Chapter Text
Part 1 - Rainy Days
It was late in the evening, and Jungkook finally left the office with a rumbling stomach. The day had flown by so quickly that he hadn’t eaten anything, and he found himself contemplating getting a nice meal at one of the small Pochas a few streets away. He had missed that while he was abroad in Los Angeles, and craved some comforting Korean food after a long day at work. LA had been cheery and warm, but it had never felt like this on a rainy day, a comforting meal that could warm your heart.
Rain poured from the dark sky forming puddles on the sidewalk. Faceless office workers, hidden under their black umbrellas, hurried past him on their way to the nearest subway station.
Jungkook paused and tilted his purple umbrella back, gazing up at the illuminated skyscrapers. The rain became visible in the artificial light, and he imagined how the colorful drops might transform the dark umbrellas into vibrant works of art, displaying every color imaginable.
The colorful lights from the stores and restaurants reflected in the puddles, turning the sidewalk into an ever-changing painting of shifting shapes and brightness. Others hurried past this mesmerizing spectacle without a second glance, too absorbed in their own thoughts to notice.
That was Seoul.
Jungkook decided to walk past the nearest Pocha, not caring that his pants got soaked in the rain. The air felt much cleaner, washing away the dreaded fine dust.
He walked slowly along the sidewalk, probably annoying people who wanted to hurry and escape the rain, but he didn’t care. He wanted to savor this moment on a rainy day, thinking back to his youth, when he could run freely in the rain without a care and jump into puddles. He could do it now too, but he thought he might get arrested if he were too uninhibited.
Jungkook followed the reflections of the lights on the sidewalk, stopping from time to time to see what created the shimmering patterns. It fascinated him how the rain turned the streets into an ever-changing canvas.
He stopped in front of a puddle that resembled a dull sun and looked up. Jungkook found himself standing in front of a convenience store. Some parts of the large window were fogged up, but he could clearly see the counter inside where people could sit to eat in peace.
A man was sitting at the counter, an empty Ramyeon cup pushed to the side. He was staring out the window, his head resting on his hand. Was he watching the rain too? Jungkook followed his gaze and noticed a massive advertising board across the street, playing a cartoon ad that created colorful new raindrops on the glass.
Jungkook glanced back at the man and realized that he was lost in thought. He couldn’t have been much older and was wearing a suit too, marking him as one of the countless office workers trapped in the same routine. His tie was loose and his jacket hung unbuttoned. His hair was swept back from his forehead, making his almond-shaped eyes stand out. And those eyes made Jungkook pause again. They appeared soulful and gentle, yet they carried an unmistakable sadness and a sense of being forlorn. As if on cue, he closed his eyes and shook his head, before looking straight out the window.
Their eyes met for a fleeting second.
Jungkook wondered what had brought such a look to the stranger’s face. What had happened to him? It wasn’t mere curiosity that Jungkook felt but a deep empathy. No one should look that broken and lonely in plain sight.
The man stood up, not paying Jungkook another glance, and disposed of his trash. He picked up a green umbrella that was leaning against his stool, and turned toward the store's exit.
Jungkook glanced at the entrance, waiting, and tilted his umbrella slightly back to get a clearer view.
Should he approach the stranger? Would the man feel harassed if Jungkook tried to talk to him? But what could you say to someone who was obviously sad and also a stranger? Maybe his mindfulness wasn’t appreciated? Maybe the man wanted to be alone and welcomed the anonymity of the city?
The man stepped outside, lifting his face to the rain-soaked sky, and sighed heavily, as if he was carrying an invisible weight. He opened his umbrella and turned in Jungkook’s direction, stopping abruptly when he saw him standing there.
They watched each other silently, their eyes meeting once more, and held while the rain filled the stillness with its steady drumming on the fabric of their umbrellas. The passing cars were only a dull noise in the background.
Jungkook tried to form words on his tongue, tried to smile, but he wasn’t sure the corners of his mouth could lift and his tongue could move. The stranger’s gaze was too intense, and Jungkook found himself utterly captivated.
Seconds passed, and the man finally stepped onto the sidewalk, closing his umbrella. The rain soaked his hair and clothes instantly as he walked up to Jungkook, stopping directly in front of him.
Jungkook’s heartbeat quickened, and he couldn’t tell whether it was from nervousness or anxiety. The rain that pearled off Jungkook's umbrella fell down between them like a liquid curtain.
The stranger’s eyes studied him intently, making him feel as though he was being x-rayed. What did the man see?
Jungkook noticed the stranger’s moles, small and distinct on his face, as raindrops slid gently over his skin, almost like a tender caress. The man closed his eyes briefly and shook his head again, as if reconsidering something he had been about to say or do. What was holding him back?
Without another glance, the man stepped past Jungkook, leaving behind a faint trace of cologne. The scent was fresh and inviting, but the rain quickly washed it away.
Jungkook spun around to watch him go, his figure disappearing with hunched shoulders among the sea of umbrellas. He found himself wishing again that the colorful rain could paint the world, brightening it and bringing happiness, if only so the stranger might feel it too.
He wondered why the man had chosen to walk in the rain, soaking himself to the bone. Soon, he would feel cold and miserable.
Rain could be pleasant, when chosen deliberately, but the stranger seemed to be using it as a form of punishment.