บท 89: Chapter 89: Stalker, Orchestra, and Zoo part 2
Geon, sitting beside Olivia at the table, teased while looking at Ricky nestled in Olivia's arms.
"You're so cute, Ricky. What kind of bear are you?"
Olivia said, slipping her finger into Ricky's mouth.
"Ricky is an 'American black bear.' He came from Canada. He's about 90 days old. It's almost closing time at the zoo, so I was taking him for a walk. He's still too young to come out when there are too many people around."
Olivia, still playing with Ricky, asked,
"But why are you alone when you're famous?"
Geon chuckled wistfully.
"Well, I don't really have close friends. I mean, besides famous musicians, I don't have any real close friends."
Olivia said sympathetically,
"I've heard that's usually the case with celebrities, but is it the same for Kay? He's not from the US, right?"
"No, he's from Korea, came to study at Juilliard."
"That makes sense then. How long has he been living in the US?"
"Um... about a year and a half."
"Well, then, it's understandable. You'll probably make good friends as time goes on."
Geon grinned and asked Olivia,
"But where do the keepers live? Don't they need to take care of the young animals even at night?"
Olivia hugged Ricky, who was leaning down slightly, and replied,
"Yes, that's right. Most keepers commute, but some live in housing inside the zoo. It's close to the baby animals' area. Really young ones are kept in the sterile room, but slightly older ones sometimes live together in the housing. Ricky here is one of those babies."
After furrowing his eyebrows in thought, Geon asked again,
"The housing is inside the zoo? How many people live there?"
"Not many, originally about ten keepers lived there, but now only three remain because there are fewer baby animals."
Geon pondered for a moment before asking again,
"So, there must be quite a few empty rooms in the housing?"
With a puzzled look, Olivia asked,
"Yes? Why do you ask?"
After a moment of silence lost in thought, Geon spoke up,
"Olivia, I'm sorry, but could I meet the director for a moment?"
As Olivia kept trying to prevent Ricky from climbing up her face, she said,
"The director? Um... well, I don't think she's left for the day yet..."
"Please, it's important to me."
After a brief hesitation, Olivia nodded her head.
"Alright. The director might like Kay if you take him there. Let's go; the office is over there."
In the office guided by Olivia, Geon could see a woman in her sixties, the director, sitting alone. She seemed to have come to the office for a final round of paperwork before leaving for the day. As she saw Olivia and Geon approaching, she raised her head from the documents, frowning with concern.
"Oh, Olivia. What's going on? Ricky's walk?"
Smiling with Ricky in her arms, Olivia replied,
"Yes, director. Oh, do you know this person here?"
Turning her head to scrutinize Geon closely, the director's eyes widened.
"Oh? Kay? No! What brings you here?"
Geon waved his hand with a smile.
"Hello, it's Kay. I had something to discuss with the director, so I asked Olivia here for a favor."
The director stood up from her seat as she gestured to the sofa nearby.
"Yes, please have a seat here first. Wow! What a surprise. I'm Emma, the director of the Bronx Zoo. Just call me Emma."
As Geon took his seat, he smiled.
"Sure, Emma. The zoo is beautiful."
Emma hurriedly took out juice from the fridge, poured it into a cup, and placed it on the table, smiling.
"Thank you. Haha."
As Geon took a sip of the juice Emma had given him, she asked, looking concerned,
"What's the matter?"
Geon explained about the stalker incident that had happened at his home, causing both Emma and Olivia to look astonished.
"What? About a hundred miniature cameras came out of your house?"
"Even bugs? Isn't that a serious crime?"
Geon sighed and continued,
"Yes, it is. In fact, with the orchestral performance approaching, I had nowhere to focus, so I wandered around and happened to come here."
Looking at Geon with a sympathetic expression, Emma said,
"So, you're saying, Kay, that you should be staying in a hotel anyway, but if there are empty rooms in the keeper's housing, how about living here? It's quiet and nice. I'll cover the cost equivalent to the hotel."
After considering Geon's suggestion for a moment, Emma asked Olivia,
"Currently, there are three people living in the keeper's housing, right? So, are there seven empty rooms?"
Olivia nodded and elaborated,
"Yes, and one of them is a detached house. It's the one the retired deputy director used last year."
After nodding her head, Emma said.
"Um... It seems like you could use that place, but... we're operated with support from the city of New York, so we can't charge for it. But giving it away for free is a bit..."
