26 HOME (2/2)

”There's a zoo a couple of blocks away from here. We go there.”

”A zoo? Okay.”

The drive was silent. I don't know what to talk about. I just want to curl up in my bed and sleep. Why am I still affected like this? I promised to start anew so what now? How am I gonna move on? Honestly, I felr so sad after hearing what Minho said. Will I get to have that life someday, to have a home I always look forward to go to?

”Cass, we're here.”

I jumped at the sudden sound. ”Oh sorry! I was lost in my thoughts. Ok let's go.”

***Wildlife Zoo***

We were walking around the zoo, getting further away from the entrance while my face is getting uglier every second.

”Cassidy? What's gotten you so ugly?”

”WHAT?! who are you calling ugly?!”

”Ahahahaha. I was just kidding. Why are you so riled up?”

”This! This stupid animal cruelty. Look at these cages! Animals are constrained inside, so little space to move! They even eat less food! And look at the environment! This is clearly not their natural habitat! If they like to take care of these animals, they should have made an effort to replicate their habitat so that they'll live better. Useless bunch of scums, using poor animals as profit. I don't know why the government allows these things!”

”Clearly, you are unhappy here. Why did you even take me here?”

”Uh, uhm because most tourists and other visitors always head here.”

”Cass, if you don't like it here, we shouldn't be here. I said we're going out together and that means we both should be enjoying. But this is not the case. So let's get out of here. I'm getting sick here.”

”Sick?” I placed the back of my hand on his forehead. ”Are you having a fever? Hmmm no? Is your tummy aching?”

He caught my arm, the one checking his forehead. ”Cassidy, this place makes me sick. My dad was a veterinarian, so I grew up loving and caring for animals. This place? All zoo having these conditions, I despise them.”

There was genuine fury in his eyes. I looked down, ”I'm sorry Minho. I thought... ”

”Yes, it's okay. I'm happy that you don't like it here too. So, let's go?”

”Mm-hmm.”

After minutes of walking, ”How do we help them, Minho?”

”Closinh down the zoo is the best way. But we got no rights since this is a private institution. But if the government enact laws to change how animals should be treated in zoos, then there might be changes, such as giving them bigger and better space to move about. But they're better living in their natural habitat. That's why I love wildlife parks, where animals are roaming freely in the wild, no cages. The people only go to them in secured cars to watch how they live their lives.”

”Hmmm, Minho are you also a vet?”

”Haha no. I tried being one, but I dropped it when we started studying medical terms and remembering all kinds of species. I suck at memorizing. So I shifted to engineering. I've got no problems in math and drawing and planning and all. And I said to myself, if I can't provide health care for them, why not provide them the best shelter?”

I laughed. ”Well said! Are you competing for Miss Universe?”

He looked shocked then said in a girly way, ”Oh my god! How did you know. Gosh!”

I laughed so hard. I smacked his shoulder. ”You! Why...Hahaha.. You are so funny. Hahaha.”

Minho laughed as well. And before we knew it, we were out of the zoo.