“Stop it, Cookie.” Jeonghan warned.

The puppy looked up at him innocently, using his puppy eyes to beg for what he wanted.

Freedom was what he wanted.

“Cookie! You know you can’t just scratch the cage and try to get out! Also, your owner is coming to get you tomorrow!” Jeonghan huffed in annoyance as he heard the puppy whimper.

Cookie lowered his head and peeked up at him. Jeonghan had his hands on his hips and was glaring at the pitiful puppy.

Sighing, Jeonghan opened the door to Cookie’s cage and put a leash on him. With a defeated voice, Jeonghan said, “We’re going for a walk.”

The puppy wagged his tail in excitement at the prospect of being able to go out in the sunshine again.

At the other end of the pet shelter, Seungcheol’s laughter could be heard. Seungcheol shook his head and smiled. The way Jeonghan handled animals was similar to the way he would handle a human. Seungcheol found it adorable that Jeonghan was treating the dogs as his own little children. His gentleness and fondness for the animals made him have the charm of a mother. While he was kind and nice to the animals, Jeonghan could be strict with them too, but he would eventually give in to their pleading eyes.

Seungcheol continued to wash the empty cage.

“Daisy is going to get a scolding from me when she comes back from her play time…” Seungcheol muttered under his breath. The dog just refused to pee right place! No matter how much training and warnings she was given, she just refused to do her business on the clean white sheets laid out for her.

“We need to get a professional potty trainer for her too.” Seungcheol sighed.

Seungcheol had invited Jeonghan to volunteer at the pet shelter with him and Seungcheol was more than ecstatic when he agreed after they had resolved their misunderstanding over the messaging incident.

Seungcheol wondered what kind of upbringing Jeonghan had, considering that he did not know how to react in most social situations. Even for their misunderstanding, Seungcheol thought that he was ignored since he had offended Jeonghan. What really happened was the complete opposite. Jeonghan ignored Seungcheol because he thought he had done something wrong and thought that the messages were of Seungcheol scolding him.

Shaking his head, Seungcheol said to himself, “I would never scold him.”

“Well I’m glad you won’t, because I will.”

Another voice interrupted his monologue. Seungcheol turned around to see Jeonghan standing by the entrance to the play area, with a struggling furry toy poodle in his arms.

Seungcheol grinned at the other as he walked over to Jeonghan.

“Geez you sure do take long to wash one cage.” Jeonghan commented.

Seungcheol pouted and pretended to be offended. Putting a hand on his chest in feign hurt, he said, “How dare you speak of me that way! I clean faster than you, you slow poke,” and just to emphasise his point, Seungcheol poked Jeonghan’s chest.

A sly smile made its way to Jeonghan’s features. He declared, “Then let the cage cleaning race begin. The winner treats the other to lunch,” Seungcheol laughed as Jeonghan handed Cookie to another volunteer and took the water hose in his hands. Jeonghan eyed him challengingly, expecting him to do the same.

Seungcheol’s eyes widen in realization. Jeonghan was serious.

“You don’t know who you’re picking a fight with…” Seungcheol threatened Jeonghan with a hint of playfulness on the edge of his voice. Jeonghan smirked.

“Challenge accepted.”

With that, the cage cleaning challenge began.

---

Seungcheol and Jeonghan’s laughter rang through the pet shelter. Everyone else could tell that they were having a lot of fun, while being very efficient at the same time. The both of them were like a happy bubble together and that happiness was very contagious indeed.

“I’ll beat you!” Seungcheol exclaimed, reaching out to grab a sponge and dunking it in the mixture of soap and water before proceeding to scrub the cage clean and washing the area out with water again.

“Haha don’t think you can, I’ve already cleaned 5 cages and you’re only at 4!” Jeonghan taunted as he continued to clean another cage.

Something sly came across Seungcheol. He smirked.

“Jeonghan ah”

“Yes?” Jeonghan whipped his head around just to be greeted by the cold water that splashed on his face.

Seungcheol burst out in another fit of laughter when Jeonghan glared at him. His hair was flat and he was drenched.

“Oh you sneaky little rat,” Jeonghan hissed. He took his water hose and aimed it at Seungcheol, who dodged it in time.

Seungcheol chuckled. Jeonghan had such a playful side to himself and Seungcheol enjoyed watching him having fun.

Jeonghan pouted and chided the elder for making the floor wet. Now they had more things to do.

“That’s like pot calling the kettle black! You retaliated and made the floor wet too!” Seungcheol pointed out while crossing his arms.

Jeonghan realised that Seungcheol was right. He did make the floor wet too. A blush made its way to Jeonghan’s face and unknowningly, Jeonghan’s face started to burn.

Letting his wet hair cover his face again, he looked away so that Seungcheol would not see him blushing.

Being the dense person he is, Seungcheol walked over to where Jeonghan was standing. Not sensing his embarrassment, Seungcheol lifted Jeonghan’s chin to face him and was about to declare his victory over the other man but stopped. The words were stuck in his mouth.

Jeonghan was staring at him with innocent wide eyes. His face was flushed from embarrassment. At that moment, Jeonghan looked so vulnerable and so…

“So beautiful…” Seungcheol whispered.

“Eh...?” Jeonghan managed to say.

Immediately releasing his grip on the younger man’s chin, Seungcheol looked away.

“Nothing, I said nothing,” Seungcheol started to say.

Jeonghan glanced at Seungcheol in confusion before returning to clean the cages.

“Seungcheol, if you don’t want to win this challenge, it’s fine by me but I’m going to continue cleaning so that I’ll win you.”

Seungcheol snapped out of his daze and his playfulness returned to his face.

“Oh no you won’t.” Seungcheol said.

Jeonghan smirked, happy that the other was back to normal.

“Oh yes I will.”

Little did they know, someone’s eyes had been following them and she did not look pleased.

“He’s back.” She whispered.

Omg who’s back??? Who’s the woman??? I liked to end off with cliffhangers sometimes :> and yes I’m back on track with this fan fiction!

I’ve decided to come up with a more constructive plan for the story that was more interesting and was deeper than what I had originally planned.

I’m sorry for disappearing for over a month TT This is my first weekend of the school year! Anyway, what happened:

• Preparing Christmas gifts like a slave (because most gifts were out of obligation… I hate that but well, it’s a tradition that the school club I’m in has.
• I moved! I’m now in my temporary new home and the wifi still isn’t set up so no I don’t have wifi.
• School started and I’m busier than ever T-T save me

I can’t believe so many of you read this! I love you all >< Comments keep me writing because I feel like it’s my responsibility to not disappoint you all and provide you all with some closure to the story.

Btw I’ve found my ultimate bias (and obsession). Kim Kibum. The almighty key has earned himself another faithful locket with his attractive collarbones (okay just kidding, it was his personality and stage presence that attracted me to him. He’s really good on stage!!!)

Also, I feel Wonwoo recently climbing my bias list and trying to wreck it. That sneaky little thing, I’m already having such a hard time with picking between JiHan and he comes along and ruins everything ;-;

Thanks for reading all my bs at the end of each chapter if you’re reading this XD

Maybe I’ll upload faster if I see more comments hehe.

To those of you wondering, it's a JiHan story, don’t worry. JiHan will come when the time comes!!! I think I’m giving too many spoilers DDD: Don’t worry, the story will be full of surprises ^^ (or at least I hope)

Thanks for reading this chapter! Love you guys :>