As Geon swallowed a dry gulp, he only looked at Emma's lips, and Emma grinned and said, "How about helping us out? We can let you stay in the accommodations in exchange for helping out at the zoo."
Geon chuckled and said, "Sure! I love animals! I'll do whatever it takes!"
Emma and Olivia looked at each other and smiled.
"Really? Haha. Alright, Olivia, show Kay around."
"Yes, Director."
After thanking Emma several times, Geon came to the accommodations with Olivia. The accommodations were deep in the zoo, slightly away from the main exhibition hall, nestled in the middle of a quiet mountain. The path to the accommodations was lined with trees, and the sounds of birds echoed as if there were wild birds around.
Geon breathed in the scent of nature, which was hard to come by in New York, and smiled happily as he headed towards the annex. Along the way, he saw a cute woman with red hair tied in a ponytail carrying something onto a truck in front of the accommodations. The woman looked at Olivia and shouted loudly.
"Olivia! Can you help me with this?"
After Olivia released Ricky inside the fence in front of the accommodations, she said, "Alisa, what's all this?"
Alisa, who was called out, replied as she carried a sack onto the truck.
"It's bird feed."
As Olivia suddenly started working, Geon, who had put down his guitar, raised his arms in confusion. Alisa glanced at Geon with a puzzled look as she quickly started working. In less than fifteen minutes with the three of them working, all the sacks were loaded onto the truck. Alisa wiped her sweat on the sacks piled on the truck and said,
"Phew! I wondered when I would be able to move this alone. It's fortunate you came back in time. Thanks to you too. By the way, who are you?"
Geon, who had his hand on the truck below, took off his hat and mask and smiled. Seeing his appearance, Alisa pointed at him with her finger and stammered. Olivia laughed and said,
"Heh, I thought you'd react like that. Say hello, Alisa. This is Kay."
As Alisa continued to stare with widened eyes and a puzzled expression, Geon said,
"Pleasure to meet you, Alisa. I'm Kay. I'll be staying at the back accommodations for a while starting today. Nice to meet you."
As Alisa greeted him with wide eyes, she gradually raised her hand to her mouth and let out a loud scream.
"Aaahhhhhhhhhhh!!!!! Really, Kay?"
Ricky, who was playing in the yard, looked surprised, and the birds playing on the trees around the accommodations flew away in surprise. Seeing Alisa like that, Geon chuckled softly, and Alisa jumped off the truck and ran towards Geon.
Seeing Alisa suddenly embracing him, Geon looked at her with a bewildered expression. Olivia rushed over and pulled Alisa away.
"Alisa! What are you doing without manners to a stranger?"
Even as Alisa fell back from Olivia's pull and yelled,
"Ack! Kay! Is it really you? Am I dreaming? Is this real?"
Geon smiled at her like that. Watching Geon laugh while looking at Alisa, Olivia said with a smile,
"I'm sorry, she's not usually like this..."
"It's okay, she seems to like me."
"Oh, thank you for helping. Let me guide you to your accommodations."
Picking up his guitar and following Olivia to the accommodations, Geon was followed by Alisa, who trotted behind. Alisa clung to Geon without saying a word, just staring at his face. Although Alisa's gaze was uncomfortable, Geon simply smiled.
The accommodations were a much larger one-story house than the one Geon used to live in. It seemed convenient to be within walking distance of Olivia and Alisa's place. Olivia took out the key from her pocket and opened the door, then put the key on the table.
"This is the key to the accommodations. Keep it with you. You don't have to worry about thieves here, so feel free to leave the door open."
Geon picked up the key and said, "Thank you. I'll leave it to you from now on. But you said there were three of you?"
As Olivia went into the living room after opening the door with the key, she turned her head and said, "One of them went to bathe the elephant. He'll be back soon. His name is Taylor, and he's also a Kay fan!"
When Geon chuckled at the playful Alisa, Olivia closed the door and left. Geon looked around the accommodations and thought to himself,
"Phew... the beginning of a new life. Haha."
Standing in front of the large window in the living room, Geon looked at the dimming evening sky. The evening sky seen through the trees seemed very peaceful, blending well with the quiet atmosphere. After taking a deep breath, Geon smiled broadly.
"Nice! I love it! I want to live here forever! Haha."
