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It’s raining the first time Hoseok goes inside the record store.
The shop opened a few weeks ago on a quiet road. Hoseok passes by it on his way to and from campus, often slowing to glance at the window display. He hasn’t ventured inside yet, mostly because he doesn’t own a record player.
That changes the day a thunderstorm greets Hoseok as he leaves a lecture. Although he has an umbrella, the wind is doing a fine job of rendering it useless. There aren’t many things that annoy Hoseok but wet socks are pretty high up on that short list. He sees the record store as he nears his dorm. He could carry on and be home in ten minutes from this point, but today he decides to go in, hoping the rain will let up by the time he’s done browsing.
It’s a small store, neatly cluttered with all of its wares. Rows of records cover the walls and the short display cabinets across the aisles. A few other customers mill around inside while chilled beats play out over the sound system accompanied by heavy rain hitting the street outside.
Hoseok slips his dripping umbrella into a bucket by the entrance and ambles down the aisle. New releases from Korean & Western artists fill the wall near the front of the store. He marvels at the collection. He didn’t think so many of them would put their music out on vinyl. He continues through the store while trying his best to ignore the small puddles of water in his shoes. Pop claims most of the right wall, rock takes the central displays. Hoseok reaches the back of the store and stops when he spots a familiar cluster of record covers, ones he’d frequently flick through on his tiny iPod screen when he was in middle school.
The hip hop section isn’t huge but it’s filled with Hoseok’s past and present favourites. Epik High, Dynamic Duo, and Verbal Jint sit alongside Kendrick Lamar and Drake. He glances over each record and pulls out the ones that spark memories; long days in dance studios, his graduation trip, snuggling with his ex in bed on a weekend morning—
He shelves that particular record along with the memory and turns to continue browsing, only he notices the young man behind the cash desk looking at him. Their eyes meet for a fraction of a second before they both look away. Hoseok briefly wonders if the guy is hot wearing his beanie indoors.
The remaining sections host nothing Hoseok is really into, so he glances out of the window to find the storm hasn’t let up. He almost sighs as he picks up his umbrella and walks back into the rain.
☂
Hoseok gets caught in the rain again on two more occasions over the next two weeks. The first time, it’s gusty out and he heads into the record store to take a break from dealing with the wind flipping his umbrella inside out every thirty seconds. The second time it’s only drizzling, but he doesn’t have his umbrella.
The rain catches him as he’s halfway home, so he ducks into the shop to wait for it to pass. It seems like it will; the clouds don’t seem too committed today. This time he looks at the merch near the entrance - tote bags, keyrings, notebooks. He realises he could do with a new one, so he grabs a notebook covered in bold illustrations and carries it as he walks around the store.
He looks out of the window before going to pay. The rain hasn’t stopped but it’s lighter than before. Hoseok decides he can speed walk home holding a bag over his head.
Behind the counter is the same young man he’s seen the last two times he’s visited the store. He’s still wearing a beanie, black hair squashed underneath it. Hoseok hands over the notebook.
“That’ll be 6,000 won,” the cashier says after ringing it up. He doesn’t make eye contact or smile, but his tone isn’t unfriendly. Hoseok swipes his card on the reader.
“I only see you when it’s raining,” the man remarks.
“Hm? Oh yeah, I guess...” Hoseok doesn’t quite know what to say at the random comment. He wonders if he doesn’t appreciate him using the store as shelter.
“Do you need an umbrella?” the cashier asks as he slides the notebook into a bag.
“Do you sell those?”
“Oh, no, we just have one a customer left behind last month.” He nods his head towards the bucket by the door then hands Hoseok his purchase. “It’s the black one with the little skull on the bottom of the handle. You can take it if you want. I don’t think the guy’s coming back for it.”
Hoseok’s eyes widen slightly in surprise. “Really? Thanks!” he beams. It seems odd to consider himself lucky when he keeps getting caught in sudden showers, but this feels like a small stroke. “I’ll return it, in case the guy comes looking for it.”
