“Hey Junmyeon, where are you?” Yifan asks, shifting the basket to his other hand as he holds the phone to his ear.

 

“In the parking lot.” The loud conversations around Yifan almost drown out Junmyeon’s next words. “Can you see me?”

 

Yifan turns around, scanning the parking lot. There are too many cars in the area, surrounded by constantly moving people headed for the park on a relaxing weekend. “No, but can you see me?” Yifan sets down his picnic basket, waving his hands in the air. He ignores the weird looks he gets from the others around him, hoping that Junmyeon catches sight of him.

 

“Yeah, I see you,” Junmyeon laughs softly through the phone. “I’ll be right there. Let me park the car first.”

 

“Okay.” Yifan hangs up, bending down to pick up the picnic basket. He stands to the side of the road, trying not to look too conspicuous as he stares at everyone passing him to find Junmyeon.

 

Junmyeon finds him first, cutting through the grass to get to where Yifan is standing. “Hi,” he says, his smile contagiously bright. “Did you bring food?”

 

Yifan glances down at the basket, rubbing the back of his neck with his free hand. “It’s not much.” He falls in step next to Junmyeon, walking further into the park. “Do you want to go to the lake first? We can rent boats.”

 

Junmyeon hesitates, staring at the colorful boats drifting on the lake’s surface. “I can’t swim that well,” he says.

 

“You won’t need to swim,” Yifan says, squeezing Junmyeon’s hand lightly. “The water’s really shallow over here. I can even do all the rowing, if you want.”

 

“Okay.” Junmyeon glances back at the boats tied to the shore before following Yifan to the booth. “Just make sure I don’t drown.”

 

Yifan reluctantly lets go of Junmyeon’s hand to reach for his wallet. “A boat for two, please,” he tells the owner.

 

Yifan has been here before, so he listens absently as the man goes over the instructions on the proper way to handle the boats. Junmyeon listens attentively, though, watching as the man unties one of the boats.

 

“Do these boats tip over easily?” Junmyeon asks, after the man has finished explaining and moved on to the next customers. He places a hand on the edge of the boat as Yifan gets in, still reluctant to get inside.

 

“Not if you don’t move around too much.” Yifan sets the picnic basket in the middle of the boat, holding out his hand for Junmyeon. “I’ll make sure you don’t fall out.” Yifan lets his hand fall awkwardly to his side when Junmyeon doesn’t take it after a few moments. “If you don’t want to, we can always do something else . . . ”

 

Junmyeon shakes his head. “No, it’s okay.” He steps into the water hesitantly, and Yifan tries to hold the boat steady as he gets in. There’s a moment when the boat tilts to the side, a moment when Yifan thinks that the boat will tip before they even leave the shore. It steadies when Junmyeon sits down, though, trembling over the surface of the water.

 

“Are you ready?” Yifan asks, reaching for one of the oars.

 

Junmyeon nods, taking the other oar. It takes them a while to figure out how to steer the boat at first, to coordinate themselves so that they aren’t moving too much to either side instead of straight ahead. Even then, they come too close to the shore sometimes, and have to duck the branches and push off from nearby rocks.

 

“Watch out,” Yifan warns, trying to steer them away from the shore. He ducks to avoid a nearby branch, glancing back to make sure that Junmyeon’s okay.

 

“Just tell me what side to paddle on,” Junmyeon says, holding a thumb up to show that he’s fine. His smile is so bright that Yifan has to look away so that he doesn’t get distracted.

 

When they’re far enough away from the shore, Yifan sets his oar inside the boat next to Junmyeon’s. He turns so that he’s facing Junmyeon, letting the gentle current of the river drift them further downstream. They pass by other boats headed in various directions around them.

 

Junmyeon dips his fingers into the water, sprinkling a few drops in Yifan’s face. Yifan frowns playfully, cupping some water in his palm as he leans closer to Junmyeon. The water slips from between his fingers by the time he reaches out with his arm, but Junmyeon flinches, his hand reaching out to grab Yifan’s wrist. Yifan opens his palm, showing Junmyeon that there’s nothing there, and smiles as Junmyeon rolls his eyes.

 

“Why aren’t there other couples here?” Junmyeon asks, glancing at the boats around them. “We’re the only young adults around here.”

