May was walking down the one of many streets of Seoul, she was not a native Korean but she studied the language. She grew the interest of their culture from the introduction of their popular music, and not to mention the attractive singers. She wanted nothing more than to visit the origin of the music she became addicted to and to look around the significant areas of South Korea.

Today was a break from the travelling, heading out of her hostel in mood for some food. Some chicken would be nice. Walking on the pathway next to the busy traffic having cars matter about their own lives May walks without a glance at the gas and noise pollution they release but instead takes in the view of the tall glassy buildings in the short distance. May doesn’t know why she likes the City that much if all it does is injure the earth we live on but it fascinates her. The tall buildings that contain millions of lives who busily scatter around doing a job to do that they enjoy. The clean office scent that somehow takes her back into her childhood, even if she doesn’t walk in the buildings it still manages to affect her.

Sighing May reminds herself that she must come back after dark to see the City glow. Still walking on the pathway next to the busy traffic May argues to herself to why she didn’t remember to wear a hat, the sun was blazing but not entirely and her hostel was quite a far distance from the City. She had a good tolerance and to see shade clearing up ahead she was grateful to the buildings creating it. Reaching towards the shade May stopped for a moment to take in the satisfying temperature change that reduces the slight headache that started to form. Leaning against the wall she examines her environment, May was still on the pathway that had the busy road next to it but now the four lane road started to emerge into a two lane road moving into the street full of markets. Ramen shops, little video game centres, and convenience stores May knew she had reached the beginning of the City.

Pushing herself off the wall May had continued to walk forward to find a good spot that sells chicken. She doesn’t know why she felt the need to have chicken, she just wanted it, and yeah of course she was hungry but chicken out of everything? She never really liked chicken much since it was always a meal at home but the sudden craving for it? Was really confusing…

May glances around the passing stores from her street to the street across and none have seen to catch her eye, a grumble from her stomach came, she was now very hungry. A snack wouldn’t satisfy, it had to be chicken.

Walking back into the sun May squint her eyes to see the path ahead and saw that the next shade was a bit far. She sighs the second time today and continued to walk, that’s until she heard a whimper.

It was a puppy.

Looking down her eyes widen at a lost stray pup with no collar around its neck. May goes down onto her knees and the puppy doesn’t move instead it crawls up to her. It was a white, small and its fur was short and soft. Its ears were small round triangles and its nose was tiny and black, small like its wide, black eyes. It was cute but shaking from the wind that travelled from the large buildings. May couldn’t help but pick it up holding it up close to her chest asking it if it was alright and how it became alone, but for obvious reasons the puppy didn’t respond and only shook in her arms.

Making clicking noises with her tongue for unknown reasons and shushing it while bouncing the pup in her arms trying to comfort the poor thing she now questioned what to do with it. From feeling the aligned bumps on her belly May could tell the pup was a girl. The puppy started to become warm and started to nuzzle in her arms, May felt the pup move its head and stuff its nose in her folded arms and it tickled, she couldn’t help but giggle at the touch of the adorable puppy. She had dogs at home but they were large dogs so she never really had the opportunity of carrying them since she was too young to hold them at the times they were pups.

“What to do with you now, the place I’m staying doesn’t allowed dogs” she pouted staring at the sleeping pup in her arms, not noticing how she was covered in the shade.

After realising the sun was blocked she looked up at the figure that had unintentionally protected her from the blazing heat she ignored. She couldn’t see the figures face but she could tell that the figure was a male from the obvious way he was built.

“Is it okay?” He asked, his voice didn’t sound like the way he supposably looked, it sounded innocent yet worried, the male’s voice was soft yet concerned. Squinting her eyes, the male squirmed a little under her gaze uncomfortably but she shrugged it off, she couldn’t see his face.

She looked down at the pup who remained sleeping in her arms “She’s okay, she was cold at first but now she looks okay” She reported. The male moved in close, lowering his head towards the sleeping pup and put his two large hands around its head, slowly waking it up. His hand cupping its small head he started to pat it and the pup started to wag its fluffy tail. May could tell that the man was smiling and after hearing the man chuckle he most definitely was.

“The thing is… I don’t know where to take her. She has no collar so she might not have an owner. I don’t want to take her to the pound because if there is no owner then…” She didn’t want to go further, of course she knew what would happen if the pup wasn’t claimed, it would go into an internal slumber and she didn’t want that.

“I know” the man replied, standing up straight and motioning politely to hold the pup, she passes the pup to him.

“I’m guessing you can’t take her?” He asks with a bit of sadness in his voice.

“No, unfortunately I can’t” May replied,

“The place I’m staying at doesn’t allow dogs, and I’m here for the holidays”, She explained, the man hummed in response.

“Okay” he said sadly, he took the pup in his hands and held him up to look at its face,

“Poor thing” he started.

“Maybe if I ask…” he said lowly but enough for May to hear,

“Ask? Ask who? Do ask!” She quickly said,

“My manager” he said but stiffens at the noun. Manager? She thought.

“If you don’t mind me asking, who are you? I’m sorry but I can’t see you in this light” she politely asked using her hand to motion him to come out of the sun.

The man holds the pup close to his chest he doesn’t oblige and instead shakes his head

“I’m sorry I can’t” he apologised,

“Taekwoon! There you are!” A voice called out from behind the man. The man stiffens more than he did before, becoming a statue.

The person that called came from behind the man and in front of him. He was wearing large black sunglasses and a black hat over his vibrant red hair. He looked familiar, extremely familiar. Where? Where has she seen him before?

“Taekwoon! You can’t just keep jumping out of the van like that!” The man was shorter than the other, apparently named Taekwoon and was scolding him for doing such a dangerous action that seems to happen more often “Look, I know you like animals but you have got—” the man stopped when Taekwoon extended a hand out pointing to May.

When the shorter man noticed her presence he became shocked, his mouth gapping as if he has been caught red handed. But he stopped quickly and bowed “Please don’t scream, we don’t need a crowd” he said holding his hands up as if he was trying to calm May down confusing her, she tilted her head.

“I’m sorry what? I don’t mean to ask but you look really familiar, who are you?” She asked but the moment it came out the shorter male looked a bit hurt but quickly waved it off.

“Oh then you don’t need to know!” he chuckled before trying to turn Taekwoon around and push him away, bowing as he tried to bid farewell. May catching on to his actions called out “wait!”

The two boys stop and Taekwoon turned around, his face still hidden by the sunlight with the puppy in his arms.

“Will you be able to take care of her?” She asked hopefully, hearing the puppy whine at the tone of her voice. Taekwoon calmed down the puppy that wanted to be in May’s arms.

“I will” he said, ignoring his friend gapping beside him. May let out a sigh of relief “thank you” she thanked giving him a thankful smile, Taekwoon nodded and turned around but she called out again.

“Um, do you guys know a good place that sells chicken?” she stupidly asked and they turned around, Taekwoon with his finger pointed to a shop across the street, May turned around and looked at the restaurant then back around to thank him.

“Okay, thanks. Take care of her!” she said waving goodbye to the two figures walking away hearing the mutter of the shorter male saying “he always does”

A string of hope for the puppy was created as she watched the two males walk in the distance growing smaller into dots.

“I hope I see the pup again soon, healthy and happy, with a home.” She says to herself hopefully before turning to the restaurant.