Antonio led Marlene through a series of sharp twirls as fast-paced âm nhạc played through a small radio Antonio had found left on a park bench. Marlene laughed as Antonio held her close and held her in a dip as the last few chords hung in the air. Still holding her, he traced the side of her face with a finger. Then he started to close the distance between their lips. They looked up at the sound of someone clearing their throat.
“Skipper,” Marlene đã đưa ý kiến as Antonio pulled her upright with an irritated sigh.
“Yes, Skipper,” he đã đưa ý kiến with his voice edgy with sarcasm. He muttered something under his breath in Spanish.
Marlene cleared her throat. “Um, Antonio was just teaching me the flamenco,” she đã đưa ý kiến casually.
Skipper took another breath to muster some courage. “Marlene, I’m sorry I interrupted—”
“Again,” Antonio interrupted bitterly.
“—but,” Skipper continued, ignoring the remark, “I really need to talk to bạn about something.”
Before Marlene could reply, Antonio said, “Can’t it wait? bạn live in the same zoo. Why can’t bạn wait to tell her when she returns?” he asked impatiently. “After our date,” he added.
“Because this can’t wait. I need to talk to bạn now,” Skipper said, now regarding Marlene.
Marlene put a paw on Antonio’s chest and gently pushed away from him. “Antonio, I’ll just be a minute,” she đã đưa ý kiến softly.
Antonio sighed. “Fine,” he replied. He pecked her head and let her walk over to Skipper, who led her away from him.
Once they were a good distance away, he stopped and turned to Marlene, not meeting her eye. “Um, look, Marlene, I’m not really sure how to tell bạn this,” he đã đưa ý kiến studying a rock a few inches from his feet as if it were a UFO.
Marlene’s brow lowered with concern. She stepped closer to him. “Skipper, what’s wrong? bạn can tell me anything.”
Skipper swallowed the lump that was forming in his throat. “I know,” he replied hoarsely. “It’s just that, um, I'm not really good with these kinds of things.”
Marlene crossed her arms timidly. “Skipper, you’re scaring me. What’s going on?”
Skipper forced himself into eye contact. “It’s just that . . . These past few days, I’ve, uh, been thinking,” he đã đưa ý kiến looking from Marlene to about everywhere else.
“Okay, so bạn aren’t a zombie,” Marlene ruled out, trying to lighten the situation. “So what’s the bad news?”
“Well, it isn’t bad news exactly,” Skipper replied shrugging uncomfortably. “Depending on how it turns out, I guess,” he muttered.
Marlene shifted anxiously. “Skipper, will bạn just spit it out? Antonio is over there waiting for me.”
Skipper set her with a hard stare, suddenly feeling anger rise up in his throat. “Tell me, Marlene, what do bạn see in him?—truly?” he asked folding his flippers.
Marlene laughed and rolled her eyes. “Skipper, we’ve been over this. bạn don’t have to protect me,” she replied.
“This isn’t about protection, Marlene. I just want to know what’s so great about Mr. Spanish-britches,” Skipper snapped.
Marlene became defensive. “He has a name. What’s gotten into you, anyway? Antonio has been nothing but nice to me since we met. He’s been an absolute gentleman,” she argued.
“Yeah, that’s great,” Skipper replied impassively. “That’s—That’s really nice. But what does he know about you, hm?” Before Marlene could respond, he said, “Does he know that bạn wake up every morning at eight and go for a swim until eight-thirty? Does he know that as much as bạn tình yêu the sunshine, bạn tình yêu how raindrops look as they drip through the leaves?”
Marlene shifted uncomfortably. “I . . .”
“Does he know that your biggest pet peeve is feeling like bạn need someone?” Skipper continued. “Does he know that your dream ngày is a candle-lit bữa tối, bữa ăn tối under the moonlight with oysters on half-shells to spell out your name?”
“Skipper, stop!” Marlene interrupted. When Skipper closed his beak, she said, “What is your point in all this?”
“My point is that no matter how much we argue hoặc disagree, no matter how much bạn infuriate me with your các câu hỏi about information I’ve told bạn is classified, and no matter how many times I try to deny it, I still care about you, Marlene—a lot,” Skipper replied.
Before Marlene could reply, Antonio came striding up to them. “Marlene, I thought bạn đã đưa ý kiến it’d be a minute. Is he bothering you?” he đã đưa ý kiến glaring at Skipper irritably.
“No,” Marlene replied quickly, “he was just about to tell me something.”
“Well, can bạn please go ahead and say it?” Antonio persisted.
Skipper glared back at him. His presence should’ve bugged him, but instead, he ignored it. There was no turning back now.
“Yeah, I’ll say it,” Skipper replied sharply. “I don’t care how much thêm time bạn spend with him, Marlene. He will never know bạn like I do. He will never understand bạn like I do. With everything we’ve been through together, I know you. Who saved bạn when bạn were kidnapped bởi the rats? Me. Who protected bạn when the badgers overreacted and started threatening you? Me. Who came to your rescue when bạn gave in to temptation and ate the gorillas’ plantains? Me.”
“What are bạn trying to say, Skipper? That I’m helpless?” Marlene asked defensively.
“You’re not helpless, Marlene. Far from it. But I have been there for bạn at the times bạn needed it most,” Skipper argued.
“Then what are bạn saying?” Marlene pressed.
“I’m saying that I may not be a romantic, hoặc take interest in sentimental things, hoặc can teach bạn the flamingo—”
“Flamenco,” Antonio corrected irritably.
“Whatever,” Skipper đã đưa ý kiến impatiently.
“Skipper, what are you getting at?” Marlene urged again.
“Hoover Dam, Marlene,” Skipper đã đưa ý kiến with a roll of his eyes. “I’m saying I’m in tình yêu with you,” he đã đưa ý kiến finally, feeling as if Burt had been sitting on him for hours and he finally got off of him.
Antonio clenched his fists. “Why bạn rotten little—” He started ranting off insults in Spanish, which Skipper was glad Marlene couldn’t translate. After he got it out of his system, he switched back to English. “I knew there was something there when we were talking about Marlene! I could see it in your eyes!”
Marlene—who’d remained staring and completely speechless—let that sink in. “Wait, what are bạn talking about, when we were talking about Marlene?”
Antonio sighed. “When I first met you, I was head over heels already. bạn đã đưa ý kiến that Skipper knew bạn very well, so I asked for his help in how to court you. I was afraid of messing things up,” he admitted taking her paw into both of his.
Marlene held eye contact for a moment, and then she looked at Skipper. “So . . . the flowers, and the oysters, and the swim in the pond—”
“At night,” Skipper broke in softly. “The moonlight, it, um,” he cleared his throat, “looks pretty good against your eyes,” he finished awkwardly. He never imagined actually saying those words to Marlene. Plus, Antonio was still glaring at him, and he wasn’t sure when he’d take the opportunity to take him down. Well, try to, anyway.