 

Yifan leans back in the boat, shrugging. “There are probably better places for a date than here.” He bites back a smile as he notices Junmyeon’s slight flush. As Yifan looks down at the clear blue water, though, he really can’t think of a better place to be than in the calmness of the park. “Maybe this river is like the one in Itazura na Kiss,” he says, watching as they pass yet another boat with parents and grandparents in it. “You know, the river where couples who are on it are destined to break up in a few months?”

 

Yifan means the words as a joke, and it’s almost funny how quickly Junmyeon’s relaxed expression changes into one of concern. But he doesn’t expect Junmyeon to stand up abruptly, the boat wobbling under his weight.

 

“Maybe,” Junmyeon begins, and Yifan tries to steady the boat and reach out for Junmyeon at the same time.

 

Junmyeon never gets to finish his sentence, or Yifan never gets to hear it, as the boat tips, sending them over the side and into the water.

 

Yifan flails for a moment in the cold water, accidentally swallowing a mouthful in the process. He finds his footing quickly, though, and the water barely reaches his chin when his feet are flat on the ground.

 

Junmyeon, Yifan thinks, and he looks around, remembering how Junmyeon had told him that he couldn’t swim.

 

Junmyeon is only an arm’s length away, and Yifan quickly makes his way over to him, placing his hands on Junmyeon’s arms to steady him. Junmyeon holds onto Yifan like he’s a lifeline, leaning his head against Yifan’s shoulder and coughing out water.

 

“Hey, do you need help?” Yifan turns to see a young man floating in a boat next to them. He quickly gets out, wading through the water to stand by Yifan’s side. Together, they manage to right the boat. There’s some water at the bottom, but otherwise, it’s enough to bring Yifan and Junmyeon back to shore.

 

“Thanks,” Yifan says, as the man waves and gets back onto his boat. “Are you okay?” he asks Junmyeon, looking down in concern as Junmyeon holds onto him tightly. That, coupled with Junmyeon’s glare, almost makes him smile at how cute it is, but he knows that now isn’t the right time.

 

Yifan helps Junmyeon back into the boat, noticing how Junmyeon is still trembling slightly. Their picnic basket had fallen out of the boat in the ordeal, and Yifan can’t locate it in the waters around them. He starts guiding them back to the shore, glancing at Junmyeon once in a while.

 

Junmyeon doesn’t seem like he’s fully recovered from the incident yet, his arms wrapped around himself in an almost defensive stance. His clothes are drenched, his hair sticking to his forehead as he looks to the side.

 

“I’m sorry,” Yifan says, his hand lingering around Junmyeon’s as he helps the other out of the boat. “I was just trying to make a joke. I didn’t think . . . ”

 

Junmyeon shakes his head, wiping water from his face with the back of his hand. “I know that you don’t have a great sense of humor, but of all the things that you could have said . . . ” He breaks off with a laugh, turning back to stare at the lake.

 

“I’m sorry,” Yifan repeats. This wasn’t exactly how he’d expected the date to turn out, especially now that the picnic basket with all the food he'd carefully prepared overturned somewhere in the lake. “Actually, this lake doesn’t carry any bad luck with it. I wouldn’t have rented us a boat over here if it did.”

 

“I know.” Junmyeon runs a hand through his hair, flicking off a few drops of water. “Can we not talk about that anymore? It's kind of embarrassing.”

 

Yifan hesitates, biting his lip. He almost apologizes again, but he’s done that two times already. Instead, he says, “I think the picnic basket is still somewhere in the lake.”

 

Junmyeon sits down in the grass, wrapping his arms around his knees. “I see.”

 

“Are you cold?” Yifan takes a step forward, watching as Junmyeon shivers a little when a light breeze passes. He doesn’t have much to offer, though; Yifan’s own clothes are wet, and his jacket is still in his car. Still, he doesn’t want Junmyeon to get sick because of this.

 

“I’m fine.” Junmyeon sighs, leaning his chin on his knees. “Do you have anything else planned?” He looks up at Yifan, and maybe it’s just the brightness of the sun against his skin, but he looks too pale, almost tired.

