THE ZOO [FF NCT AESPA]
Part 5's

The atmosphere of the band club room a year ago is very different from now. Although the room is minimal with sunlight, a warm and peaceful atmosphere can be felt in it. Last summer was the last season of the band members joking with laughter on the soft sofa neatly arranged in front of the band's instruments.

Inside the room was Taeyoung as a 2nd grader. At that time, he was the head of the band club and was a member of the school band that held guitar musical instruments. Taeyoung's previous club chairmanship belonged to Taeil, a 3rd year student in Chemical Engineering. Without the status of club chairman, Taeil is now a member of the band that holds the position of school band vocalist. For the 3rd graders in the school band, Taeil is not alone, there is Sehun from the Social Sciences department on bass, and Kai from the Mechanical Engineering department on guitar. While students in the 2nd grade, there was Kun from the Music department who held positions as a keyboardist, and Hansol from the Mechanical Engineering department who became a drumist.

The six members of the school band were not the only members of the club. The school band club is one of the clubs with a lot of fans. Not infrequently Kun, the secretary of the band club, must set the training time so that the room is not too full of people.

Already since Taeil took over as chairman, the band club has been filled with achievements. That continued until the club chairman moved to Taeyoung. The name of Seo Seoul school band is also talked about from school to school, and not infrequently they receive invitations to fill events held in the inner city. In club activities, the club members not only play the band, but the sunbae who are more skilled at playing musical instruments are also ready to teach hoobae those who want to play one of the band's instruments there.

Taeil still remembers how persistent Taeyoung was when he was in 1st grade, he really wanted to be able to play electric guitar because he thought it was cool. Almost every day Taeyoung asks Taeil to open the band room. Taeil, who was still the band's chairman and guitarist, willingly taught Taeyoung until he was an expert in playing guitar like now.

But all the popularity of the band clubs has had an impact. All members of the band club are too fixated on club activities to cause adverse effects for students. This is a concern for all teachers including Kim Ssaem, the teacher of Music subjects who is also the coach of the band club.

The root of the problem begins today. Today, Taeyoung received a message that the entire core team of the band's club will be meeting with the members of the osis. The members of the osis are expected to bridge the band club with teachers and other school officials. Therefore, Taeyoung could not hope that the members of the osis were on his side.

KRIEEEKKC….

Taeyoung opened the meeting room door slowly. He could already see the face of the head of the sausage sitting at the end of the large table. At that time the position of chairman of the isos was owned by Wendy, a 3rd-grade student from the Social Sciences department. Taeyoung steps up followed by Taeil, Kai, Sehun, Kun and Hansol.

Another smiling member of the sausage greeted the six of them. He is Lucas, vice-chairman of osis who is a 3rd grade student from Mechanical Engineering. Lucas opened his palm pointing at the chair before him.

“Annyeong! Please sit,”

Taeyoung can see Doyoung, a 2nd grader, sitting next to Lucas while opening his laptop. All 2nd graders certainly know Doyoung, he is the student who is ranked first for all majors. In addition, Doyoung who is a member of the broadcasting club also often conduct radio interviews and for school magazines with the band club as the source.

“Annyeong,” Wendy smiled kindly, unlike Taeyoung's shadow.

“Annyeong, Wendy ah,” Sehun greeted his classmate back while brandishing his palm.

Wendy stared briefly at the notebook that opened before her. “Well... You already know why this meeting happened, ‘kan?”

“I know,” chirped Sehun again, raised his head from Kai's side in front of him so that he more clearly looked at Wendy who was sitting in the middle. “because we've had a warning from Kim ssaem before, so we already know. You're gonna scold us for school grades, ‘kan?” Guess Sehun.

Wendy sighed softly, “already know apparently, but we don't want to scold you guys,” he said ended with a laugh.

“Kim ssaem talks what to you?” Asked Lucas who chose to sit back by leaning on his chair.

“Says our values are all down,”

“Aniyo, hyung,” sambar Kun after Sehun answered as they were. Kun confirmed his sitting position to be perfectly upright. “Kim ssaem did say our grades were all down, but not just us, but all band members from grades 1 to 3. But, I don't think it's possible just because they follow the band club, sunbaenim. Connecting the value that goes down with club activities? I don't think it has anything to do,” explained Kun to Lucas who was quick to listen.