Marlene felt her cheeks burn under her fur. She didn’t know how to feel. She wanted to feel angry. She finally found someone she really likes, and now Skipper tells her this? Where would that leave Antonio? Their friendship? She also wanted to be touched. All this time, she’d seen Skipper as this tough commando chim cánh cụt that actually had a lot of tim, trái tim (although he’d never admit that), and that’s one of the many reasons he was her friend. She also felt conflicted. Sure, Skipper was a great guy, but could she really say she returned his feelings, especially after spending this time with Antonio? She’d been confident that Antonio was her perfect match, as if this were what Fate intended for them. Now she wasn’t so sure.
Before she could think on it any more, Antonio started forward. “You listen to me, pingüino, I don’t know what game bạn think you’re playing here, but I am prepared to fight for Marlene right now,” he đã đưa ý kiến pointing an angry finger at him.
Skipper narrowed his eyes. “First of all, this isn’t a game. Look, I realize my timing is terrible, and bạn have no idea how sorry I am for that. It just took seeing Marlene slipping away from me to realize that I didn’t want her to. Second, I’m not fighting for Marlene. She’s not a prize to be won. If she hates me forever and wants me to go away, then it’s her place to tell me that. Frankly, I’m not leaving unless she does tell me that.”
Antonio scowled and turned his attention to Marlene, whose tim, trái tim picked up speed as she realized he was waiting for her to tell Skipper to leave. She looked at Skipper, who was watching her with an indecipherable expression. She couldn’t tell if she was waiting for her to push Antonio away, bọc her arms around his neck, and tell him she loved him too, hoặc if he was expecting her to tell him to take a hike and stay with Antonio. She looked between the two and stepped back.
“Actually, um,” she started quietly as she started fidgeting with her fingers, “I think I need to be alone for a while. I need to think.”
Antonio looked hurt. “What’s there to think about? I thought bạn liked being with me,” he đã đưa ý kiến with betrayal seeping into his tone.
“I do,” Marlene đã đưa ý kiến quickly. “Antonio, please, I really do. It’s just . . . I don’t really know how to feel right now. I need to clear my head. Please understand that.”
“I understand,” Antonio snapped, turning his attention back to Skipper. “I understand that he is trying to break us up!”
“I assure bạn that is not my intention,” Skipper argued.
“Oh, don’t give me that!” Antonio đã đưa ý kiến stepping closer to him so they were face to face. “You haven’t liked me from the moment bạn met me! bạn never trusted me!”
Skipper glared up at him, unfazed bởi his threatening tone hoặc posture. “Yeah, I never trust anyone when I first meet them, and it takes me a while before I do. And the main reason I didn’t like bạn was because bạn had what I wanted,” he đã đưa ý kiến with his muscles tensing.
Antonio clenched his fists. “I swear, bạn are really starting to—”
“Stop,” Marlene đã đưa ý kiến stepping between them and pushing them apart. “Both of you, you’re diễn xuất childish.”
“Childish?” Antonio repeated incredulously. “Is it childish to put this chim cánh cụt in his place?” he asked pointing across her at him.
“Yes,” Marlene replied pushing his arm down, giving him an irritated look. “I think we all need some space.”
Antonio and Skipper glared at each other again. Then Skipper nodded.
“I agree,” Skipper said.
Antonio sighed heavily, still trying to knock Skipper off his feet just bởi staring at him. Then he said, “Fine,” and he turned on his heel and started off into the park.
Skipper watched Marlene as she watched Antonio leave them standing there. He couldn’t help but feel guilty for what he’d just thrown her into.
“Marlene, I’m—I’m really sorry,” he đã đưa ý kiến softly.
Marlene slowly turned her head to look at him with . . . what? Skipper couldn’t tell if it was hurt, resentment, hatred, hoặc uncertainty. Without replying, she turned around and left him standing there.
— § —
Antonio stormed over to the cây that he and Marlene were supposed to be having their date. He should’ve just dropped the idea of enlisting Skipper’s help from the start, but he was too blinded bởi his own feelings to see that there was something behind his descriptions of Marlene. Why did he even agree to help him anyway, if he’s so in love with her? It was like he was planning on ripping his tim, trái tim out from the beginning. He was debating on if this was thêm humiliating than being cheated on.
He kicked over the radio, which inadvertently turned it back on. The song he’d serenaded Marlene with was playing. He rolled his eyes.
“Really? Now?” he muttered as he reached down and pressed the off button, only to discover it was stuck. He grunted in frustration and picked it up, trying to get the stupid button to go down. When it wouldn’t, he turned it over, pulled the battery cover off and threw it over his shoulder, and then he ripped the batteries out and tossed everything to the ground.
His tim, trái tim rate slowly started to level and he sat down in the grass, resting his elbows on his knees and putting his face in his paws. He started to dread what Marlene would say to him. Sure, they had fun together, and they enjoyed each other’s company, but did he really stand a chance against Skipper? He was right. He did know her. As much as Antonio wanted to believe he understood Marlene better because of how they clicked, he had nothing on Skipper’s years of knowing her.
He suddenly felt overwhelmed with doubt. What if Marlene decided she loved him, too? Antonio knew that he’d only known Marlene for a short time, but he didn’t want to lose her like this. She was so beautiful and funny. He loved the way she laughed. He loved talking to her; he could do it for hours. Most of all, he loved the way she fit in his arms. He never thought he’d fall for someone this hard again.
He sighed and ran his paw over his face, resting it behind his neck. He had the worst luck with women.
— § —
Skipper leaned back against the tree, out of breath, as he rubbed his knuckles. He’d just spent the last several phút releasing his frustration and anxiety bởi punching the cây until his knuckles started to go numb.
He started questioning what exactly he was so angry about. Maybe it was because Antonio seemed so arrogant, like he was the obvious choice for Marlene. hoặc maybe he was angry because Antonio was the obvious choice. I mean, sure, Skipper knew just about everything there was to know about Marlene, but did that mean he deserved her thêm than he did? Plus, he hadn’t had the best approach hoặc timing in telling her how he felt. He felt like an idiot, as if he’d made a big mistake and made everything worse.
What chance did he have against Antonio, anyway? Sure, Skipper knew her and cared about her, but Antonio was everything Skipper wasn’t: charming, romantic, and she probably thought he was better looking, too. He had thêm time to do things with her, whereas he had his duty to protect.
He started feeling overwhelmed with guilt. How could he be so selfish? He was so determined to let Marlene know how he felt that he didn’t take how she felt into account. Whether she felt anything for him hoặc not didn’t matter. He’d just made everything confusing for her, and basically forced her to choose between him and Antonio. Either way, their friendship would be strained. If she chose Antonio, things would obviously be awkward between them, maybe indefinitely, whether it worked out between them hoặc not. If she chose Skipper, she’d be left wondering how things might’ve worked out between she and Antonio. And whomever she chose, she’d be left with doubt, hoping she made the right choice. If things didn’t work out with one of them, she wouldn’t be able to go to the other without making them feel like a một giây choice.
