Chapter Text
1
Into the Woods
Joshua
This time, it should be easier.
That’s what Johsua keeps telling himself, gentle attempts to remind the worried part of him that everything turned out okay on their last trip. Why should this one be any different?
Except, it is different.
When Mingyu had first announced his new project, Joshua thought he was kidding, or that it would at least be something meant for the safety of the distant future. After all, he’d only just gone back to his retail job, Jun had barely settled into Minghao’s apartment, and Seokmin had exactly three hours of vacation left. So Joshua made a half-serious commitment with a nod and an acknowledging hum over empty pizza boxes and wine-rosy optimism.
But then Mingyu kept talking about it and, soon enough, the months Joshua thought he had became weeks that became days until they packed up their belongings and piled back into the RV like they’d never left it.
Except Seokmin.
They had to leave him behind for the mundane adventure of the corporate workweek. It was fine. Probably. Joshua promised to call him when he could, and Seokmin promised to join them for live streams. It wouldn’t be the same without him, but there was really nothing they could do.
At least they have Jun now. He’s been a welcome addition to their little team with his background in performance and the effortless way he makes everyone laugh, even Minghao. His presence is still pretty surreal, but so is this entire situation.
They’re trading aliens for Bigfoot, which is not a sentence Joshua thought he’d ever say. Not that he’s actually said it. But still. They’d left behind the autumn-dried desert full of scrub grass, stars, and extraterrestrials (supposedly, because they never did see any) for a mist-mottled forest and mountains capped in snow.
It’s not really about finding Bigfoot, Mingyu had reminded them before their opening interviews. It’s about the adventure.
Adventure, indeed.
The muted greens, browns, and grays of the winter woods slip gently past the window as the RV travels along the winding road. Where the desert was vast and seemingly empty, the forest is dense and intimate in its closeness, the wild branches of the towering trees reaching toward the narrow highway like they’re beckoning. There’s something beautifully foreboding about this place, like it whispers of magic and secrets and things that are buried.
The RV passes through another pocket of fog that might as well be a low-lying cloud, then emerges back into the hazy light of an overcast morning.
Even with the heater on, it’s cold. Joshua can feel it in his fingertips, and in the shadows of the mountain, there’s frost so thick it almost looks like snow.
He probably should’ve packed warmer.
“The speed limit’s fifty five,” Jun observes from the cab, leaning over in the passenger seat to look at the dashboard, then in the side mirrors. “We’re holding up traffic.”
“I’m going an acceptable speed, thank you very much,” Mingyu pouts, but it sounds like he’s fighting a smile, “especially since I’m driving a whole tank.”
“It’s a tank? I thought it was an RV.”
“Okay Mr. Know It All. Do you wanna drive?”
Jun smirks, “That’ll be fun. Here, there’s a turnout coming up. Switch—“
“Absolutely not.”
“But you offered.”
They share a laugh, then start humorously shouting as Mingyu pulls over to let a few passenger cars go by and Jun playfully tries to convince him to change seats.
Joshua watches them fondly from the booth table.
This trip will be different, but they’ll have fun.
And that’s the important part.
The faux leather bench shifts as someone sits down beside him. He knows who it is by their comforting silence. That, and Jun and Mingyu are still bantering in the cab.
“Holding up okay?” Joshua asks, glancing at Minghao.
His friend offers him a small smile, the headlights of a passing car catching in the lenses of the glasses perched artfully low on his nose, “I’m fine. Are you okay?”
“I think so,” Joshua replies. His words are measured, tested against the truth of his heart.
Minghao watches him for a moment before replying, “It’s normal to miss him. We all do.”
Something aching but tender and sweet settles in Joshua’s chest, “I know Seokmin’s just a text away—“
“Well, not right now. We’re out of service,” Minghao teases.
Joshua laughs at the unexpected joke, placing a gentle hand at the nape of his friend’s neck, “Look who’s turned into a comedian.”
“I’m spending too much time with you guys, apparently.”
“What a shame. We’ve made you funny.”
Minghao chuckles, “Sorry for interrupting. Go on.”
