That day happened to be school's break. They had planned for a trip to the beach, yet never even Mu Gu had expected that it would suddenly be cancelled as everyone got caught up in their own affairs. Well, now that she has already come, it would be such a pity not to enjoy herself.
As her eyes swept around, and as the fresh wind gently brushed her cold cheek, her heart exuded calm and comfort more than ever.
Spurred on by the vibes, her step as slow as she advanced, carefully wove another space of memory for the art her eyes touched. She took one slow step as her feet met the sand. One moment, it felt like the whole of her was sinking, as if it was consuming her to a whole new world of inexplicable emotion.
For the first time in ages, her eyes glistened and a fallen tear softly brushed her pale cold cheek. Weary overcame her at such unpredictable speed. Her face and emotions showed nothing, but her body, and presence reacted somewhat, following the internal thought that had long been in turmoil.
That day, with the sky painted by watercolor wash of pink and a mixed golden hue, as the water below gleamed in a shallow mirror of a sea of sky, Mu Gu let herself melt into the sand, and stared blankly towards the horizon.
It's as if time were no longer the problem here, yet it abruptly rushed back into motion when her instinct was stronger of a figure getting closer. Shoulder twitched slightly, Mu Gu turned her head to the side, towards the source of footsteps and spotted a man.
He stood there quietly with his expression appearing as if nobody was putting attention on him - quite relaxed.
On his slender and tall figure, a loose white oversize shirt hung on him - ones that were made from a lightweight woven cotton fabric, soft but slightly crisp. His collar lay open, revealing just a hint of his collarbone. Mu Gu tried calculating his age by his essence when she finally concluded that this man was possibly younger than her and had a rather good sense of style. Additionally, it made him appear more soft and cuddly, perfectly fitting his impression.
As he closed the distance, his head tilted slightly forward when his gaze fell upon her. His dark hair falling carelessly over his forehead as if he had just stepped out of the wind. He had this soft, boyish charm, and as he glanced at her, he always held this teasing smile, quite sincere but somewhat unreadable.
He gingerly reaches his hand to her with a bright and calm complexion. Hand straightened, Mu Gu's eyes unconsciously followed it through her nose. He was no more than a stranger to her, hence, Mu Gu ignored him despite his insistence on staying.
"Why are you alone here? Where's your friend?", the man took a hush of air and began asking with a radiant smile.
A regular outdated question, typically used for tricking stray kittens, '....and I'm not a stray kitten'. Mu Gu casted him an unreadable gaze, but unexpectedly went along, "There's none", her mellow voice infiltrating coldness and distance.
Funny enough, despite how cold Mu Gu treated him, he still answered her in the same interesting manner and tone. "It's a pity."
Amidst the exchange of conversation, he seems to anticipate himself might be a little longer there when he crouches low to the sand. A little while later, knees automatically drawn to his chest, and his palm onto the knee, with his side cheek resting over as he faces to her side. He's all ears about her.
"What's there to pity about? It's quite reassuring this way. No trouble, no pretention, no broken promises. Though a bit lonely, at least I had more time to think about myself."
For a moment, the look of his eyes changed. Through her peripheral sight, Mu Gu could see that he was indeed glancing at her. Driven by curiosity, her head tilted towards his field of vision. As a result, only silence fell, with nothing left but the sighs of the air. They were sinking more and more into faltering silence, which became increasingly solemn with each passing moment.
His expression remains unchanged, causing Mu Gu to be lost in those muted times.
Their eyes speak obscurely.
With the rippling tides, his voice at long last cut through the noise, and it whispered through to her. He said, "I feel like I missed something...perhaps your name?"
Mu Gu naturally threw a look at him again. She thought she was thinking at the moment but no, her lips accidentally slipped the words "Mu Gu", her supposed pet name. It was their first meeting yet his mere company already made her undeliberately lower her guard. She might have become a little too tired after all. Instant realization struck her like a bolt of lightning, and immediately wished she hadn't proceeded on the topic at first.
"Mu Gu? Xiao Mu Gu?", hearing her name being spoken, he unconsciously let out a wry, amused breath. He answered again as he set his eyes on hers. "Indeed."
Her expression hardened. She glared at him, eyebrows knitted with a pout on her lips. Her words couldn't be more far than her thoughts. She opened her mouth, trying to distract her mind. "That's what people called me. As you see, I would not easily share something that always meant to remain secure", and casually changed the topic. "How about you?"
The man was left flabbergasted and also was flustered. Even so, he still connects to her inquiry. He said, "Jun Yi."
"Jun Yi?", her eyes scanned him all over for a little while and added a sarcastic smirk. "Indeed."
Mu Gu wasn't the kind of a person who likes to meddle too much in unrelated things. As soon as she took a snap on it, she often paused herself before it grew deeper. In fact, when she returned the favor in such a mischievous way, she found herself unable to hold control, which made her regret her deeds. From the start, she seemed like she had already been defeated. This guy possesses something that makes her act without thinking and it's a terribly ominous thing.