He sighed and rested his head back on the tree. First woman he falls in tình yêu with, he loses her number and never sees her again. The tiếp theo one he watched regurgitate Fred (how attractive). Now this? He sure knew how to pick ‘em.
— § —
Marlene stared at her reflection in the pond. What the steaming oysters was she supposed to do about this? She had to choose between two great guys, and choosing one might mean losing the other.
She was still in a state of shock. The idea of Skipper having those kinds of feelings for her seemed too unbelievable. Skipper was her friend. Sure, there might have been a brief time that she’d let the thought of him as thêm than a friend enter her mind, but she’d shoved the thought from her head almost as soon as it’d entered. They were friends. They always had been. Even if he is in tình yêu with her, why couldn’t he bring it up before now? Now? When she’d just met Antonio? He knew that she was head over heels for this guy!
Then again, Skipper had always been there for her, through thick and thin. No matter what, he’d drop everything when she needed him. He always seemed to know exactly what to say to make her feel better. Antonio didn’t know her like that.
But he also wasn’t được trao the chance to know her like that. How could she know he wouldn’t do the same for her? Antonio was so kind and romantic. And he knew Spanish guitar, which was just the icing on the cake. He made her feel special. Well, so did Skipper, in his own little way.
She grunted in frustration and slapped her paw against her reflection in the water, distorting the image as the water rippled. Then she sighed. They would be expecting a decision. But at this point she wasn’t sure she was ready to make it, and was afraid she never would be.
— § —
Skipper took a deep breath as he approached Antonio from behind. He was sitting in the grass, staring at Marlene’s tiny figure sitting tiếp theo to the pond in the distance. He stopped bởi the nearest cây and leaned against it, gently clearing his throat to get his attention.
Antonio turned around and grimaced. “What do you want?” he demanded.
“I want to talk,” Skipper replied, “civilly.”
Antonio got to his feet and faced him. “What is there to say? You’ve already ruined my relationship with Marlene. What thêm can bạn do to me?”
“Cut the crap, Antonio,” Skipper snapped. “I’m here to talk to bạn about Marlene.”
“Haven’t we done enough talking about her?” Antonio đã đưa ý kiến impatiently.
“If you’d shut up and listen to what I have to say, you’d know this conversation is necessary,” Skipper replied casually. Antonio sighed and folded his arms, waiting for him to continue. “Look, I never meant for any of this to happen, but there’s no going back now, so we might as well deal with it. bạn care about Marlene, right?”
“Are bạn deaf?” Antonio snapped. “Of course I do. That’s all I’ve been talking about for the past two days!”
“Well, I do too,” Skipper replied, ignoring his tone. “I want what’s best for her, and I want whatever makes her happy. If bạn really do care about her, you’ll agree.”
“Well, of course I want her to be happy,” Antonio replied. “What are bạn trying to say? Are bạn so confident that she’ll choose bạn that bạn want to make sure I stay out of the way?”
“What I’m saying,” Skipper accentuated, “is that whatever Marlene decides is her decision and we’re going to respect it. Right?”
Antonio sighed and looked down. “Right,” he đã đưa ý kiến quietly. He turned back to him. “Why?” he asked breathily. “Why did bạn even agree to help me if bạn were just going to ruin everything?”
Skipper looked away, breathing deeply. “I told you. I never meant for this to happen. Seeing bạn with her made me realize that I wanted to be,” he đã đưa ý kiến softly. He looked at him again. “You have good taste in women. Marlene is amazing.”
Antonio scoffed. “Please. The first woman I fall in tình yêu with cheats on me, and now someone is trying to steal the tiếp theo woman I fall in tình yêu with away before it even begins!” he đã đưa ý kiến spitefully.
Skipper studied the hurt in his eyes and nodded slowly. “For what it’s worth, I think you’re better for her. I wasn’t thinking straight when I decided to come out here. What chance would I have? I’m not romantic, I’m always busy, and I’m probably the most stubborn man she’s ever met. bạn have everything she’s ever wanted in a mate.”
Antonio laughed. “Are bạn kidding me? bạn actually think she’s going to choose me? She’s known me for two days. She hasn’t even had the chance to fall in tình yêu with me even if she wants to. You’ve known her for years. Whenever I’d be with her, all she’d be able to think about is you, now. Wondering if bạn were the better choice.”
“What’s it matter if I know her?” Skipper đã đưa ý kiến pushing himself from the tree. “Maybe I do. Doesn’t mean she’ll want me.”
Antonio scoffed again. “And bạn say I don’t know anything about women. That’s exactly what they want. They want someone who knows them better than they know themselves. That someone is you,” he đã đưa ý kiến pointing at him. “You didn’t give me a chance to know her like that, and now I’ll never have that chance.”
“Hey, don’t bạn go around diễn xuất like bạn know what Marlene wants,” Skipper đã đưa ý kiến pointing back at him. “You can’t go around comparing her to all other women. Marlene is her own person and is fully capable of making her own decisions, not what she thinks she wants just because she’s a woman.”
Antonio rolled his eyes. “What, are bạn some kind of psychologist?” he đã đưa ý kiến sarcastically.
“Um . . .”
The two turned at the sound of Marlene’s voice, who’d just approached a moment ago. She was standing a few yards away, still fidgeting with her fingers.
“Marlene,” Skipper and Antonio đã đưa ý kiến simultaneously. They glared at each other again.
“Look, um,” Marlene started, trying and failing to make eye contact, “I just don’t think I can do this right now. I need thêm time. I’m sorry, I just— This is just a lot thrown at me in one night,” she đã đưa ý kiến folding her arms over her chest.
“I understand,” Skipper đã đưa ý kiến with a nod.
“Agreed,” Antonio đã đưa ý kiến sideways glancing at him before looking at Marlene again. “I understand as well.”
“I’ll walk bạn back to the zoo,” Skipper offered stepping forward, only to be stopped bởi Antonio’s arm across his chest.
“No, I’ll walk bạn back,” Antonio said, although he was glaring at Skipper.
“I live right tiếp theo to her,” Skipper argued shoving his arm away.
“And I have only had a few opportunities to walk Marlene trang chủ while you’ve obviously had many. bạn can at least have the decency to give me this,” Antonio shot back, once again getting in his face.
“So now you’re questioning my decency?” Skipper đã đưa ý kiến clenching his fists.
“Stop it!” Marlene cried over their senseless arguing. “I’m stressing out over this as it is! Seeing bạn two argue is not going to make anything better!”
Antonio and Skipper glared at each other again before they backed off.
“Sorry, Marlene,” Skipper said.
