dancing with a stranger

IV

the day finally ended for jaerim and it was about 10:30pm when she left campus. her legs were hurting and so were her eyes and cheeks.

"i don't even have time to read why on earth did i decide to join the book club" she thought to herself. deep down she knew the reason but she wasn't going to openly admit it. it was her coping mechanism.

her stomach started making a weird noise and so did the sky.

"i can't tell if im hungry or its going to rain. or both," she sighed to herself. it was too late for her to dine in at one of the campus restaurants and she was too lazy to cook anything for herself. she decided to stop by one of the convenience stores near her apartment.

just as she breathed in the crisp night air, it started pouring. jaerim cursed to herself and made a run for it. she wasn't too drenched but enough for her to catch a cold if she continued running. thankfully, she reached the convenience store. she opened the door and the gush of cold wind shook her. she was instantly awake and energised again.

"hello teokki!" she waved at the part-timer behind the counter.

"please stop calling me that. i have a name and its jeongin." the boy sighed. he was still in highschool and worked alternate nights at the convenience store.

"i know! but i love teokki more and it sounds way cuter!" jaerim smiled and went to the back of the store to find the instant noodles and chips. she was a regular at the store and made sure to see jeongin at least once a week. she considered the boy her younger brother and had a soft spot for him.

ever since she moved into her apartment, jeongin was the first person that bothered talking to her and she was forever grateful for him.

"there is way too many options i feel like getting them all!" she said out loud.

"your hair will fall off before you finish them" jeongin joked sarcastically.

offended, jaerim peeked from the aisle to glare at jeongin. "get the korean army stew! its amazing especially in this rainy weather. also, do you not have an umbrella with you?" jeongin frowned.

she ignored the boy and went back to looking at the items on the shelf. she picked out a few items to stock up her pantry, including the recommendation given by jeongin. just then she heard the door squeak open.

"welcome- OH you're early!" jaerim heard jeongin chirp. that was the first time she heard him sound so genuinely happy to see someone. he always sounded tired when working night shifts.

the shift in jeongin's voice made her curious so she peeked from the aisle she was in again. her eyes widened when she say a familiar figure in front of the counter.

"hey jeong-"

"HYUNJIN? what brings you here!" jaerim interrupted hyunjin before he could reply jeongin.

"you guys know each other?" jeongin looked puzzled.

"oh hey. yeah we go to the same school" hyunjin replied awkwardly.

"we don't just go to the same school! we're working on an assignment together!" jaerim said as she placed her items on the counter.

"cool! i didn't know faculties had cross-over assignments" jeongin replied while scanning all the items.

"trust me i did not know too" hyunjin softly spoke as he picked out a drink from the chillers.

"hyunjin is my cousin! he's here to fetch me!" the spark in jeongin's face made jaerim smile.

he must really admire hyunjin, she thought to herself

"what a coincidence!" jaerim took her items and made way for hyunjin to put down his.

"its okay! my treat you don't have to pay for it" jeongin hurriedly pushed the drink towards hyunjin.

"tssk no. you're still a highschool student. scan it. and can you add that mini umbrella behind you as well" hyunjin pointed to mini umbrellas behind the counter.

jeongin made a puzzled face and then looked towards jaerim. he cheekily smiled and scanned both items. he then passed it to hyunjin.

"here. its raining pretty heavily and i notice you don't have an umbrella with you" hyunjin had his hand out to jaerim and looked towards the ground.

"huh oh no! its okay! i live in the apartment complex nearby. its a 2 minute run i don't need it" she frantically waved her hands.

"you'll get sick." he took her hand and placed the umbrella in it. from the corner of his eye he could see his younger cousin grinning at the both of them which made him sigh.

"come on i'll send you off" hyunjin grabbed jaerim by the arm.

"oh what its okay! bye jeongin see you on thursday!" she waved towards the younger boy.

hyunjin opened his own umbrella and helped jaerim open the new one. "here," he insisted.

awkwardly, jaerim took it. "thankyou" she thanked him softly.

"where do you live? i'll send you off. jeongin still has 30 minutes before he can close the store" hyunjin rubbed the back of his head.

"im fine really! its late you should just stay here," jaerim rapped out the sentence.

"and that is the reason why i should send you back. its after 11pm and the alleyways here are extremely dark at night. its dangerous" hyunjin said seriously.

jaerim just nodded her head and continued to walk. "thanks" was all she could manage.

----------------------------

they arrived at her apartment block after an quiet walk. it was silent but it wasn't awkward. she felt safe and at peace, despite the fatigue that was building in her body.

"thankyou for sending me off!" she tried to give the umbrella back to hyunjin but he refused.

"keep it with you. its going to be rainy for the next few days according to the weather forecast." hyunjin smiled.

it was the first time jaerim saw him smile. he always looked tired.

"now go up, its really late. have a good rest jaerim" he waved as she made her way past the doors.

"thankyou again hyunjin!" she waved back as the lift door closed. she smiled to herself as she looked at the mini umbrella that was with her.

"my assignment partner isn't so scary after all. i look forward to working with him" she said to herself as she made her way into her empty apartment.