The scenery inside the park truly lives up to the long journey. Since it is located in the suburbs, it is surrounded by endless green mountains. The trees are sprouting new leaves, fresh and pleasant.
One-third of the area is a park-like space and walking paths. The animals, like the multi-functional spaces, are also spacious and at ease, looking carefree. Judging from their leisurely postures, it is obvious. Looking at them in such a relaxed state on the other side of the glass or fence, strangely enough, even the time on my side seems to slow down.
This is a space isolated from the busy daily life. I squint my eyes, listening to the children's frolicking sounds coming from all around and gazing at the back figure walking ahead.
After entering the park, he seems to have returned to his childhood and is in an exceptionally good mood. Seeing him like this, I truly feel that although it's a bit of a long way here, it's really great to have come.
"Are you still sleepy?"
He suddenly notices my gaze and turns his head. Seeing his worried expression like this, I can't help but laugh.
"What are you laughing at? I'm worried about you."
"Sorry. I'm fine."
He pouts his lips in dissatisfaction. That face of his is so cute again that I can't help but keep laughing while speaking. I think it's almost unfair to be this cute at such a time.
For me, compared to this fresh greenery and the animals here, as long as he is by my side right now, it can heal me.
"That's how a sleeping Blake feels like."
He gently sighs at me who is laughing and suddenly stops, pointing to the other side of the glass.
"I don't think my sleeping posture is that bad."
In front of his outstretched finger, there is a white tiger lying on its back completely, exposing its belly defenselessly.
"What I mean is the defenseless look. Your sleeping face is very cute."
He leans against the fence, turns his head, and the corners of his mouth slightly rise, showing a somewhat teasing and a bit mischievous look in his eyes.
"However, Blake, you are a bit like a feline, so it might not be a lie either."
"A cat...?"
"Well, but you are also a bit like a dog. Or rather. Your face looks like a husky. It's very handsome."
But a black panther or a wolf is also not bad. The way he is murmuring to himself makes me look at him a bit at a loss. I deeply feel that he really likes animals, but his habit of being immersed in his own world usually makes me feel that this kind of atmosphere makes it even more difficult to approach him.
"By the way, I remembered a few days ago that there used to be a dog in my family that looked exactly the same as Abel. It was extremely cute."
He looks back at me with a big smile on his face. I think it's very cute, but I'm a bit unhappy when he says it so innocently, to be honest.
"Oh."
"Blake... your face looks very scary."
"Really?"
Although the other person is my childhood friend and there is no need to worry at all, I still feel pathetic about this kind of jealousy. I know that it's useless for me to always care about small things, but no matter how small they are, the uneasiness is always endless.
"Ben, do you like children?"
Seeing his gaze suddenly shifting to the front, I can't help but blurt out. Seeing him looking back at families with children many times since just now, I can't help but be concerned.
"Well, I quite like them."
He is surprised by this sudden question and looks a bit astonished. Seeing his unconscious gaze, my heart can't help but flutter.
I think that if he weren't with me, this person should be able to have an ordinary family. Thinking of this, my heart aches terribly.
"... So that's how it is."
"Blake?"
"Nothing."
He looks at my face in confusion. I try my best to show an indifferent smile. His expression is still a bit doubtful, but I pretend not to see it.
How long can I be with this person exactly? The happier I feel now, the more I'm afraid of the future.
"Hey, Blake."
"... What?"
He tugs at my sleeve as I'm in a daze and shifts my gaze.
"That."
He keeps staring at one point, pointing forward, and then suddenly walks over there.
"Is it lost?"
"Ah?"
Hearing his words, I hurriedly look in the direction his finger is pointing. I see him disappearing on the other side of the crowd through the waves. I quickly chase after him. At the edge of the human wall formed in front of the fence, I see his figure squatting down.
Beside him, there is also a figure of a child around three or four years old.
"It really looks like it's lost."
He looks back at me standing behind him with a troubled expression on his face.
"There's no broadcast inside the park either. It should have just gotten separated not long ago, right? Maybe the family hasn't noticed yet and is nearby."
"Is that so... Where are my father or mother?"
The child stares at him blankly, seemingly not quite understanding its situation. It seems that not much time has really passed.
"Ah, Ben, this child is a girl."
"Ah, really?"
I give a wry smile at his wide-open eyes. He hurriedly turns around and stares at the child closely. I understand what he wants to say. Although the child is wearing boys' clothes, one can barely tell that it's a helpless move by the parents. There are two pink bows tied on its head.
"Probably because there are too many family members and they didn't notice."
"Well, wait."
I squat down beside him. Suddenly, the child shakes off his hand and rushes towards me. I hurriedly catch her. For some reason, she hugs me tightly.
"Shall we walk around like this for a while?"
I let out a gentle sigh, pick up the little one hanging on my arm and stand up. Suddenly, he shows an unhappy expression.
"Are you so frustrated just because the child isn't close to you?"
Seeing his obvious expression, I ask him with a smile. Then I hold the child properly. His mouth pouts even higher.
"Not at all."
I'm puzzled by his appearance of standing up in a huff. He suddenly pokes the child's cheek and narrows his eyes.
"Blake wouldn't be like this."
"Yah! You're jealous."
"No!"
Seeing the interaction between the child and him, my face can't help but heat up. I didn't expect that he isn't unhappy because the child isn't close to him but is jealous because the child is close to me. I really didn't expect that at all.
"Ben, you are too childish with children."
"It's so annoying! A child's thoughts are very scary, okay."
I hide my joy of being jealous of by him and speak teasingly. He purses his lips in displeasure, showing an unhappy expression. But his face is so cute that I have no way to deal with it. He can always easily disrupt my heart.
"I like Ben the most."
I deliberately whisper softly in his ear with malicious intent. His face turns red like it's on fire.
"Well, I know.... Otherwise."
"Otherwise?"
Seeing his confused and anxious reaction like this gives me a sense of superiority that is simply irresistible. The sadistic tendency usually suppressed seems to be ignited. However, I don't mean to do anything too excessive to him. I just want to tease him a little bit, just a little.
"... You'll cry."
But when he said that and looked like he was about to cry, I couldn't resist the urge to hug him and kiss him. However, I managed to restrain myself with my rationality. Like trying to vent this emotion, I let out a deep sigh.
I originally intended to tease him, but in the end, I was completely defeated by him.
Unconsciousness within the unconscious is terrifying.