He's in the Rain

chapter twenty-five

"what's yours? i'll pay 'cause i know you all won't," soobin said as he looks at his four friends sitting on a table they picked a minute ago when they arrived at mcdonald's after their hours of work finally came to an end today. "never mind. you order, i'm going to wait here."

"it's not like as if i'm willing to pay," beomgyu said as he stood up and fixed his hair, ready to go the counter to order. he insisted to use the drive-thru to order but soobin wanted to stop by for a moment and just take out what they wanted. taehyun stood up as well after beomgyu, and next was huening kai who unzipped his jacket and took off his hood. guess they're ordering for them all.

the three, beomgyu, taehyun, and kai, were already standing and looking at the two oldest who were sitting beside each other, looking at the three as well. soobin raised one of his eyebrows, same as what yeonjun did. they looked at their friends, confused at why they weren't moving and looked like they were waiting for something.

"what?" asked the oldest, yeonjun.

"just so you know, i won't pay," taehyun answered. he crossed his arms, ready to wait for the money used to pay for as long as possible.

"i'd like to pay but i don't have any on my wallet," beomgyu loudly said, enough for the two oldest to hear. soobin and yeonjun knew from the start that they were waiting for cash before they order because when did those three pay for something? as far as they remember, never. except when yeonjun came back from his family. beomgyu treated them some ice cream because something was definitely up that time.

"twig, we just received our salary," yeonjun commented but beomgyu pretended not to hear. he just doesn't want to open his wallet for something but spends a lot. mostly for food, and other unnecessary stuff which he considers as essential things.

"whatever." beomgyu rolled his eyes.

"i'd rather cook than spend my own money," said the youngest of them all and just like taehyun, he crossed his arms and stood straight, still waiting for the cash to be given.

the three stayed still on their places, standing like it isn't visible on their faces that they want to sit down any minute soon. the two oldest were enjoying the other three's situation that they were willing to just stare at them but figured that it was time to go home and rest. yeonjun really wanted to rest since a while ago.

so, without any other choice, yeonjun slowly grabbed his wallet from his back pocket and grabbed some cash, sighing. with the cash on taehyun's hand, those three friends headed towards the counter to line up and order what they want, including yeonjun and soobin's order which were just the same. iced coffee for the oldest, and chocolate shake for soobin.

the line for orders was too long that beomgyu, huening kai, and taehyun were waiting for their turn to order for some minutes now. soobin and yeonjun were still at the same table, but were now sitting across each other. yeonjun was using his phone while soobin was looking everywhere, but his eyes landed the most on yeonjun without him noticing.

"soobin," yeonjun said as he calmly shakes soobin by his left shoulder when soobin didn't even flinch as yeonjun waved his right hand in front of soobin. it has already been minutes since they were left here at the table by the other three. "hello? earth to choi soobin."

yeonjun tried calling him once again but unfortunately, soobin was still zoning out. "soobinie," yeonjun tried to call once again.

and for some surprising reason, or not, soobin came back to the wonderful reality they are in. soobin blinked thrice, trying to process some things. yeonjun looked at him worried, this wasn't the first time today that this happened to soobin. although it happened to yeonjun, that is a different case. he just can't believe the person he likes liked him back, and the fact that he was able to confess was another thing he was surprised of. 'where the hell did i get that kind of confidence?'

"yeah?" soobin asked the older.

"a penny for your thoughts?" said yeonjun while still looking worried at soobin. he doesn't have a single idea about what soobin could have possibly thought about. soobin's not that easy to read. besides, yeonjun may know things about soobin but not everything. maybe some, but not every single thing about soobin.

"i'm- i- i don't know if i should say this or not," said soobin.

"it's fine, you can tell me. i am a friend of yours, after all," yeonjun reassured. and yes, they're friends. what else could they be, right? they're not strangers, but they are nothing more than friends. so, friends could be the right term. unless... you know, in the future.

soobin, who was looking down at his fidgeting fingers, now looked at yeonjun, specifically in the eyes. soobin was having debates on his head on whether he should tell yeonjun about his thoughts or just keep it for himself in the meantime. but of course, he is already that comfortable with the older. it's just that, his thoughts were about him.

soobin looked out the glass window of the building and then at yeonjun and decided to speak. "let's go outside. that way i could at least have some air."

yeonjun nodded and both stood up to head towards the exit of mcdonald's. they walked and stopped at the spot where soobin's car was parked. good thing they parked at the back and not in front of the building itself. since it was almost getting dark, the view of the sky was mesmerizing.

soobin took a deep breathe and finally, after minutes, started speaking. "yeonjun, i- i like you."

"i know that, soobin," yeonjun said, looking at soobin and then smiled. at first, yeonjun was afraid to talk for his heart was beating faster again. "and you already know that i do too."

"it's just so surprising how we share the same feelings. i never expected you to like me — oh wait, when did you start liking me?"

"actually, i don't know. it may have been from the start, or in the middle of our first few months of being friends. i don't know for i was in denial. how about you?"

"me?" soobin asked and yeonjun nodded. "months back. maybe before you even liked me."

"stop, i feel like i'll faint," yeonjun snickered and soobin looked at him as he bursted out laughing. soobin faced him straight and saw how yeonjun's cheeks were in a state of reddish color.

"i didn't know i make you feel like that. nice," soobin said and yeonjun couldn't believe what he just heard that he chortled.

"nice? don't be too full of yourself." and they both laughed.

"and about my thoughts earlier," soobin started talking once again after some minutes of just staring in awe of the sky. "i really just can't believe you liked me too. i was a bit doubting at first about your feelings and i'm sorry about that, but you assured me that your feelings were genuine. thank you."

"isn't that how it is supposed to be? to let that person know how you feel?" yeonjun asked as he sat down on the compartment of soobin's car, patting the space beside him so soobin could sit too.

"it depends, but for me, yes," soobin said as he sat down and spoke even before yeonjun could speak. "yeonjun, can i?"

"what do you mean, 'can you'?"

"can i continually show you how i feel? remind you of my feelings, share my thoughts, my ease and hardships, my everyday life with you?"

confusion. yeonjun was confused of soobin's words for those were the things soobin has been doing ever since. they shared their problems and thoughts and everything with each other, knowing how comfortable they are with each other, though they were considered just friends. usually, that's what friends are for. so, yeonjun was filled with confusion with why soobin was asking for permission to do all those things when the answer is too obvious. yes, of course.

"w-what—"

"yeonjun, can i court you?"