Chapter 40:The Safari Date

“Let’s go eat now.”

“……I’m hungry.”

Regrettably, they had no choice but to go to the restaurant pre-selected by the production team. Fortunately, however, the food was quite good.

Lee Dohwa, who had been utterly drained from the immense activity on an empty stomach since morning, finally revived.

“You said you were hungry. You should eat more.”

“I’ve eaten plenty.”

Despite their ambitious orders, about a third of each dish remained, maintaining the status quo.

After bickering with Ma Won-ho and consuming a few more spoonfuls, Lee Dohwa’s stomach felt completely full. He yawned softly, thinking it would be perfect to go home right then.

However, a zoo was already scheduled as their next destination.

Thus, with the now-familiar staff, they moved en masse, like a great migration, passing by all the other amusement rides.

“The haunted house…”

“I want to go home.”

“Let’s go next time, if we ever come again.”

Ma Won-ho attempted to stray off course midway, almost leading them home.

Yet, sensing the sincerity in Lee Dohwa’s voice, he watched Ma Won-ho try to mollify him with a voice full of laughter, shaking his head dismissively.

‘I’m never coming back here.’

How long had they walked? The distant sign became increasingly clear.

“Please wait a moment.”

Following the production team’s instructions, they passed through the entrance and stepped into a different world entirely—not an amusement park.

Perhaps it was because he had held no expectations beyond seeing the baby pandas.

‘The smell isn’t too bad.’

Sniffing, Lee Dohwa unfolded the map he’d received at the entrance and gasped, utterly astounded by the vastness of the zoo’s grounds.

“Shall we start with what’s right in front of us?”

“Okay.”

Ma Won-ho seemed to know the zoo’s layout; without consulting the map, he began leading them to various spots. The very first animal they encountered was a monkey.

They continued to see a diverse array of animals. Whenever an unexpected creature appeared, Lee Dohwa would stop, his steps automatically halting in fascination.

After exploring roughly half of the zoo, a familiar sensation began to set in.

Having walked and stood for so long, Lee Dohwa’s steps became erratic and slow. Noticing this, Ma Won-ho pointed to an empty bench.

“Let’s sit here and rest for a bit.”

“When do we go see the pandas?”

“You weren’t interested before, but now you are?”

Lee Dohwa had only mentioned it because he thought Ma Won-ho wanted to see them.

“I’m going because *you* want to see them, hyung.”

“Yes, I know.”

The placating tone greatly displeased Lee Dohwa.

Lee Dohwa crossed his arms and glared at him. Ma Won-ho looked back as if to ask what the problem was, but the camera captured their entire bickering exchange.

Once he sat down, he found himself reluctant to get up again.

While Lee Dohwa rarely sweated despite the heat, Ma Won-ho was a different story entirely.

Observing him sitting beside him in the shade, Lee Dohwa noticed Ma Won-ho’s face was indeed drenched in sweat, clearly overheated from being outdoors.

“You’re hot, aren’t you?”

“Yeah.”

“Should I let go of your hand then?”

“No, it’s cool.”

Ma Won-ho tightened his grip, as if refusing to let go, and Lee Dohwa, resigned, gave a small nod.

Even if it was a bit warm, his hand wasn’t sweating.

“I think I saw them selling portable fans earlier.”

“What? Why didn’t you say so sooner? Let’s go buy one right now!”

Lee Dohwa chuckled, watching Ma Won-ho suddenly change his tune, feigning tears as if he were melting.

Each shake of his head made the bells on his furry headband jingle, which he wore despite the heat.

He tried to retrace his steps, relying on a vague memory of where he’d seen it.

‘I thought it was around here.’

But a different place appeared than the one he remembered, and he started to sweat nervously.

As his confidence waned and his steps slowed, Ma Won-ho pulled Lee Dohwa’s arm.

“Be honest.”

“…Yeah.”

“You’re lost, aren’t you?”

Lee Dohwa nodded, looking down at the tips of his shoes.

He had desperately turned his head left and right, searching, but couldn’t find it. He’d intended to get ahead and change the subject somehow.

“I definitely saw it somewhere around here, but if we can’t find it, let’s just go see the pandas.”

“This is our first time here, though?”

One of the staff members spoke so loudly that the words reached Lee Dohwa’s ears.

Which, of course, meant Ma Won-ho had heard them too.

‘No, why would you say that?’

Lee Dohwa cast another resentful glance at the group of staff members, then cautiously checked Ma Won-ho’s expression.

In the end, they couldn’t buy a fan from the shop Lee Dohwa had initially seen. Instead, they purchased a portable fan from a souvenir shop they found on the way to see the pandas. It was a relief that there was a place selling them at all.

“Look here.”

“Let’s take a picture together. Could you take a picture of us?”

“Stand next to me.”

Lee Dohwa stood with a sullen expression, not complying with Ma Won-ho’s request, but the camera shutter clicked regardless.