Leaning his elbows on the window sill and resting his chin, Geon looked outside. Unlike Olivia's accommodations, which faced the opposite direction, the small yard and the forest beyond were visible through the window. Feeling good, Geon closed his eyes and whistled for a while, enjoying the peace. When he opened his eyes, he was startled to see eyes staring at him in front of him.
"Wha-what's... a tiger!?"
Geon's eyes widened as he lay on the ground, staring out the window. Through the window, he could see the tiger's forehead. Having fallen to the ground, he could only see the tiger's forehead, not the face he had met earlier. There was a scratching sound as if the tiger were scratching the window with its front paw or scratching the wall with its claws. Geon, with a frightened expression, remained still, not wanting to provoke the tiger by moving.
"Sis! Fire! Do you keep jumping out of the car like that?"
Suddenly, a sharp female voice startled Geon, and when he looked to the right of the window, he saw a woman in a zookeeper's uniform running towards the tiger. Before she could scream a warning, the woman lifted the tiger on the ground into her arms. Geon froze as he saw the tiger being embraced by the woman, feeling embarrassed about his own fall.
The tiger looked young at first glance. Although not a cub anymore, having passed six months since birth, it appeared agile, easily weighing over 10 kilograms. Geon felt embarrassed about his own fall as he watched the tiger licking the woman's face with a gentle expression.
As the zookeeper struggled to hold the tiger in her arms, she looked at Geon with widened eyes. After a moment of silence between them, the female zookeeper screamed.
"Oh my! Kay? Kay, is that you? What are you doing here? Oh my goodness, oh my!"
"Really? Is this not a dream?"
As the zookeeper shouted, the startled Kay squirmed in her arms. The woman who had finally calmed Kay down shouted to Olivia, who had rushed over upon hearing the commotion.
"Olivia! Kay, Kay! Do you see this too? Is this real?"
Upon seeing that Geon was standing safely, Olivia put her hands on her hips and said.
"You too. How come you and Alisa have the same reaction, Taylor?"
Taylor widened her eyes and asked.
"Huh? You knew? What's going on? What's going on?"
"For the time being, you'll be staying here. We'll make sure you're comfortable."
Taylor asked in surprise.
"Really? Really?"
After waving her hands, Olivia said to Geon.
"The meal is ready. Come over, Kay."
Geon awkwardly smiled and said.
"Yes, thank you Olivia."
As Geon walked out of the house, he saw Taylor staring blankly at him, holding Kay. After greeting Taylor, Geon knelt down and made eye contact with Kay.
"Hello? I'm Kay."
Kay licked Geon's face and playfully hung onto his leg as he laughed. Watching Geon play with Kay for a moment, Taylor muttered.
"I-Is this really... Kay... Wow."
Later, a barbecue party was held in the courtyard in front of the three women's dormitory. Kay and Ricky were playing with a ball in the yard, but as soon as the meat was placed on the grill, Kay ran over and sat in front of the barbecue grill, focusing on the meat. Ricky, on the other hand, seemed uninterested in the meat and was playing with the ball.
As the three women brought food to the table in the bustling yard, they smiled every time they met Geon's eyes. Geon also smiled back at them, and the atmosphere soon became cheerful. After finishing the meal and cleaning up, while drinking coffee provided by Olivia and chatting, Taylor said.
"Um, Kay. It's such a pleasant evening. Could you sing us a song?"
Alisa agreed, seeming to think it was a good idea.
"Yes, yes! We're fans of Kay. Please sing us just one song, please? We really want to hear it."
Olivia, as if scolding them, said.
"Alisa, Taylor. That's impolite. Let our guest relax."
After looking at Olivia, Taylor urgently said to Geon.
"Just once today! I won't ask you again, okay?"
Geon chuckled as he alternated between Alisa and Taylor with his gaze.
"Just wait a moment, I'll go get my guitar from my room."
As Geon got up from his seat, he saw the eager eyes of the two women. Interestingly, even Olivia, who had scolded them, seemed to be filled with anticipation. A moment later, Geon returned with his J-200 guitar. As Kay and Ricky approached, seemingly seeing a guitar for the first time, they cautiously touched and plucked the strings. When sound came from the guitar strings, they were startled and backed away. Geon chuckled and petted Kay and Ricky's heads before speaking.