“That one gets a pass because it was good,” Joshua says, then sighs, dropping his hand. “But yeah. It’s not like I can’t talk to him. It just isn’t the same.”
“I understand,” Minghao nods. “I wish he could’ve come.”
“Me too, but we’ll still have a good time,” Joshua replies, reassuring both of them. “Right Jun?”
Jun glances over at them from the cab, still in the passenger seat, “Absolutely.”
“Do you even know what you’re agreeing to?” Mingyu asks humorously.
“Nope.”
They all share a laugh, and Mingyu gasps as the next song starts, “Road-trip anthem!”
He cranks up the volume, then pulls back onto the narrow, winding highway. The next few minutes are filled with pockets of fog, patches of frost, sweeping slopes of massive trees, and enthusiastic singing.
Seokmin would be proud.
Their voices are a little hoarse by the time they pass the welcome sign that marks the edge of town. It’s wooden, rustic, and boasts a population of 3,351. Joshua wonders if the “1” matters enough that they change it, or if it’s just there for show.
“Where are we supposed to be going?” Mingyu asks.
Joshua looks away from the window and pulls up the email on his phone.
“He said to meet him in the grocery store parking lot.”
“But where is that—? Oh, never mind.”
They pull into a large, mostly empty lot and Mingyu parks the RV far enough back that there’s no one around them.
“Are we sure this is the right one?” Minghao asks.
“There’s probably only one,” Jun laughs. He stands up and stretches. “Anyone want to take a walk with me?”
“Sure,” Minghao replies, getting up from the booth. “Some fresh air will be good.”
“Don’t wander too far,” Joshua says.
“We won’t,” Jun assures him as he opens the RV door, grabbing his coat and offering Minghao his own.
The cold floods inside, wrapping around Joshua in a breathless embrace that lingers even once the door is shut. He scrunches his nose, then pulls his sleeves down over his hands.
“Do we need anything else from the store before we go?” Joshua asks once he’s alone with Mingyu. They’d triple checked their shopping list, but one can never be too safe when venturing into the woods.
Mingyu hums thoughtfully, “I think we’re good on necessities, but I wanna go poke around inside for some snacks.”
“Okay, I’ll wait here so we don’t miss our guide.”
“When are we supposed to meet him?”
Joshua glances at his watch (Seokmin’s watch, loaned amidst quiet laughter and playfully stolen kisses). The weight of it is still new on his wrist.
“About fifteen minutes.”
“Cool. I’ll be right back.”
Mingyu excitedly exits the RV, donning a comically large puffy coat and beanie. After a few seconds of stagnant, anticipatory silence, Joshua decides to go outside too, wanting to keep an eye out for the man they’re waiting for.
The door opens to a faded gray parking lot that matches the sky almost perfectly, a muted halftone for the stark whites of snow and blacks of the distant forest on the surrounding mountains. It’s a study in grayscale, beautiful, breathtaking.
As Joshua steps onto the aged asphalt, the cold immediately settles into his lungs like a tangible thing, as does the subtle scent of the nearby pine trees.
He definitely should’ve packed warmer.
Joshua pulls out his phone.
Shua: Just arrived in town
Seokmin: Glad you’re safe!! ;-; miss you <3
Shua: Miss you too <3
He snaps a picture of the mountains, the photo only marred by sparse power lines, and sends it to his boyfriend.
Seokmin: AH PRETTY
Seokmin: Not as pretty as you ;)
Shua: Omg stop haha
Seokmin: <333
They’re terrible, and Joshua loves it.
At the sound of an approaching car engine, he looks up and pockets his phone. A moderately sized pickup truck with a camper pulls into a parking spot a few spaces away.
Joshua walks around the RV, watching the door of the truck open and worrying about who will step out. They’d exchanged emails, sure, but this is the person that’s going to be guiding them through the woods while they stumble around looking for Bigfoot with nothing more than cameras and hope.
He stops walking.
