Chapter Text
As an exchange student, you had found it difficult connecting with most of the students at Hyosan High, which is probably how you came to be friends with the ragtag group that consisted of Cheong-san and his friends.
That is probably also how you came to meet him.
You'd seen him playing up in class, but you'd never had any first hand experience with Gwi-nam and his gang, so didn't think much of it.
You'd been studying late in the library. They were closing up, so you threw all of your belongings into your rucksack and slung it over your shoulder. It had been a long study sesh, and you were definitely ready for bed. As you reached the main doors, you groaned at the heavy rain blocking your swift departure to your student flat across the school fields. Since moving to Korea, you were pretty broke, and so doubted how waterproof your rucksack would be, so you opted to waiting till the rain at least died down.
Whilst you hung around, you suddenly became aware of commotion to the left of the building. You peered out from behind the pillar to see Gwi-nam knelt down beside the tool shed, burying his face in his hands. Unsure if you were doing the right thing, you left your rucksack in the doorway and headed over to him.
"Um.. Hey, are you alright?"
Gwi-nam jumped at the sound of your voice, his pained expression rapidly switching to one of anger. It was hard to tell in the rain, but you were almost certain he had been crying. He pulled himself up, and slammed you against the side of the shed. His eyes watched you intently, scanning your face for any indication of why you approached him. You unclenched your fists, as you took a deep breath and repeated.
"Are you alright? I was just hiding out from the rain and heard you.." His glance momentarily shot to the abandoned belongings under the roof, and you could just about make out the forming of bruises across his cheek. You felt a little bad for the guy, and wondered if he had anyone he could trust.
"I won't tell anyone I saw you, you know." His head snapped back to you, still not uttering a word. You dared to cast an ever so slight smile in his direction. His grip on your shoulders softened slightly, and for the first time he lowered his gaze.
"I'm fine" he responded, releasing his grip on you and shoving his hands in his pockets.
"Well, good. But just to say, if you're ever not, I'm a pretty good listener. Also, nobody really cares what I have to say, so you've nothing to fear" you risked a big smile in his direction. To your relief, you could make out the ever so slight smile at the corners of his mouth as he nodded, eyes to the floor. "I'll leave you be now, sorry" you smiled, nodding a goodbye as you headed over to collect your things.
As tempting as it was to look back, you kept your focus fixed solely on your things as you walked back to the main entrance. You paused momentarily as you reached for your rucksack, somehow worried about the boy in the rain. You bent down to pick it up, but it was snatched out of your grasp. You turned round to see Gwi-nam sling it over one shoulder, head aggressively looking in the other direction.
"It's late."
A small blush arose on your cheeks, and you couldn't help but smile, so turned the other way. Without a word, the two of you walked side by side to your apartment block. When you arrived, he slid the rucksack off his shoulder and handed it to you, head turned to avoid catching your eye.
"What's your name?" he asked, his hands going back in his pockets as he kicked a nearby rock.
"Y/N."
He nodded, before momentarily making eye contact with you, and heading down the path without saying goodbye.
"See you" you whispered under your breath as you headed inside from the rain.