"it's not that far i suppose. if i'm not mistaken we have to follow this path to end up at the bungalow park." mingyu explained, making sure to walk on the same pace as wonwoo to keep up with him.
"then you should go back to seokmin's house, i can find the way back myself." wonwoo looks down at the tops of his outworn sneakers, not daring to higher his gaze and to eye mingyu walking next to him.
however, mingyu wasn't one to give up that easily, which wonwoo found out about pretty soon. "don't be silly, it's a little effort to walk you home. besides, seokmin will personally hit me when he finds out i haven't walked you all the way back and probably blame it on my bad manners."
mingyu's words managed to make wonwoo curl his lips up the slightest bit, which he tried to hide behind the curly mess of jet black hair by lowering his head even more. to mingyu's disappointment.
"then just take a walk, you don't have to stay with me." wonwoo spoke a little more freely, feeling himself breaking loose a little from his anxiety to speak with the latter.
but his words still didn't manage to convince mingyu, who was determined to walk along with him. "but what if i tell you i want to stay with you." a tone of uncertainty was heard in his voice, confusing wonwoo as to why mingyu's confidence disappeared out of sudden.
a chuckle escaped wonwoo's lips and he shook his head, finally able to lift his head and shot a quick glance over in mingyu's direction. "that's a lie." he deadpanned, making mingyu widen his eyes in defeat.
"why would i lie about that!"
"come on mingyu, you and i both know i'm boring."
now it was mingyu's turn to give wonwoo a subtle smile, trying to hold his gaze a little longer before wonwoo would lower his face again and his eyes would disappear behind his hair. he wanted to delay that moment for as long as possible, even when he knew wonwoo would look away sooner or later.
"i personally don't think you're boring wonwoo." mingyu answered, having wonwoo staring in his eyes for a little longer to check if he spoke the truth, "if i have to be honest with you, i actually find you quite interesting."
wonwoo cocked his eyebrows, giving mingyu a genuinely confused look. however, if wonwoo had to admit, mingyu's words made him feel a certain type of way. a feeling he rather not acknowledged.
so he sarcastically chuckled and averted his gaze to the unpaved path in front of them again. "why?"
"i don't know, i guess something about you really gets my attention." mingyu admits, nonchalantly shrugging as he gives wonwoo a sly smile.
wonwoo had to restrain himself from showing how shy mingyu's confessions made him feel. instead he just stared down at the tops of his sneakers again, hiding behind the safety his curls had to offer him.
he couldn't quite believe how a person like mingyu could possibly have any interest in him. because what was there to be so interested about? wonwoo barely spoke a word and was bad at keeping the conversation going, let alone intend one himself.
not only that, his insecurities played up a lot whenever he had to socially interact with anyone else than his own friends and family. mingyu must have noticed this already at this point, so why was it that he still tend to put so much effort in him?
for some reason wonwoo really wanted him to get lost. but on the other hand, he secretly loved mingyu's attention and his oddly nice attitude towards him.
"you're coming to the beach today again, right?" wonwoo wished he could say no, but he promised his little sister to introduce her to the small boy named euki he had met the day before.
"yes, my little sister wanted me to come with her." wonwoo lied, not wanting to tell mingyu about the encounter he had with the toddler yesterday. mingyu's entire expression lit up on hearing the words 'little sister', confusing wonwoo even more when he dared to look up again.
"you have a little sister? how old is she?" mingyu asked in all excitement.
"she's four years old." wonwoo answered monotonous.
"that's adorable! come to think of it, you haven't even told me your age!" realization hit both of them that they barely knew each other at that point. they only met a day ago and an actual conversation like this hadn't exactly happened before.
"i'm eighteen." was there more to add up on that? wonwoo questioned himself, not quite sure if he used the right choice of words. but it didn't seem to bother mingyu anyhow as the taller just continued with his usual smile plastered to his face.
"you're older than me! makes sense when you're one year above me. but i'm seventeen, turning eighteen in two months." even when wonwoo forgot to return the question, mingyu continued to keep their conversation alive which wonwoo was quietly really thankful for. although mingyu knew it wouldn't take long before they had to separate again as the brown roofs of the bungalows started rising up above the trees, meaning they were getting closer to the vacation park.
"i think we've arrived on our destination." mingyu formally said, imitating a touring guide, which magically managed to make a small appear on wonwoo's face again. a feeling of pride rose up in mingyu's chest, feeling satisfied by the thought only that it was him who made wonwoo smile.
"you should go back now, i think i can find my way back from here." wonwoo spoke up, motioning his head in the direction of the inn for mingyu to go back.
"are you sure? i mean, i'm willing to bring you to your bungalow if you want me to."
once the path ended and mixed together in the main path of the park both boys stopped walking, ready to say their goodbyes and split ways again. wonwoo moved his head up, allowing himself to make eye contact with the taller male who stood in front of him, sheepishly smiling at the sudden eye contact.
"i'm okay, really. it's the third house down this road, you should head back to your friends." and finally, mingyu gave in, knowing wonwoo might be uncomfortable with it if he kept trailing him like a lost puppy any longer.
"then, i guess i'll see you on the beach later, right?" mingyu scratched the back of his neck while asking that question, hoping to see wonwoo again that day.
"i guess. see you mingyu." was wonwoo's only answer before he turned around and started walking away, mingyu doing the same when he bid the elder goodbye. however, with much hesitation wonwoo stopped in his tracks, turning back around to face mingyu again. "mingyu!"
with his eyes widened mingyu turned around, obviously not expecting wonwoo would say something again. "thanks for letting me stay tonight."
"y-yes, of course." mingyu answered before wonwoo turned around and eventually made his way back to the bungalow.
leaving a starstruck mingyu behind.