The man who meets his gaze definitely isn’t the grizzled tracker dressed in forest camo that Joshua somewhat expected to see. He’s young, maybe Joshua’s age, and surprisingly well-groomed. He looks strong in the build of his frame and intimidating in the confidence in his posture, yet he’s also soft around the edges with a pout in his lips and with the sleepy shape of his eyes.
“Hi, are you Seungcheol?” Joshua asks tentatively.
The dimpled smile the young man gives him is warm and immediately soothes the worry in Joshua’s chest. He extends a hand.
“I am,” he replies easily. His voice suits him. “Joshua?”
They shake hands, and Joshua relaxes, “That’s me.”
“Aren’t there supposed to be four of you?”
“Yeah. My friends are around. Two of them went for a walk, but Mingyu’s inside.”
“Mingyu. Right. The one with the channel,” Seungcheol nods, glancing at the grocery store as Joshua gestures at it. “I have to pick up a few last minute things for myself. We can go find him, if you want.”
“Okay. Good idea,” Joshua agrees and follows his new companion inside—if for no other reason than to get out of the cold that’s started to numb his hands.
The doors slide closed behind them, and suddenly, amidst the smell of produce, bread, and plastic and aisles of corporate-generic food displays, Joshua could almost forget that he’s hundreds of miles from home. The only differences between this and any store near his apartment are the slight variations in price and placement, chips in aisle ten instead of twelve and fruit sold at a dollar more.
Seungcheol’s pace slows for a beat as they pass the registers. He glances at the checkout stands, then continues walking, hands in his pockets and gaze fixed decidedly ahead.
“So how long have you lived in town?” Joshua asks to fill the Muzak silence.
“About two years now,” Seungcheol replies amicably as they walk down the paper goods aisle. “It’s a nice place. Pretty quiet.”
“Seems like it. The mountains are beautiful too.”
“They’re what brought me here,” Seungcheol says with a nostalgic smile. “I’ve always wanted to live near a forest, not just visit them, y'know?”
Joshua hums in a way that’s partially an acknowledgement, partially an invitation to continue.
“So I picked up and moved here when a spot at the Forest Service opened up, then started my own business a year later,” Seungcheol says as he picks up a stack of paper plates. He continues, his tone a little teasing, “You guys are really here to search for Bigfoot, huh?”
“Yes and no,” Joshua shrugs, laughing softly as they leave the aisle. “We are literally looking, but the important part is having a good experience. Hence why we hired you.”
“Makes sense.”
“Oh, there’s Mingyu—Gyu! Come meet our guide,” Joshua gestures for his friend to come closer.
Arms full of assorted snacks, Mingyu tries to shuffle the plastic bags around to free up a hand to offer. Seungcheol, in good humor, waves off his concern.
Joshua lets them exchange pleasantries as he texts Minghao and Jun to meet them in front of the store.
“Shua told you what we’re doing, right?”
“Yeah. And I watched a couple of your videos,” Seungcheol laughs. There’s something comforting in the sound of it. “I don’t know if I get it, but I respect it. We’ll have fun.”
And be safe.
“Cheers to that!” Mingyu says, his eyes practically sparkling with excitement.
Affectionate warmth blossoms in Joshua’s chest. As long as Mingyu’s happy with this trip, he’ll be happy too.
“Seems like you’ve got your hands full, so I’ll meet you at the exit?” Seungcheol suggests.
“Sure,” Mingyu nods, grinning brightly. “See you there.”
Their newest companion departs for aisles unknown and Joshua follows Mingyu as he heads presumably toward the registers.
“Did you hire him because he’s our age or because he’s Asian?” Mingyu teases.
Joshua laughs, shocked, “Excuse me, you can’t just ask someone that.”
“I’m curious.”
“How was I supposed to know either of those things?”
“His name’s Seungcheol. That’s no Mike or Josh.”
“My name’s Josh.”
“No, you’re Shua.”
They share a giggle and Mingyu pauses as they pass by a display of candy. He scans the shelves before pulling free a single package of gum, then continues walking.
“I hired him because he was one of two options and I liked his website better,” Joshua explains in good humor.
