As we get closer to town, I look out in the distance as the buildings start to slowly get closer and closer. That's when something occurs to me. What if people from the lab are looking for me, and they're in town? They will for sure recognize me. Even if someone doesn't know for sure what I look like, my diamond blue eye will be a dead giveaway. How can I avoid myself from being recognized...?

That's when I remember that the hoodie I'm wearing actually has a hood. I immediately grab the hood and pull it over my head, and try to sink my whole head in it as much as possible so that you don't get to see my face very easily. Badboyhalo raises an eyebrow at my actions, but thankfully, he doesn't question me. Soon enough, we're walking down the town roads. I don't know where exactly we're going. I'm just following Badboyhalo.

As we walk, I spend some time looking at my surroundings. From first glance, I can tell that these buildings have a much different design and structure to the lab. Almost every building seems to be made out of wood, unlike the lab, which seemed to be made of concrete. The different scenery is quite pleasing, if I'm being honest. As I see people walking around, enjoying the day, it feels like this place has a welcoming and cozy vibe. It's much better compared to the atmosphere in the lab.

Badboyhalo and I keep walking further into the town, and I keep looking at my surroundings, admiring all the things that I've missed out on for 20 years. It feels like I'm living a dream, but I know for sure now that this is reality. As I look around me, I also try to avoid the gazes of people around us, trying to make sure that nobody gets a good look at my face just in case that one of the people walking by actually work at the lab.

I notice, as we walk down the streets, that there are people who ride some type of animal down the streets. I think I know this kind of animal. Maybe I have seen a picture from a book before? But I have never seen it in real life before. I feel like I should know the name of this animal, but I just can't seem to remember it right now. The animals are tall and quite beautiful if you ask me. Each one that I see is a different color or has some multiple colors on it.

I watch as a pair of the animals pull some sort of big cart carrying a couple. (A horse carriage just in case you don't get it.) A man seems to be in charge of the animals because he is holding some sort of long rope that is attached to the animals. I catch the lady in the cart complaining about how the horses are going too slow. I guess the animals are called horses? Anyway, the man in charge of the horses just nods and takes out a- whip... and- whips the horses to make them go- faster... The sight almost made me halt in place. Once they got whipped, the horses immediately let out a pained sound that made me want to wince, and they started running, dragging the cart along with them.

I watch for a still moment as the horses go away, sharing a sad empathy for them. Why? Because I've also been whipped before at the lab. I probably still have the injury on my back from the last beating, but thankfully, they weren't discovered by Badboyhalo the day that he found me. An obvious injury of whipping will raise too many questions. I really don't want to take any risks right now. Or perhaps ever on that matter. Badboyhalo breaks me out of my thoughts as he turns to look at me and asks, "Is everything okay?"

I snap my gaze away from where the horses went and turn to look at Badboyhalo, who has a confused yet concerned look on his face. It must have been weird for me to stop walking all a sudden after all. I nervously say, "Oh- um, sorry... I got distracted."

Badboyhalo looks up to see other people with their horses riding down the busy streets. He makes a thoughtful hum and says, "Were you admiring the horses?"

I look away bashfully and nod. I simply say, "Yeah..."

After a beat of silence, Badboyhalo says, "I don't blame you, honestly. The horses are pretty. I remember that I would get easily marveled at watching animals when I was younger. But as I got older, I just found myself not doing it anymore."

I turn to look at him curiously. I ask hesitantly, "Why... did you stop?"

Badboyhalo just shrugged his shoulders absentmindedly, still looking at the passing horses with their riders. He says, "Not completely sure. I guess I've been too caught up in my head about work that I haven't even considered to do certain things."

"That's... kinda sad."

My eyes widen, and my body goes stiff at the words that left my mouth. Sh*t- I did not mean to say that out loud, even if I said it in a small voice. Was it something cruel to say? Oh gosh. I'm getting too comfortable here. I need to watch what I say, or it could hit Badboyhalo's nerve. Badboyhalo immediately turned to look at me after what I said. He's just staring at me. I made him upset, didn't I? I brace myself for something bad to happen, anything. Instead, Badboyhalo smiles at me and chuckles for a split second. He then says, "Oh, don't feel bad for me. I actually really like my job, so it's really not sad."

I just let out a small 'oh' at that. After a moment of silence, Badboyhalo says, "Alright- then let's keep moving. We're almost at the shops to buy clothes for you. We don't wanna take too long, or we'll risk the possibility of it getting dark on our way back to the house."

Badboyhalo gestures for me to follow him as he starts walking. I quickly oblige and start following him to the shops.

(Wouldn't you just love it if homework was made illegal? 😊)