Wendy nodded slowly listening. “But, the teachers feel all that has to do, Kun ah,” Wendy voiced calmly. “Three months since the new school year, you entered the inter-school band competition and came out as the second champion, he said, you were covered by a local newspaper that even deliberately visited the school just to do an interview with the six of you. Since then your club members have grown, right?”

“Ya it ‘kan not our fault too,” muttered Kai who sat the furthest away. Kai's reaction gets a slow pinch from Taeil sitting next to him. He hoped that Kai's murmur would not be heard until Wendy.

“Ani, sunbaenim,” Kun tried to talk again, “we did not invite anyone into the club, so..”.

Taeyoung held Kun's thigh slowly as if asking Kun to ease his emotions.

“Mianhaeyo,” says Kun is calm. Hansol who sat to Kun's left also patted Kun's thigh softly.

“Gwaenchana,” Lucas said casually again trying to ease the atmosphere. “I see you mean,” nod Lucas. He then exchanged looks at Wendy to change his speech. “the reason so many students enter the band club, of course because they are very interested in playing a band or learning musical instruments. I understand that one of your agenda is to train students who want to be proficient in playing musical instruments, ‘kan? It was a good opportunity for students who are not from the department of Music,” said Lucas, making Taeyoung reflect on himself who was not able to make music, but thanks to Taeil, he said, Taeyoung can play guitar and even win a band race.

“But.” Now Lucas chose to sit up straight and look one by one at the eyes of the band members who began to fall into the rules of the school. “but how do you want to manage all your members? What Wendy said was true, the teachers were already watching the students who got the grades that dropped in the semester exam this time around. Isn't it a coincidence that all the students are members of the band club?” obviously Lucas, the more cornered the members of the band club.

“Lucas,” Wendy raised her palm, a sign asking Lucas to stop talking. “begini, the band's club activities are on Thursday. However, almost every day we see you guys having activities inside the band club after school,”

Taeyoung became quiet. He who was sitting right next to Wendy agreed to her statement. Almost every day there are club members coming. Whether to play, gather, or learn a musical instrument. Not infrequently they make the room as a place to ditch the evening class hours for 3rd graders.

“Maybe for you guys, being in that room every day doesn't matter. But your other members made the band club an escape. Escape from school hours, as well as escape from majors they do not like,” continued Wendy. “make new rules for them. If necessary, open the room only when it will be used to practice,” suggested Wendy. “I also do not like to see the teacher watching your activities,”

“Ne, sunbaenim,” replied Taeyoung agreed.

“Kudengar Seulgi also joined the band club,”

“Lucas,” interrupted Wendy on Lucas who mentioned the name of classmate Taeil from the department of Chemical Engineering. Wendy shook her head slowly at Lucas while raising her eyes.

“Soulgi?” Taeil tilted his head to make sure Lucas mentioned the name of someone he knew.

Lucas looked at Wendy while crossing his arms. “I don't think there's any harm they know, so if Seulgi comes out of the club, they know the reason,” explains Lucas, making Wendy relented and lowering her eyebrows. “The future of Seulgi is already determined by his parents. He will choose to study abroad after graduating from High School. Seulgi is a very smart student. Right ‘kan, Taeil?”

“Mmm,” nods Taeil remembering the face of Seulgi, the class leader in his class.

“The choice of majors at this school was determined by Seulgi's parents. They do not know that Seulgi actually wants to enter the Music department. I don't know, maybe his parents would have banned him. What is clear, since he rose to 3rd grade, Seulgi increasingly hobby playing piano, therefore he entered into a band club, again without the knowledge of his parents. And.. well... as you guessed,”.

“Value Seulgi down?” Guess Taeil's on target. “But even though the value is down, he still gets a rank of 1.” he said in wonder.

“Ji..jinjjayo?” Taeil who had never heard this news before stuttered in shock.

Lucas nodded confidently. “Kim ssaem has been able to explain well. I know it's all Seulgi's own fault, his mother is just being emotional because her son's grades are down, Seulgi ‘kan is preparing for the acceptance exam of new students abroad” explained Lucas tried to not side with anyone.

“What does Seulgi do often come to the club room?” Ask Wendy.

“Yes. He visits more than me, ” replied Taeil pointing at him.

“Mwoya..” this time Kai raised his voice. “So all this is our fault?” His protest by hitting the table slowly so that all members of the sausage look at him. “their values go down, our fault, Seulgi failed the test, our fault, what are you guys doing?” Kai sounded emotional.

“Hya hya..ck,” Taeil looks emotions at Kai who can't keep his words. “relax..”.

