Thursday afternoon.

As Yi Soo was coming out after finishing class, she was surprised to see outside the window.

Even though there was no forecast of rain in the morning, suddenly a shower was falling.

‘How strange. It was certainly cloudy earlier.’

“Yi Soo, do you have an umbrella?”

“Huh? I didn’t bring one.”

It wasn’t just a light drizzle that one could walk through, so she just stared out the window with a helpless feeling.

“Ah! Yi Soo, did you return Ji Ho’s umbrella that was in your locker?”

“Huh? Ah! No.”

Come to think of it, that umbrella was still in her locker.

Since the opening party, it had rained several times, but one night she got rained on and called Ji Ho out, and on other days she was either at home or with Ji Ho, so she still hadn’t returned it.

To be honest, she had forgotten about it.

Ji Ho no longer needed to use the umbrella as an excuse to meet Yi Soo, so he didn’t ask for it, and Yi Soo had forgotten about it too.

“Hey, let’s use that.”

Using Ji Ho’s umbrella from the locker, she took Aera to the convenience store in the student union building.

“This is quite useful. Good thing I didn’t return it. It’s excellent as an emergency umbrella.”

Aera said while buying an umbrella at the convenience store.

“Yeah.”

“Since you remembered, you can return it today. It’s raining, so go on a date.”

Is the invitation to contact on rainy days still valid?

It seemed like such a distant memory that Yi Soo smirked.

Perhaps even Ji Ho who had said those words might have forgotten.

“Okay. I’ll try contacting him.”

After parting with Aera, Yi Soo checked the time.

4 PM.

When did Ji Ho’s classes end today?

Come to think of it, Yi Soo didn’t even know Ji Ho’s schedule.

When she looked at her friends who were dating, they shared not only each other’s class schedules but even their private schedules.

Yi Soo, who had no dating experience, was at a loss as to where to start learning.

Taking out her phone, Yi Soo sent a text first, thinking Ji Ho might be in class.

– Contact me when your class ends.

Usually, the last class ended at 5, so she would only have to wait an hour at most.

It was just as Yi Soo came out of the building and was about to open her umbrella.

The phone in her pocket rang briefly.

– I’m in class. Is it urgent?

It was Ji Ho. She told him to contact her after class, but he doesn’t listen well.

– No. It’s not urgent at all, so contact me when you’re done.

If she had known he was in class, she wouldn’t have sent a text, and she felt bad for disturbing him.

‘Come to think of it, I know so little about Ji Ho.’

It felt too lacking in many ways to call her his girlfriend.

She stared blankly at the raindrops streaming down the window while sitting in the cafe.

Come to think of it, she first got close to Ji Ho because of the rain too.

It was no wonder that Ji Ho came to mind every time it rained.

Just as she finished drinking a cup of bitter grapefruit tea, her phone rang.

Exactly 5 o’clock.

The caller was Ji Ho.

**

Tok. Tok. Tok.

The sound of rain falling on the umbrella was refreshing.

Yi Soo’s steps were excited as she went to meet Ji Ho.

As students poured out of the lecture building Ji Ho had told her about, strangely only Ji Ho appeared clearly in Yi Soo’s eyes.

With each step closer to Ji Ho, the corners of Yi Soo’s mouth unconsciously turned upward.

Ji Ho’s picturesque face looking at Yi Soo was the same.

‘How can a person smile so radiantly? Making someone’s heart flutter with just a smile.’

There were many people around, but Yi Soo, with her trench coat hood pulled up and face half-hidden by the umbrella, was free from such gazes.

In that sense, she was glad for the rainy day for the first time.

As she took one step closer, Ji Ho stepped briskly into the umbrella.

“Did you wait long? If I had known earlier, I would have been here on time.”

“No. I was so excited waiting for you the whole time.”

Ji Ho took the umbrella Yi Soo was holding, raised it to match his height, and instantly wrapped his arm around Yi Soo’s shoulders, pulling her completely to his chest.

“If I hold you like this, no one will know it’s you.”

As Yi Soo, held in Ji Ho’s arms, was flustered and didn’t know what to do, Ji Ho boldly said, pretending to be considerate of Yi Soo.

“I think the umbrella would be enough cover, do we really need to walk like this? This is too…”

“My shoulder completely hides your face. And we have to walk like this to avoid the rain.”

It was true that since it wasn’t a large umbrella, they had to walk as one body to both avoid getting wet.

From behind, it would look like a perfectly embracing couple walking together under an umbrella.

At the building entrance, there were quite a few people in a panic without umbrellas due to the sudden rain.

Without time to distinguish who was who among the groups of people, Yi Soo walked with her face buried in Ji Ho’s chest.

Even then, she liked Ji Ho’s scent and took a deep breath.

“Yi Soo, can we go to my place now?”

“Huh?”

“I want to give you a reward for remembering to contact me first on a rainy day.”

“What?”

“Let’s have dinner together. I’ll cook something delicious.”

“Ah, um…”

Yi Soo hesitated without answering right away.

She wondered if it was something that required mental preparation. As she thought about it, her face suddenly turned red on its own.

Fortunately, Ji Ho couldn’t see Yi Soo’s face buried in his chest.

“Last time I said I’d play the piano for you. I’ll do that for you today too.”

“Huh? Piano?”

“For that, we need to go quickly. If we’re late, I won’t be able to play the piano.”

“Ah…”

It’s already 5 o’clock.

While Yi Soo was calculating the time in her head, Ji Ho hugged her tighter and walked faster.

“Let’s go quickly.”

And so the decision was made.

**

Though it seemed abrupt, Yi Soo didn’t actually mind.

It would be more accurate to say she came along pretending she couldn’t resist.

Today, they rode up the elevator where she had fainted in Ji Ho’s arms before, this time holding hands with interlocked fingers.

