TPA | MW [✔]

08. Wonwoo

Mingyu is a perfect gentleman. Once the server brings us to our table, he pulls my seat out for me, and then pushes me in. The scent of garlic and pasta and all the good smells permeate my nose. Our server fills up our water glasses and leaves us with menus.

"Did you have fun?" Mingyu settles into his chair across from me.

"I had a blast." My ear twitches and I take a deep breath, so I don't panic and try to force my shift away. No one seems concerned about me being here in a partial, so I'm trying not to worry about it.

"I'm glad. I wanted to make sure your fox was happy too, and I figured something playful would do the trick."

"It totally did. We're both bouncing around, reliving the entire thing."

"Maybe we should do something fun like that again soon? Another date. What about ice skating?"

I suck in a breath. "I've never been ice skating before."

"Never?"

"Nope. Always too busy with dance. Plus, Eric and my parents were afraid of me twisting an ankle. But I've twisted my ankle dancing. Once. I may or may not have done the step combo incorrectly after Eric kept correcting me, and I was being stubborn. No one was happy about it."

"Well then, I'm definitely taking you ice skating."

My tail wags through the slat in the back of the seat and someone behind me giggles. Maybe that time all those years ago really was a fluke, or that person was just afraid of me because they had a baby. I'll probably never know.

Our server comes to take our orders and leaves again.

"Hey. Look at me, little fox. What's wrong?" Mingyu holds out his hand, palm up, and I place mine in his.

"Just thinking about the past and how I've hidden away because of one person when I was still a teenager."

"You were young. We're still incredibly young. You can't get your time back, but you can live the way you want now."

I nod. "I don't know what that looks like. My apartment is nice and cozy. I live within what I earn from dance. I don't go on vacation. But I wouldn't want to go alone, anyway. I just never thought about doing more."

A frown mars Mingyu's stubbled face. "Maybe we should explore all that. Are you afraid to leave the apartment?"

"I just don't want to scare people, but I'm not exactly afraid to leave the apartment, no. I'm not agoraphobic, I don't think. With your help, and being out today, I'm already feeling better about being around others in public."

"That's good to hear."

"Maybe I'll venture out on my own sometime soon to experiment." The thought has me bouncing in my seat. "Go grocery shopping. I usually get them delivered." It's been years since I've gone inside a shop. My cheeks burn again. How pathetic that I haven't left the apartment other than for the studio or theater.

"Little fox, you're in your head again. I'm so proud of you for coming with me today."

"Let's stop talking about my... weirdness. I promise to explore." I give Mingyu a grin and he returns it. "Foxes are very curious creatures. Maybe I'll get into trouble and you'll have to bail me out."

"Happily." He squeezes my hand.

"How'd you get into the repair business? Your parents are attorneys, aren't they?"

Mingyu scratches the back of his head. "I failed the LSAT and then decided to take things into my own hands. My uncle—"

"Uncle Intak?"