"Ahem, after accidentally discovering this place today and touring the zoo, I felt a bit sorry for myself, who has been living too busily. I didn't even realize there were such cute friends nearby, and such beautiful and bright people. After grilling the meat, the atmosphere in the yard became even more cheerful, and as we ate and cleaned up, Taylor said.
"Hey, Kay. It's such a nice evening, could you sing us a song?"
Alisa agreed, seeming to think it was a good idea.
"Yes, yes! We're fans of Kay. Please sing us just one song, please? We really want to hear it."
Olivia, as if scolding them, said.
"Alisa, Taylor. That's impolite. Let our guest relax."
After looking at Olivia, Taylor urgently said to Geon.
"Just once today! I won't ask you again, okay?"
Geon chuckled as he alternated between Alisa and Taylor with his gaze.
"Just wait a moment, I'll go get my guitar from my room."
As Geon got up from his seat, he saw the eager eyes of the two women. Interestingly, even Olivia, who had scolded them, seemed to be filled with anticipation. A moment later, Geon returned with his J-200 guitar. As Kay and Ricky approached, seemingly seeing a guitar for the first time, they cautiously touched and plucked the strings. When sound came from the guitar strings, they were startled and backed away. Geon chuckled and petted Kay and Ricky's heads before speaking.
"Ahem, after accidentally discovering this place today and touring the zoo, I felt a bit sorry for myself, who has been living too busily. I didn't even realize there were such cute friends nearby, and such beautiful and bright people. So, please think of this song as a message to myself."
Geon's Gibson guitar resonated softly. The guitar sound echoed like a duet between a cello and a violin, oscillating between low and high pitches. Geon's hand, holding the chords, moved briskly up and down the neck, not playing a slow or quiet melody. The guitar, with its jumbo body, emitted deep resonance and reverberation in the lower tones. Ricky and Pye seemed astonished by the beautiful music flowing from the guitar, as they sat in front of Geon, tilting their heads and perking up their ears.
With closed eyes, Geon whispered softly.
"If you're feeling low and lost today," Geon's voice, heard by the three caretakers, felt like someone whispering softly into their ears. The ASMR-like sensation caused the eyes of all three caretakers to involuntarily close. Pye squirmed slightly, and Ricky leaned against Geon's leg. Feeling Ricky's warmth against his leg, Geon smiled.
"Do you have a little time?" Geon's hand stroked the strings, and as the volume of the performance increased, the three caretakers, now wide-eyed, looked intently at Geon. Geon began to sing the chorus with his beautiful voice.
"Over here at the side of your life, I'd like to hold you still, remind you of all you've missed," he sang, as Pye stretched his neck and began to howl along with the song. Geon chuckled at Pye's attempt to sing along and opened his eyes. Even though the song had ended, Pye, with a sad but cute look in his eyes, continued to make sounds.
Upon hearing a thud, Olivia turned her head towards the dormitory area, where she saw birds gathering on the roof. More than thirty birds had gathered on the roof, all looking down as if listening to Geon's song. Alisa and Taylor also glanced around, noticing the giraffes in the distance, each lifting its head towards this direction. Strangely, all the giraffes were turning their heads in their direction.
Although the three women, who were chuckling, couldn't see the animals trapped in their respective enclosures, all the animals were perking up their ears, listening to Geon's song. The zebras flicked their ears, the polar bears blinked slowly, and the monkeys, usually swinging around, quietly listened to Geon's song.
As Geon finished playing, the three women looked around and saw Ricky sleeping, cradled in Geon's lap, while Pye quietly stared at Geon. Alisa, watching the beautiful man looking down at the baby tiger on the floor with a smile, with her mouth agape, whispered softly, "What... is he an angel?"
When Geon placed his guitar beside him and reached out to Pye, Pye jumped into his arms. Geon smiled as Pye licked his face, leaving drool. Turning his head away, Geon noticed that the birds perched on the roof had all flown away at once.
Looking up at the sky with a wide smile, Geon saw the bright moon illuminating his smiling face. This time, Taylor muttered, "Crazy... Why is the guy so beautiful?" as the three women stared blankly at Geon's face.
That night, The Bronx Zoo welcomed its first quiet night under new management. The many animals in the zoo fell into a deep sleep for the first time since being transferred, resting peacefully until the next day's sunrise. Until other caretakers arrived for duty and chuckled at the unusually quiet animals by the entrance.
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