“Okay,” says the cashier. The corners of his mouth flicker up as he says, “Have a good day.” Hoseok senses this is the man’s best effort at customer service.
“You too.” Hoseok gives him one last wide smile before heading over to the bucket. He sees the white skull staring up at him, grabs the umbrella, and heads out.
☂
The next day, Hoseok stops by the record store on his way home from campus. He sees the cashier talking to a tall guy when he steps inside. There’s something familiar about his long, blue patchwork cardigan—
“Oh, hey Hoseok!” Namjoon says as he turns around. Hoseok wonders why it took more than a second to place his friend and floormate. It’s not like he knows many people who dress like that.
“Hi!” Hoseok beams as he strides over to them. He sees the record tucked under Namjoon’s arm. “What did you buy?”
“A Primary album,” he replies, holding up the sleeve.
“You have a record player?”
“Yeah, it’s on my desk. You never noticed it before?”
Hoseok shakes his head and thinks it’s probably buried under a pile of books.
“Oh, have you guys met? I haven’t seen you come in here before,” Namjoon says looking back and forth between the two men. Hoseok gives a half shrug and tilts his head from side to side.
“Kinda. I’m here to return this.” Hoseok moves to hand over the umbrella but stops halfway. He points back towards the bucket at the entrance, “or should I just put it in there?”
“No it’s fine, I can take it,” the cashier says. Hoseok gives it to him and he puts it somewhere under the counter. “Your friend seems to get caught in the rain a lot,” the man says to Namjoon.
Namjoon raises an eyebrow at Hoseok who just nods at him.
“Well,” he says, “Yoongi-hyung this is Hoseok. We go to the same college. And live in the same dorm building. Hoseok this is Yoongi-hyung. He produces. I’ll link you to his stuff.” Namjoon gets out his phone to message Hoseok that moment.
“Wow, you’re a producer?” Hoseok is impressed.
“Uh I’m mostly a music student. And a record store staff member. But yeah, I make beats,” Yoongi says.
“And they’re great,” Namjoon interjects, eyes still on his phone.
“How do you two know each other?” Hoseok asks.
“I used to work at the original Spins store in Hongdae and I got talking to Namjoon at the events we held there.”
Namjoon puts his phone down on the counter. “Oh that reminds me, are there any plans to do anything here yet?”
“Yes, finally,” Yoongi says. “Say Sue Me’s playing here next Wednesday. They’re an indie band from Busan.”
“Cool. I’ll be here,” Namjoon says. He turns to Hoseok but before he can open his mouth again, Yoongi addresses him.
“You should come too,” he says, “if you’re interested.”
“Yeah, I might check it out,” Hoseok smiles. He doesn’t usually listen to bands but it sounds like a fun evening.
“Guess I’ll just have to hope it’ll rain,” he says to Hoseok, a corner of his mouth curling upwards. “It starts around 8.”
“Ah, don’t you normally have dance practice then?” Namjoon asks Hoseok.
Hoseok feels a small sting in his chest but it doesn’t register on his face. “No, I’m free,” is all he says.
The three of them chat for a little longer before Hoseok and Namjoon leave.
“Hey,” Yoongi calls out as they reach the door. He picks up a phone from the counter and holds it up. “Don’t forget this again.”
☂
“So when do you have dance practice now?” Namjoon asks Hoseok as they walk down the street.
“Oh. I don’t. I quit the club.”
Namjoon stops which makes Hoseok stop. “You quit? Wh—don’t tell me it’s because of that jerk.”
Hoseok looks at him. His face says of course it’s because of that jerk. They start walking again.
“But surely you should stay and he should leave? I mean, you’re a better dancer for one.”
“Yeah, well, he always just does what he wants doesn’t he,” Hoseok frowns. “And if he’s staying in the club then I don’t want to be around him.”
Namjoon sighs. “Tell me you haven’t stopped dancing at least.”
Hoseok’s chest tightens. He wishes it didn’t. Dancing’s just a hobby and he’s just taking a break from it. But he’s starting to feel guilty about it, and he can’t work out if it’s because he’d been so involved in the dance club that his lack of practice is making him feel lazy or if it’s because he’s stopping himself from doing something he loves just to distance himself from someone he used to love. Might still love. Doesn’t want to love. “I’ve been to a few classes at some studios. I should probably go to more.”
