It started with rain.
A soft drizzle turned into a steady downpour just as the last bell rang, trapping half the student body under the school gates.
Jiwon sighed, clutching her sketch folder to her chest. She hadn’t checked the forecast. Her umbrella was, of course, sitting uselessly at home by the shoe rack.
“Looks like we’re here for a while,” someone said beside her.
She turned and found Jungwon, already looking at her, hood half-up but no umbrella in sight either.
“I swear I checked the weather app,” he added quickly, raising his hands in defense.
Jiwon gave a small laugh. “Same. I think the app just likes watching us suffer.”
He smiled. “Tragic, really. Two mildly prepared students caught in nature’s betrayal.”
They stood together under the narrow overhang, the sound of rain filling the silence between them. It wasn’t awkward, not anymore—just careful.
Then came a voice behind them.
“Yo, I’ve got one umbrella,” Jay said, holding it up like a trophy. “Who’s walking with me?”
“Not it,” Sunghoon called from behind him.
Ni-ki and Jake quickly partnered up, Sunoo ran off with a bright yellow umbrella someone loaned him, and soon it was just Jungwon and Jiwon left under the overhang.
Jiwon stared at the rain. “You know... we could make a run for it.”
“You’d sacrifice your sketchbook to the water gods that easily?” Jungwon asked.
She hesitated, then hugged it tighter. “Okay, fine. I’ll stay here and rot.”
Jungwon glanced at her, thoughtful. Then, slowly, he shrugged off his hoodie and held it over both their heads.
“It’s not much,” he said. “But... wanna share?”
Jiwon blinked at him. “That’s going to soak you.”
He smiled. “I’ve been through worse.”
Before she could answer, he took a small step closer, gently angling the hoodie over her head too. They were close now—close enough for her to hear the rain hit the fabric above them. Close enough for her to hear his heartbeat, maybe.
“You still cold?” he asked, voice barely above the rain.
“A little.”
He nudged her shoulder with his. “I’ll try to walk slower. So your drawings don’t drown.”
She smiled despite herself. “Thanks, Jungwon.”
They started walking, slowly, carefully, their shoes splashing through puddles as they half-jogged, half-laughed down the street.
When they reached the corner where they’d usually split ways, they both hesitated.
“Want me to walk you the rest of the way?” he asked. “I mean, I already look like a wet dog anyway.”
She turned to him, something soft flickering in her expression. “Actually... do you want to come over for a bit?”
Jungwon blinked. “You’re inviting me?”
“Don’t make it weird,” she said quickly, cheeks tinged pink. “It’s just—my mom’s not home, and I’m working on this project, and I thought—maybe—”
“I’d love to,” he cut in gently, his voice warm.
She didn’t look at him right away, but her smile grew just a little.
-
Her room was surprisingly cozy. Warm-toned lights. Sketches taped to the walls. A small potted plant with a sad-looking leaf.
Jungwon sat cross-legged on the floor, flipping through one of her sketchbooks while she arranged art supplies.
“You’re really talented,” he said sincerely, admiring a pencil drawing of a busy street scene. “Like... insanely good.”
Jiwon paused, brush mid-air. “Thanks.”
“No, seriously. I could stare at this one for hours,” he said, holding up another page. “You capture so much emotion. It’s crazy.”
She glanced at him, surprised. “You’re kind of dramatic when you compliment people, huh?”
“I mean it,” he said simply.
Silence fell between them again, but this time it felt safe. Familiar.
Then Jiwon cleared her throat.
“Do you remember that first message you sent me? The random text?”
Jungwon chuckled. “How could I forget? My greatest masterpiece: ‘I’m cute.’”
She gave him a look. “Still your boldest move.”
“I stand by it,” he said proudly. “You replied, didn’t you?”
“I said ‘I’m cuter.’”
“Exactly. A perfect match in confidence.”
They both laughed.
Then Jiwon’s expression turned thoughtful. “I used to reread our messages, you know. Back when I didn’t know it was you.”
“You did?”
She nodded. “You made me feel understood. Even when I couldn’t see your face. That was rare.”
Jungwon swallowed. “I felt the same way.”
She looked down, fiddling with a pencil. “Sometimes I wonder... if I liked you even before I realized who you were.”
His breath caught.
But before he could say anything, she stood and stretched, covering her flustered expression with a yawn.
“You should get going before the rain starts again,” she said, heading toward the door.
He followed, stopping just inside the threshold. As she opened the door, he turned to her.
“Hey, Jiwon?”
She looked up.
“I’m not trying to rush anything. But... I’m really glad you let me walk with you today.”
Her eyes softened. “Me too.”
They stood there a second longer than they had to.
And this time, when she said goodbye, it wasn’t distant or hesitant.
It was warm. Almost like old times.
And as Jungwon walked home in the misty quiet of the evening, his soaked hoodie still clinging to him, he smiled to himself.
He didn’t need a confession yet.
He just needed the chance to keep walking beside her.
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✓ 𝗜'𝗠 𝗖𝗨𝗧𝗘𝗥. yang jungwon
Fanfiction( 𝗜'𝗠 𝗖𝗨𝗧𝗘𝗥 ) "One dare, one text, and a whole lot of feelings." --- It all began with a simple dare-one that led to an unexpected connection. Jiwon Park, a quiet transfer student, received a random text that read, "I'm cute." Thinking it was...
