Solitary ~Minsung~

Chapter 4

"Pale rays of light tiptoed across the waters." The golden rays of the sun seep through the window of our room, casting dark hues and shadows on Minho's face.

"By and by there was to be heard a sound at once the most musical and the most melancholy in the world: the mermaids calling to the moon."

His eyelashes glisten, each one long, black and beautifully adorned – coming together and then separating as he reads, creating a relapsing cover for his moons. The only moons I wish I could call to. His lips also shine, somehow still moist after the hours of reading. Yet, his voice reflects a different story, coarse and rough from the over use.

"Peter was not quite like other boys; but he was afraid at last. A tremor ran through him, like a shudder passing over the sea; but on the sea one shudder follows another till there are hundreds of them, and Peter felt just the one."

The dinner bell sounds and Minho closes the book, placing it next to his pillow before sitting up and smiling at me. "I'm gonna go get something to eat, and some water. My throat's a little dry." He utters out laughing, his laugh more gravely and rough than normal, yet somehow more endearing.

He gets up from his bed slowly, interlocking his two hands and stretching his arms above his head as high as he could. The white shirt of his uniform lifting above his hips, revealing his soft pale stomach. A stomach that I notice, as I continue to look, is littered with faint pink lines... Minho puts his arms back by his side and smiles his signature smile before walking out the door. Of course stopping before he completely exits to ask if I wish to come. I shake my head softly in reply, eyes on the floor so my slight blush isn't visible to Minho's searching moons.

He is here for the same reason as me... But... he seems so happy. How? How did he get over the point of self- hatred to become happy? So happy...

Minho returns juggling two food trays, two pairs of chopsticks in his mouth and a water bottle held at his waist by the top of his white trousers. He walks up to my bed and nods his head at my hands, beckoning them forward. I remain in place, not wanting to decrease the already small proximity between us. He then beckons his head towards the end of the bed as if asking a question. I nod and so he drops the chopsticks at the foot of my bed, like a cat releasing its toy. He then places my tray of food next to the chopsticks, before picking up a pair for himself and heading over to his own bed to enjoy his meal.

He smiles up at me as he shoves rice into his puffy cheeks. "You gonna eat that?". I nod in reply, still having never uttered anything to this boy, yet feeling closer to him than I have with anybody in my two months here.

I lean forward, reaching for the tray and placing it onto my lap. I look up and see Minho, once again, smiling at me until he opens his mouth, still half full rice, "You're so quiet, even my cats are louder than you are!". At this his smile doesn't change, but his eyes become sad.

"Do you miss them?" I ask quietly. At the sound of my voice Minho nearly drops his chopsticks, I giggle as I watch him scramble to regain the proper position of the sticks within his hand.

"Wow! You're voice! And yeah I do..." He says almost awkwardly, his right hand reaching around to rub the back of his neck while he thinks.

"I haven't seen them since I've been in here, so around four months. My mum often brings me videos of them from when she goes to my apartment to feed them but it isn't the same" he says sadly.

I nod in response, not having any pets at home, but note his obvious longing to see them.

"I have three: Soonie, Doongie and Dori. I love them so much! They are so squishy! And I just want to cuddle them all the time! Ugh I just love them more than anything!" I smile at his obvious excitement, noting how his eyes shine brightly as he talks about them.

"Maybe one day... you can come meet them" he utters quietly, barely audible above my chewing.

"I would like that" I reply with a small smile, seeing the slight blush on Minho's cheeks and the shining of his moons brighten.

The rest of the meal is spent with Minho gushing over his cats and me nodding whenever he pauses, an indication that I wish him to continue. Him talking about something he loves is mesmerising. Not only do his eyes shine but they form slight crinkles in their corners, his pouty lips glisten as he talks and his broad shoulders also move, adding to the expression of his body language, especially when they move up and down as he laughs.

After we had finished we place our trays on our bedside tables and Minho takes out Peter Pan and continues to read from where we were up to, much to my delight.

Minho continues to read until the nurse comes past our door to declare lights out. "How about we continue tomorrow then?" he asks. I pout in response, wanting to keep listening (and watching...) him read. "Fineeeeeeee. I'm no match for your chubby-cheeked-pout. Andddd plus, I have this!" He says this as he pulls out a torch, me grinning widely in response. Minho looks at my grin, and it makes him do the same thing.

He then continues reading until the nurse comes past again, a loud knock sounding on the door. At this hour it is surely a way to tell Minho to quieten down.

"Okay, we are only one chapter from the end so I will continue reading for you, but I do have to be a bit quieter. So if you wanna hear me... you'll just have to come closer."