It was a quiet morning in the bustling town. Everyone doing their jobs, calmly. What a peaceful day.

Wait, that's not right.

Since the arrival of munchkin, it's not supposed to be peaceful. Then why was the little kitten not roaring today?

Did they send him to the main branch?

He was louder than usual yesterday but they wouldn't transfer him to the main branch without informing him right? He came to the rehabilitation center instead of doing his actual job. It would be a day at loss if that were the case.

"Xiao Zhan." Caihong called for his attention. Xiao Zhan was still pondering over the silence when she added, "What miracle did you do?

"Pardon?"

"He hasn't yelled at a single person today." Caihong reported with a thankful expression.

He's still here.

Xiao Zhan was relieved for some reason. Since, he didn't yell at anything or caused any ruckus, the mood around was naturally cheerful.

Although Caihong agreed that his foul mouth made many other patients eager enough to recover quickly. They didn't want to listen to his expressive vocabulary every morning.

"He doesn't have fever or anything right?" Xiao Zhan asked. Yesterday, he had brutally lashed out. But it gave Xiao Zhan an idea of might he be coming from. Previously, he didn't ask Caihong for his information.

Nor was he allowed to have any personal information regarding patients. He wasn't a worker there. Nor had he any degree of such profession. Since he was volunteer, he would normally spend time with the children, like Fu Yao there. Or often time, he would indulge with elders.

He was there to ease the mood. Lift there spirits and bring smiles on their faces.

He never did anything, he wasn't confident in.

When Caihong told him about the youngster's age, Xiao Zhan really saw him as a kid.

17 years is still young. And he reached out precisely because he thought of the teenager as a kid. But later discovering his rich sense of hilarity. Xiao Zhan couldn't leave him alone with the other staff members.

So, he requested to help a little more. However he could. He just prayed everyday, that he won't hurt the younger in the process.

And that worried him.

"Oh no, he doesn't. An Bai takes his temperature every morning." Caihong assured.

"That's a relief then." Xiao Zhan said. There was no point in guessing his sudden behavior, it was best to go look instead. So, Xiao Zhan headed towards grumpy cat.

He hasn't curse at a single person? Is it a progress? Or did I really hurt him yesterday?

Xiao Zhan put aside his thoughts and knocked at the door as formality, he prepared himself to greet.

"Hello –"

"I HATE YOU!!"

"..." its progress, right?

Xiao Zhan heard those words but of course, he didn't have to accept them. Because, it was his choice to own them or not. And he chose not to. Same could be said for the teenager.

"Yes, yes, you have the choice to like or dislike things." Xiao Zhan went to his usual spot. It's better to curse just one person than the whole staff. He can take it.

"The day before you took my meal and yesterday you didn't even give me any?! You really are a monster!" the hungry kitten growled.

Uh oh! I forgot.

"Did you take the breakfast?!"

"Grrr."

"Alright, Alright, I will get you something good to eat." Xiao Zhan coaxed and went out to buy some bread. His favorite too.

He's asking for food on his own. That's certainly a good thing.

Xiao Zhan was relieved and happily brought back the food he bought.

"Is this supposed to be a joke?" the kitten clenched her paws.

"I thought everybody loves bread?"

He's an idiot! He's a genuine idiot! The youngster concluded and snatched the box of desert. He couldn't fight a war on an empty stomach, so bread would do for now.

Xiao Zhan went back to his seat and pulled out another book to read. After finishing his meal, the munchkin didn't yell, either. Xiao Zhan smiled to himself. He felt like, he had crossed a milestone.

"What are you reading?"

He initiated?

It took Xiao Zhan a moment to get over his shook but happily answered his question.

"Oh this? Its called 'The Name Jar' by Yangsook Choi."

"What's this about?"

Xiao Zhan sang a happy song in his heart, because they were having an actual conversation.So he relayed merrily,

"It's about a little girl, who along with her family moved to America. She is anxious of her name as other kids find it hard to pronounce a Korean name –"

"Isn't that a children book?"

"I believe so." It had cute illustrations in it; which Xiao Zhan absolutely adored.

"Why are you reading a children book? For your kids?"

There shouldn't be any age restriction of what you could read or write as long as it was done with the genuine purpose of learning and betterment.

"I'm afraid, I am too single to have kids." Xiao Zhan chuckled.

He enjoyed the book. Even though it was a children book. The message in it was simple yet beautiful. He thought of an idea. There was slim chance for it to actually work but there was no harm in trying.

Xiao Zhan casually strolled towards the younger and placed the book at the side table. He enticed,

"Sometimes the lessons we are taught as children are the ones we need to recall the most."

After placing the book, Xiao Zhan went back to his seat and picked another book.

As he expected, the kitten had no intention of lifting the book, not even glancing at it. Xiao Zhan was thankful enough that he didn't tear it apart.

He resumed his book and as usual left when the night called for him.

"Tch. So annoying." The youngster clicked his tongue.

Finally the stubborn elder was gone.

He eyed the book resting calmly on the table. He diverted his eyes back to the door. His eyes shifted to the book again and back to the door.

"Urggg! It's not like I have anything else to do."

He justified himself and picked up the book to skim through it. He'd be quick about it and no one would know.

. . .

The pedestrian light glowed green and the little kids crossed the road holding each other's hands. They were kindergartners heading to school. They formed a que and stomping with their tiny little feet like the freshly hatched penguins. At the very front was a big tall Gege leading them safely. Once they all crossed the road, they bowed him goodbye and went to their schools.

Xiao Zhan felt full, seeing the glorious beans full of life. He wondered how would munchkin look if he smiled like that.

Without wasting more time, Xiao Zhan reached the rehabilitation center and into the room.

"Hell –"

"Wang Yibo."

