***

(Why am I nervous being inside his home? It must be the weather today. Its so... cloudy.)

“How was your day today?”, he asked casually leading me towards his room.

(Wait— what’s that smell? Burnt?) “It was good,” I answered, though my eyes wandered, distracted by the details of his home.

“Welcome to my room,” he grandly invited me, gesturing with a dramatic sweep of his arm.

“Hehe, thank you,” I said, bowing slightly as I entered.

He burst into laughter. “What was that bow for?”

“Its just a habit of mine,” I mumbled, scratching the back of my head, embarrassed.

(Wow... its so organized.)

I took the bass from my shoulder and handed it to him.

“Are you perhaps... talented?”, I asked, curious.

He took the bass with care and leaned it gently against the side of his bed.

“Yes, very much,” he replied instantly, tilting his head with mock pride. “How’d you know?”

I pointed at his desk. “Those perfectly arranged book self and sticky notes? They scream topper.”

Now he was clearly embarrassed. “Haha...so now you see how amazing of a person you are talking to.”

(You say that but you are just trying to hide how flustered, aren’t you?) I smirked to myself.

“You are totally laughing inside, aren’t you?” he asked, narrowing his eyes at me.

“Oh no, did I get caught?” I teased.

“Ughh, you are the worst,” He grumbled— but the soft expression on his face clearly said otherwise.

(He is so cute.)

And you play the bass too that’s so—*Gruuumm*

His already red face turned an even darker shade.

I laughed, “Haha that was a loud announcement your stomach just made. You have to poop or something?”

“SHUT UPP!”, he groaned, covering his face as he turned away from me.

Wiping away tears from laughing, “Are you that hungry? Why haven’t you eaten yet?”

“Its just that mom and dad went out early in the morning and I don’t know how to cook. I tried but... it all burned. So I was about to go buy something to eat when I ran into you.” he replied in a low voice, still facing away, clearly embarrassed.

(So that’s what the smell was before?)

“Wait—you turned off the gas right?” I quickly asked.

“Yeah! I know that much. Duh.” He turned my way. Defensive.

I burst out laughing—He soon joined in.

“Should I make you something?”

“You can cook?” he asked surprised and with that glittery sky blue eyes of his.

“Ofc, don’t you know that I have been living by myself these past 4 months?”

“ohh yes, that makes sense.” He nodded thoughtfully.

“So? What do you say?”

He thought for a while, “ I think I should just buy something to eat at the market. I would feel bad to make you cook when you are the guest.”

“If that’s what you think. Instead, I will make something for you when you visit my home then.”

“Really?!” he leaned in, eyes wide with excitement.

I could literally see hearts in his eyes.

“you really love food, huh?” I giggled.

“No,” he said firmly “I am just excited to eat the food made by you.”

*Dosu Dosu* ( There he goes saying embarrassing stuffs again.)

My face heated up.

“L-Let’s go to the market together. Aren’t you hungry?”

“hum, okhay! Lets take a walk around as well while we are at it,” he said, practically bouncing.

“Okhay,” I noded.

“let me take an umbrella—looks like it might start raining any minute.” He picked it up by the door.

And then, together, we stepped outside.

[Scene: On the Way out of the Market]

As we stepped outside with the noodles that we brought in my hand, the sky finally gave in.

Pitter patter.

Then *Whooosh*

Within seconds, it was pouring. It was a heavy rain unlike any other day before.

Yuta quickly popped open his umbrella. “Guess the walk’s canceled, huh?”

“Yeah. Let’s just go straight to your home before we get soaked,” I said, hugging my arms from the sudden chill.

We walked side by side, but… It became obvious pretty fast—

“Hey,” I said, glancing over at him. “Why is half of me still getting wet?”

“Huh?” He looked up in confusion.

“I mean… the rain is slanted and you’re a little shorter than me. The umbrella’s tilted in your direction,” I teased, grinning.

His face turned pink. “Oh... yeah…”

“Give me that. I’ll hold it.” I reached up and took the umbrella from his hand without waiting.

He looked away, clearly embarrassed. “Fine…”

“I used to be so tall and good looking before...” he mumbled under his breath.

“Really? I don’t know about being tall but you are still good looking though.” I giggled.

He stayed quite looking down.

We kept walking, the rain drumming steadily over the umbrella. The streets were slick, puddles everywhere, and the scent of wet concrete filled the air.

Then—

*Doom*

Yuta slipped.

One moment he was upright—

The next, his feet flew out from under him and he landed with a splash.

Thud— *whoosh!*

The umbrella was knocked from my hand and tumbled a few feet away, landing upside down in a puddle.

I froze.

And then—

I burst out laughing.

Not a little laugh. A full-on, doubled-over, can’t-breathe kind of laugh.

“Y-Yuta! Your face! That fall!”

“You’re the worst!” he groaned from the ground, soaked and red-faced.

I couldn’t stop. I laughed until my sides hurt.

He just sat there, glaring at me like a soggy cat.

(He’s still so cute though.)

I snapped out of it. (Why am I seeing him all cute now a days? I mean he sure is good-looking, but...)

(Isn’t it weird seeing a man as cute?)

(Come to think of it, I have been calling him cute pretty often!!?)

“Hey!” He called out to me, trying to push himself up from the wet street. “Why are you zoning out now? You are all soaked too, you know!”

“Ah, that fine,” I said still chuckling as I picked up the umbrella, flipping it back the right way.

Turning towards him, “Let’s go—”

I noticed his pants were torn at the knee and the fabric around it was stained red.

“Wait—Yuta… you’re bleeding.”