“We’re trusting our lives to this guy and you picked him because his website looked cool?” Mingyu playfully arches an eyebrow at him, unbothered.
“Not because it looked cool,” Joshua clarifies. They stop in line at the only staffed checkout station. “I thought if he could make a functional, informative website, he’d be more…competent? And tolerant to the filming stuff.”
“Huh, yeah that does make sense. This is why you’re the assistant director,” Mingyu winks.
“Does this mean I get a raise?”
“Sure, I’ll double your pay.”
“Perfect, but doubling zero is still zero.”
They laugh because Joshua isn’t being serious. Mingyu has given them all a fair share of the profits from his channel and is by no means stingy when it comes to paying for things on their trips. He’s a generous friend, but more importantly, he’s a good person.
Joshua pats Mingyu’s shoulder, then faces forward as the line moves. There’s still three or four people in front of them with full carts.
Mingyu shifts, crinkling the pile of snacks in his arms. Joshua glances around to look for a self checkout station. There isn’t one.
The only cashier is a young woman who is looking at the line with subtly increasing distress. It doesn’t affect her smile, but Joshua has worked in retail long enough to know the customer service panic face when he sees it. She turns away slightly as the elderly man she’s helping pulls out his checkbook and she touches a radio microphone clipped to her collar.
Well, at least we’re not in a rush.
Joshua reaches over to take some of the snacks from Mingyu. His friend offers him a sheepish smile, grateful.
“Anyway, reasons why I hired him aside, do you like Seungcheol?” Joshua asks.
Mingyu nods, “I think he’ll be a good fit. And he looks like he knows what he’s doing.”
“I mean, he’s certified.”
“By who?”
“A bunch of organizations with acronyms that looked pretty official.”
“If we get lost in the woods, I’m blaming you.”
“Deal.”
They laugh, then take another step forward as the elderly man shuffles away with his cart.
“I can help anyone with less than ten items over here.”
Joshua pauses, doing a rough estimation of their snacks and glancing at the shoppers in front of them before looking at Mingyu, “Let’s go.”
“Okay.” His friend follows him to the new line, where they unceremoniously dump the contents of their arms onto the conveyor belt. Mingyu does a quick visual count, then his smile wilts, “Oh no. Shua, we have twelve things.”
“It’s fine,” the cashier laughs softly. “Ten’s only approximate.”
Mingyu looks up to offer the employee a grateful smile, “Thank you. I really wouldn’t wanna go back to the end of that line.”
“Who would?” the young man asks in good humor, a glint of mischievous mirth in his eyes. He starts scanning their items. “You guys aren’t from around here, are you.”
It’s a playful statement, not a question.
“Is it that obvious?” Joshua asks, laughing.
The young man glances at Mingyu’s puffy jacket, “A little. But it’s not a bad thing. At least you came prepared.”
“We tried to be responsible,” Joshua replies. “We even hired a local guide.”
“Oh?” the young man asks, lifting an eyebrow. There’s something in the tone of his response that Joshua can’t quite place, another layer that’s hidden amidst unfamiliarity. He studies the cashier for a moment, finding a subtle, captivating beauty in his features, quiet grace in his disposition, and a nametag.
Jeonghan.
Their gazes meet, and Jeonghan tilts his head slightly, like he’s curious. He offers Joshua a small, teasing smile, “Well, stay safe out there. I’m sure you’re in good hands.”
“Let’s hope so!” Mingyu replies optimistically, pulling out his credit card.
Jeonghan scans the last item, and Mingyu pays before scooping up the armful of snacks. Joshua takes the receipt.
“Have a good day,” Jeonghan nods, his gaze lingering on Joshua, gentle yet shrewd.
“You too!” Mingyu calls over his shoulder.
“You too,” Joshua echoes politely. He follows his friend to the exit, suddenly grateful for the cold air that rushes in, stark against his warm cheeks.
“There you are,” Jun greets them with a bright smile. He’s standing off to the side, out of the way of the doors with Minghao pressed close to his back, his chin hooked over Jun’s shoulder. “We were beginning to wonder if the aliens got you.”
