after a scandal, wooyoung, a defunct k-pop idol, runs away to his sister's hometown. he craves anonymity, yet his quiet routine is disrupted by a chance encounter- a local with a warm presence, who offers him a glimpse of a life beyond the spotlight...
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wooyoung took the pouring rain outside as a sign that he should spend the day doing absolutely nothing.
with his legs crossed on the bed, he peered outside the large window. the rain fell in thick sheets, creating a rhythmic pattern against the glass. puddles formed quickly, the occasional car splashing through them and sending ripples across the waterlogged asphalt.
he watched as the drops collected on the window sill, their relentless patter slowly sending him into a state of dreaming. though it was only half-past three, the sky was dark, and the air seemed heavy.
wooyoung pursed his lips. he'd hoped to go to melody haven for the third day in a row, but it was just his luck that he'd overslept. it'd hardly been ten minutes since the rain started to pour, but seeing how quickly it was catching up in pace, there was definitely no way wooyoung would be able to make it to melody haven without being blinded, or swept away by the air.
as wooyoung stared out into the rain-soaked world beyond the window, his mind couldn't help but drift back to his days as an idol. strangely, the rapid pitter-patter of raindrops against the glass reminded him of the sound of his fans cheering and clapping their hands together as he stood on the stage, trying not to feel overwhelmed by the number of eyes on him.
there was something so stirring about the smiles on their faces and the way the stage lights reflected in their eyes. wooyoung didn't hesitate when it came to admitting how much he truly enjoyed the love he received. he remembered the electric atmosphere of his concerts, the rush of adrenaline as he took the stage to the deafening cheers of his fans. the energy was infectious, and he couldn't help but smile as he thought back on those unforgettable performances.
when he first embarked on his journey, wooyoung had been filled with doubts and insecurities. being a solo idol meant that he didn't have the built-in support system of a group, no fellow members to lean on during difficult times. and considering how he'd fallen out of contact with his high school friends too... wooyoung had been all alone.
he had feared that the road ahead would be even more lonely and arduous, with no one to share the burden of fame and expectations. but as he looked back, wooyoung realized that those fears had been unfounded. being a solo artist had its challenges, but it had also given him the freedom to express himself fully, to explore his own musical style and identity without compromise.
however, the smile on his face was gone as soon as it came. was there even a point in thinking over days that were long gone? wooyoung had passionately avoided those bittersweet memories, and he still didn't have the courage to ask himself all the important questions. did he even want to go back?
would he be content to settle into a life of ordinary routine, like so many others?
with a heavy sigh, wooyoung pushed aside the swirling thoughts in his mind. dwelling on the past was only bringing him more confusion and uncertainty, and he was tired of grappling with questions he couldn't answer.
just as he was considering going back to sleep for the day, the lights flickered once, then twice, each time creating fleeting shadows across the room. with a final flicker, the power went out completely, leaving the room in darkness.
with his lips parted, wooyoung stared up at the ceiling lights. of course, the rain was slightly heavy, but was it bad enough to make the power go out?!
wooyoung shook his head. at least now he wouldn't have to get up to turn the lights off, even if it came at the cost of air conditioning.
hana came bursting into the little room as soon as wooyoung fell flat on his back. wooyoung simply eyed her without even bothering to get up.
to put it simply, she looked like a mess. she'd thrown her hair into a bun, strands coming loose from every corner, and she was still in her pyjamas. for some reason, she looked frightened.
"what is it?" wooyoung groaned, fully aware that whatever hana was going to say next would practically force him out of bed.
"what do i do?!" she exclaimed, "i left a few of my clothes to dry outside, and the wind's really strong out there! damnit," she bit her lip, "i left my favourite cardigan out there, too. woo—"
"fine," wooyoung interjected, already up and by the doorway. "i'll get it for you."
hana was obviously capable of doing this on her own, and wooyoung would've mentioned this if it weren't for the fact that she had an actual job to get to once the rain calmed down, while wooyoung had absolutely nothing going on for him.
"thanks, woo!" she exclaimed from the distance while wooyoung put on his flip-flops, hands on the doorknob. "just leave the clothes on the chairs by the dining table, okay? thank you!"
without giving her a response, wooyoung stepped out into the heavy rain with a navy blue umbrella in hand. the clothesline, strung between two weathered wooden posts, swayed gently in the wind, the garments hanging from it limp and sodden.
wooyoung shuffled down the steps and hurried towards it, his footsteps splashing through the puddles that had formed on the pavement. with a sense of urgency, wooyoung began to gather the garments with his free hand, quickly tossing each one over his shoulder. just as he was about to grab the last piece, a sudden gust of wind tore it from his grasp.
with helpless eyes, wooyoung stared as the ruthless wind sent the piece of cloth spiraling over the gates and out into the street.
a sigh escaped his lips. his fingers fidgeted on the umbrella shaft as he pondered over whether it was really smart to step past the gate when the rain was slowly worsening. then again, hana's angry face was truly not something he was prepared to encounter.
"for god's sake," he grumbled to himself. before he could regret it, wooyoung pushed the gates open.
the wind was hardly gentle as it tugged at his umbrella. the street was quiet, the rain masking any other sound. wooyoung stood by the gate with a hand plastered on his hip as he scanned the street for hana's garment.
almost immediately, his eyes caught sight of the cloth which was stuck on a nearby fence, its fabric billowing in the wind. without hesitation, he hurried over and untangled it, quickly throwing it over his shoulder. his arm felt heavy with the weight of all the water the clothes had collected, and so he quickly made his way across the road.
however, before he could take another step, a heavier arm was being slung around his shoulder.
wooyoung almost jumped out of his skin, his heart rapidly beating against his chest and his eyes wide as he stared in surprise at whoever had decided to give him the shock of his life.
"damn, the rain has never been this bad before," choi san said as he squinted up at the sky, his eyes shimmering.
when their eyes finally met, wooyoung felt his insides twist. just a glance at the smile on his face and wooyoung felt his heart plummeting once more, sinking at an alarming pace.
what was he even doing outside when the rain was this intense!? shouldn't he be at work on a monday afternoon?!
"oh, well," san beamed down at him. "looks like you're my saviour for the day."