“My apologies, mi amor,” Antonio followed.
“Good,” Marlene said, trying to relax her shoulders. “I’ll walk myself, thank you.” She turned and started back for the zoo.
“Marlene, wait,” Antonio called after. Skipper rolled his eyes as he followed Antonio to Marlene, who stopped in her tracks, turned, and folded her arms impatiently. Antonio got down on one knee in front of her. “Before bạn go, I just want bạn to know that I care about you, a lot. thêm than I’ve ever cared for anyone. I’m not sure if I can live with not knowing where our relationship would have gone.”
Skipper grabbed his shoulder and pulled him to his feet. “What the halibut is wrong with you?” he snapped. “She’s already under enough pressure because of me, and bạn go guilt-tripping her!”
“Who’s guilt-tripping? What, bạn get to profess your tình yêu for her, but I can’t?” Antonio argued.
“Yeah, but I’m not gonna make her feel obligated to choose me!” Skipper shot back.
“Really?” Antonio snapped sarcastically. “Then what was all that about I was there when! It was me that did this! I know bạn better than anybody!?”
“Oh my God!” Marlene exclaimed. “You two are impossible! I can’t believe bạn can’t go thirty seconds without arguing! Not to mention over me! At this point I’m not sure I want either of you! As a friend hoặc anything more! I am tired and confused and I just want to go home! Without bạn two!" She started taking deep breaths and started digging her claws into her palms. Antonio and Skipper stood bởi watching her, both unsure of how to respond without making her thêm upset.
Marlene turned on her heel and tried to walk, but became lightheaded and dropped to her knees, clutching her head. Skipper and Antonio appeared at her side.
“Marlene, what’s wrong?” Skipper asked as he and Antonio tried to steady her.
Marlene shook her head and looked phía trước, chuyển tiếp as she suddenly got tunnel vision. She stared longingly out across the park. Run, her instincts told her. Just get away from here as fast as possible. Do it!
She shut her eyes and gripped her head again. “Skipper,” she whispered, barely audible. “Skipper, it’s happening . . .”
Skipper furrowed his brow in confusion at first, but then his eyes widened with realization. “Antonio, we need to get her back to the zoo now,” he đã đưa ý kiến urgently.
“What? What’s going on?” Antonio asked, although he helped Skipper get Marlene to her feet without hesitation.
“No time to explain, come on!” Skipper ordered pulling Marlene forward. He and Antonio got about thirty feet ahead before Marlene jerked away from them.
“No, we won’t get there in time!” Marlene đã đưa ý kiến falling to the ground and clutching the grass. Be free, Marlene, her instincts screamed. You’re meant to be free. She growled, mainly in frustration that she couldn’t stop it. “You have to get away from me!”
“Skipper, what is wrong with her?” Antonio asked in a panic.
Skipper knelt at Marlene’s side, ignoring Antonio. “Marlene,” he đã đưa ý kiến calmly, “listen to me. You’re going to be fine. bạn have to fight it. bạn can fight it,” he encouraged.
Marlene shook her head as she cried out in frustration. She crouched lower and put her forehead to the ground trying and failing to calm her tim, trái tim rate. Her adrenaline had taken over.
“Antonio, do bạn have your guitar?” Skipper asked suddenly.
Antonio blinked. “Well, yes, but wh—”
“Then go get it now!” Skipper ordered.
Antonio questioned why he was so interested in âm nhạc at a time like this, but he leapt onto all fours and ran to get his desired item. Skipper cautiously put a flipper on Marlene’s shoulder.
“Marlene, fight it,” Skipper repeated. “You are Marlene. bạn tình yêu sunshine and flowers. bạn tình yêu music. bạn always try to find the best in people. You—”
Marlene started to snarl and the cỏ she was grasping snapped from the ground. You can be free, Marlene. All bạn have to do is run.
Antonio showed up a một giây later with the guitar. “Wh-What now?” he asked, causing Marlene to look up. Antonio dropped the đàn ghi ta, guitar in surprise. Her lông, lông thú stood on end and her eyes were dilated. She bared her fangs and growled.
“Antonio, play something now!” Skipper yelled. When Antonio remained Nữ hoàng băng giá with shock and horror, Skipper snatched the đàn ghi ta, guitar and started playing.
Instantly, Marlene’s body relaxed and she directed her attention to the beautiful sound. Her claws retracted and she started swaying peacefully to the music. Skipper continued to play and Marlene purred blissfully. Finally, after a few minutes, her tim, trái tim rate started to calm and her eyes returned to normal. As she came back to reality, she shook her head and smoothed her lông, lông thú down. Skipper continued to play for a few moments just to ensure she’d fully returned.
Taking slow, deep breaths, Marlene slowly rose to her feet, holding her head as the fuzziness cleared from her mind. When she came to, she rubbed her eyes and looked up. Skipper had stopped playing, but he was still holding the đàn ghi ta, guitar across his chest. Antonio was still staring, mouth agape, and eyes wide. Skipper laid the đàn ghi ta, guitar down and came to her side.
“Marlene, are bạn okay?” he asked gently.
Marlene nodded slowly. “Yeah, I-I think so. Were . . . Were bạn just—?”
“It doesn’t matter, Marlene,” Skipper broke in. “Let’s just get bạn home.”
“Wait,” Antonio đã đưa ý kiến holding up his paws, finally coming back to reality himself, “what just happened?”
Marlene and Skipper exchanged a glance. Marlene stepped forward. “Well,” she đã đưa ý kiến uneasily, “remember when Skipper made that bình luận about me staying sane the other day? He was talking about . . . that. Remember when I told bạn I was born in captivity? Well, I used to have this problem when I left the zoo. The open spaces and the freedom of it got to my head and I’d go a little, erm, feral,” she explained as she started fidgeting again.
Antonio nodded slowly. “And . . . does this happen often?” he asked.
“No! No, not any more,” Marlene answered quickly. “I think that time, um, my adrenaline sort of got the better of me,” she đã đưa ý kiến awkwardly.
Antonio smiled with relief. “That’s good,” he said.
Marlene became defensive. “So what if it did? Would that be difficult for bạn to accept?” she asked folding her arms.
Antonio frowned. “Well, not exactly, I just—”
“Just what? Have this fear that we’ll be out here together and I’ll freak out on you?” Marlene demanded.
“No! Marlene, you’re taking this the wrong way!” Antonio said.
“Then tell me how I should be taking it,” Marlene challenged.
Antonio searched the ground. “I . . . um . . .”
“Yeah,” Marlene scoffed. “That’s what I thought,” she đã đưa ý kiến turning on her heel and storming back to the zoo.
‘Marlene!” Antonio called stepping forward, only to be stopped bởi Skipper’s flipper across his chest.