“Not all the way up here,” Joshua fires back, happy to be on familiar ground. “They’d have a hard time finding us in the forest.”
“But we’re not in the forest yet.”
“Oh man, you’re right.”
“So,” Minghao says pointedly but humorously, “where’s the guide? Did he get abducted by aliens?”
They all laugh, though it sounds a bit empty without Seokmin.
“He’s inside. We told him to meet us here,” Mingyu explains, offering the pack of gum to Minghao. He takes it, tucking it carefully into his pocket.
“He seems like a knowledgeable person,” Joshua adds. “I think you’ll like him.”
“That’s good,” Jun replies.
“Yes, we’ll only be stuck in the woods with him for like a month,” Minghao says. “I’d hope we’d like him.”
“Oh don’t be so grumpy, Hao,” Mingyu teases.
“I’m being realistic.”
“Realistic and sour about it,” Jun smirks.
“I’m not sour.”
“You can be sweet too. I’d know,” Jun murmurs playfully, pressing a quick kiss to Minghao’s cheek.
Minghao grumbles and buries his face against Jun’s shoulder, hiding in the fabric of his coat.
“Just try to be nice?” Mingyu asks, pouting.
Minghao’s response is muffled, but it sounds like an agreement.
The grocery store doors slide open and Seungcheol walks out, a few paper bags swaying at his side as he stops, glancing around until he spots them.
“Guys, this is Seungcheol, our guide,” Joshua gestures. “And this is Minghao and Jun.”
“Nice to meet you,” Seungcheol says, offering them a smile and a hand shake each after adjusting the bags in his grip. They return the sentiment before he addresses Minghao, “I didn’t watch that many videos from the channel, so please forgive me if I’m missing context, but I did see some stuff about your painting. You’re quite the artist.”
“Oh, thank you,” Minghao says, and even if he’s fighting a smile, Joshua can tell his friend is genuinely pleased. “It was…an interesting experience.”
“He’s going to do another painting this time,” Jun says, looking at Minghao with affectionate pride in his gaze. “So maybe you’ll get to see it happen in real time.”
“That’d be great. It’s always neat to see someone practice their craft,” Seungcheol replies with an encouraging nod. He then glances around at the four of them, “And I can’t wait to see what wild journey we’re all about to go on.”
“Speaking of, should we get going?” Joshua asks, glancing down at his (Seokmin’s) watch. “We still have another hour to drive and we should probably get there before lunch.”
“Great idea!” Mingyu says brightly. “Let’s go!”
“Alright,” Seungcheol laughs and they all start walking toward the RV. “I love the energy. I’ll lead the way. It’s a fairly straight shot, but if someone gets between us on the road, you’ll see the campsite sign on the left. Can’t miss it.”
It takes exactly five minutes to drive through town, past the Dollar General, a lumber mill, and a movie-quaint, winter-decorated Main Street before they’re once again swallowed whole by the woods. With Joshua in the passenger seat this time, they follow Seungcheol in his truck, listening to music and talking amongst themselves.
Joshua’s gaze eventually wanders over to the forest, watching its complex immensity unfurl through the windshield and catching glimpses of a river between the needled boughs of pines, the moss-softened branches of trees, and the rust brown leaves of cold-kissed foliage.
Beside him, Mingyu sighs.
“Penny for your thoughts?” Joshua asks.
“In this economy? It’s gonna take a few dollars.”
“Deduct it from my paycheck.”
Mingyu offers him a quick smile and a huffed laugh before looking back at the road, “I’m just thinking about the channel. We were so lucky last time. I hope people like this season, too.”
“They’re seasons now?” Joshua asks, teasing in an attempt to lighten the mood.
“Sure,” Mingyu says, humor easing into his tone. “Last time was fall, and this time it’s winter.”
“Get out.”
“But I’m driving.”
They share a laugh.
Joshua settles back in his seat before replying, his tone gentle, “Like I told you last time, people can see how much you love what you’re doing. Everything’s gonna be fine.”
“I know. I just dragged you all out to the middle of nowhere again. I wanna make sure this is worth it,” Mingyu says quietly.