 

Yifan sits down next to Junmyeon in the grass. “I was thinking that we could eat afterwards . . .  Is hot dog okay?” he asks, glancing at a hot dog stand not far from them.

 

Junmyeon shrugs. “It’s fine.”

 

He still looks shaken, and Yifan turns to him, concerned. “Junmyeon,” he begins, but Junmyeon cuts him off with a small smile.

 

“I just don’t have great experiences with water,” he admits, wrapping a strand of grass around his finger. “I’ve always wanted to swim one day.” He gets up, a hint of his usual energy in the shine of his eyes. “Come on, I’m hungry.”

 

Yifan laughs, following Junmyeon. He reaches for his wallet as they stand in line, only to stop short as he stares at his bills. “Junmyeon,” he begins, swallowing hard when the other turns to him. He really doesn’t want to be any more disappointing, but it seems like nothing at all is going according to his plan. “I think my wallet got a little wet when we fell into the water.”

 

All of the bills in his wallet are just wads of paper now, clumped together in an illegible mess. Yifan still has his credit card, but he doubts that any of the small stores in the park would accept that.

 

Junmyeon tries to control his expression, but Yifan catches the disappointed look in his eyes, the slight clench of his jaw as he turns away. “That’s not really surprising.” The words were intended to be a joke, but his tone falls flat.

 

Yifan puts his wallet back into his pocket, reluctantly stepping out of the line. “I have money in my car, if you still want to buy something.”

 

“Actually, I came here to take my mind off of some things,” Junmyeon says, his voice so soft that Yifan almost misses it as they pass by several young children. “I thought it’d be a good distraction, but I don’t think it’s working.” His voice trails off, and he gives Yifan a small smile. “Don’t look at me like that. I’m not saying that we should stop seeing each other. I just need some time to sort things out, but I’ll be free next weekend, if you have time.”

 

That’s a whole week from now, but Yifan nods. There seems to be more on Junmyeon’s mind than merely what had happened just now. Yifan curls his hand in a fist inside his pocket, aware of the awkward air between them.

 

Suddenly, Junmyeon stops, looking to the side of the road. “Why is she all by herself?”

 

Yifan follows Junmyeon’s gaze, confused until he notices a little girl sitting in the grass alone. There’s no one around her, and she’s looking around her, as though searching for someone. Junmyeon is already walking towards the little girl, crouching down so that he’s face to face with her, and Yifan follows behind.

 

“What’s your name?” Junmyeon asks. His tone is noticeably softer, his smile openly warm as he talks to the girl.

 

She looks up at him, her eyes wide, almost lost. “Seulgi,” she says, curling her fingers into the soft fabric of her shirt.

 

“Are you looking for someone, Seulgi?”

 

“I can’t find my mom.” There’s a hint of a whine in her voice, like she’s seconds from crying. “I don’t know where she is.”

 

“It’s okay.” Junmyeon smiles, reaching out to pat her head gently. “Do you know your mom’s phone number?”

 

Seulgi hesitates, mouthing a few words, before she nods.

 

“Let’s call your mother.” Junmyeon pulls out his phone, pressing on the power button. It doesn’t turn on immediately, and he presses it again, before muttering under his breath. Yifan winces, realizing that it had probably died when they'd fallen into the water. “Do you have a phone?” Junmyeon asks, looking up at Yifan.

 

“I left mine in the car.” Yifan shifts on his feet, feeling slightly helpless as Junmyeon turns away with a sigh.

 

“Hey, it’s okay,” Junmyeon says, smiling brightly at Seulgi. “We’re going to borrow a phone and find your mom, okay?”

 

Seulgi nods, reaching up to hold Junmyeon’s hand when he offers it to her.

 

“Let’s go to the front of the park. I’m sure there’ll be a phone in the information center,” Junmyeon says to Yifan. “We’ll call her mom and tell her that her child is safe.”

 

“Okay,” Yifan agrees. Seulgi still seems a little skeptical about him. He offers her a smile, but it doesn’t seem to work if the way she avoids looking up at him again is any indication.

 

Junmyeon notices, laughing as he takes Yifan’s hand with his free hand. “Come on. I’m sure her mom is very worried. When did you last see her?” he asks Seulgi.

