,”

Kang Ssaem looked at Taeyoung as if he had known her for a long time. Without saying anything, Kang Ssaem hugged Taeyoung tightly. Kang Ssaem's large body slightly makes Taeyoung crowded. Kang ssaem then patted Taeyoung on the back with a strong enough pat that further tormented Taeyoung.

“Aigoo...my poor student” he said slowly until only able to be braided by Taeyoung.

Kang Ssaem then ended his embrace and looked at Taeyoung again. Judging from his behavior, Taeyoung realizes that Kang Ssaem understands the incident that Taeyoung experienced one year ago. Kang Ssaem still patted Taeyoung's right and left arms as if giving her some spirit.

“Ssaem, Taeyoung hyung is in pain..” said Hendery who read Taeyoung's expression.

“Oh really?” Kang Ssaem's eyes were wide open. “Ahahaha! Mian, mian!”

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

The summer breeze in July accompanied Taeyoung's footsteps by carrying his large backpack to school. The atmosphere today is very different from one year ago. Today is the day Taeyoung takes part in a race held on the outskirts of Seoul. Taeyoung doesn't rent a car like he used to. This time, he did a race according to school procedures; they set off with the teacher on the school mini bus, and before that, they took off with the coach, several teachers and the head of the osis will be present at the school to help release the departure of the band.

Doyoung gave a wave of hands to Taeyoung who had been seen from behind the gate. Taeyoung then ran over to his band members and some teachers who were already present at the school. Taeyoung sees a mini bus that he hasn't been on for a long time. The mini bus looks so clean and leaves many memories for Taeyoung.

Hendery, Yangyang, Giselle, Jeno and Taeyoung lined up neatly staring at some of the Music teacher, Kang Ssaem and Doyoung standing before him. A teacher was giving advice and encouraging the band club. They also pray together.

Band members began to incorporate guitar and bass into school mini buses. Hendery, Yangyang, Giselle and Jeno who had never boarded the bus sounded quite noisy and scrambled for seats.

“Taeyoung ah,” Doyoung clapped his hand on Taeyoung's shoulder who was about to walk towards the bus door.

Taeyoung looked at Doyoung.

“Gomawo,” says Doyoung.

“What?”

“Hendery.” Doyoung points at Hendery with her eyeballs moving. “ia looks thrilled,”

“Haha, ckck.

“I know you still like to play guitar,”

Taeyoung simply replied with a smile and a nod agreeing with Doyoung's words.

“Well, as always,” said Doyoung ended his conversation. “enjoy your game, you don't have to win, just do your best,”

Taeyoung chuckled. “Said Kim ssaem,” his comments on Doyoung's advice by mentioning the band's former club-building teacher.

“Yes. Haha, I imitate it,”

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

“Hya hya! Look on the right!” Excited Kang Ssaem who sat in front side by side with the bus driver.

The nearly two-hour drive took them to the race site on the coast of Daecheon, a west coast in South Korea. All the eyes of the band members were stunned to see a beach that was quite crowded with waves that moved back and forth sweeping the beach.

“Woooaahhhh..” awe sounded from the students who were in the mini bus.

“Wah, it's been a long time since I went to the beach..” Jeno murmured.

“Ssaem, after the race, can we play?” Hendery asked with a loud voice as he sat in the back seat of the bus.

“Ey, andway. The event will be finished until night, you must go home soon,” reject Kang ssaem.

“Yeah ssaem..”

“Then before the race?” Yangyang Proposal. “We will arrive early ssaem..”

“Hya andwae,” this time Giselle who refused. “later make-up you guys fade! In vain will my efforts,”

Kang ssaem laughed at Giselle's rejection followed by the disappointed tone of his friends. “yah, you should not overplay, pity Giselle,”

The race they are participating in will start at 5 p.m. The mini bus is parked on site. Giselle glanced around the parking lot. Many vans and mini buses are neatly located there. Giselle also saw a group of young people passing by carrying guitars.

“Hmm…. Sea smell!” Hendery cried as he closed his eyes for a second after he got off the school mini bus.

“Many participants are also contestants,” comments Giselle who has several times seen the participants of the race who come from other SMA.

“O. Visitors are also many,” said Yangyang who walked beside Giselle, he looked at a row of people who were already crowded on the beach.

“That's because the show is free,” says Jeno with a guitar bag already perched on his back. “people can play on the beach while watching the band show, interesting show.”

