Sector 1 🛡 yungi [▶]

7

Evening was approaching as Yunho and Mingi arrived home. They had spent too long on the road, chatting while occasionally stopping to pick fruits. They were about to open the gate when they noticed the lantern inside the house was already lit. Mingi started to feel anxious, fearing there might be someone dangerous inside.

"Oh, looks like he's here," Yunho said as he walked ahead through the yard and entered the house.

Mingi followed behind him, standing at the doorway when they heard footsteps approaching. In front of Yunho, another young man stood, looking at Yunho anxiously.

"Where have you been? I told you not to spend too much time in the woods, especially until evening like-" His words were interrupted momentarily as he caught sight of the unfamiliar face beside Yunho. He frowned at Mingi. "Who is he?"

"His name is Mingi. He needs a place to stay, and luckily he found my house," Yunho answered. He turned, glancing at Mingi. "Mingi, this is Yeosang."

Mingi tried to make his face look friendly, but all he saw were puzzled wrinkles and downturned lips. Yunho introduced them both properly, but neither Mingi nor Yeosang seemed familiar with each other. Mingi was still awkward, and Yeosang seemed displeased.

"It just so happens you've come; I caught quite a few fish today."

"I'll help," Yeosang interjected as Yunho headed to the kitchen. He briefly glanced at the awkward Mingi, who responded with a stiff smile, then followed Yunho. "Grilled fish again?"

Yunho chuckled softly without shifting his attention from the fish he was cleaning. "I know where your conversation is going. The answer remains the same. No. I won't stay in the village just to have a more equipped kitchen to fry fish. Besides, if I want to, I can make my own coconut oil."

Yeosang sighed. "How long has he been living here?"

"Who? Mingi? Three days ago," Yunho replied. "Why don't you stay in the living room and get to know each other? Mingi might be up for a chat with you. He doesn't talk much, just like you-wait, maybe not. You'll both just stay silent." Yunho chuckled softly again.

Yeosang didn't seem eager to respond to Yunho's recent joke. His face hardened, showing a bit of concern. "Aren't you too open to strangers? I know you mean well, but it doesn't mean you're responsible for his life too. What if he turns out to be not as good as you think? You should be more cautious with strangers, Yunho."

Yeosang looked worried about Yunho, much like a mother disappointed in her reckless child's behavior.

"You're always too cautious with strangers, Yeosang. Maybe that's why you've never had a lover in the village," Yunho joked half-seriously, half wanting to see how serious Yeosang was in scolding him.

"Yunho, I'm serious. It's not wrong for me to worry. You live alone in the woods. I only come here for a short while. It's not common for someone to suddenly find your house in the woods and ask for temporary shelter.

"You're always too kind to everyone, that's something I dislike about you, because if something bad happens later, you'll always blame yourself. At least be careful this time. I'm not doing this because I hate strangers. I'm just concerned about you. What if he's a bad person who will use you as a scapegoat for his crimes later?"

Yunho felt a bit guilty for making Yeosang worry so much.

Yunho remained silent, looking at Yeosang's expression, which made him feel guilty. "I understand you're worried, Yeosang. Thank you anyway. But you don't have to worry that much. I believe Mingi is good and trustworthy. He doesn't seem to be planning anything malicious or hiding anything."

"But Yun-"

"You have to trust me this time, Yeosang. I think it's time you also trust others a little. Don't worry, nothing will happen." Yunho insisted, defending himself.

Yeosang still wasn't satisfied. His demeanor remained the same, looking at Yunho with concern, unaware that the person they had been discussing since earlier had been listening to their conversation.

"Be careful, keep your money and important documents safe," Yeosang continued.

Yunho laughed amusedly, "I don't have much money, Yeosang. If Mingi is indeed a thief, he'd have better luck going to the village hall or temple than stealing from a simple house like this."

Mingi was confused. After involving personal feelings, now he was faced with a dilemma. Yunho wasn't wrong to call him good because from the beginning, Mingi had no malicious intent towards Yunho other than proving whether he was a drug lord or not. It's just that he wasn't entirely honest with Yunho. And that made him feel a bit pressured. Knowing that he had betrayed the trust of such a good young man as Yunho made him feel guilty.

He had lied too much to Yunho, bragging, making up stories. It's not wrong if Yeosang as his friend worried, because even Mingi himself would be more cautious when confronted with strangers.

The conversation between Yunho and Yeosang continued on trivial matters like Yeosang talking about his work, or Yunho mentioning that some types of flowers in the woods were starting to bloom. Everything sounded normal. None of the conversations hinted at drug issues. But that didn't immediately make Mingi believe that Yunho was innocent. Yunho might be hiding the fact that he was a drug lord from Yeosang.

Dinner tonight felt a bit silent, considering the awkwardness between Yeosang and Mingi. Usually, Mingi would respond to Yunho as best as he could, engaging in conversation and sometimes even telling stories himself. But with Yeosang here, he also had to be more careful. Yeosang was much more observant than Yunho.

And if he noticed any suspicion or unfamiliar curiosity from Mingi towards Yunho, he might act. Besides, who would be happy if his beloved friend was suspected of being a drug lord? Mingi could understand that.

Yeosang bid farewell after dinner. Mingi wanted to offer help, escorting him to the village's outskirts. Anyway, this was still the forest. Although Yeosang had often come back and forth to Yunho's house, whether day or night, the condition of the forest couldn't be predicted. There might be sudden danger from wild animals. But Mingi's intention was immediately dismissed when Yeosang once again looked anxiously at Yunho, then sharply at him alternately.

"I'll never be able to get along with him."

Mingi smiled stiffly after bidding him to be careful before Yeosang walked home.