Chapter Text
Every step you took hurt a bit more than the last, as the back of your new shoes dug into your foot uncomfortably. You cursed yourself for the umpteenth time for having worn them the same day you chose to walk to work and back. Doing so, unknowingly added another thing to make your day worse than it turned out to be.
It started off on a not-so-great note when you were partnered with your least favorite co-worker for a project. He was the most self-centered, narcissistic prick you knew. And now you were stuck working with him for two weeks. Not to mention, he flirted nonstop with you already.
Having to deal with him all day, the pain in your feet was almost bearable.
Taking out your phone, you debated getting an uber or taxi. You sighed and looked around. Did you really want to sit and wait, only to take a three-minute drive, when it would only take you an extra ten minutes to get to your apartment on foot?
Putting your phone back in your pocket, you decided you would suffer with it for a bit longer. You'd soak your feet in the bath later anyways.
Hearing a soft rumble of thunder, you looked up, having not noticed the dark clouds building up above you.
You flinched as a raindrop hit your cheek. Looking around, you noticed spots forming on the sidewalk as the rain began to fall.
"Oh shit" you mumbled as you began walking faster, you reached into your bag before you stopped. Leaning your head back you let out a sigh "Of course." Recalling you had set your umbrella by your desk, but you never grabbed it when you left.
Walking faster, the rain seemed to match your pace as it quickly grew heavier and heavier.
You were now running, ignoring the burning of your shoe digging into your heel as you held your bag above your head. The rain began to pour as you spotted a nearby store. It was closed, but the doorway was wide and sheltered. Running up the steps, you decided to take shelter until the rain slowed down or stopped.
As you reached the top step, you looked up at the sound of someone's voice, or more accurately, a strained groan.
Nearly stumbling to a stop, your eyes met a pair of dark ones as the stranger stopped as well. Your eyes locked for a moment as you processed the fact that you were now face to face with one of the most gorgeous men you'd ever seen.
Hyunjin's breath caught as his eyes locked with yours. He hadn't seen you approach, but guessing by your soaked appearance, you had the same idea as him to hide in the store doorway.
Hyunjin wasn't sure why all his words seemed to fail him as he stared into your eyes.
Letting out a soft chuckle you nodded your head "Hello."
Your voice jolted him from his stupor and he smiled and bowed slightly "Hello"
You were surprised at how shy his smile and voice seemed to be. Lowering your bag from above your head, you hoped you didn't look like a drowned rat.
Suddenly as lightning struck, a loud clap of thunder made both of you jump and gasp as you moved in sync to the store doorway.
As you stood in the doorway, your shoulder brushed against his, and you both turned to look at each other. Your widened eyes met, and after a short moment of silence, you both let out amused laughs.
"That was scary" he muttered within the laugh and you giggled a bit more and nodded.
You cleared your throat after a moment, "The storm came out of nowhere."
He nodded, "Yeah it did."
His eyes landed on a couple jogging down the street, umbrella raised above their heads. He glanced at you and saw you watching them as well.
"At least I'm not the only one who forgot their umbrella."
You looked over at him and let out a soft giggle, "Yeah, I left mine at work."
He nodded with a somewhat embarrassed smile, "I forgot mine in a restaurant"
You smiled and shook your head "That kind of day huh?"
He saw you look down at your bag as you wiped a bit of dirt from it. He looked at your profile and felt his heart skip a beat.
"I'm Hyunjin."
You looked up, a trace of surprise on your face before you smiled "I'm Y/n."
"Y/n" he repeated softly before he smiled.
Your heart started racing as you felt heat rise up your neck. Another rumble of thunder made you both wince a bit as you looked out at the darkened sky. The rain was luckily not blowing towards you, but a heavy stream of water was covering the road were no cars now drove.
"Looks like we might be here for a while." Hyunjin muttered and you nodded before you cautiously met his gaze.
He smiled softly, though you could see he held the same shyness as you felt.
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As the storm persisted, you and Hyunjin became more comfortable with each other. Now sitting on the ground in the store doorway, backs against either side of the entrance as you faced each other, chatting.
The air of awkwardness had died away, as you talked about work, though you were far more interested in his. Even with this, Hyunjin listened intently when you told him about your day. He groaned as you told him about your coworker and empathized with your annoyance at having to work with him.
As you talked, you began rubbing the back of your heel, where your shoe had rubbed the skin raw.
Hyunjin, noticing this, frowned "Did you hurt your foot?"
"Huh? Oh," you rolled your eyes at yourself, "I had the brilliant idea of wearing new shoes today and walking to and from work."
Hyunjin winced, knowing the pain himself "Does it hurt a lot?"
You nodded, as you looked down at your foot, "I'm pretty sure it might have bled at some point"
Hyunjin gasped a bit as he leaned forward before grabbing his bag "I might have a bandage, or a tissue, hold on!"
You let out a soft chuckle "It's okay, it's not too bad."