"Hm?" this kid really has the bad habit of cutting me. Xiao Zhan chuckled inside.

"My name is Wang Yibo." The youth informed, while not looking in his direction.

Sparks of joy fluttered in his eyes, and he introduced, "And I am Xiao Zhan."

Through the window Xiao Zhan could see the rustling trees, they were fluttering happily much like himself. There was flicker of giddiness inside, he felt jolly.

Although, he was still foul mouth, the grumpy kitten – Wang Yibo – was cooperating the most today. He took his medicine on time, he ate his food silently and most importantly he shared his name.

A part of himself. His identity.

"Why do you volunteer?" Wang Yibo asked out of the blue. He had been glaring at Xiao Zhan; who appeared to have more fuzzy stars around him than usual. Or maybe it's the medicine that's making him hallucinate?

"Is it bad to volunteer?" Xiao Zhan asked. He cheerful smile not receding.

Too many sparkles! Wang Yibo dodged all the invisible glitters shooting out that elder.

"Do you have that much free time?"

"Hmm, it appears little Wang is curios today. I know. How about we both answer each of our questions?" Xiao Zhan risked taking the shot. He was content with the name alone, if Wang Yibo didn't want to cooperate anymore. He would not mind. He was happy enough as it is.

"..."

"I'll answer first. I want to help when I have the power to." Xiao Zhan relayed truthfully and excitedly asked, "Do you have something you love?"

Maybe because he looked too happy, that Wang Yibo found it reluctant to ignore it but he reluctantly replied.

"...I like dancing."

He said it indifferently, expecting a casual response. But the voice that followed after almost made him go deaf with exhilaration.

"You're a dancer!"

Xiao Zhan was too thrilled to keep his voice in check. The grumpy kitten gave the impression to be involved in something strenuous but not even in his wildest dream Xiao Zhan imagined it to be something so delicate and harmonious.

"I guess you could say that." Wang Yibo responded, a little taken aback.

"So, what do you dance, Ballet?" Xiao Zhan asked genuinely curios. How would the kitten look twirling in the air while following the rhythm of the music? Something like that would be worth capturing.

"..."

"..That's the only name I know." Xiao Zhan confessed sheepishly.

"Pfft. There are other categories too you know. Like Hip-hop, freestyle, Batcha, Jazz, contemporary."

There were so many names, so many types. Wang Yibo kept talking, narrating everything he knew.

Xiao Zhan wasn't sure if he followed everything what the younger said, in fact, he wasn't even listening anymore. His eyes were focused on the munchkin, elaborating everything with such eagerness and passion. Xiao Zhan couldn't help but feel in awe.

"That's a lot of names." Xiao Zhan admitted honestly. "Which one do you do?"

He wanted to know, he wanted to learn more about the person than the dance itself. It felt like, he was given the permission to explore him.

"None. I can't dance anymore."

And suddenly the door at front was shut to his face. But Xiao Zhan didn't mind, he saw how Wang Yibo's shoulders dropped. He truly loved to dance.

But now he couldn't.

Xiao Zhan felt his pain more than he would've accounted for. After all, he was the same. He also had a passion for the things he did. He would be so helpless, if he couldn't do what he loved anymore.

Sympathy. Xiao Zhan wanted to make him feel better because he could almost live his torment.

"What abou –"

"I don't want to talk anymore. I'm tired. I want to sleep." Wang Yibo shut him out. But it was okay.

"Okay. Sleep well, little champion." Xiao Zhan blessed and turned off the lights.

. . .

Xiao Zhan was earlier than usual. Even earlier than the earliest he could arrive. The birds didn't even tweeted the first melody of the morning and he was already standing in front of very sleepy Wang Yibo.

Too lively early in the morning.

Xiao Zhan pulled out his phone with the playful grin. Just by the looks of it, Wang Yibo could tell that he was upto no good. He tapped the screen and a loud sound buzzed his ears.

"Sorry." Xiao Zhan immediately turned down the volume. Wang Yibo couldn't see what the elder was watching but the bizarre chilly music left no room for doubt.

"Oh, its salsa."

"That's not salsa that's Irish music." Wang Yibo corrected.

"Eh? What's the difference?" They all sounded similar to him.

"You're hopeless. Let me teach you." Wang Yibo suggested. And Xiao Zhan was more than ready to be taught the ways of this peculiar way that they moved their bodies.

He immediately scooted himself next to Wang Yibo.

"Who is he?" He asked giving his full attention.

"He's Michael Jackson."

"Wow! He's so good."

"I know right, he's best of the best." Wang Yibo declared. The two of them watched so many videos of different artists. Xiao Zhan lost count of how many different categories of dancing there were. They only stopped when the battery was dried clean and his phone powered off.

"Which one did you like the best?"

"They were all wonderful." Xiao Zhan praised. He had never seen such rhythm in the body before. The essence of the flow, the curves, the mood. It was truly beautiful. Maybe he could capture it as well?

"Thank You Yibo." Xiao Zhan sincerely said.

"For what?" Wang Yibo asked, suddenly a bit embarrassed. Even though it was Xiao Zhan who wanted to see all the videos, he would be lying if he said he didn't enjoy it either.

To have someone share something you love, just talking about someone who showed a genuine interest, he didn't realize how great it would feel.

So, maybe it wasn't Xiao Zhan who should be thanking him?

"For letting me see these wonderful videos. I would have stayed ignorant for my whole life." He chuckled.

It felt good to have you something you love acknowledged like that.

"Yeah, you do live under a rock, Old man."

"Hey! I'm only 25."

"Oh Gosh, too old."

The two begun to banter, picking up meaningless direction of their discourse but it felt different this time. Deep down they both felt grateful towards each other. The small holes were being fixed so the big ones won't bring hardship.

- - -

Sorry for errors and thank you for reading.