from afar. | takata mashiho

✧ afar.

he could hear my mother trucking thoughts all this time?! damn. this is not how science works. i don't even know who this guy is and i can't decide whether his story is believable or not. it seems legit though: he went as far to get an avocado and a coupon for sannakji. i guess the journey came quicker than i imagined it would. the adventure begins – no more waiting.

✧ ༺━━━━༻ ✦

"where are we going exactly?"
"i've put together a little itinerary based on what i know about you already."
"that would sound really creepy if given no context."
"back to where we are going..."
"c'mon tell me!"
"should i? i shouldn't."
"don't test me." quick! think of something to threaten him!
"what are you doing?"
"i will have an anaphylactic reaction if i consume this fruit-"
"nononono no don't eat the avocado! you're gonna die!"
"it's either you find me an epipen or you tell me where we're going."
"what if we run there super fast?"
"hmm. deal. but you're giving me a piggyback ride!"
"okay! i'm fine just as long as you're alive. i just found you and i don't wanna lose you now. jump on." yes. less exercise.

"stop number one-"
"a train station?" he actually gave me a ride all the way here.
"yep. it's too far to walk." we pay and stuff, and then he pushes me onto the train. it's quite crowded today, i can't breathe. so the one thing my body automatically does, is hug him. i don't think much of it, i'd rather hug someone i know vaguely, than a complete stranger. also, he smells good. we stayed like this for the whole ride to who knows where.

"myeongdong?"
"yes." we eat all the seafood. so fresh! he almost died from choking on moving octopus and i almost died of laughter. i know i should not laugh in that kind of dilemma, but i couldn't help myself. a lot of people asked me to hold their crabs. i'm not too sure why. "hey, let's go to a park. so we can digest and discuss."
"han river? i haven't been there in a while."
"sure. let's go."
"excuse me passengers on the train of thought. unexpectedly, the train driver alerted us that we must make an emergency stop." he says into an imaginary intercom.
"train of thought. smart."
"i tried."

it's getting darker. it's becoming more somber. and yet my stomach still grumbles. i'll try not to ruin his plan. when we finally part, i'll just go eat something cheap. "the river's especially pretty tonight." we walk and talk.

the next stop is yuri's workplace. i really hope she's not in tonight. "why's it closed?"
"it never closes this early!" there's no notice saying they're closed or anything. let's just check if the door is unlocked... plonk! "honey are you alright?" that's a rather familiar voice. but she never calls me honey. "yuri?"
"haruto?" thought boy steps in behind me. a boy is stepping in from behind yuri. "you know the soundcloud rapper?"
"i'm not a soundcloud rapper!" haruto inputs.
"you know haruto?" thought boy asks with confused eyebrows.
"what the hell?" yuri gives her view of the situation.
"i guess we all know each other. now. are you still open? or can i get my dose of puppy?"
"come on in."

so apparently, yuri herself closed the store. she told me that she's not supposed to do it, but she did anyway. she wasn't clear on her reasoning, but since haruto was there with her... i won't poke too much into it. but yeah, she could get fired. "okay. the last stop of the night. c'mon."
"somehow i am still hungry."
"good!"
"no not good."
"yes good. take my hand." i trust you.

luckily it's cold and dark and we have access to food carts. more specifically, fish cakes and soup! it's warm and comforting just like the stars that illuminate the dome of night. the steam that escapes from the hot soup binds us together, tighter. hello, hello! it's still flipping cold though. "yo, here."
"did you read my mind?"
"yes, exactly." he stuffs two hot packs into my hands and shoves my left hand into my left pocket. he takes the other into his. we look at each other and stare. "your eyes hold galaxies, and i want to be the astronaut in them."

of course, all adventures have an end. but only for the beginning of another. we had to leave each other sometime today. and yes, i'm still lowkey hungry. i quickly google the closest ramen shop. easy money. i penguin waddle with warms hands in their respective pockets. "hello! one large bowl please!" i say right as i enter. i sit in the corner and pull out the book. "we keep bumping into each other, don't we?"
"nah, i think you just can't keep away from me- wait what? did you read my mind or are you hungry too?"
"this is one of my dad's shops."
"you're toying with me. one of them? you're telling me he owns more of these wondrous places and more food?"
"yes."
"can i marry you?"
"sure." he smiles with the cutest eyes.
"happy white day."
"it sure is."