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

Chapter 29

"Really??" Eunbin widened her eyes but quickly made her face looked less excited. "Well, hm, really?"

Youjin smiled. "I have talked to my father and I have forgiven him. Now he's granting my wish, to live in that flat and to live my own life."

Both of them exchanged their happy faces for few seconds.

"Excuse me, there are ten other people here...you see." Heejun cut them. "Just sit down first, you lovebirds."

"What? We're not, I d-don't..." Eunbin stuttered. "Well, let's take a picture then."

"May I join you all?" Someone came.

"Inhae hyung!" Jaehyun and Yuta yelled at the same time. Taeyong hugged him. He signalled his hand to stop.

"But I thought you're not coming?" Taeyong asked. While the NCT were excited, the rest was anxious with Inhae's presence.

"I made a promise to her mother to watch her graduate since kindergarten. This will be my last time to watch it in her mother's place." He nodded at Youjin, who nodded back at him. "At least I have to come, right?"

"Because you only have twenty minutes?" Eunbin approached him smiling. "Thank you."

"I know, twenty minutes for everything." He chuckled. "Congratulations."

Eunbin introduced Inhae to Youjin's friends and Haejun. After five minutes talking with each other, Inhae left the group along with NCT.

"See you on Monday, noona!" Taeyong yelled from afar. The others were shouting but nothing significant to be heard.

"So..." Yeeun looked at everyone, "soju anyone?"

[Few weeks later]

Everything went back to normal since Youjin came back to the flat next door. His father was recovering well, his mother was an active town hall lady, Youchan had lots of new friends, and Yejin started to become a writer while running an online shop. His family still got nasty looks and badmouthing from his father's previous partners but the family managed to live well under such circumstances. As for Youjin, he got his phone back and started to work in a small book store to earn a living. The store was next to the art store where Eunbin and Yeeun always went to refill their supplies.

Yeeun still struggled to finish her final artwork, and she got help from Eunbin as well. Haejun's debut was coming closer and that made Yeeun more frustrated than finishing her final artwork.

The flat's fifth floor became loud and lively again. Youjin's friends visited him few times, just to make sure he really was living in that flat.

The day was Sunday, cleaning time.

"Can you help me with this?" Eunbin asked behind a pile of boxes in front of her face. Youjin quickly helped her and took the boxes. "Thanks. Just put it in the alley, I'll take care of them."

"Okay."

Eunbin cleaned her flat with Youjin's help. She wanted to remodeled her furniture positions. Well, mostly just the bed, the easel and the desk. In return, she would help him with his flat. It needed gradual cleaning since it had been months left vacant, thick dusts and spider webs were everywhere.

"Let's rest." Youjin removed his gloves. "Mart?"

"Call." She also removed her gloves and put them on the kitchen counter. She wiped the sweats on her face and took her wallet. "Let's go."

They walked cheerfully to the usual convenience store. To their luck, the cashier was the same cashier guy when Youjin was drunk. It was his shift and he noticed Eunbin and Youjin.

"Welco-" he looked at them, "well, who do we got here? Black card?"

Youjin was confused but Eunbin just laughed with the cashier guy. "What's going on?" He asked her.

"Let's just say you had a weird drunk habit...." She stopped. Her eyes looked outside the store. "Mum?" Youjin just quietly watched her and looked outside as well.

There were two people walking outside the store and they walked to the flat's direction. Eunbin ran outside and caught them. "Mum? Dad?"

Both of them were startled but hugged her out of habit. "Heungbin!" Her mother yelled. She kissed Eunbin on her forehead making her embarrassed. "Let's eat out. Call Inhae to join us."

Eunbin widened her eyes. She had not told her parents that she broke up with Inhae. She also reminded that Youjin was with her at the store. "Well, mum..."

"You broke up with Inhae, I know. He called me." She smiled, dad was nodding in agreement. "But he's a friend of our family. It's just a dinner."

"Then can I bring someone?" Eunbin asked.

"Sure. He must be that tall guy inside the mart that has been keeping an eye on you, right?" Mum hunch was right. Eunbin looked at the store and saw Youjin was standing inside, behind the glass wall, looking at her. They exchanged smiles.

"So he's your new boyfriend?" Dad asked.

"Dad! I just broke up, do you think I will be in a new one easily?" She complained. "Besides, I don't know if he likes me. He's kind and everything, but I'm afraid it's just friendship love."

"...or maybe you think too much." Mum yanked Eunbin's hair. "I can see clearly from the way he smiles at you."

"Call him here. And call Inhae. Let's have a dinner."

Eunbin ran to the store and dragged Youjin to meet her parents. Youjin was flustered as he didn't expect to meet any parents today. "Hello, Mr. and Mrs. Kwon. I'm Kim Youjin." He bowed at her parents.

"You're much taller up close..." Dad tiptoed to measure the height difference, "....new generations are amazing."

"Ah, thank you sir." Youjin shyly smiled.

"Do you have any plans tonight? Let's eat dinner together." Mum asked him.

Youjin gulped nervously and Eunbin saw that. "Mum, I think we three should have dinner together instead! No Inhae, no Youjin. Okay?" She initiated the idea since it must be awkward for Youjin and for Inhae. Or just both being together in one table.

"That's disappointing." Mum pursed her lips. "But okay then. Only the three of us. You pick her up later and make sure she's home safely, okay Private Kim?"

Before Eunbin got further embarrassment she pulled Youjin away from her parents. "Just go home. I'll text you later." They walked to the flat and left her parents, who were walking toward different direction.

"Hey, neighbour..." He tapped her head after a few steps. "Are you embarrassed of me?"

"What? No, I'm not. Now stop saying nonsense and go home, before my parents..."

"Before your parents what?" He didn't move one bit but let Eunbin's hand lingered on his arm.

"Before my parents start to grow on you. Like Inhae did." She answered. "And we're not dating."

"We're not?" He asked. "I thought..."

Eunbin looked at him. "What?"