Chapter Text
੯·̀͡⬮✶𓏲ּ꩜ .ᐟ
November 02, 2023
It's raining outside.
Jaehyun dislikes the rain, he never liked it or gave a chance to like it.
There's no reason why he should.
Today was a good day too. It was supposed to be a good day, it was going so well.
And now, he's sitting on a park bench, where he was supposed to drink his coffee and do nothing while staring at people, not in a weird way. In a way that makes him think, when will it be my turn to experience that?
His clothes are drenched in rain, and his mood is completely ruined.
This is why he hates the rain.
It's uncomfortable, it leaves you wet, and it's the perfect weather to overthink.
He can't imagine someone actually liking rain.
Amidst all of this, he somehow always finds ways to find couples dancing or comforting each other in the rain.
Unlike the rain, he actually wishes to try falling in love at least once. Even if it's only for a short period of time.
The idea sounds like a pull out of depression for him. Except, he isn't really depressed, well he doesn't think that he is. But honestly? He probably is.
⛇｡𖦹°‧⭑.ᐟ
Woonhak loves the rain.
He had always loved it and always looked forward to it.
There's always a reason why he should.
Whether the reason was to overthink, to heal, or just to simply go out and feel the rain.
It's comforting, somehow.
But now, he's sick.
Which means, he can't go out and feel the rain, he'd have to risk his life for it.
“Doc, I really can't play outside the rain?”
Woonhak asked the doctor, who was checking his vitals.
The doctor looked up at Woonhak, who was staring out the window, looking so enthralled while mourning what he could have had.
“No, no you can't Woonhak. You want to be healthy right? So you can play outside in the rain?”
“I do.”
“Then bear with me for a while and help yourself to fight against your illness.”
“Cancer is such a curse.”
"Of course it is.”
“Is there really no cure?”
The doctor paused for a second, finishing their check-up, still looking at Woonhak who now had looked back. The doctor stared at a Woonhak with an expression that said, Im sorry for you.
“Im unsure.”
The doctor continued,
“But never give up in fighting for your life in this fight, yeah? You're still young. There's so much ahead of you.”
Woonhak smiled, trying to lift up the mood.
“Okay, I promise you I’ll keep on fighting!”
The doctor waved at Woonhak, already making their way out of Woonhak's hospital room.
“How could anyone hate the rain?”
Woonhak said to himself.
“I mean, it's so much fun! You get to feel the droplets, and you’ll feel alive. It's heaven-sent. I hate whoever hates the rain!”
੯·̀͡⬮✶𓏲ּ꩜ .ᐟ
“Young man, are you planning to just stay in the rain?”
A man asked him, tossing Jaehyun an umbrella.
Jaehyun, caught off guard, nearly missed the umbrella.
“Sorry–huh? Thanks. But yeah, I'm planning to just stay here. I don't have anything to do.”
The man sat next to him, not minding the puddle of water that bench collected, seemingly already drenched by the rain as well.
“Guess we're here for the same reason then.”
“I guess so.”
“Whats your name?”
The man asked.
“Myung Jaehyun. I'm still 17 so I don't think you can be my sugar daddy.”
Jaehyun said, trying to make the stranger go away.
“Im not a pedophile. Relax. I've got a son of my own, 16. Oh and I've got a daughter and a loving wife. They're amazing.
“Wow, great for you.”
“What? You don't have a happy family?”
Jaehyun froze.
That's not exactly his case. But, is it counted as a happy family if no one's ever home?
The man, seemingly noticing the pause Jaehyun got, talked again.
“Oh, sorry. That was supposed to be a light-hearted joke.”
Jaehyun, startled by the sudden empathy, shook his hands, trying to brush away what he just did.
“No–wait! Not what I meant, not at all! I love my family! But, they're usually just not at home! Don't worry!”
“You remind me of my son. He usually panics like this.”
“Is that a good thing or–?”
“Its a good thing. That boy is the purest and most energetic boy I've ever met.”
The man continued,
“Sadly, he’s ill. And I don't think even when he heals, he won't be as energetic as he was before.”
“Im so sorry to hear that.”
Jaehyun said.
“I feel like you'd make great friends with him. Would you like his number? He lacks friends.”
The man suddenly asked, pulling out his phone and showing a contact number to Jaehyun.
The contact name was Kim Woonhak, with a profile picture of what looks like him patting a cat in the rain while he held an umbrella.
The guy in the profile picture isn't that bad looking, he must admit. So if that was him, great genes, he can definitely see the similarities between him and his dad.
“Is that him in the profile picture?”
Jaehyun asked, taking out his own phone to enter the contact number.
“It is. One handsome young man, no?”
“Yeah, I guess so.”
Jaehyun named the contact number as Kim Woonhak and closed his phone.
