Day Thirteen. 9:01 PM.
Rain again.
Heavy, dramatic, K-drama levels of rain. The kind that made you feel like something emotional was supposed to happen whether you liked it or not.
Soo-Min stood at the bus stop, soaked, glaring at her phone. Her battery: 2%.
"Of course," she muttered. "Of course my umbrella breaks, my bus is late, and I'm wearing white."
Her phone buzzed.
Min-Jae: Where are you? It's pouring. You okay?
She texted back: Bus stop. Umbrella broke. Might evolve into a soggy dumpling.
One minute later — his scooter screeched to a stop in front of her.
"Get on!"
"Isn't this illegal?"
"So is walking around looking like a drowned K-pop trainee. Get on."
---
Scene 1: The Sleepover That Wasn't
Back at the apartment, Soo-Min changed into dry clothes and sneezed ten times.
Min-Jae looked at her like she was an infected zombie.
"You're staying here tonight."
"I live here."
"In the living room. Not in your room. It's wet. We just washed the carpets. You'll slip and die."
"What am I supposed to do?"
He threw a pillow at her. "Sleep in my room. I'll take the floor."
"What kind of reverse drama is this?"
"The budget-friendly kind."
Eventually, they both fell asleep—Min-Jae on the floor, Soo-Min on the bed.
But at 3:00 AM, thunder struck. Soo-Min screamed.
"WHY?!"
"Was that the lightning or the way you shouted into my soul?"
She flopped off the bed and crawled onto the floor.
"I can't sleep alone during storms."
"You're not alone. I'm suffering right here beside you."
"Squeeze over."
They awkwardly lay side-by-side, shoulder to shoulder, not touching.
Then slightly touching.
Then Bokki jumped between them, meowing judgmentally.
---
Scene 2: The Gossip Explosion
Next morning, they woke up to noise.
Min-Jae opened the front door.
Mr. Han: "So, you two finally did it, huh?"
Min-Jae: "EXCUSE ME?!"
Mrs. Park held up a phone. "We heard the scream. We assumed... romance."
Soo-Min facepalmed. "That scream was terror, not passion."
Mrs. Park winked. "Tomato, to-mah-to."
Rumors spread like wildfire.
Someone brought them homemade 'congratulations' cookies.
Someone else handed Min-Jae a brochure for couples' spas.
A teenager whispered, "They finally smooched. I KNEW IT."
Soo-Min grabbed a megaphone (from somewhere).
"WE ARE NOT A COUPLE. STOP SHIPPING US."
Min-Jae: "...Yet."
She glared.
He shrugged. "Just saying."
---
Scene 3: The Kiss That Maybe Happened
That night, the rumors still buzzing, they sat on the balcony.
Silent.
Soft music playing from Min-Jae's speaker. Not romantic. Just... atmospheric.
Soo-Min: "I hate everyone."
Min-Jae: "Even me?"
"Especially you."
"Even though I brought you ramen and let you steal my blanket?"
"You're making this hard."
He looked at her.
"Only because you make everything worth it."
She blinked. That line. So cheesy. So smooth. So… him.
He leaned closer.
She didn't move away.
Bokki meowed.
"DON'T YOU DARE," Soo-Min whispered.
He paused.
She didn't.
She leaned in. Just a little more.
Their lips almost met.
Almost.
---
Next morning, Mrs. Park sent them a text:
> "Loved the shadow silhouette on your curtain last night. 10/10 drama content."
Soo-Min screamed into a pillow.
Min-Jae just grinned.
---
End of Chapter 14