 

“At the playground.” Seulgi hesitates, frowning slightly as she thinks. “I was behind her and Seungyoon, and then I stopped to look at a bug. I don’t know where they are.”

 

“We’ll find them soon. Is Seungyoon your brother?”

 

Seulgi nods. “We’re twins. I’m five years old,” she adds.

 

“Do you come here often?”

 

“Every week, when it’s not too cold,” Seulgi says. 

 

“This is our first time here,” Junmyeon says, including Yifan with a nod of his head. “We were in a boat a while ago, and our boat flipped over into the lake.”

 

“Is that why your clothes are wet?” Seulgi looks up at them with serious eyes. “I’ve heard that there are monsters at the bottom of the lake.”

 

Junmyeon laughs, loud and unreserved. “Well, I’m glad we didn’t meet any of them.”

 

Yifan finds himself chiming in, telling a story about cobwebs found on a certain tree, how they’re used in making sticky bean paste.

 

“Don’t tell stories like that,” Junmyeon says, after assuring Seulgi that the story isn’t true. “You’re going to make her stop eating her veggies.”

 

“I used to make up stories like that so that I wouldn’t have to eat them,” Yifan admits.

 

Junmyeon laughs, and Seulgi smiles, which Yifan considers a victory. He doubts that Junmyeon’s laughing at his wittiness, but it doesn’t matter. At least Junmyeon is happy right now, and looks more at ease than he had been just minutes ago.

 

It doesn’t take them long to get to the information center. Junmyeon goes to the front desk to borrow a phone, leaving Yifan with a stern order to watch over Seulgi.

 

Yifan sits down on the ground, watching as Seulgi stares at a thin tree growing from a pot by the window. She looks like she’s lost in her own thoughts, and Yifan clears his throat. “Seulgi, do you want any water?” he asks, drawing her attention from the window.

 

Seulgi nods, following Yifan to the vending machines. Yifan pours her a cup of water from the water fountain and hands it to her. He notices her lingering gaze on the snacks in the vending machines, but he doesn’t have the money to buy any for her.

 

“I’m sure your mom will be here soon,” Yifan says, smiling as Seulgi hands the empty cup back to him.

 

“I just called her,” Junmyeon says, sitting down on the ground next to Yifan. “She’s on her way. She’ll be here in a few minutes.”

 

Yifan leans back, watching as Junmyeon talks to Seulgi. He looks more relaxed like this, laughing as he jokes with Seulgi. It’s comforting simply to watch them, as Junmyeon shows Seulgi how to fold a paper boat from a paper map of the park.

 

Seulgi’s mom arrives a few minutes later, apologizing as she steps into the building. Yifan and Junmyeon stand up, waiting as Seulgi runs to her mother and hugs her tightly.

 

“I’m sorry for the trouble,” Junmyeon says, when Seulgi’s mother is finished fussing over her daughter. “I don’t have my phone with me, so we had to come here to make a call.”

 

“Oh, no.” Seulgi’s mother stands, still holding onto Seulgi’s hand. “Thank you so much. I probably wouldn’t have found Seulgi otherwise. Say thank you to them,” she adds, turning to her daughter.

 

Junmyeon hands Seulgi the paper boat before she leaves, smiling and waving as she and her mother walk out of the door. The smile lingers afterwards, and Yifan hesitantly reaches out to take his hand when he lowers his arm.

 

“Do you want to buy something to eat before we leave? I have money in my car.”

 

Junmyeon hesitates before nodding, turning his hand so that his fingers fit between Yifan’s. “Let’s buy some ice cream.”

 

“I’ll buy you the largest cone,” Yifan says, conveying a silent apology as he turns to Junmyeon.

 

Maybe Junmyeon isn’t as excited as he was before, but his mood has at least gotten better. When they part ways at the parking lot, their fingers sticky from the ice cream, Junmyeon pauses and turns to face Yifan. “I’ll see you later?”

 

“Later,” Yifan agrees, waving to Junmyeon as he walks backwards to reach his car. He nearly trips over a rock watching Junmyeon turn around a row of cars and walk out of sight. Yifan catches himself with a hand on the car behind him, taking a moment to steady himself as he pulls his keys out from his pocket. This date might not have been perfect, Yifan thinks as he gets into his car, but it hadn’t been that bad either.