stranger ‣ y.jw

026

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

"I'll be taking my leave now, ma'am." Jihee said, standing up from her seat after finishing the food the old woman kindly made for her. "Thank you for your hospitality."

She smiled, standing up slowly to walk her to the exit. "It is always my pleasure to host your kind. I hope you find a home, stranger, better yet I hope you find our reality a suitable home for you."

Jihee nods, gazing at the cabin one last time. On her second day in the little cabin, she noticed how dangerous the cabin was especially for a woman her age, and so what she did is she casted a protection spell on it. A spell that would protect it from collapsing or any strenuous possibilities that could happen any day. She hoped that the spell would remain as strong as the one protecting Jungwon at this very moment.

"What's your name by the way? I realized I never asked." She asked the old lady standing by the doorway.

"It's Agatha. If ever you see the stranger who once visited me, tell her my regards."

"I will." And for the last time, Jihee finally turned her back ready to begin her search.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

Jungwon watched as how Jihee's eyes brightened upon realizing where he had just brought her. Her eyes shone as if those pair of golden eyes have never seen what lies under the sea or towering castles crafted by men from the medieval ages.

From afar they could see how the men were preparing to release the hot air balloons.

They were going to watch a bunch of hot air balloons fill the blue sky as the sun sets in the background. She sat on the picnic mat Jungwon had brought for the two of them, and her gaze followed him as he fixes the food they bought. It was no romantic food but they were contented.

She looked around and saw they were the only ones watching. "How did you find this place?" She asked, curiously.

"My parents recommended it." He answered her, eating one of the chips they bought.

A soft chuckle escaped. "That's cute. You asked your parents, only a few ever does that."

He snickered, showing his dimples in the process. "You underestimate how knowledgeable my parents are when it comes to things like this. They've seen so much and to be honest, I wasn't even surprised they knew about the hot air balloons." He explained. "

Jungwon knew his parents would love Jihee especially her adventurous side. That's what the three had in common, they get bored very easily and staying in one place would never work for them. And that's what he loved about them, maybe in the near future he hoped to see half as much as what they've all seen.

"Actually their first suggestion was that we ride one but they assumed none of us would be able to control it so they settled with us watching it." He adds, which then resulted to her glancing at him in an instant. It was quick, as if she was in shock. "What?"

"I know how to control one." She says to which was no shock to the latter. "It was 50 years ago but come on, I have impressive memory." She brags to him but not in a way that she wanted to show off but to persuade him into doing what he thinks she's insinuating.

He crossed his arms. "Are you implying what I think you're implying?"

She grinned, glad that he immediately got what she has been trying to say. "Do you want to ride one then? It will be beautiful plus by the time the hot air balloon will be ready, the sun wouldn't hurt anymore."