He looked back at you with a frown but still searched through his bag. You noted the disappointment on his face as he found nothing to help.
"I don't have any, I'm sorry."
You smiled, and shook your head "It's okay, but thank you, you're sweet."
Hyunjin smiled as he looked away, feeling his heart jolt at your compliment.
You smiled to yourself as you noticed how your comment effected him. You watched the rain for a moment, as the silence hung between you. It wasn't awkward or tense, it was almost comfortable in a way.
Getting lost in watching the rain, you failed to notice how intensely Hyunjin's gaze was on you. He admired your profile, his eyes grazing over your features slowly as if he was trying to memorize them. He felt the urge to draw you, too bad he didn't have any supplies.
"Do you like the rain?" Your voice broke the silence softly and Hyunjin had to shake himself from his thoughts as your gaze drifted back to him.
He looked out at the rain before he smiled and shrugged his head "I don't know, I suppose it can be nice. What about you?"
A soft smile crossed your face and Hyunjin couldn't help but sense a feeling of nostalgia behind it.
"I love it. And I think rainy days get a bad rap. Though, I have to say I do love it more when I don't get caught in it."
Hyunjin chuckled, "You were on your way home from work right?" You nodded and he gave you a crooked smile "So was I. I thought it would be a nice day to walk."
You let out a soft scoff "That's what I told myself too"
Hyunjin felt warmth in his chest as he looked down at his hands briefly "We both decided to walk on the same day, and now we're both stuck under the same doorway"
You knitted your brows together as you spoke in an exaggerated and almost dramatic tone "It must be fate"
Hyunjin chuckled as he leaned his head back watching as you looked down at your hands with a soft smile "Do you believe in fate?"
You met his eyes again and let out a soft hum "I think some things are supposed to happen one way or another, but I find that most things are random."
He nodded softly "Do you think we would have met one way or another? Or is it just random?"
You tilted your head a bit as your eyes met his, you felt your heart pound heavier.
"I don't know." You said honestly, your voice soft. "Do you?"
He thought for a moment, wondering if he should really say what he was feeling.
"I-I think that some things are random but can become fate." He squinted a bit "Does that make sense?"
You thought for a second before you shook your head and chuckled "No."
He let out a laugh before he shook his head "Okay, what I mean is; maybe our meeting is random. But maybe our fate changes depending on what happens next."
You hesitated for a second, "And what is going to happen next exactly?"
"Well, if we part ways with only each others names, we may or may not ever see each other again, that will depend entirely on fate, or chance. Or..." he trailed off.
"Or?"
"Or, we can part ways with a plan to see each other again and lead fate in a direction we choose."
Your heart was pounding a bit heavier now "And you want to choose which direction fate goes?"
"Well it sounds better than the other option."
You smiled a bit as your ears heated up "Does it?"
Hyunjin smiled, a wave of bashfulness washing over him "Well, I just... I liked sitting and talking to you. Doing it again sounds...nice."
You looked down at your fidgeting hands, "It does sound nice."
"You think so?" He asked with an excited tone, making you giggle softly. He cleared his throat a bit "So, can I get your number then? So we can make plans?"
You smiled and nodded as you pulled out your phone, Hyunjin quickly doing the same, donning an exited smile as his heart pounded in his chest almost painfully.
As you looked down at his contact and number you looked out at the street "It stopped raining."
Hyunjin looked out as well and almost frowned, why did he feel disappointed?
You both rose from the ground as you looked out at the road, before glancing at each other. Suddenly shy smiles found your faces again.
You spoke with a soft, almost melancholic tone "I guess we should both go before it gets too dark."
Hyunjin nodded but found solace in the fact that you sounded as disappointed as he felt.
"But we'll text right? Makes plans to see each other again?"
You nodded and smiled "Yes. No leaving it up to fate or chance."
He chuckled, feeling a bit embarrassed by his metaphors now. His eyes locked with yours as he smiled brightly "Good."
As you walked down the steps together, you looked up at the sky. It was still dark grey, and you both silently feared it might start pouring down on you again.
He looked over at you and you saw concern on his face "Do you have far to go?"
You shook your head "No, I live just over there" you pointed vaguely to the nearby neighborhood and he smiled, relief on his face. "What about you?"
He shook his head "Not too far no."
"Good" you smiled as you looked down at your feet before meeting his eyes shyly "I guess this is bye for now"
He nodded, watching as you slowly walked backwards away from him "Yeah, bye, for now"
You gave him a soft wave before you turned away and he waved back. He watched you head down the path, smiling softly as you jumped over a puddle.
When you eventually disappeared, he turned and began heading home, his thoughts filled by you, and the strong desire to sketch you as soon as he got home. Something about you staring out into the rain with a smile inspired him and made his heart feel lighter.
Taking out his phone, he checked your contact and smiled, wondering when he should text you. And when should he suggest you hang out.
Looking up at the dark sky he smiled, maybe you were right, maybe rainy days weren't so bad after all.