FIRST TIMERS' KISS

the massive silverback gorilla, finally sat in a corner, chewing on some bananas. Birds in the aviary fluttered back to their perches, and the r

notes in his journal, muttering under his breath. "What made Zulu so

t his attention. "That's not a bird I've seen before," Eugene murmured, tilting his head. He quickly wrote, Unlisted parrot, po

side, he observed a boa constrictor under a heat lamp, its coils shimmering in the li

rot, now the snakes; they're all acting odd. Could it

here was a hole in the wall, freshly dug, leading into darkness. Eugene knelt down,

t sound came from inside, like a soft rustle. His h

ice the hole. Clutching his notebook, he muttered, "This is

racing with questions. Whatever had made that hole, it wasn't

endly smile and a name tag that read "Victor

ion. "It's just part of our new renovation work. We're expanding the gor

notebook tightly. "That makes sense. B

soon. Trust me, it's all under control. If you need help with your

ing a small smile. "Thanks, Vi

worry about. "Maybe I'm overthinking this," he muttered to himself. He scribbled a fe

, where Zoe burst out of the car like a firework. "Monk

alled, laughing as she grab

toes and pointed dramatically at the clerk.

ere's no monkey kingdom.

"Don't listen to him. You've got

r tour. They stopped by the lion enclosure

lion," Marvin teased. "It

t let them distract you. Go explore, sweetheart! There's

ore." She waved and took her own path, eage

n stopped by the gorilla enclosure. She admired Zulu, the ma

lanced at Lilian and, seeing her calm and confident, assumed she

otebook. "Can you tell me more about Zulu? I'm doin

Zulu? Sure. He's the leader here, a silverback goril

"That's amazing. What abou

st bananas. Gorillas eat leave

er. "You really know your s

her cheeks warmi

head, intrigued. "

phant enclosure interrupted them. Both turned toward the noi

faded, Eugene turned back to Lilian. Her che

gene said, his voice soft

king at her; his wide eyes filled with curiosity and admiration; made her paus

loves animals," she final

k now forgotten in his hand. "Well

knew it, Lilian felt herself leaning closer. Eugene did

e world around them seemed to fade, the sounds o

ian's phone beeped loudly, breaking the spell. She p

message f

lready in the car and wa

, my family's waiting

n the haze of the kiss. "Wait.

, her face a mix of apology and pani

eaving through the crowd with her phone clutched in her han

lf, staring after the girl who had j

of her getting into a car with her family

lled with his animal research, but all he could think about was her; the mysterio

He let out a long breath, still replaying the kiss with the mysterious girl in his mind. S

lowed by startled screams. Eugene froze. His heart raced as he turned to see Zulu, th

, baring his teeth, his usual calm demeanor replaced by pure rage

e scene, holding a tranquilizer gun. "Everyone stay ba

ranch and snapping it like a twig. Trevor didn't

one last growl before collapsing to the ground with a heavy thud. The crow

he stared at Zulu's lifeless form. The gorilla looked so vulnerable, so helpless. "There wa

ed away. He felt a knot in his stomach, not just because of Zulu, but because of the

urple. The streets were quiet, but his thoughts were loud. He fel

nder a flickering streetlight, watching him. Eugene froze, his heart pounding. He c

ep forward. "Eugene...

frozen, his legs feeling like lead. The shadowy figure under the streetlight stepped closer, the light flickering enough

peated, his voi

asked, his voice shaky, hi