8 - DMA BFA Fall 2021 - Johnny Lee

Tom is just sitting on a tree trunk, pondering about the pictures his friend drew for him. Lately, the world is fallen into chaos but for Tom, it's just another Friday. 

Oh, don't get me wrong, he knows what is out there but does it even matter? 

His foot taps the ground rapidly but he doesn't realize his actions. Tail wagging and making those strange rabbit noises, he daydreams the time he drew something for his friend. He forgot to give it to him because he was too busy with his job and doing other things like smiling and being optimistic for his friends. 

Ah, it looks like he forgot a couple of things for his camp but Tom doesn't seem to mind.

Tom is being Tom. 

It stood there. Front paws on top of the rock. Standing proudly and with triumph. 

Lots of critters recognize him as a savior, a powerful being, a Guardian. What's so special about him is his ears. He was born a defect to his original parents and cast out from their pack. 

A hinderance. 

His childhood was lonely until he met a special friend.
A special friend. The weird white wolf doesn't seem to be keen on sight but with his multiple set of ears, he can see with sound, exceeding owls, deers, birds, etc etc etc...

Quiet, awkward, and terribly horrid with speech, he knows he belongs to the weak animals who need his service. His ears perk but he didn't move. 

He welcomes you wholeheartedly. 

It stares into your windows to your soul with its dark, mesmerizing eyes. Silence but still... There is beauty and discomfort within the creature's pupils but also exists invisible life beyond the black void. 

Why is it looking at you? 

Because it needs something from you. 
You know what it is.

Do you?

It - Unconscious, she lays in her mother's womb. All she can remember is the beating heart and warmth. 

Innocence - Her crawling built her muscles up but she didn't look at her parent's eyes. Strangely, she avoided eye contact but still, enjoyed life being pampered and gradually playing with her toys.

Potential - She failed at English, History, Science... but her interest in computation helps her excel in math and her love for traveling makes her literally a walking map. Education still pressures her to "expect their standards". Whatever that means...

Standard - The midlife as an adult solidifies her sights to get into building databases and navigation. Her records seem perfect: lead director on GPS applications, programmer to some of the best devices for the past 5 years, and her contribution to charity and scholarships. She looks perfect but inside, she couldn't help but reflect. 

Withhold - I didn't tell you what her problem is because it doesn't matter, right? As long as she does what people expect her to do, everything will be alright, right? Do you know what's her problem? She never got the chance to be with her friends because she's too silent and weird. Her flawed communication, disinterest in reading comprehension, and terrible public speech failed her in English. She hates the lab because it is too gross and 'rudely' screams when the liquid changes color or the anatomy of a frog appears. Her incredible disdain for colonizers is the reason why she hates history teachers because remembering the past means appreciating their work, failures, and triumph. Bullied heavily, the feline didn't seek support from authorities, staff, and even her parents because she thinks it's not a big deal. She can just... take it. She was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome and was treated properly by a therapist for throughout her high school years. However, she still didn't make new friends and no one to lean onto. She felt she's a burden no matter how hard she worked and her years of self-degradation is enough for her to break. 

Broken: She cried and meows, tucking herself into a ball, wanting to go back and fix her childhood. She wants to return to her mom's womb. 

She never asked to be born like this. 

"Some humans came by and told the Guardian he's high functioning Asparagus Syndrome. What's an asparagus??" 

"If only he isn't that tall..."

"I'm the guardian's childhood friend. His deceased mentor taught him about survival. I taught the guardian to love himself."

"I like to hang out with him. He can be silent but his awkward barking reminds me of some chickens I used to hangout with."

"I remember he sometimes spoke in a robotic or a weird way. You know those messed-up autotune sounds? Kinda like that."

"Do you know he was abandoned by his parents because he was considered 'weak'?"

"Can he kiss my babies? I always wanted my children to be blessed with his spirit!"

"That white wolf is our savior. You should treat him with respect, you know?"

"I heard he saved hundreds of lives without seeing anything. How is that possible?"

"I'm getting quite hungry. Wait, what is the guardian's real name??"

"It's him! He arrived!"

"Looking fine as usual. I have to know what's his secret to bypass blindness."

"I don't like this guy. He looks very similar to me."