Joshua tamps down the worry that whispers at the edge of his thoughts. This is the first time Mingyu’s ever expressed serious doubts about what they’re doing, which is odd, considering his usual boundless enthusiasm and the fact that his channel is already popular.
This time, it should be easier. And yet…
“First of all, you didn’t drag us anywhere. We came with you because we wanted to,” Joshua assures.
“Second?”
“Hmm. Well, that was the only point I was gonna make.”
“Then why’d you say ‘first?’”
Joshua scrunches his nose, amused, “Okay, second, so many people enjoy your videos already. If they liked it last time, they’ll probably like it again.”
“True,” Mingyu nods, his smile brightening a bit. “Thanks Shua. You always know what to say.”
“Anytime.”
They pass a few hiking trailheads and faded, peeling signs announcing river raft rentals before Seungcheol’s turn signal blinks on.
Joshua spots the sign on the left, as promised.
East River Campground
Next Right
Mingyu follows the pickup truck, carefully guiding the RV onto a gravely road. One side of the pavement is bordered by a steep, rocky slope. The other is guarded by trees with small patches of snow in their shadows. They eventually pull into a wider parking lot surrounded by an area of flat ground. It’s neatly maintained with packed-dirt pathways, rustic gazebos covering picnic tables, and roped-off spaces for tents.
They park in one of the few RV stations, and when Mingyu cuts the engine, the vehicle is immediately blanketed with the weighted silence of the wilderness.
For a few moments, everything is peaceful in its solitary stillness.
But they have work to do.
Joshua gets up, asking, “Does someone want to help me with the hookups?”
“Sure,” Jun replies, scooting out of the booth. “I don’t really know what I’m doing, but I can be an extra set of hands.”
“I’ll unhook Shua’s car,” Mingyu announces.
“And I’ll find the bathrooms,” Minghao says.
Tasks assigned, they all grab their coats and head for the door.
The only thing that’s more breathtaking than the cold is the view. Beyond a wooden fence, the flatness of the camp slopes downward before the ground drops into a valley, a sizable lake at the bottom the foreground for nearby mountains, hazy with fog and painted in snow.
“You guys need some help setting up?” Seungcheol asks amicably.
“I think we’re alright,” Joshua says, not wanting to inconvenience him.
Seungcheol laughs, “Are you sure? It’s literally my job.”
Jun gives Joshua a look.
“Okay, on second thought, help would be great. Thank you.”
With the assistance of a professional and some experience of their own, they get themselves situated pretty quickly, all things considered. Minghao and Jun start cooking lunch while Joshua unpacks the trail cameras and Mingyu films a quick tour of the campsite.
Joshua can hear him walking around, talking about the channel with his usual optimistic brightness. It’s reassuring, and makes him smile.
“Trail cams, huh?” Seungcheol asks, walking over to the folding table where Joshua’s been working.
“Yeah, we figured they’d be less, ah, stealable.”
“That makes sense.”
They spend a few minutes talking about camera placements on trails, Joshua mentally filing the information away for later. He never knows what he’ll end up learning on these trips.
“Food’s ready,” Jun calls from the threshold of the RV. “Seungcheol, there’s enough for you too, if you want it.”
Their new companion seems genuinely surprised as he replies, “Oh, thank you for offering, but I’m good. I brought my own food.”
“Okay,” Jun shrugs, unbothered, and goes back inside.
Seungcheol departs for his own camper while they eat and play a game to determine who will do the dishes. Mingyu narrowly escapes with the excuse that he has work to do, so Joshua, Jun, and Minghao engage in a very intense tournament of rock paper scissors.
Jun loses, which leaves Joshua free to be pulled aside by Mingyu.
“Help me set up the chairs.”
“Does this mean I’m going first?”
“Yes.”
They laugh, deftly assembling the interview set with the mountains as the backdrop. Joshua climbs into the director’s chair opposite Mingyu’s, then settles in comfortably. He’s still very aware of the camera, feeling the pressure of its mechanical eye on him, but it’s gotten easier with time and practice.