Kang Ssaem leads his students to the event committee to get the sequence number to appear. Kang Ssaem also observed the situation around the stage that was already filled with High School students who came along with their teachers. The teachers were calming and gave advice to nervous students.

After getting a sequence number that reads ‘6’ on the sticker he received from the committee, he said, Kang Ssaem is ready to walk back towards his students to hand the number to Giselle to have her put the number on his shirt.

“Wah, Taeyoung ah,” said Kang ssaem to Taeyoung who walked up to Kang ssaem with his hoobas. “I can't imagine how your race used to be,”.

Taeyoung slightly flinched with a clap of Kang ssaem's hand that landed on his left shoulder. “Ne, ssaem?”

“You used to go to the race alone, ‘kan? Without accompanying anyone,” explained Kang Ssaem, discussing the events of Taeyoung band.

Taeyoung recalled that incident for quite a long time. True, he used to leave without anyone's assistance, even they left without using the school bus. “Ah, ne.”

“That's great,” praise Kang ssaem while patting Taeyoung's shoulder again with his strong hand.

Taeyoung then turned to look at his whole hooba who was still busy talking while walking up to him. They were seen laughing and cool themselves with the conversation. Hendery who had been focused on playing on the beach also looked happy while pointing at the beach that stretched wide in front of them.

Taeyoung then brought up his bitter smile while looking down. “Hh.. like this should be the last race I participated in with ‘they’,” he said in his heart, he is quite envious of his current state compared to when he took the race in Paju City one year ago. At that time all members of Taeyoung band trying to follow the race with difficulty and without school support, and bitter again, the race ended miserably.

Time is getting night. Some bands have performed their performances on a magnificent stage filled with colorful lights. Visitors are getting crowded too. Many come to see the band race performances attended by Seoul City High School students, or come just to enjoy the beach at night.

“Well, here,” Taeyoung leads his members to gather.

Hendery, Yangyang, Giselle and Jeno who had never played the band in front of so many people today were so nervous that they did not realize that the band with the number five sequence was almost done singing the song.

Taeyoung invited all his members to stand in a circle.

“Haha, wae?” Taeyoung laughs seductively at his hooba who puts on a funny nervous face. “gwaenchana, take a breath....” set it.

“Oppa.” Giselle lowered the tip of her lips as if asking for help.

Taeyoung then widened his right and left arms to embrace the shoulders of Hendery and Jeno who were standing next to him. “Gwaenchana, today will be fun. Like when you were performing at the school event yesterday,” continued Taeyoung calming. “Not to be burdened to win, just enjoy your game, ok? Do your best,” said Taeyoung using the words of Kim Ssaem who is still imprinted in his memory every time he will follow the race together with his band members.

“Well, kids,” Kang ssaem appeared after a committee spoke to him. “ayo up, it's your turn,”

Taeyoung's entire underclassmen who were making a circle to pray together looked startled.they set their breath and Jeno prepared her hands to dry from the cold sweat that usually appeared when she was nervous.

“Do your best! Hwaiting!” Kang Ssaem exclaimed at all his guidance disciples.

“Woaaahhhhh..”.

All members of Hendery's band could hear the sound of the audience's welcome and applause shortly after they took to the stage. They did not think that a band event intended for the public would attract so many people.

The six band members then bowed in greeting. The smiling one realized that there were some followers of his Instagram present among the audience tonight. They are heard shouting the names of Yangyang, Giselle, Jeno and even Hendery who are increasingly famous thanks to Yangyang live activities through his Instagram account.

“Annyeong haseyo, we are from Seo Seoul High School,” greet Giselle. He then smiled a shy smile as the audience cheered him cheerfully while clapping. Giselle then raised her hand to form the number 3-2-1.

The music was started by Taeyoung's guitar playing and the keyboard from Yangyang. This time they performed a song with the K-rock genre titled ‘Stand up’ by J-min Feat. T-rax. Giselle tried to sing by watching the entire audience enjoying her performance. The three judges who sat in front of him, were seen nodding nodding to follow the strains of the song which is a song of encouragement in living life and achieving dreams. Giselle was quite surprised because the high tone she took could be chanted easily. Kang Ssaem plays a big role in training Giselle's voice, Kang ssaem smiles in relief and claps loudly as Giselle is able to chant the high notes she's been waiting for.

“Wooooohhhh..”.

The audience cheered them on and applauded when the song finished. The entire band members smiled and saluted the judges and the audience

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