"No, I'm not going to be left alone here today," Yumi said, firmly, when Mark and Jinyoung were preparing to go for the fruits again. "I'll come along. I also want to see how you get those berries."
"Stop being stupid," Mark said, "It sounds as if we were going there for fun. I assure you that you won't like the experience at all. It's all tiring."
"Yeah. And you also need to wash yourself when we're gone," Jinyoung said.
"I can stand all of that but being left alone here. Yesterday, I nearly got heart attack whenever there was a sound. Let me tag along, please?"
She looked so persistent that they had to let her go with them. As soon as they all were ready, they set off to the exact same place Mark and Jinyoung had gone to, the previous day. As the way was now familiar to Mark and Jinyoung, it was easy for them. But because of Yumi, who this way was all new to, the average pace was still much the same as the previous day.
"By now, my friends must be worrying about me. And the fact that I've disappeared with you two guys. I'm gonna be misunderstood," she ranted, "What if we'll never be found and will be stuck here forever? God, it gives me the shivers."
"But they'll surely find us," Jinyoung tried to console her, "I think they won't leave for Seoul without finding us first. You know, they won't let themselves be blamed."
"Yes, yes, but what if they can't find us, even when they try? That's what bothers me the most," she said. Then her attention was suddenly shifted, "Oh my, those are Japanese paradise flycatchers, right? They reside here? What, no way, they're gone. I should've taken photos of them."
"Does your phone even have battery?" Mark asked, quite irritably.
"Of course, a little bit left. I haven't used it for like two days?"
Jinyoung had thought Yumi would be complaining about how exhausting it was the whole way, but she seemed to be fascinated by everything she saw. Mark was silent most of the way, only focusing on where they were going.
At last, they finally spotted the berry trees again and Yumi was the most excited one to see the berries, out of the three of them.
"I can't believe they all are just growing there naturally! It's just fantastic. Did you pick up these?" she pointed at the land, covered with the berries.
"No, they aren't good enough. They're old ones, fallen long before," Mark briefly explained to her and then turned to Jinyoung, "Just like yesterday?"
Jinyoung got stiffened, as the image of them from the previous day, flashed through his mind. He felt his palms starting to sweat just at the thought. He was going to be in Mark's arms again and the physical intimacy they would have to go through, made him nervous. But was he just overthinking and overreacting? Maybe, that physical contact was just awkward because they were guys.
Jinyoung, at last, nodded stiffly, and then said quickly, "But this time, I'll lift you up? To be fair. Is it okay for you?"
"Of course. As long as we get them."
This time, they went for a wildberry tree. Jinyoung lowered himself and widened his arms, in which Mark settled himself before he was being lifted up.
"This is how you get them?" Yumi asked, standing nearby and looking at them. When Mark started pulling off the berries, she instructed him which ones to pluck, getting all interested in the process.
Jinyoung, underneath, had to move to wherever she guided. His hands were wrapped around Mark's thighs and his face was all buried in Mark's stomach.
He felt Mark's body tensed in his hands but did not notice that Mark often looked down at him. Jinyoung let out a relieved sigh after it was all finished and when he could put Mark down. He was going to brush off the awkwardness he was feeling, like nothing, and help Yumi pick up the berries. But Mark's concerned eyes were there, looking at him and trapping his steps.
"Are you okay, Jinyoung? Did I hurt you?"
"No, of course not."
Jinyoung could not make out where that tension came from, whenever he looked into Mark's eyes. And every time, in them, he found something that was pulling him in. He hoped Mark had no idea of what was going on in his mind.
"You don't look so good. So I thought I hurt you. Are you sure you're alright?"
"Yes, yes, I'm."
Jinyoung moved away to Yumi and soon, all of them were packing the berries up in their backpacks, before starting back to their place.
"Tired, tired!" Yumi chanted, soullessly, as they got back to the place. She lay down on the spot she had slept for the previous two nights, and let the other two take out the berries. "And here it goes, with no bath for today."
"That's why we told you to stay here and yet you insisted to follow us," Mark said.
"Alright, I know it's my own fault. But at least, I can clean myself a little."
Just like the previous day, Mark and Jinyoung got into the pond, with the pants they had used for bathing the previous day. This time, Yumi was also by the pond, washing her face, hands and legs.
Mark stayed closer to Jinyoung than last afternoon, and Jinyoung tried to be indifferent to that. If he cringed away, Mark might misunderstand that he was a cold, distant person.
"I envy you guys. You can just take a bath wherever and whenever you want," Yumi said, looking at them. She did not notice that they were too distracted to pay heed to her words.
Jinyoung felt that Mark was getting closer to him, with every move, but it could just as well be his mind working too much. One thing for certain, however, was that they were side by side, and their arms were almost getting in contact with each other. Mark threw worried glances at Jinyoung, who would not talk to him nor look at his way.
"Oh my, come to think of it, I can't believe I'm watching two fine guys taking a bath together."
Jinyoung got tensed and then flushed, with his eyes kept downward.
Then he heard Mark saying to Yumi, "Stop prattling. Can't you just go away and do something?"
"I've nothing to do."
"Then go and eat the berries."
"I'm done," Jinyoung interrupted them and helped himself up to the ground, before leaving them.
