Hyunjin shows up with good news and a 40-minute walk she refused to shorten. The storm gets to her first — and what happens after is nothing like the last time they were alone together.
Early Evening Sometime Early June
Your phone buzzed while you were reviewing debut schedules for ARTMS.
Hyunjin
Good news! Me and Vivi are signing with a new company soon!
You
That’s amazing! Congratulations!
Hyunjin
I’m so relieved. We can finally continue being an idol.
You
This calls for celebration. Want me to coordinate something with the others?
Hyunjin
Actually… can I come see you first? Just us? I want to celebrate with you before telling everyone else. You’ve been helping so much with all the legal paperwork and checking if things are also fair for us.
You
Of course. When?
Hyunjin
Now? I’m already on my way actually. Walking from the dorm.
You
Walking? Hyunjin, that’s like 40 minutes. I can come pick you up.
Hyunjin
It’s fine! The weather is nice and I need to clear my head. See you soon!
You checked the weather app reflexively. Clear skies for now, but a storm system was moving in. Should hit in about thirty minutes.
You
Check the weather. Storm coming. Let me pick you up.
Hyunjin
I’ll be fine! Almost halfway there already.
You sighed. Stubborn. But that was Hyunjin—once she decided on something, she committed.
Twenty minutes later, your phone rang. Hyunjin’s name on the screen.
“Hello?”
“Oppa—” Her voice was nearly drowned out by the sound of heavy rain. “It started pouring. I’m soaked.”
“Where are you?”
She gave you the intersection. About ten minutes from your apartment.
“Stay there. I’m coming to get you.”
“I can keep walking—”
“Hyunjin. Stay there.”
You grabbed your keys and an umbrella, and rushed to your car. The rain was coming down in sheets now, visibility was terrible. You found her huddled under a bus stop awning, completely drenched.
When you pulled up, she ran to the car, climbing in quickly. Water dripped everywhere—her hair plastered to her face, her long thin corduroy gray dress clinging to every curve of her body, the equally thin black cardigan over it doing nothing to shield the rain, shivering slightly. The wet fabric clung so closely you could see the outline of white lace underwear underneath.
“I’m so sorry,” she said immediately. “I didn’t think it would rain this hard this fast—”
“It’s okay.” You cranked the heat up. “Are you cold?”
“Freezing.” But she was smiling, almost laughing at herself. “I must look ridiculous.”
“You look like you need a hot shower.”
The drive back to your apartment was short. You pulled into the parking garage and handed her your jacket—not that it would help much, she was already soaked through.
In the elevator up to your floor, you noticed she was shivering more noticeably now. Her lips had taken on a faint blue tinge, and her damp, thin clothing did nothing to hide the equally thin white lace of her underwear.
“Come on,” you said when you got inside. “Shower. Now. Before you get hypothermia.”
“I’m not that bad—”
“Hyunjin.”
She relented, following you to the bathroom. You started the shower, letting it warm up while she stood there dripping on the tile.
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