While it had been slightly less frequent on the rides, here in the zoo, it felt like an exaggeration to say that every time they stopped, a picture was taken.

“I should have brought my film camera.”

Watching him click his tongue in regret, Lee Dohwa thought it was fortunate that he only had a phone camera in his hand.

If there had been two types of cameras, he certainly wouldn’t have taken fewer pictures; he would have taken many more.

“Delete this one.”

“Hmm~ No.”

Whenever Ma Won-ho showed him the photos, Lee Dohwa would spot an odd expression of his own and tell him to delete it, only for Ma Won-ho to snatch the phone back.

He told Ma Won-ho repeatedly to delete the photo of him with his mouth agape while looking at the baby panda, but it was utterly useless.

Thinking, ‘You should experience this too,’ Lee Dohwa started taking pictures of Ma Won-ho with his phone.

“Do they look good?”

Instead, Ma Won-ho excitedly struck poses, and since the photos turned out well from any angle, Lee Dohwa’s face crumpled.

“That’s not how you take pictures.”

Ma Won-ho even started offering advice on the results, so Lee Dohwa simply sealed his phone away after that.

‘I’m never taking another picture.’

After thoroughly enjoying the pandas, they headed to board the reserved tram. Inside, there was no one but a single staff member and the production crew.

Only the central seats were cleared, as if specifically inviting them to sit there.

“It’s just us here.”

As he sat down, the tension drained from his body, and a sense of peace settled over him.

The tram began to move slowly, and a staff member started explaining things, but Lee Dohwa let the words flow in one ear and out the other.

“The lion you see on your left! He is the oldest at our zoo and…”

Lee Dohwa stared blankly at the lion outside the window.

‘All the predators are gathered here, so it’s much more interesting to see them than when they’re scattered outside.’

Just then, Ma Won-ho, who had clearly figured out Lee Dohwa’s dislike for scary things throughout the day, whispered into his ear.

“Aren’t they scary?”

“We’re just looking at them, anyway. They’re no threat to me.”

It would be a different story if the tram overturned, but the chances of that happening were slim.

Even a coward like him had clear standards.

He calmly looked out the window again and saw a group of tigers. The closest tiger was lying down, looking their way, and their eyes met directly.

‘…He looks like Ma Won-ho?’

The sudden thought made him turn his body to look at Ma Won-ho, who was sitting beside him. Ma Won-ho mouthed, “Why?”

“Because you look alike.”

“…Me and that tiger?”

“Yeah. You resemble each other.”

“I’ve never been told I look like a tiger in my life.”

Lee Dohwa meticulously examined Ma Won-ho’s face, trying to pinpoint the reason he’d thought he resembled a tiger.

It wasn’t so much a facial resemblance as an abstract feeling.

Ma Won-ho, without understanding why, found himself in a staring contest, but the tram continued to move forward.

Through his distinct double eyelids, his clear eyes caught the light from outside the window, shining brightly and captivating Lee Dohwa’s gaze.

Large eyes with light-colored irises.

‘It was his eyes that looked alike.’

Having found the answer he sought, Lee Dohwa turned back to the window without hesitation.

“Where do I look like a tiger? Is that a compliment?”

“……”

“Dohwa… right now, you’re the embodiment of a black cat, so no other animal comes to mind.”

Even without a direct reply, Ma Won-ho seemed to have finished his own interpretation, playfully teasing Lee Dohwa.

He appeared even more lively than before they boarded the tram.

Afterwards, the tram stopped, and a zookeeper handed them carrots to feed a giraffe, making Lee Dohwa’s hand feel heavy.

Unlike Ma Won-ho, who extended his arm without hesitation and quickly fed the animal, Lee Dohwa’s eyes darted nervously.

“Hurry up and give it.”

As Ma Won-ho urged him from beside him, Lee Dohwa awkwardly extended the carrot in a hesitant posture.

He hadn’t expected the giraffe to come so close.

The giraffe readily took the carrot, and it vanished in an instant. Beside him, the continuous click of what he assumed was Ma Won-ho’s camera shutter could be heard.

After completing a full circuit on the tram, comfortably seated, Lee Dohwa felt quite satisfied.

“Shall we go now?”

“Where?”

“Home!”

“Why go home? We have to go on a date.”

Stepping out of the safari exit, Lee Dohwa, who had been bouncing with lighter steps, suddenly stopped.

‘Wasn’t I supposed to be going home?’

It seemed there had been some miscommunication, but they continued their conversation, tilting their heads in confusion.

“Wasn’t the zoo the end of it?”

“We still have to ride more attractions. We’ve only ridden three, and we still have seven Super Passes left.”

Realizing another fact he hadn’t known, Lee Dohwa looked towards the staff with a shocked expression.

‘I shouldn’t expect anything anymore.’

As he watched the PD nod, his legs almost gave out, but Ma Won-ho wrapped an arm around Lee Dohwa’s shoulder.

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