Stranger(2)

Did the man followed him? He doesn't know. Xie Mingze was sure he took a taxi home and nobody was following him, but he was paranoid. 

As soon as he returned home, he immediately locked the door, closed the window and then covered himself with the blanket. He wanted to tell someone, but who? He was afraid, what if that man lives in the same area as him. 

He knew he is overreacting. 

The phone vibrated again. It was Yize asking him what's wrong with him. He started spilling what happened. Mingze tried to downplay his tension saying it was just creepy.

Yize: Fool! You shouldn't talk with strangers! Even if you are a guy, the world is a dangerous place.

Mingze: I just don't want to be rude.

Yize: Who cares if you look rude? Where did that get you? Next time bring the pepperr spray, it's better to be called a judger than to be in danger. Is there anyone you could tell? Someone physically there.

The first person Mingze thought of was Fen Yichen, his childhood was always hanging out with him. But he doesn't want to show his cowardly side to anyone, the only reason he could spill his guts to Yize was because they don't know each other personally. 

He doesn't want to go out at night anymore. 

***

When Yichen went up Yichen's room, he was surprised to see him awake. It was the first time he saw him wake up on his own so early in the morning. "What are you looking at?"

"I'm glad you're enthusiastic about our time together. Come on put on your jacket we would jog around the area."

That's right they were jogging everyday, so it would be a habit.

This time, Yichen keep looking around. He kept turning left and right, while sticking close to Yichen. While he might like the idea of Mingze sticking close to him, his actions was weird.

"Ming are you looking for something."

"No, just keep on running. I'm just trying to follow behind your back."

Lies. If Xie Mingze had a choice he would not leave his room. It felt like the man from the bus stop would jump on him the moment he let down his guard. Only by sticking close to Fen Yichen does he feels a bit safe. Fen Yichen was a black belt in taekwondo. 

"I'll slow my pace a bit, walk beside me."

It was obvious Xie Mingze was acting out of character, it wasn't hard to piece things together. Something definitely happened to him. Still, they only left each other's presence at night time, so it was suprising something major happened for the shortt interval they are not together. 

Xie Mingze doesn't want to tell Fen Yichen. He felt like he would be scolded. 

Busy with his thoughts he walk towards the sewers and his left foot got wet with dirty water. 

"Freak, it's not my day." His white shoes turned gray, the water wasn't clean and it smells funny. 

"Be careful. Let's exchange shoes." Luckily for Xie Mingze they were of the same shoe size. Fen Yichen removed his shoes and sock then stepped on the asphalt of the road. He was motioning for him to remove his shoes and wear his.

The feeling of wet socks while walking was honestly digusting, he felt a bit guilty switching it with his clean ones. The squish squish sounds was the worst feeling on rainy days. With a sigh, Fen Yichen kneeled down and personally removed the shoes from his feet.

"Wait, my foot stinks."

"That's exactly why I told you to change shoes with me, what if you get infected? Your feet just healed recently."

"Aren't you afraid of getting the infection?" Mingze retorted. It's not like there's some disease in the sewer. It was indeed dirty though, if there's some disease there the whole place would had been place in a lockdown. 

"I'm not someone who gets sick easily. That's a you thing Ming."

This time he placed the shoes on his feet and wore the wet shoes. He started running like nothing was wrong. 

"Come on, run. You don't have any excuses anymore."

Xie Mingze was this close to being touched, he didn't need to add that, it just made him annoyed. 

Still, if jogging can keep him from thinking then better. 

**

After their jogging, he saw a hotdog stand. Feeling a bit hungry Xie Mingze decided to buy one.

"Yichen do you want some hotdogs?" 

"Didn't we just jog?" 

"Yes, but I'm not dieting so it's fine." 

He is really craving some hotdogs and maybe a sweet drink to lessen all the stress he has been feeling lately. 

"Oh it's you!" 

Turns out there was another customer in the hotdog stand. It was the same man he saw at the bus stop. 

Unconsciously he took a step back, ready to run.

"I nearly lost you. Are you alone? Let's hang out a bit. Do you want some hotdogs? I'll buy you one then maybe you can play with the real thing later " 

"No thanks, I need to go back to my boyfriend." 

As he was about to leave the man grabbed his wrist.

"Suddenly you got a boyfriend?" 

Obviously, the man didn't believe him. To him Mingze was lying to hide his shyness, but the truth was he is just disgusted and wants to leave. 

"Let me go or I'll call the police!" 

"We don't need the police here. Let's talk it over some tea." 

The man can't be reasoned with. It was a frustrating one-sided conversation, he couldn't get the hint. 

Feeling anger swelling up in his chest he wanted to kick him. Mingze was not afraid because it was broad daylight, he was just timid because he didn't want to be caught alone. 

He raised his legs and kicked him right in the sides. The man groaned in pain. The impact was obviously big, since he looked a few steps back.

"Fen Yichen! Help!" 

His shout was so loud it was enough to alert the person he is with.