“I think you’ve đã đưa ý kiến enough,” he đã đưa ý kiến giving him that death glare again. Antonio swallowed and backed off. Skipper turned and followed Marlene, leaving him alone with his thoughts.
— § —
Translations:
pingüino = penguin
mi amor = my love
“Skipper,” Marlene đã đưa ý kiến as Antonio pulled her upright with an irritated sigh.
“Yes, Skipper,” he đã đưa ý kiến with his voice edgy with sarcasm. He muttered something under his breath in Spanish.
Marlene cleared her throat. “Um, Antonio was just teaching me the flamenco,” she đã đưa ý kiến casually.
Skipper took another breath to muster some courage. “Marlene, I’m sorry I interrupted—”
“Again,” Antonio interrupted bitterly.
“—but,” Skipper continued, ignoring the remark, “I really need to talk to bạn about something.”
Before Marlene could reply, Antonio said, “Can’t it wait? bạn live in the same zoo. Why can’t bạn wait to tell her when she returns?” he asked impatiently. “After our date,” he added.
“Because this can’t wait. I need to talk to bạn now,” Skipper said, now regarding Marlene.
Marlene put a paw on Antonio’s chest and gently pushed away from him. “Antonio, I’ll just be a minute,” she đã đưa ý kiến softly.
Antonio sighed. “Fine,” he replied. He pecked her head and let her walk over to Skipper, who led her away from him.
Once they were a good distance away, he stopped and turned to Marlene, not meeting her eye. “Um, look, Marlene, I’m not really sure how to tell bạn this,” he đã đưa ý kiến studying a rock a few inches from his feet as if it were a UFO.
Marlene’s brow lowered with concern. She stepped closer to him. “Skipper, what’s wrong? bạn can tell me anything.”
Skipper swallowed the lump that was forming in his throat. “I know,” he replied hoarsely. “It’s just that, um, I'm not really good with these kinds of things.”
Marlene crossed her arms timidly. “Skipper, you’re scaring me. What’s going on?”
Skipper forced himself into eye contact. “It’s just that . . . These past few days, I’ve, uh, been thinking,” he đã đưa ý kiến looking from Marlene to about everywhere else.
“Okay, so bạn aren’t a zombie,” Marlene ruled out, trying to lighten the situation. “So what’s the bad news?”
“Well, it isn’t bad news exactly,” Skipper replied shrugging uncomfortably. “Depending on how it turns out, I guess,” he muttered.
Marlene shifted anxiously. “Skipper, will bạn just spit it out? Antonio is over there waiting for me.”
Skipper set her with a hard stare, suddenly feeling anger rise up in his throat. “Tell me, Marlene, what do bạn see in him?—truly?” he asked folding his flippers.
Marlene laughed and rolled her eyes. “Skipper, we’ve been over this. bạn don’t have to protect me,” she replied.
“This isn’t about protection, Marlene. I just want to know what’s so great about Mr. Spanish-britches,” Skipper snapped.
Marlene became defensive. “He has a name. What’s gotten into you, anyway? Antonio has been nothing but nice to me since we met. He’s been an absolute gentleman,” she argued.
“Yeah, that’s great,” Skipper replied impassively. “That’s—That’s really nice. But what does he know about you, hm?” Before Marlene could respond, he said, “Does he know that bạn wake up every morning at eight and go for a swim until eight-thirty? Does he know that as much as bạn tình yêu the sunshine, bạn tình yêu how raindrops look as they drip through the leaves?”
Marlene shifted uncomfortably. “I . . .”
“Does he know that your biggest pet peeve is feeling like bạn need someone?” Skipper continued. “Does he know that your dream ngày is a candle-lit bữa tối, bữa ăn tối under the moonlight with oysters on half-shells to spell out your name?”
“Skipper, stop!” Marlene interrupted. When Skipper closed his beak, she said, “What is your point in all this?”
“My point is that no matter how much we argue hoặc disagree, no matter how much bạn infuriate me with your các câu hỏi about information I’ve told bạn is classified, and no matter how many times I try to deny it, I still care about you, Marlene—a lot,” Skipper replied.
Before Marlene could reply, Antonio came striding up to them. “Marlene, I thought bạn đã đưa ý kiến it’d be a minute. Is he bothering you?” he đã đưa ý kiến glaring at Skipper irritably.
“No,” Marlene replied quickly, “he was just about to tell me something.”
“Well, can bạn please go ahead and say it?” Antonio persisted.
Skipper glared back at him. His presence should’ve bugged him, but instead, he ignored it. There was no turning back now.
“Yeah, I’ll say it,” Skipper replied sharply. “I don’t care how much thêm time bạn spend with him, Marlene. He will never know bạn like I do. He will never understand bạn like I do. With everything we’ve been through together, I know you. Who saved bạn when bạn were kidnapped bởi the rats? Me. Who protected bạn when the badgers overreacted and started threatening you? Me. Who came to your rescue when bạn gave in to temptation and ate the gorillas’ plantains? Me.”
“What are bạn trying to say, Skipper? That I’m helpless?” Marlene asked defensively.
“You’re not helpless, Marlene. Far from it. But I have been there for bạn at the times bạn needed it most,” Skipper argued.
“Then what are bạn saying?” Marlene pressed.
“I’m saying that I may not be a romantic, hoặc take interest in sentimental things, hoặc can teach bạn the flamingo—”
“Flamenco,” Antonio corrected irritably.
“Whatever,” Skipper đã đưa ý kiến impatiently.
“Skipper, what are you getting at?” Marlene urged again.
“Hoover Dam, Marlene,” Skipper đã đưa ý kiến with a roll of his eyes. “I’m saying I’m in tình yêu with you,” he đã đưa ý kiến finally, feeling as if Burt had been sitting on him for hours and he finally got off of him.
Antonio clenched his fists. “Why bạn rotten little—” He started ranting off insults in Spanish, which Skipper was glad Marlene couldn’t translate. After he got it out of his system, he switched back to English. “I knew there was something there when we were talking about Marlene! I could see it in your eyes!”
Marlene—who’d remained staring and completely speechless—let that sink in. “Wait, what are bạn talking about, when we were talking about Marlene?”
Antonio sighed. “When I first met you, I was head over heels already. bạn đã đưa ý kiến that Skipper knew bạn very well, so I asked for his help in how to court you. I was afraid of messing things up,” he admitted taking her paw into both of his.
Marlene held eye contact for a moment, and then she looked at Skipper. “So . . . the flowers, and the oysters, and the swim in the pond—”
“At night,” Skipper broke in softly. “The moonlight, it, um,” he cleared his throat, “looks pretty good against your eyes,” he finished awkwardly. He never imagined actually saying those words to Marlene. Plus, Antonio was still glaring at him, and he wasn’t sure when he’d take the opportunity to take him down. Well, try to, anyway.