“Hya, right said Kai,” Sehun pulled Taeil's shoulder facing toward Kai. Taeil looked at his right side. Sehun also looks emotional. “aigoo.” dramatically, Sehun massaged his nape. “after hearing all the stories from you, you are indeed cornering us. Yes ‘kan?” Sehun laughed a little while saying his last sentence. “what's wrong with our club activities? We just play music. No more than that. Then about our room that is always open, yes, all the club rooms are also always open, so what's the difference?”

“Sehun ah,” Wendy stands with both hands resting on the end of the table as if streaming all her emotions on the inanimate object. “,” Wendy's friendly face turns flat as if she's talking to her close friend. “Doyoung ah, read it,” pinta Wendy.

“N..ne,” Doyoung was a little surprised to hear his name called. From earlier his heart was racing to hear the 3rd grader who spoke in a high tone. Doyoung moves his fingers quickly on the laptop.

“Taeyoung dropped from 98th to 110th, Hansol dropped from 88th to 92nd, with historical and mathematical values dropping from B to D. Kun remains at number 3, but Kun has been disqualified from a scrupulous Olympic candidate due to a drop in math scores,” Doyoung brings his face closer to the laptop screen, he read a note that Wendy gave.

The three 2nd graders just sighed, they were not surprised because the results of the semester exam scores had already been announced a few weeks ago. Kun also knew that he did not represent the school for a smart race that requires 4 people as members.

“For sunbaenim..” Doyoung moves the ball on his mouse.

Sehun brought his body closer to Hansol who was sitting on his right. He whispered, “I've been used to getting bad grades, haha,”

“Kai sunbaenim, down from rank 55 to 67, Sehun sunbaenim down from rank 120 to 135, Sehun sunbaenim so is ranked 5th from the bottom, Sehun sunbaenim down from the top,” said Doyoung while somewhat slowing down his voice when mentioning Sehun rank.

“..kan.” whispered Sehun again to Hansol.

“Dan Taeil sunbaenim, down from rank 5 to rank 7.”

Wendy who was still standing then sighed heavily while lowering her face as if in disbelief the entire band members had decreased in value.

“W..Wendy ah...” Call Sehun staring at Wendy with Wendy's hair still covering her face. “w..wae? You're creepy.”

“Hya,” Wendy raised her face again staring at Sehun. Makes Taeyoung sitting next to him a little scared. “hhh…. Aren't you going to college?! You said you wanted to work and wear a suit,”

“M..mwoya..” muttered Sehun, a little embarrassed to hear Wendy say the thing Sehun had told her. “a. I'm a great bassist, you know? B...Our band also often scent the name of the school, ‘kan? We have many trophies!”

“Ne sunbaenim,” Taeyoung tried to raise his voice. “our club activities are not just to gather together. But sunbaenim must remember also that we often take part in various competitions on behalf of the school. Our achievements are many, you can not disband our club,” Taeyoung protested while raising his head to face Wendy who is still standing.

“If the achievement..” Doyoung also answered while still staring at his laptop. “most achievements obtained from basketball and robotic clubs,” said Doyoung who spoke based on the fact the data collected by the osis. “club led by Johnny from Social Sciences and Baekhyun from Computer Engineering,”

Wendy sat back down. “The band club will not be closed,” Wendy softly looked at Taeyoung. “but I hope you can increase your value again. Especially for students of class 3,” Wendy's gaze is now fixed on Sehun, Taeil, and Kai who sit parallel. “and also for Kun,”

“Ne sunbaenim,” Kun whose name is called, react.

“I know next year you've moved schools and returned to China, but I hope you pass 2nd grade with good grades. The school has been very regretful when you do not qualify to be a member of the intelligent race carefully,” Wendy like channeling the feelings of the school on Kun, Kun, grade 2 students of Chinese-Korean descent are highly skilled in academics and music.

“Alright!”

BRACKET!

“Aglow!” Lucas exclaimed at Taeil who hit the table with passion.

“Hehe, mian,” Taeil showing off his row of teeth. Then he stood up. “We will make new rules, no problem. Bad boys can also we remove from the club,”

“Hyung..” Taeyoung speaks slowly.

“Then we,” Taeil stared at all the members of the band one by one. “we just need to raise our value again ‘right?”

“Ha?!” Kai and Sehun exclaimed simultaneously. While the other members looked at Taeil with shocked faces.

“Mmm!” Wendy nodded towards Taeil. Wendy agreed with his idea.

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