“Let’s start with your name and why you’re here,” Mingyu encourages.
“I’m Joshua, and I’m here because Mingyu tied me up and threw me in the RV.”
“Oh my god. Shua. Please.”
“I’m kidding.”
“Hi, Kidding. I’m Mingyu.”
Joshua laughs, “I’m leaving.”
“Bye, Leaving—no, come on. Don’t go.”
Giggling, Mingyu playfully tugs Joshua back into his seat. Joshua lets him, trying and failing to hide his own smile.
“Okay, I’m Joshua, and I’m here looking for Bigfoot because Mingyu’s my friend. And even if he’s fully capable of doing this on his own, it’s always better with friends.”
“Totally agreed,” Mingyu nods. “Thanks for being here. I really appreciate it.”
“Anytime, Gyu.”
“Next question, do you think we’ll find Bigfoot out there?”
“Your guess is as good as mine,” Joshua says innocently.
“You’re never gonna give me a straight answer, are you.”
“Nope.”
Introduction interview concluded, Joshua tags in Minghao for his turn and waits off to the side to watch.
“Hao,” Mingyu sing-songs happily as he turns the camera on. “Ready?”
“As I’ll ever be.”
“Great! Start with your name and why you’re here.”
“I’m Minghao, and I’m here because you asked me to be here,” he says with a small but teasing smile.
Mingyu stares at him for a beat before laughing, “You’re not lying.”
“To be more serious, though, I’m glad you gave me the opportunity to join you again. Hopefully this time I’ll be less… grumpy,” Minghao says humorously. “No promises though.”
“We wouldn’t change a thing about you,” Mingyu winks. “So, do you think we’ll find Bigfoot?”
“Absolutely not.”
“Alright, roll credits. Let’s pack it up and go home.”
Joshua can’t help how hard he laughs. Mingyu seems pleased by his reaction.
Minghao giggles, waving off the comment, “Just because I don’t think we’ll find a big hairy ape in the woods doesn’t mean I won’t help you look.”
“That’s fair.”
“Exactly,” Minghao says, then rises from the director’s chair. “I’ll go get Jun.”
Joshua looks away as he hears footsteps approaching. Seungcheol stops beside him, “You guys are filming stuff?”
“Yeah. We do check-in interviews every so often. It’s mostly just banter so people get to know us. It’s fun.”
Mingyu beams, “Do you wanna try?”
“Me?” Seungcheol asks, pointing at his chest.
“Sure! You’ll be hanging out with us, why not?”
When Joshua had first reached out via email, he’d asked Seungcheol if he was okay with being filmed, considering he’d probably be in the background of some of their videos. Seungcheol had agreed on the conditions that they didn’t include personal information and they gave a shout out to his business. Easy enough.
However, an interview is different from being in the background. Joshua understands why he might hesitate.
“Well, why not?” Seungcheol huffs a laugh. “When else will I get a chance like this?”
“Exactly. And I promise there’s no pressure. If you hate it, we’ll edit it out,” Mingyu assures him. “Take a seat and get comfy.”
Seungcheol does as asked, then glances at the camera.
“It’s easier if you just focus on Mingyu,” Joshua says quietly, trying to help because he knows exactly how it feels. “Like it’s just a conversation.”
“Got it,” Seungcheol nods, offering Joshua a smile. He then turns to Mingyu with a playful kind of resolve, “Let’s do this.”
“Sweet, let’s start with your name and…ah, what you do.”
“My name’s Seungcheol, and it’s my job to make sure you guys have a safe and enjoyable trip.”
“A noble cause, but I might be a little biased,” Mingyu giggles. “Okay, time for the big question. Have you ever seen Bigfoot?”
“I can’t say that I have.”
“Bummer. Shua, why’d we hire this guy again?” Mingyu teases.
Seungcheol laughs, bright and genuine, his posture naturally relaxing as he fires back, “That’s not fair. Have you seen Bigfoot?”
“No, but if one of us is more likely to have seen him, it’s definitely you.”
They continue bickering as Jun approaches, pausing beside Joshua and whispering, “They seem to be getting along.”
