Stranger In The Sand || Yungi ✔️

4.5

He guides me to his front door, the car ride being filled with calmer songs that last time. Lots of Dean and Eric Nam being played. Sometimes the Rose or Jackson Wang.

I slip off my shoes, still feeling down. He turns around, trying to meet my eyes but is met with the top of my head since I was staring at the floor.

"Yunho, look at me," he directs, pulling my attention to him. Stepping forward, his arms wrap around me again. I sigh, closing my eyes.

"Thanks Mingi."

"Anytime, Yun," he says, squeezing me gently before letting go. "I'll show you to the guest room, and you can borrow some of my clothes."

I nod, walking behind him as we go through the hallway. I stare at the back of his head, just now realizing that his 'black' hair was actually a deep red.

Laughing to myself, I speak up, "your hair looks black in the dark. I didn't know it was red, Mingi."

He glances back with a grin, "yeah, I dyed it a few days before I met you."

I smile, "you pull it off really well."

"Thanks," he beams, stopping at a door. "Ah, I'll bring you some clothes. Are you thirsty or anything?"

I shake my head. For the first time, I'm feeling a bit awkward. Now that my adrenaline died down, I just now realized that I'm staying at someone's house that I met three days ago.

"Are you sure you're not going to kill me?" I joke, squinting my eyes at him.

"Hm, no promises," he stretches his arm behind his head, "keep one eye open tonight, stranger."

I giggle, shaking my head, "how old are you?"

"17, 18 in August. You?"

"18, sir."

"Ew, don't call me that unless you want me to throw you out," he grimaces, leaning against the wall.

I chuckle before we stand there, not speaking. I rub my arm, feeling a bit of tension between us. He looks down before looking back at me, his eyes widening at something.

"What happened to your face?"

"What? Did it get prettier?"

"It's the prettiest, but no. It looks a bit red and swollen. Did someone hit you or something?"

My heart jumps, sending me into panic mode. I try to think of a lie. "Of course not," I scoff, "I probably just... got a bug bite or something. Anyway, can I get those clothes? I'm really tired, and I'm sure you are, too."

He hesitantly nods, entering a different room and coming out with sweatpants and a regular white t-shirt. Handing it to me, he stares for a bit longer.

"Yun, you can tell me anything," he says softly.

I nod, turning back into the room, "thanks, but there's nothing to tell."

-

I lie in the bed, staring up at the ceiling. I couldn't see it, but I knew it was there. I couldn't sleep, even though I had been tired.

I felt nervous for an unknown reason. Maybe it had to do with the fact that I had to face my parents later. Maybe it was because Mingi was in the next room.

I remove the blanket from my body, deciding to go home. He was ten minutes away from my house; I could make it back in thirty. Though, I felt bad about leaving in the night, I didn't want to be a bother.

I glance down at my shirt and pants, remembering that they were his. When I first put them on, I couldn't stop myself from getting comfortable in them. They smelled like him a lot, and he smelled amazing.

Maybe I shouldn't leave. It's dangerous out there, after all. I still stand up from the bed, going and opening the door quietly. Anxiously, I set my hand on the doorknob that went to Mingi's room. Turning it gently, I peek my head in, shocked to see that he was on his phone.

He looks up at me, a concerned look growing as he sits up, "couldn't sleep?"

I shake my head. He pats the spot next to him, scooting over a bit. I walk over, sitting down. Turning on the small lamp, he wraps an arm around my shoulders, letting me hug his waist.

"My mom slapped me. She's never done it before. I didn't do anything wrong. I was sick of them arguing, so I said something about it. She was drunk. She didn't mean it," I breathe out, relieved that I got it off my chest.

"Yunho, how long has this been going on? The arguing," he questions, rubbing my arm.

"Since I was little. They always get into fights. Just recently, it's been everyday. Sometimes my mom is tipsy, other times it's my dad. Sometimes one of them leaves, and then comes back to check on me. They know that it affects me, yet they don't try to hide it from me. This time, my mom was drunk. They were arguing about my dad staying late at work; my mom accused him of cheating. I don't know why I even decided to say something, but when I did, my mom slapped me. I could see the instant regret in her face. The room went quiet. I just ran up the stairs, grabbed my jacket and shoes, and ran to the beach. She was calling my name, she even tried following me. My dad, I think, got in his car to get me, but I don't know. I just couldn't be there. It was too much."

Mingi had stayed quiet through my rant. He was a good listener. I knew he was listening by how sometimes he adjusted his grip on me or by the slight nod of his head.

"It's sometimes funny to me that we know more about each other's lives than about each other," I sigh, closing my eyes. "Ten out of ten best friend material."

He chortles, "yeah, I think about that, too. But, I'm really sorry that, that happened. It sucks. You can stay with me as long as you need."

I hum, "thanks, Gi, but I should get home. I'm sure my voicemail box is completely full and messages are still coming in."

"You didn't tell them where you were?"

"No. It may sound wrong, but they deserve to be worried. I was always worried about them divorcing, though it would be best. I worried that one of them would do something rash. I think I deserve to worry them tonight. It's not like they can call the police. It's not like they can get mad. I just need some space."

"I understand that, but you could be dead for all they know." Concern is laced in his voice.

"Let's go to bed," I suggest, sliding down so I was laying on my side completely.

"Alright," he turns off the lamp, turning back to me and grasping my torso lightly. A big baby as the big spoon, how cute.

"Goodnight, Mingi."

"Goodnight, Yunho."