#I'LL BE YOUR CUTE LAMB ZAYNE

[starmocha]

The little lamb is your only audience. You're not going to chase her away, are you?

[luzdaydreamer]

Treasured Moment

Chapter 3, part 1

In the photography studio, Zayne and I stand shoulder to shoulder, admiring the achievement of our recent couple photo shoot as OTTO buzzes around us excitedly.

ОТТО-РНО: Thanks for letting us display your posters for a month. They've really helped boost our business lately. Even the pet store owner nearby asked about our photography services! Here are the last session's prints ordered by your boyfriend. Please check if they are the right ones.

OTTO brings over a tray, and to my surprise, it's filled with photos we took at the pet expo.

MC: You had all of these developed?

Zayne: Such memorable moments, I wanted to be able to see them often. Why don't we pick out a few frames together?

Thinking of Zayne's home decor, I glance at the simple frames displayed on the shelf.

MC: How about those?

Not hearing the answer I expected, I turn around to find Zayne standing by a collection of cute animal-themed frames.

Zayne: All of these are nice.

MC: They're very cute! Where are you going to put them, though?

He looks at me calmly.

Zayne: One will be for my office desk, and the nightstand in my bedroom has just enough space. The desk in my study is perfect for the one that has you and the lamb in it.

MC: I'm starting to think you're planning a mini animal photo exhibition at home.

Zayne: In that case, you should get some for your place too, organizer MC.

Soon after, we pick out the remaining frames and hand them to OTTO to pack them up. Zayne walks over to me and places a yawning monkey sticker on the back of my hand.

MC: Huh?

Zayne: It's a freebie from the studio. And it reminds me of someone who stayed up late writing reports the other night—it has the exact same expression.

MC: Hmph, I need to find a sticker of you burning the midnight oil over your papers and put it in a place everyone can see. OTTO, do you have any stickers of lambs, kitties, or squirrels? Bring them all to me!

Zayne: Do I remind you of a lamb, a kitty, or a squirrel?

MC: What, you think they are too ordinary?

Zayne: They are somewhat common.

Smirking, I pull out the sunglasses we used in today's shoot from my bag and put them on Zayne.

MC: Well then, guess I'll make do and let you be a panda. You're special enough now. Come on, baby panda, smile for the camera! Let's take a photo together. Three, two, one. Bamboo!

Zayne: ...Bamboo.

The next evening, my mission ended earlier than expected. I drop by the hospital to pick up Zayne from work. From a distance, I spot Zayne sitting on the grass with a little girl who's cradling a puppy.

[ N E X T ]

[ Cuteness Crush Guide ]

[luzdaydreamer]

Don't Be Picky, Okay?

Chapter 2, part 2

Hearing this, Zayne suddenly slows his steps.

Zayne: Do I really look that stern?

MC: Not really, but your serious face does make you seem kind of stern. But no worries, many pets don't see well enough to judge us by our expressions.

Zayne returns to his normal walking pace.

Zayne: Indeed.

I notice he's holding a flyer titled "How To Win Over Your Pet's Heart."

MC: ... Wait, were you feeling nervous just now?

Zayne coughs lightly and folds the flyer, slipping it into his coat pocket.

Zayne: No one wants to be disliked by animals at these events, right?

I laugh and take his hand, feeling the warmth in his palm.

MC: Relax, my dear Dr. Zayne. I've got a foolproof plan to make all the animals fall for you.

There's a crowd near the entrance of an open space. We walk over and find out it's a feeding area. I pick up a handful of fresh grass, and a little lamb immediately approaches over.

MC: Do you want to give it a shot?

Zayne: So your foolproof plan is winning them over with food?

MC: You can test it to see if it works. Here, try giving it a carrot

Zayne: Why would a lamb want to eat that?

MC: Zayne, if you ever get turned into a lamb, I'll remember your dislike for carrots.

Zayne: It'd certainly be quite the oversight.

MC: There are more people than lambs here. Hurry, or else the lamb will find someone else's grass.

I gently hold the lamb, signaling Zayne to pet its head first. Zayne carefully does so, and the lamb closes its eyes, releasing a content bleat.

MC: Quick. Now's your chance to feed it!

Zayne offers the carrot, yet the lamb only sniffs before turning away.

Zayne: ...It's a picky eater.

Trying to keep a straight face, I look at Zayne with a feigned seriousness.

MC: Before you feed it, you might want to talk to it first, like saying "It's time for a meal."

Zayne: It's time for a meal.

MC: You need to say it in a language the lamb understands!

I purposefully raise my voice and let out a "baa."

MC: See, it's easy. Go ahead, try it... Don't keep the lamb waiting too long. I'll take some pictures of you two.

The light outside the glass door slants down. In the zoomed-out shot, Zayne's profile is tinged with a hint of red.

MC: (Maybe I'm pushing him too hard... Perhaps I should let it be.)

Zayne: ...Baa.

A few seconds later, the little lamb nuzzles his palm and starts nibbling on the carrot he's holding. Smiling, I press the stop button and return to Zayne's side.

Zayne: It actually worked.

MC: Told you, it's foolproof. And where you pet them is important, too. Our furry friends like a gentle touch.

I lightly scratch Zayne's chin with a blade of grass.

MC: Just like that. A little scratch here can make any animal fall for you.

Zayne nods thoughtfully, then suddenly leans in and gently scratches my chin.

Zayne: It's like this? Have I got it right?

MC: ...Zayne, you know everything already.

[ N E X T ]

[ Cuteness Crush Guide ]