“You should!” Namjoon says adamantly. Then he switches to a gentler tone, “If you feel like it, of course.”
☂
Hoseok’s lying on his bed after getting back from the record store. He opens the message Namjoon sent him and clicks the link that takes him to Yoongi’s soundcloud. He starts playing the first song. It’s hip-hop, old school, bright and lighthearted with piano notes and record scratches. He loves it. He gets up to grab his headphones and crashes back down onto the bed to scroll through the other tracks, tapping his foot in the air to each beat.
☂
Hoseok tags along with Namjoon to watch the gig at Spins. They get there a few minutes before 8 as the band finishes setting up. There’s a good turnout with people filling the middle of the shop floor that’s been cleared of its displays.
Drinks are lined up along the cash desk and Yoongi is by its side, leaning on it with his arms crossed over his chest. Hoseok follows Namjoon over to him and they exchange hellos and glad you could make its. Yoongi hands them both drinks. The band starts to play.
It’s surf rock which Hoseok finds easy to bob his head to. The rest of the crowd does too. The set lasts an hour. Hoseok’s glad he went.
“They’re really good,” Namjoon says once it’s over. Yoongi and Hoseok agree. They talk about the band, then to the band, and then they’re talking amongst themselves again.
“Should we head somewhere else? Get something to drink? Or maybe eat, actually,” Namjoon asks both of them. Hoseok nods and turns to Yoongi. He swears he sees him pout for a fraction of a second.
“I do, but I gotta clean up then close up,” Yoongi sighs. He glances out of the shop window. “When did it start raining?”
Hoseok looks out to see the heavens have opened. His good mood literally dampens.
Yoongi lets himself behind the counter and reaches down for something. He pulls out a small black umbrella to hand to Hoseok. “Here. You can use this again.”
Hoseok’s face brightens. “Wow, thanks! I’ll return it ASAP.”
There’s a short but noticeable pause before Yoongi responds, his chest rising with a quick breath before he says, “Good. It means I’ll get to see you again.”
“Sure! I’ll try to bring it back tomorrow!” Hoseok turns to Namjoon who stands there, blinking at him. “Should we get going?” he asks. Namjoon clears his throat before they all say their goodbyes.
☂
“So, what do you think of Yoongi-hyung?” Namjoon asks Hoseok. They’re eating fried chicken at a restaurant nearby.
“Yoongi-hyung?” Hoseok says as he swallows a bite of chicken. “Oh yeah, I checked out his music you sent me. It was good!”
Namjoon is staring at him, his face impatient. Hoseok is bewildered by the expression. “What?”
“He was hitting on you, you know.”
“He was?” Hoseok’s eyebrows arch in surprise.
“Yes!” Namjoon exhales. "And I’m pretty sure he was last week, too. I swear, someone could ask you out to a five star restaurant and you wouldn’t even know it was a date.”
“Oh that actually happened to me before,” Hoseok says. Someone had invited him to dinner at a restaurant with a western name. Thinking it was a burger place, Hoseok went straight there from dance practice, showing up in sweats and a cap to cover his messy hair. “Well it wasn’t a five star place but it was really fancy.”
Namjoon snorts. “So…”
“So?”
“So now what do you think of Yoongi-hyung? I mean, I’m not super close with the guy but he’s pretty great, even if he comes off as kinda stand-offish at first.”
Hoseok takes a long breath as he quickly runs through everything he knows about the record store cashier. He was nice enough to loan him the shop’s spare umbrella on two occasions, his beats are good so that’s points for being talented, and he hadn’t noticed before but now that he’s thinking about it, he can’t deny that he’s cute…
But Hoseok tilts his head to one side and his mouth forms a slanted line. “He does seem great, but I don’t know if I’m ready to start seeing anyone yet.”
