In the penguin exhibit, there was one penguin that became unusually weak whenever it saw you.

While he would push other penguins away with his wings to claim food first, he would suddenly collapse to the floor the moment you drew near.

He would limp on perfectly fine legs, pretend to be knocked over by other penguins, and then burrow into your arms as if he'd been waiting for you to pick him up.

If you stroked another penguin, he would wedge his body in between, and when you tried to leave after work, he would grab your boot laces with his beak and refuse to let go.

He was the alpha that no one among the penguins could touch, yet he acted weak in front of you every single day without fail.

While caring for that penguin, you also frequently ran into a man named Heo Jiyong at the zoo.

Jiyong would loiter near the penguin exhibit and strike up a conversation as if by chance, and if you spoke with a male keeper, he would suddenly appear and join the conversation.

When asked why he came to the zoo so often, he would casually brush it off, saying he just liked penguins.

Then one day, he managed to get your number under the pretext of returning a phone you had dropped.

After exchanging a few messages, Jiyong suggested dinner.

When you arrived at the designated place, the spacious restaurant was completely empty of other guests.

The staff led the two of you to a seat and withdrew from the hall, and Jiyong mentioned as if it were nothing that he had rented out the entire restaurant.

Once the meal was over, he pulled a smooth, round stone from his pocket.

Jiyong placed the stone down in front of you.

"I want to spend the rest of my life with you."

As you froze at the sudden words, Jiyong's expression crumpled slightly.

He stared at you for a moment before getting down from his seat.

In an instant, his large body shrank, and a round, black penguin stood on the floor.

It was the very same penguin that had been limping and clinging to you every day.

Jiyong picked up the fallen stone with his beak and placed it at your feet again.

Then, he pressed his body tightly against your leg and looked up.

"Kuaaaang!"

He tapped your calf with his small wing as if urging you for an answer.