Chapter Text
It was the beginning of the rainy day before spring turned into summer. This afternoon was cloudy above the Seoul sky. Lightning flashed, accompanied by the sound of thunder, a sign of rainstorm would occur according to the weather forecast on the news this morning.
Yoo Jonghyuk rushed into the supermarket as soon as the rain began to fall. The man intended to shop for groceries as well as sheltered himself from the rain. Because of his little impatience, he bought a folding umbrella (and got one more umbrella for free) and then headed back home with a large grocery bag in his left hand while the other hand held a black umbrella.
He chose a shortcut by passing through the city park to his apartment complex. As expected, the city park looked quiet when it was raining like now, only seen a few people was sheltering in the pavilion. Suddenly something caught Yoo Jonghyuk’s attention.
About one meter from where he walked, just behind one of the benches that scattered in the park, there was a small child who was looking up at the tree. From his physique, he might still be five years old. Seeing the boy who did not move from his place even though he was trembling from the cold, Yoo Jonghyuk paused for a moment before walking toward him.
The boy seemed to wake up from his reverie and slowly looked at Yoo Jonghyuk who was covering them from the rain. He opened his mouth and then closed it again. He began to look scared.
“What are you looking for on the tree?” Yoo Jonghyuk asked monotone.
“...my, my bag.”
His thick eyebrows frowned. “Bag?”
The boy nodded while staring back at the tree.
The grown man followed and sure enough, there was a black bag that somehow stuck in one of the tree trunks. Sighing, he handed the grocery bag and umbrella to the boy. “Hold on,” he ordered flatly.
The boy obeyed then said, “Ah, Ahjussi, you don’t need to climb the tree. I can do it myself, really.”
“If you can, why haven’t you moved yet?”
“Th, that...”
His thick jacket was removed and placed on the boy who was shivering since before. Without saying much, Yoo Jonghyuk climbed the tree and took the black bag. He did not immediately hand the bag over to the owner, instead he squatted and examined the boy’s face. According to his suspicion, this boy was a victim of bullying because it was impossible for his bag to be stucked by itself to the tree.
The boy’s expression clearly looked uncomfortable but he chose to keep silence.
“Where is your house?” Yoo Jonghyuk thought he had gone crazy. He hated children, but this was the first time he met a child who was bullied (although that was still his suspicion). Yoo Jonghyuk imagined what if his sister also experienced the same thing? Of course, he wouldn't remain silent.
“I won’t do anything bad. I can’t let you take my umbrella home because it’s the only one I have now.“ And how could the Yoo Jonghyuk lie to a kid this easily?
The handle of the umbrella reached out to him. “I, I can go home by myself. My, my body also has been drenched, so it’s okay if Ahjussi goes back with this umbrella.”
“Wait—”
“—thank you very much for getting my bag.”
Yoo Jonghyuk was silent for a moment while looking straight at the boy who was staring back without flinch. Where did the courage come from that had not been seen earlier?
“Ahjussi?”
“You could pass out halfway.”
“...”
His eyes narrowed, but not intended to frighten the boy. He just didn’t like going home and thinking about letting a kid who was too weak just like that. Yoo Jonghyuk sighed, “I promise I’ll only take you to near your house.”
“...alright,” the grip on his umbrella tightened. “I, I’ll shout if you do something bad.”
Yoo Jonghyuk snorted, “Yeah, yeah, whatever.”
They walked out from the park area side by side. Yoo Jonghyuk held the umbrella with his right hand, while his left hand carried the boy’s bag and grocery bag. He caught a glimpse of the boy staring at him with admiration as if he was a hero, which really made him regret immediately.
The little kid suddenly stopped after entering the nearest alley from the park. “Th, this is it, Ahjussi,” he murmured, then asking for his bag.
Yoo Jonghyuk gave his bag without saying anything. The boy intended to exchange his bag with the jacket, but seeing his body was still shivering, he wouldn’t accept it. “Just wear the jacket. I don’t need it anymore,” he refused.
The boy flinched with the head turning down. “U, umm, but... I can’t take it. I, I—!” He lift his head, looked up to Yoo Jonghyuk, before staring back down at his feet. “I, I promise I’ll wash it first. The, the day after tomorrow I’ll wait for Ahjussi in the park and return it.” Again, he looked up while staring at him boldly, ignoring the fear that was radiating from his eyes. “Tha, that’s why... that’s why...”
Yoo Jonghyuk’s hand patted the top of the boy’s head. He didn’t know what was happening but one thing he realized. This child was not afraid of him for his face or his tall body. He looked more like a child who was afraid of being scolded by his parents.
“Ahjussi...?”
“I won’t be mad at you. You can have that jacket because I have some more at home.”
“....not...-cause...-I...m...-irty...”
Yoo Jonghyuk frowned. Although he didn’t catch the boy’s quiet whisper completely, somehow he knew that it was annoying. Did he consider himself a dirty human?
“Bring this umbrella.” The umbrella handle stretched forward. He ignored the gawking gaze of the boy and continued, “My house is not far from here.”
“Bu, but...”
“Take it.”
Even though he wasn’t sure, but the boy accepted it. Without saying another word, Yoo Jonghyuk ran out of the alley and broke through the heavy rain. It didn’t take long for him to reach the apartment building area. When his feet stopped on the terrace of the ground floor building, his eyebrows began to frown. He realized something after remembering the alley area earlier, but his momentary thought was immediately driven away.
Even if the hunch was right... it was none of his business.