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Kim Dokja fixed his cracked glasses with trembling hands. He had barely survived his dad this morning, but Song Minwoo had made sure the day ended worse.
By the time he stepped out of the school gate, limping, the sky had already split open.
Rain came down hard, drumming against the tiles and concrete
My day couldn't possibly get worse.
Kim dokja winced as he lifted his arms, shielding his head with his school bag. He prepared himself, inhaled sharply and began to run.
Every step hurt.
Even the smallest movements sent sharp reminders through his ribs, but stopping wasn't an option anymore.
Without warning, he collided into a tall figure standing near the roadside
Dokja had barely enough strength left to stand upright. He stumbled backward and fell with a heavy thud. His clothes soaked instantly as he splashed onto a puddle.
His bag slid away across the wet pavement.
He forced himself up on bruised elbows and looked up through shattered lenses.
But Kim Dokja accepted that he was at fault for not looking around while running.
A tall, handsome, familiar face stared down at him.
The popular boy. Of course.
Kim dokja truly deserved an award for the worst luck in the world.
“Watch where your going—“
The boy stopped mid-sentence
His gaze dropped to the faint blood seeping through Kim Dokja's shirt.
Dokja noticed the shift immediately.
Panic flickered through him.
And before the realization could fully settle in the other's eyes, Dokja grabbed his bag and pushed himself up.
“I'm sorry,” he muttered quickly.
Then he ran
Great, now the popular kid can spread rumors about how I get my beaten up every day.
Water traced down his cheeks, he blamed it on the rain.
When he reached home, he shut the door behind him and was greeted by the sight he knew too well.
His father slouched on the floor.
Empty cheap liqour bottles lined up like trophies.
The house reeked of alcohol and stale smoke. The television buzzed loudly to no one.
His mother glanced at him from the kitchen. She saw the wet trail he left behind.
She said nothing and returned to cooking.
Kim Dokja walked to his room. The door creaked and shut again.
He slid down against the wall and curled into himself on the floor, pressing a hand against his aching ribs.
What was the point of living if every day was just the same pain, replaying endlessly.
The next morning, he dragged himself back to school. His broken glasses made the world blur at the edges, but he managed to get by.
After yesterday's heavy rain, the sky had cleared. As the sun dipped, a rainbow stretched across it, fragile and bright.
Students laughed. Chattered. Welcoming the new day.
Maybe something new would happen to him too.
Maybe.
Lunch arrived. Dokja stood quickly, hoping to disappear before certain people found him.
He was too slow though.
They were already stepping into the classroom.
He lowered his gaze.
Hands dropped casually around his shoulders.
“Dokja-ya, wanna hang out?“
Song Minwoo.
The rooftop wind felt colder than usual.
He knew it.
Rain could end in a rainbow, but his life would remain the same dull grey.
He leaned forward, looking down from the highest floor.
Students below laughed. They belonged somewhere. They were wanted.
That kind of life was never meant for someone like Kim Dokja.
Maybe if he took one more step—
“Fool!!“
A strong hand gripped his forearm and yanked him backward.
They both stumbled and fell onto the rooftop floor.
The taller boy held him tightly. Too tightly.
Dokja winced.
'What were you thinking?“ The boy demanded
Dokja pushed himself away. Without the glasses, the other's face was just a blur.
“Who are you?“
A brief pause
“Yoo Joonghyuk.“
Yoo Joonghyuk remembered the rain.
He had been standing at a crosswalk, umbrella in hand, irritated by the rain.
Then a small figure crashed into him.
He had turned to snap at the boy.
But the words died when he saw the fear in those eyes.
He had seen that look before.
At school.
When other boys had cornered him.
Yoo Joonghyuk had never involved himself in other people's business.
But this was not just bruises.
There had been blood. And later, seeing that same boy standing on the rooftop railing—
He did not think, he just moved
After the incident, Kim Dokja tried to avoid him.
It failed. Yoo Joonghyuk followed him like a shadow.
The nurse's words echoed in Kim Dokja's mind.
“Your injuries are serious. You should go to a hospital.“
He had no money.
No insurance.
And no desire for his parents to know.
“Why are you following me?' Kim Dokja finally asked.
Yoo Joonghyuk stopped
Silence.
"I asked you why you're following me.“
Kim Dokja removed his glasses and rubbed his eyes.
The world blurred further.
My eyesight is getting worse.
He put them back on. “Stop following me.“ Kim Dokja turned to leave.
A hand caught his wrist.
“Kim Dokja…” He looked back, “Come to my house.“
What a ridiculous offer.
Girls would give up anything to be invited to Yoo Joonghyuk's house.
Why him?
“N….No”
He pulled away and left.
That night, his bedroom door slammed open.
“Kim Dokja. Your school called.“
He should have accepted the offer.
Now, after another beating, he left quietly. Carefully stepping so his dad wouldn't wake up.
He walked to the park and sat on a bench.
Finally, silence.
He told himself he would only rest for a moment.
Just close his eyes briefly.
He woke up to a plain white ceiling. Soft mattress. Warm blanket tucked around him.
It took several seconds to understand.
He moved and let out a quiet sound of pain.
On a table, his glasses rested with fixed lens.
Bandages wrapped his injuries. His clothes were clean.
He followed the sound of cooking.
Outside the room, he saw; “Yoo…Joonghyuk?”
The taller boy rushed over.
“Are you okay?“
“Yes…but why am I here?“
Yoo Joonghyuk exhaled sharply.
“Don't sleep outside fool.“
He returned to the kitchen.
Soon, a breakfast that looked like it belonged in a five-star restaurant was placed in front of him.
Kim Dokja stared.
He hadn't had a proper meal in a long time.
His vision blurred.
Tears fell quietly onto the table
“Kim Dokja?“
“I-I'm sorry…Thank you….for taking care of me..“
When was the last time someone noticed him.
After that, staying at Yoo Joonghyuks house became normal.
Yoo Joonghyuk insisted it was too lonely living alone in such a big house.
Kim Dokja came over often.
They never spoke about the past nor did they ask any questions.
If Dokja's father was in a bad mood, he stayed over.
They didn't question anything.
Slowly, things changed.
The dark circles under Kim Dokja's eyes faded.
The fatigure lessened, and the injuries healed.
Song Minwoo avoided him when Yoo Joonghyuk was near.
They walked home together. They ate together. They did everything together.
However, on a particularly rainy day, they both forgot to bring umbrellas
Kim Dokja laughed softly.
“It reminds of the first day we met”
“Right,”
Yoo Joonghyuk hesitated, then extended his hand.
“Let's....run back home?“
Kim Dokja intertwined their fingers and smiled.
“Sure."
For two boys who once hated the rain, it became their favourite part of life.