Namjoon nods slowly, sympathetically. “I get that,” he says. Then he adds, “but when you are ready, don’t let what that asshole did stand between you and your happiness.”
☂
Hoseok takes the umbrella with him when he goes to class the next day. As he passes the record store, he looks through the window and sees a woman behind the counter instead of Yoongi. He could go inside and return it to her now, or slip it into the bucket without a word. It would be easy, and he’d avoid any potential awkwardness he’d feel knowing that Yoongi has a thing for him. But Hoseok decides it would be best to return the umbrella directly to the person who lent it to him. It’s a matter of politeness, he tells himself.
He sits in his lecture, distracted. At the end of the class, he stares at the umbrella in his bag as he puts away his laptop. He’s done for the day so he could take it to the record store now. But Yoongi probably isn’t there, he thinks. Or maybe he just doesn’t feel like heading home yet, he thinks instead. Then he thinks he really needs to stop swatting the stray thoughts that won’t stop buzzing around his mind and address them head on. But not yet. He looks down at what he’s wearing as he walks out into the hallway — baggy jeans and an oversized t-shirt under his light jacket. He can dance in this.
☂
Hoseok heads back from the studio feeling the afterglow of a session gone well. He hasn’t felt this good in a while.
He nears the record shop. Through the glass of the door, he sees Yoongi sorting through a pile of records and putting them onto a display. Then he adjusts his eyes to look at his faint reflection. He’s still a little sweaty and his hair could be better, but he decides he wants to go inside anyway.
“Hey!” Hoseok calls out.
Yoongi looks up from where he’s crouched by the record pile, lifting his head high to peer at Hoseok from under the black cap he’s wearing. “Hi,” he gives a small smile.
Hoseok takes the umbrella out of his bag and slides it into the bucket. “Thanks again for letting me borrow it.”
“It’s no problem.”
Hoseok glances around the store that’s empty except for the two of them. “Are you still open?” he asks.
“For about five more minutes,” Yoongi says. “But take as long as you want.”
Hoseok thinks about leaving, but something tells him to stay a little longer.
He smiles at Yoongi as he walks past him to the hip hop section. He lets his nostalgia absorb him again as he glances at all the records. As he turns to ask Yoongi something, he notices a white skull on the back of his cap. It matches the one on the umbrella.
Hoseok’s chest squeezes in a way that it hasn’t in a while. For the first time in a few months, he feels at ease with letting himself be this happy. This kind of happy.
“Hey, how much do record players cost?” he asks Yoongi.
“Uh the ones we have range from 80,000 won to almost 500,000,” Yoongi tells him without turning around. “You thinking about getting one?”
“Yeah, it would be cool. Maybe I’ll stop by tomorrow to have a proper look?”
“I’m not working here tomorrow,” Yoongi says. He immediately corrects himself, “I mean, someone else, another staff member, can help you pick out a record player.”
“Doesn’t have to be tomorrow, then,” Hoseok says, his face still fixed with a bright smile. Yoongi finally turns to face him and Hoseok sees a faint flush of red across his cheeks. Yoongi only makes brief eye contact as he moves to stand next to Hoseok.
“So will one of these be your first record?” Yoongi asks, his eyes on the shelves.
“Yup. I can’t decide which one though,” Hoseok sighs.
“Do you have any favourites?”
“I have too many favourites.”
Yoongi laughs. “Well, what are they?”
They spend an hour talking. Yoongi doesn’t realise it’s past closing time until Hoseok apologises for keeping him at work. But he isn’t keeping him from anything, Yoongi insists. They decide they could both do with something to eat and leave the store together, but not before Hoseok picks up the umbrella he’d placed into the bucket earlier.
“So what have you been using when you lent me this?” he asks. Yoongi’s mouth becomes a straight, thin line.
“Um, I bought one from the convenience store down the street last night,” he admits.
“Oh. I should’ve just done that,” Hoseok says. Their hands touch as he gives him the umbrella. Hoseok pretends it’s not a big deal.
“It’s alright. I’m glad you didn’t,” Yoongi smiles shyly. Hoseok can’t pretend it’s not a big deal.
☀