Stranger In The Sand || Yungi ✔️

3

12:22am

"Gah!" I shout when the cold water hits my feet. I run a bit further away from it, kind of wanting to go for a swim, but knowing it was a bad idea.

An evil grin appears on my face. I'm all in for bad ideas. I'm a dumbass, and I'm aware of it.

I slip my shirt and sweatpants off. I didn't bring a jacket with me tonight. I forgot to grab it from when I headed out. I just couldn't stand to listen to my parents anymore. Hopefully the water would freeze the memories out.

After I'm left in my boxers and my clothes and phone are set at a safe distance away, I take a step into the inky blackness. It was cold, and it was fucking terrifying, but I went further anyway.

Deciding to go for it, I run in, the water splashing against my chest. Instant regret fills me when the waves pull me in further. It was freezing. Not the kind of cold that you could get used to. The kind of cold to numb my body.

"You're a fucking idiot, Jeong Yunho," I mutter as I run out of the water. "Bad idea."

I'm quick to slide on my shirt and sweatpants. It won't look like I've pissed myself because my entire legs were wet. I could feel my shirt being drenched already. I held my phone in my hand, walking up to the bench while trembling.

Soon enough, Mingi pulls up.

"Hey- whoa, why are you shaking so much?" He touches my shoulder, "are you wet?"

"Th-that's what he said," I say, not being able to laugh because of how shaky I actually was.

He jogs back to his car. I could hear the trunk open, but I didn't bother looking. An abrupt weight is placed over me, and then he pulls me to his body. I felt his arm rub my shoulder, creating friction to warm me up.

"Did you try swimming or something?"

I don't respond. I could feel him ready to yell at me for being an idiot. Gosh, don't listen to yourself Yunho. You're going to get sick.

"Why would you try to go swimming? You know how cold the water is. God, you're a big dummy, you know that?"

"D-did you know that jellyfish stand for painful memories of the subconscious?"

"Did you know that once you're warm and somewhat dry, I'm taking you home?"

I sit up from my position (listen, he was comfy and his shoulder was available), "no, please don't. I can't go back there so soon tonight."

He sighs, knowing why. Holding me tightly, he speaks, "did you know that the queen I told you about yesterday has her own constellation? It's called Cassiopeia. She's the queen of Ethiopia, known for her beauty. She bragged a lot, saying she was even more beautiful than the Sea Nymphs. After hearing the false bragging, Poseidon decided to punish her. That's why Cetus went after to destroy her shores. The Sea Nymphs also wanted revenge, so they ordered for her to be sent to the heavens and forever tied to a chair."

"Could that be why the maiden didn't go back to her kingdom? Because her mother was a bitch and was the reason why she was almost killed?" I question, it making sense in my head.

"It could be. I'll have to look more into it. Now, can you tell me why you thought a nightly swim was a good idea?"

"Mingi, please-"

"Yunho, you could get seriously sick from doing something like that. Tell me why."

"I don't know, okay? I just had an impulse to do it. I knew it was a bad idea, but I wanted to feel the cold water."

I just wanted to let my feelings out without crying like I always do. I wanted to risk something. I wanted the adrenaline.

"Don't ever do that again. Not unless it's warmer. Gosh, you're so dumb."

I felt guilty, making him worry like that. Barely three days but already giving him a heart attack.

"Why did you call me that yesterday?" I speak up, remembering that I wanted to ask.

"Call you what?"

"Baby."

This time, he didn't answer me. I look up, his head facing away from me. I reach my hand up cautiously, grasping his chin to make him look at me.

"Why did you call me that?"

"I..." he hesitates, "I don't know. It just... felt right? I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable or anything. You can- you can keep the blanket. Sorry, I should go now."

When he begins to stand up, I grab his arm before he can go further. Why does this feel like a drama?

"Don't go, please. It's okay. It didn't bother me. I don't understand how you didn't get that. I mean, I called you handsome for Christ' sake. Not the same, but I'm sure it had the same feel to it. You don't have to answer me. Just stay."

He nods, seeming troubled, "...okay."

He sits back down and I let him wrap his arm back around my shoulders. We don't speak. It would ruin everything. I hug the blanket tighter, still feeling the semi-permanent chills.

His arm tightens, beginning to move up and down again. It didn't help much, if I'm being honest. My legs were mostly freezing since the blanket already covered my arms. I couldn't even feel my feet.

"M-my legs," I fumble out, cursing myself for stuttering. I hated when I did that.

"What?"

"My legs are cold."

When I say that, he does the unexpected. I expected him to take the blanket and drape it over my legs instead or something. But no. This fucker decides to pick me up and put me on his lap, acting like it's nothing.

"What are you doing?" I question, embarrassed that I was now on his lap.

"Just be quiet, Yun," he says as he fixes the blanket and pulls it around further to tuck me into him while wrapped like a burrito. "You know, your ass isn't as boney as I thought."

"You could just say I'm thick and be done with it," I point out, loving to tease.

"Shut up," he shakes his head, "gosh, what am I supposed to do with an idiot like you?"

"Rhyme, apparently."

"I need to get duck tape for your mouth."

"Or a gag," I wiggle my eyebrows, not sure if he could even see it.

"I'll throw you in the ocean, I'll do it," he threatens, squinting his already tiny eyes.

"Do it, I dare-"

He stands up, bouncing me in his arms. I scream, not anticipating that he would do that. He walks us down across the sand, getting dangerously close to the water.

"Okay! Okay, I'll stop!" I yell, holding onto his neck for dear life (damn, this kid's neck is even sexy- what the fuck, Yunho).

He chuckles, swinging me in a circle before going back to where we were previously.

"Sheesh, take a joke," I whine like a child, feeling my eyes become droopy. Oh, hell no, we aren't falling asleep on this kid. He could kidnap me.

"You're too adorable, Yunho," he grins.

I look at him, being able to fully see his face since my eyes adjusted to the darkness and we were in the exact beam of light from the moon.

"You're really pretty, you know," I say, tearing my gaze away and resting my head on his shoulder. "I envy your eyebrows."

"Tired?" He questions, fixing his grip on me so I wasn't so mangled in his arms.

I hum, breathing softly. He was warm, what can I say? Screw not falling asleep on him. He knows where I live, my number, my sexuality, my fish facts. I think I can... slowly begin to trust him. I sound like an idiot for doing so, but I couldn't help it.

"Alright, I'll take you home now, Yun."