It felt strange.

“What are we having for dinner?”

Yi Soo asked.

“Is there something you want?”

“Will you make anything I say?”

Yi Soo laughed incredulously at Ji Ho who spoke as if he would make whatever she said.

But strangely, she also thought he might really do it.

Because Ji Ho’s eyes looked like they would grant whatever Yi Soo said.

“Tell me.”

Yi Soo, who had no food restrictions, thought seriously for a moment.

Then a scene she had often seen in movies and dramas came to mind.

Why does everyone eat pasta and wine when inviting their lover home?

‘Should I try that today too?’

Not knowing what proper dating was like, she thought if she followed what others did, maybe she would end up doing it right at some point.

“I want pasta. Is that possible?”

“Of course. Look forward to it.”

Perhaps because of Ji Ho’s usual tone, or because he was really sincere, his words to look forward to it were full of confidence.

While deciding on the menu, they arrived at the elevator and entered the house together.

The view from Ji Ho’s house that she had seen a few weeks ago in the morning had a different feeling on a rainy day.

The rain streaming down the floor-to-ceiling windows seemed to stimulate emotions somehow.

Enough to want to sit absentmindedly and just watch the rain.

It seemed the view would captivate the eyes with different scenery every time she came, but especially on rainy days, it exuded an emotional atmosphere.

Ji Ho approached Yi Soo’s back as she stood glued to the window, unable to take her eyes away.

“If you like it that much, come every day.”

Ji Ho said, hugging Yi Soo tightly from behind.

“…”

When Yi Soo just smiled without answering, Ji Ho raised his hands to embrace her below her collarbone.

“Should we just keep hugging like this without doing anything?”

“What? You said you’d play the piano. That’s why we came quickly.”

“Ah, right.”

Ji Ho spoke as if he had really forgotten, only just remembering.

He let go of his arms and took Yi Soo’s hand, leading her to the grand piano.

Yi Soo felt excited just looking at the piano for some reason.

Is Ji Ho really going to play this piano?

She couldn’t imagine what it would be like.

Ji Ho had Yi Soo sit next to him on the piano bench and opened the piano lid.

“You’re the one who’s going to play the piano, but I’m nervous.”

While Ji Ho was calm and relaxed, Yi Soo next to him was tense.

Yi Soo folded her hands politely and looked up at Ji Ho with expectant eyes.

“Hmm… What should I play?”

Ji Ho rummaged through the sheet music and began playing a famous piece that anyone would recognize.

It was Chopin’s Nocturne, familiar even to Yi Soo.

“Wow…”

Yi Soo covered her mouth at the piano skills that exceeded her expectations.

Listening to the piano performance right next to her was beyond imagination.

Ji Ho’s piano skills were outstanding enough to believe he was a music major.

Not just Chopin’s Nocturne, but also Mozart’s Piano Sonata in the sheet music, Ji Ho played the piano flawlessly as Yi Soo chose.

Even if the piano sound was muted and she just watched his playing posture, it seemed her heart would flutter.

From his straight back and broad shoulders to his long-reaching fingertips moving gracefully, exclamations naturally came out at how elegant and beautiful his fingers were.

Yi Soo watched him intently, holding her breath right next to Ji Ho.

Her ears melted at his performance, and her eyes seemed to melt at his appearance.

“Do you like it that much? I’m glad I learned piano.”

Even Ji Ho seemed a bit dazed by this intense reaction, smiling with a slightly bewildered expression.

It was the first time he had seen such a look in Yi Soo’s eyes directed at him.

It was overflowing with emotion.

“I’d like to play more, but that’s all for today.”

“Aww, why?”

A coquettish voice Yi Soo had never made before came out naturally.

“It’s past 7 o’clock.”

Ji Ho deeply kissed Yi Soo’s lips, which were pursed round with lingering regret, making a moist sound.

These days, whenever they were alone, Ji Ho would kiss Yi Soo’s lips at any time.

Each time, Yi Soo would freeze with her eyes wide open.

Unlike Yi Soo, whose heart raced and face flushed every time their lips met, Ji Ho smiled naturally and relaxed.

At those times, Yi Soo felt unfairly upset for some reason.

When Yi Soo lightly glared at him, Ji Ho grinned.

“If you’re disappointed, come again tomorrow. I welcome you anytime.”

Ji Ho got up from his seat without hesitation and walked to the kitchen.

“Let’s have dinner now. You’re hungry, right?”

The rain had stopped outside the window, which was growing dark.

**

Ji Ho really deliciously made the pasta Yi Soo had said she wanted to eat.

Yi Soo put down her fork after eating every last noodle.

“That was so delicious.”

“I can make it for you every day if you come every day.”

“There you go again.”

Yi Soo reflexively glared again.

“I’m serious. I’d like it if you came every day.”

“How can you say that.”

“What’s the problem? We’re dating now.”

Ji Ho spoke seriously without smiling.

He even had a rather solemn expression, as if not wanting to miss this moment.

“Is it normal to meet at home every day when dating?”

Yi Soo really asked because she didn’t know.

Of course, Ji Ho’s self-interested answer would come back.

“Of course. When you like someone, it’s natural to want to see them every day, touch them, and… be alone together.”

“…”

She wanted to ask if that’s how you dated before, but feeling like she was prying into Ji Ho’s past, Yi Soo kept her mouth shut.

Whether it was a light kiss or a deep kiss, Ji Ho was always relaxed.

Every time their lips touched, it was even sweet enough to make her body melt.

How many times must he have done it to be like that?

When that thought occurred to her, she suddenly felt a tightness in her chest.

“Don’t you feel that way?”

Knowing that saying yes would be the right answer, with her mood turned sour, a nonchalant reply came from Yi Soo’s mouth.

“I don’t feel that strongly.”