Marlene felt her cheeks burn under her fur. She didn’t know how to feel. She wanted to feel angry. She finally found someone she really likes, and now Skipper tells her this? Where would that leave Antonio? Their friendship? She also wanted to be touched. All this time, she’d seen Skipper as this tough commando chim cánh cụt that actually had a lot of tim, trái tim (although he’d never admit that), and that’s one of the many reasons he was her friend. She also felt conflicted. Sure, Skipper was a great guy, but could she really say she returned his feelings, especially after spending this time with Antonio? She’d been confident that Antonio was her perfect match, as if this were what Fate intended for them. Now she wasn’t so sure.
Before she could think on it any more, Antonio started forward. “You listen to me, pingüino, I don’t know what game bạn think you’re playing here, but I am prepared to fight for Marlene right now,” he đã đưa ý kiến pointing an angry finger at him.
Skipper narrowed his eyes. “First of all, this isn’t a game. Look, I realize my timing is terrible, and bạn have no idea how sorry I am for that. It just took seeing Marlene slipping away from me to realize that I didn’t want her to. Second, I’m not fighting for Marlene. She’s not a prize to be won. If she hates me forever and wants me to go away, then it’s her place to tell me that. Frankly, I’m not leaving unless she does tell me that.”
Antonio scowled and turned his attention to Marlene, whose tim, trái tim picked up speed as she realized he was waiting for her to tell Skipper to leave. She looked at Skipper, who was watching her with an indecipherable expression. She couldn’t tell if she was waiting for her to push Antonio away, bọc her arms around his neck, and tell him she loved him too, hoặc if he was expecting her to tell him to take a hike and stay with Antonio. She looked between the two and stepped back.
“Actually, um,” she started quietly as she started fidgeting with her fingers, “I think I need to be alone for a while. I need to think.”
Antonio looked hurt. “What’s there to think about? I thought bạn liked being with me,” he đã đưa ý kiến with betrayal seeping into his tone.
“I do,” Marlene đã đưa ý kiến quickly. “Antonio, please, I really do. It’s just . . . I don’t really know how to feel right now. I need to clear my head. Please understand that.”
“I understand,” Antonio snapped, turning his attention back to Skipper. “I understand that he is trying to break us up!”
“I assure bạn that is not my intention,” Skipper argued.
“Oh, don’t give me that!” Antonio đã đưa ý kiến stepping closer to him so they were face to face. “You haven’t liked me from the moment bạn met me! bạn never trusted me!”
Skipper glared up at him, unfazed bởi his threatening tone hoặc posture. “Yeah, I never trust anyone when I first meet them, and it takes me a while before I do. And the main reason I didn’t like bạn was because bạn had what I wanted,” he đã đưa ý kiến with his muscles tensing.
Antonio clenched his fists. “I swear, bạn are really starting to—”
“Stop,” Marlene đã đưa ý kiến stepping between them and pushing them apart. “Both of you, you’re diễn xuất childish.”
“Childish?” Antonio repeated incredulously. “Is it childish to put this chim cánh cụt in his place?” he asked pointing across her at him.
“Yes,” Marlene replied pushing his arm down, giving him an irritated look. “I think we all need some space.”
Antonio and Skipper glared at each other again. Then Skipper nodded.
“I agree,” Skipper said.
Antonio sighed heavily, still trying to knock Skipper off his feet just bởi staring at him. Then he said, “Fine,” and he turned on his heel and started off into the park.
Skipper watched Marlene as she watched Antonio leave them standing there. He couldn’t help but feel guilty for what he’d just thrown her into.
“Marlene, I’m—I’m really sorry,” he đã đưa ý kiến softly.
Marlene slowly turned her head to look at him with . . . what? Skipper couldn’t tell if it was hurt, resentment, hatred, hoặc uncertainty. Without replying, she turned around and left him standing there.
— § —
Antonio stormed over to the cây that he and Marlene were supposed to be having their date. He should’ve just dropped the idea of enlisting Skipper’s help from the start, but he was too blinded bởi his own feelings to see that there was something behind his descriptions of Marlene. Why did he even agree to help him anyway, if he’s so in love with her? It was like he was planning on ripping his tim, trái tim out from the beginning. He was debating on if this was thêm humiliating than being cheated on.
He kicked over the radio, which inadvertently turned it back on. The song he’d serenaded Marlene with was playing. He rolled his eyes.
“Really? Now?” he muttered as he reached down and pressed the off button, only to discover it was stuck. He grunted in frustration and picked it up, trying to get the stupid button to go down. When it wouldn’t, he turned it over, pulled the battery cover off and threw it over his shoulder, and then he ripped the batteries out and tossed everything to the ground.
His tim, trái tim rate slowly started to level and he sat down in the grass, resting his elbows on his knees and putting his face in his paws. He started to dread what Marlene would say to him. Sure, they had fun together, and they enjoyed each other’s company, but did he really stand a chance against Skipper? He was right. He did know her. As much as Antonio wanted to believe he understood Marlene better because of how they clicked, he had nothing on Skipper’s years of knowing her.
He suddenly felt overwhelmed with doubt. What if Marlene decided she loved him, too? Antonio knew that he’d only known Marlene for a short time, but he didn’t want to lose her like this. She was so beautiful and funny. He loved the way she laughed. He loved talking to her; he could do it for hours. Most of all, he loved the way she fit in his arms. He never thought he’d fall for someone this hard again.
He sighed and ran his paw over his face, resting it behind his neck. He had the worst luck with women.
— § —
Skipper leaned back against the tree, out of breath, as he rubbed his knuckles. He’d just spent the last several phút releasing his frustration and anxiety bởi punching the cây until his knuckles started to go numb.
He started questioning what exactly he was so angry about. Maybe it was because Antonio seemed so arrogant, like he was the obvious choice for Marlene. hoặc maybe he was angry because Antonio was the obvious choice. I mean, sure, Skipper knew just about everything there was to know about Marlene, but did that mean he deserved her thêm than he did? Plus, he hadn’t had the best approach hoặc timing in telling her how he felt. He felt like an idiot, as if he’d made a big mistake and made everything worse.
What chance did he have against Antonio, anyway? Sure, Skipper knew her and cared about her, but Antonio was everything Skipper wasn’t: charming, romantic, and she probably thought he was better looking, too. He had thêm time to do things with her, whereas he had his duty to protect.
He started feeling overwhelmed with guilt. How could he be so selfish? He was so determined to let Marlene know how he felt that he didn’t take how she felt into account. Whether she felt anything for him hoặc not didn’t matter. He’d just made everything confusing for her, and basically forced her to choose between him and Antonio. Either way, their friendship would be strained. If she chose Antonio, things would obviously be awkward between them, maybe indefinitely, whether it worked out between them hoặc not. If she chose Skipper, she’d be left wondering how things might’ve worked out between she and Antonio. And whomever she chose, she’d be left with doubt, hoping she made the right choice. If things didn’t work out with one of them, she wouldn’t be able to go to the other without making them feel like a một giây choice.
