Fox Rain

On a day when the sun was blazing, Yeoni stood staring up at the blue sky as rain suddenly began to fall.

'Water is really falling from the sky!'

Having only ever seen rain in books, Yeoni was so amazed that she just stood there, getting soaked. Looking around, it seemed everyone nearby was the same kind of person — 'people who can only move when the sun is shining' — because nobody had an umbrella. Afraid that getting any wetter would ruin her clothes, Yeoni ducked under the awning of a nearby officetel entrance and stood there stamping her feet. She had been on her way to meet someone, but with the rain stopping her in her tracks, all she could do was wait for it to stop. She had only ever been out while the sun was shining — it had never even occurred to her to own an umbrella.

"What do I do, what do I do..."

On top of that, she was wearing thin clothes, so the rain made her shiver from the cold and her lips were turning blue. Just as she was debating whether to call a taxi, someone stepped out of the officetel elevator and — pop — opened an umbrella behind her.

"Here, take this."

A soft pink umbrella with fluttering petal designs. A bright, cheerful umbrella that wouldn't suit the usual dreary, overcast rainy days. But what caught Yeoni's eye even more than the umbrella was the hand gripping its handle — fair, delicate, with long fingers that made it look all the more beautiful. Her gaze traveled up from the hand, along the arm, to a man in pajamas with a gray cardigan thrown over his shoulders, hair still tousled from sleep. His face matched his hands — gentle, lovely. He was the kind of person who resembled a hazy rainy day. Perhaps he noticed Yeoni staring too long, or perhaps he realized how strange it must look — appearing out of nowhere at the perfect moment with an umbrella — because his face flushed red and he started rambling.

"Oh, um. It's not weird or anything. The rain woke me up, and I saw sunlight outside my window, so I looked out and you seemed to be in a bind. I absolutely wasn't like, staring at you weirdly. You looked like you needed an umbrella so I brought one down. I'm 'a person who can only wake up while it's raining,' so I have lots of umbrellas at home. You can have this one."

Yeoni couldn't help but laugh at his flustered rambling — all that just to say he was lending her an umbrella. Maybe because he looked a little endearing. Or maybe she'd been enchanted by the fox rain falling on a bright, sunny day. He didn't match the bright sunshine at all. Yeoni smiled and accepted the umbrella he offered. The light pink umbrella with petal patterns suited the outfit she was wearing today perfectly.

"I wasn't thinking anything like that, so don't worry. Thank you for the umbrella. I'll put it to good use."

For a girl who could only go outside while the sun was up, the chances of ever needing an umbrella were slim. She might never use one again for the rest of her life. And yet she resolved to keep this one safe at home. It was a precious connection, forged by a brief rain.

"My name is Yeoni."

"Huh?"

"If it ever rains again on a sunny day, I'll be standing right here."

Leaving only those words, Yeoni walked away with the umbrella. Plink, plink, pitterpat, plink. The sound of raindrops bouncing off the umbrella rang out cheerfully. Savoring the cool sensation of droplets brushing her legs, Yeoni took in the wondrous sky, the impossible weather. It was all so beautiful.

"Yeoni!"

Through the cheerful patter of rain, someone called out. Even his voice resembled the rain — low, steady, and somehow refreshing.

"My name is Woohyun!"

He'd shouted his name from the officetel entrance, and now everyone on the street was staring at him. Realizing all eyes were on him, his face went red again and his shoulders crept up — but he still called out what he wanted to say.

"I-it's not weird, I swear! If it rains again on a sunny day, I'll be standing right here too! With an umbrella!"

Yeoni burst out laughing all over again.