Stranger In The Sand || Yungi ✔️

5

10:46am

Mingi parks the car in my driveway, waiting for me to say something or get out. I take in a deep breath, turning toward him, "I'll see you later. Thank you for last night."

"No worries, Yun," he smiles, grasping my hand and holding it tightly, "I'm glad I could be there for you. Text me if you need anything."

I nod, "thanks. Guess I'll get going now." My thumb rubs the back of his hand before I let go. "Bye," I wave, shutting the door and heading up the driveway. I'm sure my parents were waiting for me.

-

12:08am

I walk up to the bench, a bit happier than last time. My parents and I talked. Nothing I need to think about now. I didn't want to. I wanted to be happy, so that's what I was going to do.

I patiently waited for Mingi, my head bobbing to the song that was stuck in my head. I hated silence, so I always had a song in my head.

Lights appear behind me, making me turn to see him getting out. I see his smile, his eyes turning into little slits. It's cute how contagious it is.

"Hey," I greet, watching him sit next to me.

"Hi," he responds, "how did it go with your parents? Get in trouble?"

"Pft, no. My parents just apologized and said that they would work on fixing their issues instead of arguing about it in front of me. They were a bit angry that I didn't respond to their texts, but they understood."

"That's good. I'm glad they decided to fix it instead of ground you."

"Me too. So, did you know the pufferfish symbolizes untapped sources of strength and courage? It might appear in your dream if you're allowing other people to bully you or take advantage of you," I spew, thinking of a pufferfish I had seen at the aquarium. It was small and cute.

"I love pufferfish. They're so cute, even when they're all big and pointy," he gleams.

"Well don't touch an alive one because it has enough poison to kill 30 adult humans."

"Yikes, they're pretty from afar too," he laughs. "Did you know that there is a constellation called Taurus? I'm sure you have. It's one of the known ones. It's in the shape of a bull. The story behind it is that the daughter of Agenor, Europa, was so beautiful that Zeus fell in love with her. Zeus shifted into the form of a milky white bull, whose horns were wearing a crown with flowers. Europa was mesmerized by the creature and got onto his back. Zeus carried her away from her homeland to the island of Crete. Europa soon gave birth to Minos, father of the Minotaur, who was half bull and half man. Zeus celebrated his love for Europa by having the continent Europe named after her. He created the constellation Taurus to be seen in the sky forever, which also symbolized fertility and power," he finishes, searching in the sky for the stars.

"Wait a minute," I cut in, "he kidnapped her?"

"No, no. Well- I'm not sure. It just says that he took her away from her homeland, but she never refused it."

"But that's bestiality," I grimace, uncertain of how Zeus and Europa made Minos.

"Don't think too much into it," he whines, "that's just how the story goes. I'm sure Zeus changed back to a human form... hopefully."

"That's disgusting," I gag, "but if he did change back into a human form, it's a sweet story."

"Yeah, it's a heartwarming story," he agrees. "So... are you okay? I mean, after the whole ordeal. I'm sure it's not easy to listen to your parents fight every day. Even mine had their ups and down."

I bow my head, "Yeah, I'm much better. I'm really sorry about yesterday, but thank you so much for letting me stay with you. It means a lot. I probably would've ended up sleeping here if you hadn't offered." I scratch the back of my head timidly, regretful for how I acted toward him.

"It's really okay, I'm happy I was able to be there for you. I wouldn't have let you stay out there in the cold. It's what friends are for," he responds, this time laying his head on my shoulder.

I hesitate with my next words, but I force them out. "Mingi, are we just friends?"

He hums, "I've never felt like this with any friend of mine. Just a few of my exes, but you're so much different than them. I feel like I could tell you anything. With them, I would be embarrassed by even showing them the slightest amount of interest in the stars. I hated that. With you, I'm amazed by our compatibility."

I simper, resting my own head on his, "my exes can't even compare to you. Most of them were hoes that wanted a higher status. I can't believe I was dumb enough to fall for them. But now I have you. You make me feel more confident and happier."

"That was one of the easiest confessions I've ever done," he titters, "I usually get flustered by this part, but I feel so calm. I'm calmer around a stranger than my own friends."

"A stranger, you say? You're not like any stranger I've met. You're not disgusting. You're not unnecessarily making jokes. You just spit straight facts, like that one rapper. I don't remember who it was, but I know he said 'howdy.'"

He laughs, "I don't know what you're talking about, but okay. You should get home, it's late."

"What?" I snort, "not even a goodbye kiss or sudden fact?"

"Pft, in your dreams, lover boy. I'll take you home. Come on," he lifts his head, causing me to do the same. We stop for a moment, gazing into each other's eyes. His eyes sparkled like the stars.

A soft smile slips onto his face. He raises his hand, grasping my chin before leaning in and pecking my nose. A small giggle erupts from him when I swear at him for being a tease.

"Not yet, stranger."