He sighed and rested his head back on the tree. First woman he falls in tình yêu with, he loses her number and never sees her again. The tiếp theo one he watched regurgitate Fred (how attractive). Now this? He sure knew how to pick ‘em.
— § —
Marlene stared at her reflection in the pond. What the steaming oysters was she supposed to do about this? She had to choose between two great guys, and choosing one might mean losing the other.
She was still in a state of shock. The idea of Skipper having those kinds of feelings for her seemed too unbelievable. Skipper was her friend. Sure, there might have been a brief time that she’d let the thought of him as thêm than a friend enter her mind, but she’d shoved the thought from her head almost as soon as it’d entered. They were friends. They always had been. Even if he is in tình yêu with her, why couldn’t he bring it up before now? Now? When she’d just met Antonio? He knew that she was head over heels for this guy!
Then again, Skipper had always been there for her, through thick and thin. No matter what, he’d drop everything when she needed him. He always seemed to know exactly what to say to make her feel better. Antonio didn’t know her like that.
But he also wasn’t được trao the chance to know her like that. How could she know he wouldn’t do the same for her? Antonio was so kind and romantic. And he knew Spanish guitar, which was just the icing on the cake. He made her feel special. Well, so did Skipper, in his own little way.
She grunted in frustration and slapped her paw against her reflection in the water, distorting the image as the water rippled. Then she sighed. They would be expecting a decision. But at this point she wasn’t sure she was ready to make it, and was afraid she never would be.
— § —
Skipper took a deep breath as he approached Antonio from behind. He was sitting in the grass, staring at Marlene’s tiny figure sitting tiếp theo to the pond in the distance. He stopped bởi the nearest cây and leaned against it, gently clearing his throat to get his attention.
Antonio turned around and grimaced. “What do you want?” he demanded.
“I want to talk,” Skipper replied, “civilly.”
Antonio got to his feet and faced him. “What is there to say? You’ve already ruined my relationship with Marlene. What thêm can bạn do to me?”
“Cut the crap, Antonio,” Skipper snapped. “I’m here to talk to bạn about Marlene.”
“Haven’t we done enough talking about her?” Antonio đã đưa ý kiến impatiently.
“If you’d shut up and listen to what I have to say, you’d know this conversation is necessary,” Skipper replied casually. Antonio sighed and folded his arms, waiting for him to continue. “Look, I never meant for any of this to happen, but there’s no going back now, so we might as well deal with it. bạn care about Marlene, right?”
“Are bạn deaf?” Antonio snapped. “Of course I do. That’s all I’ve been talking about for the past two days!”
“Well, I do too,” Skipper replied, ignoring his tone. “I want what’s best for her, and I want whatever makes her happy. If bạn really do care about her, you’ll agree.”
“Well, of course I want her to be happy,” Antonio replied. “What are bạn trying to say? Are bạn so confident that she’ll choose bạn that bạn want to make sure I stay out of the way?”
“What I’m saying,” Skipper accentuated, “is that whatever Marlene decides is her decision and we’re going to respect it. Right?”
Antonio sighed and looked down. “Right,” he đã đưa ý kiến quietly. He turned back to him. “Why?” he asked breathily. “Why did bạn even agree to help me if bạn were just going to ruin everything?”
Skipper looked away, breathing deeply. “I told you. I never meant for this to happen. Seeing bạn with her made me realize that I wanted to be,” he đã đưa ý kiến softly. He looked at him again. “You have good taste in women. Marlene is amazing.”
Antonio scoffed. “Please. The first woman I fall in tình yêu with cheats on me, and now someone is trying to steal the tiếp theo woman I fall in tình yêu with away before it even begins!” he đã đưa ý kiến spitefully.
Skipper studied the hurt in his eyes and nodded slowly. “For what it’s worth, I think you’re better for her. I wasn’t thinking straight when I decided to come out here. What chance would I have? I’m not romantic, I’m always busy, and I’m probably the most stubborn man she’s ever met. bạn have everything she’s ever wanted in a mate.”
Antonio laughed. “Are bạn kidding me? bạn actually think she’s going to choose me? She’s known me for two days. She hasn’t even had the chance to fall in tình yêu with me even if she wants to. You’ve known her for years. Whenever I’d be with her, all she’d be able to think about is you, now. Wondering if bạn were the better choice.”
“What’s it matter if I know her?” Skipper đã đưa ý kiến pushing himself from the tree. “Maybe I do. Doesn’t mean she’ll want me.”
Antonio scoffed again. “And bạn say I don’t know anything about women. That’s exactly what they want. They want someone who knows them better than they know themselves. That someone is you,” he đã đưa ý kiến pointing at him. “You didn’t give me a chance to know her like that, and now I’ll never have that chance.”
“Hey, don’t bạn go around diễn xuất like bạn know what Marlene wants,” Skipper đã đưa ý kiến pointing back at him. “You can’t go around comparing her to all other women. Marlene is her own person and is fully capable of making her own decisions, not what she thinks she wants just because she’s a woman.”
Antonio rolled his eyes. “What, are bạn some kind of psychologist?” he đã đưa ý kiến sarcastically.
“Um . . .”
The two turned at the sound of Marlene’s voice, who’d just approached a moment ago. She was standing a few yards away, still fidgeting with her fingers.
“Marlene,” Skipper and Antonio đã đưa ý kiến simultaneously. They glared at each other again.
“Look, um,” Marlene started, trying and failing to make eye contact, “I just don’t think I can do this right now. I need thêm time. I’m sorry, I just— This is just a lot thrown at me in one night,” she đã đưa ý kiến folding her arms over her chest.
“I understand,” Skipper đã đưa ý kiến with a nod.
“Agreed,” Antonio đã đưa ý kiến sideways glancing at him before looking at Marlene again. “I understand as well.”
“I’ll walk bạn back to the zoo,” Skipper offered stepping forward, only to be stopped bởi Antonio’s arm across his chest.
“No, I’ll walk bạn back,” Antonio said, although he was glaring at Skipper.
“I live right tiếp theo to her,” Skipper argued shoving his arm away.
“And I have only had a few opportunities to walk Marlene trang chủ while you’ve obviously had many. bạn can at least have the decency to give me this,” Antonio shot back, once again getting in his face.
“So now you’re questioning my decency?” Skipper đã đưa ý kiến clenching his fists.
“Stop it!” Marlene cried over their senseless arguing. “I’m stressing out over this as it is! Seeing bạn two argue is not going to make anything better!”
Antonio and Skipper glared at each other again before they backed off.
“Sorry, Marlene,” Skipper said.
“My apologies, mi amor,” Antonio followed.
“Good,” Marlene said, trying to relax her shoulders. “I’ll walk myself, thank you.” She turned and started back for the zoo.