“Im going to go now, I've got to visit my son. I really hope you become friends with my son, it was nice meeting ya.”
The man said, standing up and getting ready to go.
“Wait, your umbrella.”
Jaehyun said, reminding the man.
The man froze in his steps before speaking,
“Just keep it. My son loves the rain, so I do love the rain too.”
Jaehyun stared at the figure going away and unpropelled the umbrella.
He sighed, maybe the rain isn't that bad after all.
That afternoon, he walked home with a strange feeling of warmth in his heart, even when it was raining.
⛇｡𖦹°‧⭑.ᐟ
Woonhak stared out the windows, watching the rain slowly pour down.
The sound of the rain covering any excess noise he could hear.
“I wish I could be out there.”
He thought. His smile faltered for a second at the thought of him not being able to go out there anymore.
Knock Knock
Someone's at the door of his hospital room.
He mustered up the energy he had left so he could stand up and open the door.
“Morning.”
His dad said, looking damp after the rain.
Woonhak giggled at the sight,
“It's afternoon. Where's the others?”
He asked, peeking out the door to check if anyone else was out there, waiting for him.
“Theyre stuck in traffic. Your mom said she's stuck at a red light.”
His dad said, showing the chat as proof, even when Woonhak didn't need proof.
Woonhak nodded and let his father in.
Even when his father was still damp from the rain.
“Hey, would you mind if I gave a stranger your number?”
His dad suddenly asked, sitting down on the floor so the area won't be wet.
Woonhak stared at him with confusion, while also showing that he wanted his dad to continue talking for even more context.
“Okay so, I saw this guy. He looked miserable. He's 17 don't worry, no pedophiles. But basically, we chatted, and it seemed like he needed friends. And like, as your dad, I know you need friends too. So I handed him your number. Is that okay with you?”
His dad asked, clasping his hands as if he's sorry.
“That's okay. I needed friends anyways, I was only worried about his age.”
“Amazing!”
His dad said.
Woonhak paused, his door being knocked again.
His dad stood up, aiming for the door.
“Sorry we were late.”
His mom said, peeking to see Woonhak, then waving.
His dad let them in, with Woonhak's mother going first, then his sister.
They both sat on the couch provided by the hospital while his dad settled on the floor once again.
“Why are you wet?”
His mother asked his dad.
“Okay, you see..”
His dad tried to explain.
“I told you not to play out in the rain. You're a grown man.”
His mother argued back.
And it just happened, a bickering between an old married couple about stupid things that makes their children laugh.
And it's as if time stopped for a second.
As if it's reminding Woonhak about how much he missed this.
How much he missed the normalcy in his life, the one that was gone after he got ill and made them worried about him.
Woonhak stayed in silence, when usually he'd join in just so the argument would stay for longer.
He smiled, admiring the moment in front of his eyes. Admiring the happy faces of his family.
He missed this so much.
He missed being normal so much.
A notification from his phone made Woonhak turn his attention away, checking it out.
It was a text from an unknown number.
Was this the person his dad was talking about?
੯·̀͡⬮✶𓏲ּ꩜ .ᐟ
Jaehyun stared at his phone after he sent that text, a simple greeting with a with a short explanation.
Was that too much?
He thought.
He hasn't texted someone who isn't a teacher or a family member in so long.
You
Hi, good afternoon :D
Sorry to bother but
Your dad gave me your number when I met him in the rain
Sounds unbelievable but :V..
(read)
Shit, well Woonhak had seen the message, why isn't he answering? Did he mess up–
Kim Woonhak
Hi, yes!
This is Woonhak !!
My dad told me about you. lol..
Its kinda funny
You
Wait, what's funny? :(
Kim Woonhak
I think he told you that I didn't have any friends?
You
Okay well..kinda??
Kim Woonhak
Lol yeah it's funny cuz I really dont have any friends .. so like..
You
That's kinda sad :(
Kim Woonhak
What's ur name?
My dad didn't tell me i think he forgot..
You
Jaehyun !!
Myung Jaehyun :D
Kim Woonhak
I like your name
it suits you if yk what i mean!!
You
Thank you !! ^^
And somehow, from that simple text, Jaehyun can feel a friendship bloom between them. Something that would last for a long time.
And for the first time in forever, Jaehyun caught himself smiling.
Smiling at the thought of him possibly getting a new friend.
And a more exciting life.
Something he must've forgotten was the fact that Woonhak was ill. And he doesn't know what illness or the survival rate of it.
All he knows is that maybe, maybe he could be friends with the guy behind the screen.
He doesn't notice it yet, but they've been chatting for thirty minutes, sharing funny experiences and facts about themselves.
It's crazy how one interaction can open so many more.
Maybe the rain isn't that bad after all.