When We're Together [양정완]

07.

Only an hour later, Chae Aera found herself with her head on the desk, staring out the window beside her at the downpour that was now falling from the sky.

"Aera? Are you listening?" Jungwon tapped his pen on the table, but the girl seemed to be hypnotized by the drawling sound of the rain outside. By then, all the other students had already gone home and they were the only two left in the library. It wasn't a problem since the school library was open 24/7, and in fact, it was sort of calming, being the only ones there.

Jungwon sighed and began packing his things as the girl turned her head to face him. "Where are you going?" she asked sleepily with her head still resting on her arms.

The boy stood as he continued packing his bag, and just as he was about to respond, he noticed the girl's eyes were shut.

"Aera?" he said as he looked at her, sleeping peacefully. How was she able to sleep in this downpour? He thought to himself. It reminded him of his friend Jay.

Somehow, the boy eventually found himself sitting again, watching as the girl snored softly. He debated whether or not he should wake her up, but decided against the idea since he had to wait until the rain died down anyways to walk home.

He rested his head on his arms, mirroring her. The two were face to face and the boy could hear her softly breathing, even with the loud rain outside. The male found himself observing the girl's face. She looked so calm and peaceful that he almost forgot they were sitting in the school library.

Suddenly, the girl stirred and Jungwon quickly sat up, pulling out his phone as if he had been scrolling on it the whole time.

She opened her eyes and looked at him without saying anything. He could feel her gaze on him, but he pretended not to.

Aera slowly sat up rubbing her eyes, and peered out the window. It was still raining heavily. She sighed and rested her chin on her hand.

"How am I meant to walk home in this weather?" she mumbled to herself as she began packing her things. "You're still here?" she said, noticing the boy who had been siting, scrolling on his phone silently.

He looked up at her as she zipped her bag closed. "I was waiting for you."

Aera felt a little embarrassed, thinking that she had prevented the boy from going home earlier. "You could have just woken me up," she said as the two stood and put the bags on their shoulders.

The boy didn't respond. Instead he asked her, "Are you walking home?"

She nodded as they began making their way past the tall book shelves to the entrance of the library. "But I usually keep an umbrella in my locker," Aera added.

The two headed towards the lockers and the girl found hers and opened the lock. She searched around for a few seconds before scratching the back of her head. "I swear I had one in here. I must have left it at home or something." she sighed as she swung the locker door shut.

"Here, use this." The boy handed her a large black umbrella, but she shook her head and waved her hands, refusing.

"No, then you'll have to walk in the rain. I'll be ok, I'm tough," she said as she jokingly flexed her arm. Jungwon chuckled at her as they made their way to the front of the school. They stood just under the school's awning, watching as the rain continued pouring down.

The girl took a step, about to walk out into the pouring rain when the boy grabbed her wrist, stopping her. She turned to him confused as he opened his umbrella.

"Let's walk together," he said as he held the umbrella over her head.

The two walked down the sidewalk, eventually reaching an intersection. "Which way is your house?" the boy asked. Aera pointed to her right. "What about you?"

Jungwon scratched behind his ear awkwardly. "Erm- over there?" He pointed where the girl had pointed. His answer honestly sounded more like a question than an answer.

As they walked down the sidewalk, the girl noticed the boy's sleeve was drenched in rain water.

"Hey, you're getting all wet," she said as she pushed the umbrella towards him, causing rain to fall on her head. Suddenly, the boy wrapped his arm around her shoulders, catching her off guard.

"You'll get sick if you walk in the rain." he said with his arm still around her shoulder, holding the girl close to him under the umbrella.