rain showers | c.yj

02

"Where did you get that umbrella from?" Her mother asked with a sweet tone.

Yuri looked down at the, now folded, black umbrella in the grip of her hand.

No wonder she was asking, she had never seen her ever own one, let alone buy an umbrella.

"Somebody let me borrow it." She gave a vague answer, not really wanting to tell her that some random stranger gave it to her. Well he was't completely a stranger. She recognised his uniform as being the same of her own.

"A friend?" Her mum looked at Yuri with hope.

She knew about her loneliness and lack of relationships.

"Yes." Yuri lied with a gentle smile.

Her mother's smile grew wide, tears shimmering in her eyes, "You must bring them sometime!"

"Uh, yeah, maybe. . ." She trailed off, "Look, I have to go mum."

She looked up to the clock and her eyes widened with surprise, "You'll be late for school! Hurry, hurry!"

Nudging her, Yuri was pushed out the door by her mother and looked back to see her mother smiling and waving from the doorstep.

It would be a shame to tell her she really hadn't made friends.

She waved back and walked out of the front garden and onto the footpath, moving at a fairly fast pace.

Water began to spit, sprinkling the ground with very small patches of water. Her eyes trailed down to the umbrella in her right grip, awaiting it's job. She almost stopped walking, merely to decide on whether to use it or not.

No, there's no need for it.

Just because Yuri finally had an umbrella doesn't mean she should start using it, besides, it's only spitting, it's not like mother nature is trying to cause a flood.

Giving a sigh of contempt, she continued to walk towards the school, luxuriating under the shower of rain, watching her feet step one infront of each other.

"You know, I gave you that umbrella to be used in the rain?"

Yuri jumped slightly at the voice and looked up to see the same boy as yesterday, a smile on his face.

"Um, I was going to return it." She shyly answered.

"You know umbrellas are for the rain right?" He joked.

"I didn't notice the rain." She mumbled, but both he and her knew that was an obvious lie.

The male let out a laugh, not the kind of deep and mesmerising laugh that you would expect from a boy but almost hysterical. Yet, Yuri couldn't help but think it was adorable.

"Well, here's your umbrella..." She trailed off, holding the umbrella out for him to retrieve.

Shaking his head, the boy gently nudging it back towards the awkward girl, "I've got plenty, you keep it."

Yuri looked at him quizically, wondering, yet again, why he was giving her his umbrella. As far as she was aware, they had never met.

"Thanks, uh..." She looked up to him expectantly, hoping he would catch on.

"Oh! Youngjae, Choi Youngjae." He held out his hand, which she shook with slight hesitation.

"My name is-"

"Kwon Yuri, I know." Youngjae seemed to smile to himself.

Yuri raised an eyebrow, slightly interested.

So, this Youngjae already knows her? How come he knows her but she never even seen him before?

Youngjae began to laugh again, probably realising how out of place that just was, "We both had parts in that play last year."

Yuri still looked at him skeptically, not quite believing him. She was only, after all,  a random person during that play, a part with no significance, how would he have noticed her? Plus, she still doesn't  remember him, did he take part in that play?

Then again, Yuri couldn't remember anybody who played a part during that play.

"I'll see you later Yuri! Bye!" Youngjae waved a small goodbye and ran off, slowing down near a group of boys who were obviously his friends.

Sighing, Yuri continued her journey to school, hoping for no further interuptions.

---

"That's a first, Yuri has an umbrella!"

Glancing around the class, Yuri looked to see who it was.

Min Yung was perched on her desk, her legs casually swinging back and forth whilst a smile was plastered onto her face.

Brushing off her comment, Yuri headed for the class' exit, avoiding all eye contact with Min Yung.

At this point, she couldn't tell if Min Yung's comment was genuine surprise, a playful comment or just pure rudeness.

"Yuri! Wait!"

Clatter came from inside the classroom, and a few gasps escaped students as the crashing noises continued. Yuri could clearly hear some hastily shouted sorrys from Min Yung.

Slowly turning around, only imagining what could have happened, Yuri's eyes widened at the sight before hee.

Min Yung with a sheepish grin, desks and chairs toppled over on the floor behind her whilst other students sent glares at her.

"Oops?" Min Yung said with a small voice, a grin still on her face.

What did this girl do?

"So.. Er, what were you wanting?" Yuri asked slowly, still studying the crash site behind her.

"I was wondering if you wanted to hangout!" Min Yung asked, brightness practically beaming off her.

Yuri double backed for a moment, wondering if she heard this girl correctly.

"Sure..?" Yuri replied, not seeing the harm in it.

"Great! I'll tell you the details tomorrow but it will be tomorrow after school so don't forget! Bye~" Min Yung ran off, red hair flying behind her.

Yuri stood there speechless, trying to process what had happened. It was pretty overwhelming that somebody actually asked her to hang out, let alone talk to the isolated girl.

It wasn't like she didn't know who Min Yung was. She was in her class, and from as far as Yuri was aware, a really happy and go-lucky person. So, if her judgements are correct, she doubted that this 'hanging out' would be a joke or prank. Not everybody in this world is harsh anyway.

Yuri walked out of the school to head home, the sun beaming down with a cheerful aura.