"The rain fell, so you don't have to worry." /Youjin/

Chapter 7

"Ah, so you're her neighbour she's been talking about." Inhae pulled a nearby chair and sat next to Eunbin. "I'm Park Inhae."

The name rang a bell to Youjin. He heard her mentioned his name a few times. "I'm Youjin." He nodded to Inhae and mouthed Eunbin 'what did you tell him about me'. She just shook her head lightly, checked if Inhae didn't look at them two and mouthed back with 'I only mentioned you once'.

"We just came back from the studio. That still live drawing project. He's the model." Eunbin explained to Inhae. "Why are you here?"

"I wanted to give you this." He took out a prescribed medicines from his jacket's side pocket and gave it to Eunbin. It was the same tablets she bought yesterday. "I wonder if you still suffer indigestion. I'm sorry for being late."

Youjin sipped his beer while eyeing the medicine from the corner of his eyes.

"I'm better now." Eunbin put the medicines into her bag. "So you're not busy today?"

Inhae tucked her hair behind her ears and caressed her forehead a bit. Before he opened his mouth to reply her, Youjin stood up and accidentally bumped his knee, making the table shook. He held the table from trembling and cleaned his food. "I'll be going first, then."

"Ah yes. Nice to meet you, Youjin-ssi." Said Inhae.

"Thanks again for today." Eunbin added. Youjin stared at her for a second then walked away from the store, disappearing in the dark alley..

"He's quite tall." Inhae chuckled. "I have around twenty minutes, do you want to drink again?"

Eunbin knew this would happen. Her boyfriend was a busy one that he kept track on everything under exact time portions. For every occasions. She just wished he didn't have to be like that when she was around. And while earlier Youjin nagged her for drinking a can of soda, strangely her boyfriend offered her for a drink. She was too tired to use both of her heart and head.

But they eventually spent the next twenty minutes together. He sipped his last drop of beer and put it back on the table. "Ah it's almost time. Do you want me to walk you home?" He asked.

Out of nowhere she had Youjin in mind. He never asked such questions and just walked her home. She felt weird insides and turned down the offer. "I can walk by myself. It's not that far."

"Okay. I'm going then. See you this weekend for the date." He kissed her left cheek and messed her hair. "Sleep tight."

He waved his hand and walked away from the store. Eunbin just sighed and walked toward her flat building. Again, she was too tired to think. She walked and walked with empty thoughts, and when she finally reached the fifth floor she exhaled. But she jumped out of surprise to see that Youjin was standing in front of his door that she almost cursed. He was playing his PSP.

"Why are you playing out here?" She slightly yelled at him while clenching her jaws. He was surprised and automatically paused his game. He looked flustered and avoided her eyes.

"I...well...," he scratched his forehead, "so you're home already? I can go inside now." He went inside his flat and randomly slammed his door.

Eunbin just stood there confused. "Something's must be wrong with the ramyun he had earlier." She walked to her door and unlocked the keys. "Finally home." She closed her door and started to wash up.

Back at Youjin's flat, he was self cursing himself and his toe bumped the bottom part of the fridge.

[Wednesday night]

Yeeun visited Eunbin's flat, bringing some sliced watermelons and oranges. She was bored and thought it might lift her mood if she saw Youjin for a bit. Too her bad luck, Youjin wasn't home yet.

"He's not home yet, Yeeun-ah. Just go home before you miss the last bus." Eunbin poked Yeeun's cheek.

Yeeun just pouted her lips. "Ack! I told you not to touch my face! I've put on makeup." She took her bag and stood up. "Okay then! I will come again tomorrow! Wait....I have a blinddate tomorrow. Friday will do."

Eunbin just laughed at her bestfriend's spirit for men. "Yea yea, I understand. Want me to see you out to the bus stop?"

"No, no. I want to walk by myself. Who knew I met a cute guy on my way there." She put her index finger on her forehead. "He he."

"Did you drug the fruits? You're a bit drunk." She opened her door and Yeeun walked out. "Be careful."

Eunbin cleaned up the mess and went out to throw the trash. The trash bin was a small door on the other side of the flat units, like a small chimney that came down straight to the huge dumpster below on the first floor. Her trash was a bit huge so she had to threw it one by one in a smaller size. It took her almost five minutes until she heard a loud step in the hallway.

It was Youjin. He went home and seemed a bit drunk by the redness on his cheeks and she could smell reek of soju from him.

"Kim Youjin-ssi? You're okay?" She poked his arm lightly.

He didn't answer but just stood there in front of his door. Eunbin was worried so she asked him again. "You can't find your keys? Here, let me help you." She tried to find the keys inside his jacket's side pockets. His hand grabbed her wrist.

"Don't."

"Ah okay, I'm sorry." She tried to withdrew her hand but he was too strong. "....but can you release my wrist?"

He didn't budge.

"I'm sorry, okay? Just let me go so you can rest quickly."

His eyes were lit for a split second, like he had something in mind. He released his grab. "Can you sit with me for awhile?" He asked.

"Hm? What, well, I guess I can..."

They sat in silence in front of his door for more than ten minutes. Eunbin dared not to ask what was going on so she just sat there. His facial expression was dark.

"Do you believe in love?" He suddenly asked, turned his head to her. "In any kinds."

She was surprised by his question. "Hmm, I guess I do. You don't?"

"I would give everything just to believe it once."

"Ah, okay...." Eunbin looked closely to his face. She then realised it was loneliness in his eyes. That night; the night when she was drunk; the night after the movie; and all the nights he spent eating alone in front of the convenience store. She thought he was soulless that he only wanted to do what he wanted when he wanted it.

"It's okay. You'll figure it out one day." She said and stood up. "Now get some rest, you need to be sober."

She held out her hand to help him stood. He stared at her hand and took it after hesitating for seconds.

"You can keep my flashlight." She patted his hand with her other hand lightly. "It may sound tacky, but it will keep you warm inside. I promise."

Eunbin walked to his door and went inside. "Rest well."

Youjin stared at her closed door for seconds. He then turned his hand- front and back repeatedly. "But your hands are warmer."