“Marlene, wait,” Antonio called after. Skipper rolled his eyes as he followed Antonio to Marlene, who stopped in her tracks, turned, and folded her arms impatiently. Antonio got down on one knee in front of her. “Before bạn go, I just want bạn to know that I care about you, a lot. thêm than I’ve ever cared for anyone. I’m not sure if I can live with not knowing where our relationship would have gone.”
Skipper grabbed his shoulder and pulled him to his feet. “What the halibut is wrong with you?” he snapped. “She’s already under enough pressure because of me, and bạn go guilt-tripping her!”
“Who’s guilt-tripping? What, bạn get to profess your tình yêu for her, but I can’t?” Antonio argued.
“Yeah, but I’m not gonna make her feel obligated to choose me!” Skipper shot back.
“Really?” Antonio snapped sarcastically. “Then what was all that about I was there when! It was me that did this! I know bạn better than anybody!?”
“Oh my God!” Marlene exclaimed. “You two are impossible! I can’t believe bạn can’t go thirty seconds without arguing! Not to mention over me! At this point I’m not sure I want either of you! As a friend hoặc anything more! I am tired and confused and I just want to go home! Without bạn two!" She started taking deep breaths and started digging her claws into her palms. Antonio and Skipper stood bởi watching her, both unsure of how to respond without making her thêm upset.
Marlene turned on her heel and tried to walk, but became lightheaded and dropped to her knees, clutching her head. Skipper and Antonio appeared at her side.
“Marlene, what’s wrong?” Skipper asked as he and Antonio tried to steady her.
Marlene shook her head and looked phía trước, chuyển tiếp as she suddenly got tunnel vision. She stared longingly out across the park. Run, her instincts told her. Just get away from here as fast as possible. Do it!
She shut her eyes and gripped her head again. “Skipper,” she whispered, barely audible. “Skipper, it’s happening . . .”
Skipper furrowed his brow in confusion at first, but then his eyes widened with realization. “Antonio, we need to get her back to the zoo now,” he đã đưa ý kiến urgently.
“What? What’s going on?” Antonio asked, although he helped Skipper get Marlene to her feet without hesitation.
“No time to explain, come on!” Skipper ordered pulling Marlene forward. He and Antonio got about thirty feet ahead before Marlene jerked away from them.
“No, we won’t get there in time!” Marlene đã đưa ý kiến falling to the ground and clutching the grass. Be free, Marlene, her instincts screamed. You’re meant to be free. She growled, mainly in frustration that she couldn’t stop it. “You have to get away from me!”
“Skipper, what is wrong with her?” Antonio asked in a panic.
Skipper knelt at Marlene’s side, ignoring Antonio. “Marlene,” he đã đưa ý kiến calmly, “listen to me. You’re going to be fine. bạn have to fight it. bạn can fight it,” he encouraged.
Marlene shook her head as she cried out in frustration. She crouched lower and put her forehead to the ground trying and failing to calm her tim, trái tim rate. Her adrenaline had taken over.
“Antonio, do bạn have your guitar?” Skipper asked suddenly.
Antonio blinked. “Well, yes, but wh—”
“Then go get it now!” Skipper ordered.
Antonio questioned why he was so interested in âm nhạc at a time like this, but he leapt onto all fours and ran to get his desired item. Skipper cautiously put a flipper on Marlene’s shoulder.
“Marlene, fight it,” Skipper repeated. “You are Marlene. bạn tình yêu sunshine and flowers. bạn tình yêu music. bạn always try to find the best in people. You—”
Marlene started to snarl and the cỏ she was grasping snapped from the ground. You can be free, Marlene. All bạn have to do is run.
Antonio showed up a một giây later with the guitar. “Wh-What now?” he asked, causing Marlene to look up. Antonio dropped the đàn ghi ta, guitar in surprise. Her lông, lông thú stood on end and her eyes were dilated. She bared her fangs and growled.
“Antonio, play something now!” Skipper yelled. When Antonio remained Nữ hoàng băng giá with shock and horror, Skipper snatched the đàn ghi ta, guitar and started playing.
Instantly, Marlene’s body relaxed and she directed her attention to the beautiful sound. Her claws retracted and she started swaying peacefully to the music. Skipper continued to play and Marlene purred blissfully. Finally, after a few minutes, her tim, trái tim rate started to calm and her eyes returned to normal. As she came back to reality, she shook her head and smoothed her lông, lông thú down. Skipper continued to play for a few moments just to ensure she’d fully returned.
Taking slow, deep breaths, Marlene slowly rose to her feet, holding her head as the fuzziness cleared from her mind. When she came to, she rubbed her eyes and looked up. Skipper had stopped playing, but he was still holding the đàn ghi ta, guitar across his chest. Antonio was still staring, mouth agape, and eyes wide. Skipper laid the đàn ghi ta, guitar down and came to her side.
“Marlene, are bạn okay?” he asked gently.
Marlene nodded slowly. “Yeah, I-I think so. Were . . . Were bạn just—?”
“It doesn’t matter, Marlene,” Skipper broke in. “Let’s just get bạn home.”
“Wait,” Antonio đã đưa ý kiến holding up his paws, finally coming back to reality himself, “what just happened?”
Marlene and Skipper exchanged a glance. Marlene stepped forward. “Well,” she đã đưa ý kiến uneasily, “remember when Skipper made that bình luận about me staying sane the other day? He was talking about . . . that. Remember when I told bạn I was born in captivity? Well, I used to have this problem when I left the zoo. The open spaces and the freedom of it got to my head and I’d go a little, erm, feral,” she explained as she started fidgeting again.
Antonio nodded slowly. “And . . . does this happen often?” he asked.
“No! No, not any more,” Marlene answered quickly. “I think that time, um, my adrenaline sort of got the better of me,” she đã đưa ý kiến awkwardly.
Antonio smiled with relief. “That’s good,” he said.
Marlene became defensive. “So what if it did? Would that be difficult for bạn to accept?” she asked folding her arms.
Antonio frowned. “Well, not exactly, I just—”
“Just what? Have this fear that we’ll be out here together and I’ll freak out on you?” Marlene demanded.
“No! Marlene, you’re taking this the wrong way!” Antonio said.
“Then tell me how I should be taking it,” Marlene challenged.
Antonio searched the ground. “I . . . um . . .”
“Yeah,” Marlene scoffed. “That’s what I thought,” she đã đưa ý kiến turning on her heel and storming back to the zoo.
‘Marlene!” Antonio called stepping forward, only to be stopped bởi Skipper’s flipper across his chest.
“I think you’ve đã đưa ý kiến enough,” he đã đưa ý kiến giving him that death glare again. Antonio swallowed and backed off. Skipper turned and followed Marlene, leaving him alone with his thoughts.
— § —
Translations:
pingüino = penguin
mi amor = my love