“Right?” Joshua smiles. “I think this was a good choice.”
Jun hums an agreement, amusement in his eyes.
Once Seungcheol’s interview is over, Jun takes his place and their wilderness guide excuses himself to go back to his truck.
“Last but certainly not least, Junnie,” Mingyu grins, patting Jun’s knee affectionately. “Are you excited?”
“Of course,” Jun replies eagerly, but still with that wonderfully strange calm demeanor he always seems to have. “I get to be here from the beginning this time.”
“We’re so happy to have you here. Especially Hao,” Mingyu wiggles his eyebrows, and they both giggle when Minghao makes a disgruntled sound as he walks by. “Anyway, let’s start with your name and why you’re here.”
“I’m Jun, and…” he trails off, his expression softening a bit. “Can I talk about what actually happened? Or are we not supposed to mention that?”
“It’s whatever you’re comfortable sharing,” Mingyu replies, the humor in his tone replaced by kindness.
“I’m here because these guys decided to come to the desert to look for aliens,” Jun says almost wistfully. There’s pain in his smile, but also fondness, gratitude, and joy. “It’s only because of the channel and everyone’s generosity that I ended up being able to leave. So…I’m really, really grateful.”
Jun’s gaze slips to the side, and Joshua follows it to find Minghao sitting at a picnic table under one of the gazebos. He’s sipping gingerly from a mug. Probably tea. What Jun hadn’t said was that it was Minghao who went back for him.
But the internet doesn’t need to know that. That’s a story only for them.
“And we’re glad you could join us,” Mingyu says brightly, “as part of the team—because I definitely need help with the channel now—but also just as a friend.”
“That’s so sweet. And I thought you guys just kept me around because I’m funny.”
Mingyu laughs and Jun chuckles, his coat crinkling as he shifts in his seat.
“Final question, do you think we’re gonna find Bigfoot?”
Jun hums thoughtfully, “I’d like to find evidence he could exist.”
“Like what?”
“A nest or some hair or a footprint.”
“That’s it? But I could go make a footprint right now.”
Jun smirks, “Do it. I dare you.”
This leads to Joshua filming them as Mingyu presses his bare foot into a freezing patch of damp earth. He grimaces and humorously wails while Jun cackles a few feet away.
With the interviews wrapped up, they spend the rest of the day getting situated, editing what they’d filmed, and looking at maps and schedules with Seungcheol. By the time Joshua climbs into bed, he’s exhausted.
As he waits for Mingyu to finish washing up, he glances at his phone to find there’s decidedly no cell service. It’s disappointing, but not unexpected. Joshua will have to wait until they go into town to call Seokmin again. He sets his phone down on the nightstand as Mingyu climbs into bed beside him.
“I miss Seokmin, but I’m definitely not gonna miss sleeping on the couch,” Mingyu giggles. “Thanks for sharing.”
“Of course. It’s not like I take up the whole bed.”
Mingyu ruffles Joshua’s hair affectionately, “You’re the best. Lights out?”
“Okay.”
“Goodnight, Shua!”
“Goodnight. Sweet dreams.”
Joshua turns off the bedside lamp, flooding the room in complete darkness. The only thing that doesn’t make it feel suffocating is the hum of the heater and Mingyu shuffling around in the blankets beside him.
With a deep breath, Joshua settles down and closes his eyes.
Maybe it’s the part of him that sees the world in words, his love of books and his writer’s eyes. Maybe it’s the countless miles of woods they’d traveled through, lovely and mysterious in ways that go beyond poetry and prose. Maybe it’s both. But as Joshua walks along the edge of sleep, he thinks about the forest, the sweeping, tangled branches, and the trees that are all separate yet connected in their majestic totality. He thinks about eyes staring back at him from the foliage, musty pelts, and distant bellowing calls. He thinks about his friends. And Seokmin.
And, strangely, he thinks about the cashier from the grocery store too.
Joshua falls asleep to the sound of the wind in the trees and the pleasant warmth of inspiration that tingles in his fingertips.