We walked sharing one umbrella.
But unlike me, who was short, the umbrella must have been low for Unhak, who was over 180cm tall, because it kept bumping his head.
Unhak “Unless you’re trying to keep hitting my head, it’d probably be better if I held it lol”
Yeoju “Ah, I’m sorry”
After I handed the umbrella handle over to senior Unhak like that, an awkward atmosphere settled in.
The umbrella wasn’t that big, so our shoulders kept brushing, which made me conscious of it.
Senior Unhak must have noticed the umbrella was small, because he subtly tilted the handle toward me and held the umbrella.
I wanted to say we didn’t have to tilt the umbrella, but since it was my umbrella, I thought it’d be unfair if I got a little wet, so I stayed quiet.
When I turned my head to the left, I could see senior Unhak’s face.
His face really is my type.
Those eyes that are so pretty when he smiles... totally tofu-like...
As I stared blankly at senior Unhak, he looked back at me.
For some reason, my heart was racing.
No. It’s just that it’s a rainy day, and a man and a woman are sharing an umbrella, so it happens automatically.The shoulders that kept touching made me overly aware of every little movement.
My oblivious earlobes felt like they were burning.
Unhak “Walk on this side. There are a lot of cars.”
Senior moved naturally so I wouldn’t be walking on the road side.
That small bit of consideration felt especially nice today.
Maybe because of his lively personality, senior Unhak couldn’t stand the quiet moment and kept making small talk.
Unhak “You’re Yeoju Kim, right? I think I saw you at yesterday’s freshman welcome party”
Yeoju “Ah, yes. How did you know? I was all the way on the other side?”
Unhak “Ah, you were asleep, so you stood out lol”
Yeoju “Ahㅠㅠ So you saw me thenㅠㅠㅋ Of all timesㅠ”
Yeoju felt embarrassed at the thought that senior Unhak thought of her as a junior who had passed out from drinking.
Unhak “I’m Kim Unhak. I’m a fourth-year.”
Yeoju “I know. You’re really famous”
Unhak “? Why would I be famous?”
Yeoju “You’re asking because you don’t know? I mean...”
Unhak “No, why what?? I haven’t caused a single problem in four years?”
Yeoju “Because you’re cute... lol”
Yeoju “Were you asking over and over just to brag about yourself lolㅋ”
Unhak “No, if that’s the reason, I’m kind of getting embarrassed..”
Yeoju “ㅋㅎㅋㅎㅋㅋㅋㅎㅋㅋㅋ”
His tone, this situation, even his expression were all so funny that I burst out laughing.
Unhak “Aha, wow, you’re really laughing? Aren’t there rumors that your senior is cute, and now you’re laughing at me like this? Are you looking down on your senior too much?? lol”
Yeoju “Ackㅋㅋ Sorryㅋㅋㅋ”
At first glance he seemed like nothing more than a loud person, but after talking, he was strangely someone who made me feel good.
What are you even saying, seriously..
Unhak “So which way are you headed?”
Yeoju “I’m going toward ~~ Station”
Unhak “I just need you to drop me off at that bus stop over there”
Seeing the bus stop just a little farther ahead, close enough to reach in a few more steps, I felt strangely disappointed.
What is this feeling? I’ve never felt it before.
When we reached the bus stop, senior Unhak smiled with his eyes and thanked me.
I had to go, but my feet wouldn’t move easily.
Then, as if he had remembered something, senior Unhak took his phone out of his pocket.
Unhak “Give me your number. You lent me your umbrella on a rainy day, so I should repay you”
I was so shocked I think I stood still for two seconds.
I quickly took senior’s phone and entered my number.
Yeoju “Here..”
Unhak “Yeah, get home safely!”
Senior Unhak got on the bus that had arrived before long and left.
But my heart was still beating like the afterglow hadn’t faded.
‘Huh..? What is wrong with me?’
As I walked home and sorted out my feelings, I came to clearly understand what this feeling was.
‘Ah, I guess I like senior Unhak’
No matter what else I thought about, all I could think was what senior was doing, what he liked.
Kim Yeoju, who’d been single for 21 years, seems to have fallen hard for Kim Unhak.
I even smile to myself looking at the contact info we exchanged.
This version of me feels unfamiliar.
I want to tell someone about this dopamine-pumping event.
But I’m a person with only Taesan and Davin as friends.
I’ve only known Davin for two days, and more than that, since I’d previously said he wasn’t my type and then changed my mind, wouldn’t it look too shallow?
Then...?
________________________________________
Ding-ding, ding-ding
The call tone rings.
Taesan “Hello?”
Yeoju “Hey, Han Taesan”
Taesan “What”
Yeoju “Want me to tell you something fun? I’m only telling you”
Taesan felt a subtle sense of g
oodness that I was telling him and only him.But that feeling didn’t last long.
Taesan “What is it”
•
•
•
Yeoju “I think I like someone”
Taesan couldn’t say anything for a moment.
A girl who had never dated once, or liked anyone even once in ten years?
The reason he couldn’t speak wasn’t only that.
Yeoju “Hey! Can’t you hear me?”
I like you. And you’ve come to like someone else?
Taesan “… hang up”
Yeoju “? What, fine, I’m hanging up”
Beep beep beep-
The call ended tone rings.
I shamelessly want to know who Yeoju likes.
No, I don’t want to know.
The moment I find out, it feels like it’ll really be over.
And yet I keep wondering.
What have I been doing for the past ten years?
Even while liking you, I was satisfied just being by your side because we were childhood friends.
Even though I knew this day would come someday.
Isn’t this what real pettiness is?
The phone screen still showed the call history with Yeoju.
After staring at that screen for a long while, I flipped my phone over.
I thought just being next to you was enough, but only now did I realize that someone else could take that place.
________________________________________
Yeoju ‘What the.. why did he hang up out of nowhere’
I can’t understand why Han Taesan suddenly acted like that.
But that isn’t what matters.
I was dying to tell someone about what happened today.
Yeoju “Then..?”