Black Umbrella
reader x lee mark (I. have. decided. he. be. the boi)
fluff, stranger2acquintance lol
warning: none
<2k words
Drip.
If only you checked on weather prediction this morning, this wouldn't have happened. It is one traveling habit that you're yet to get used to: checking on the weather. You keep on forgetting the extremes four-season countries could get, and how unpredictable their weather is especially coming from a.. tropical person's perspective. Your suitcase was way too light for winter's transition to spring; your hands showing its redness only a few hours after landing three days ago, and it's still pretty prominent up to this very second you brush your palms to give them some warmth (as if that would actually work).
And alas, you decided to have your 'own' adventure by having the idea of splitting with your travel-mate for the day.
Oh, you're own adventure of the day; the supposed adventure to your future **campus, before you ruined it with printing the wrong document prior to this trip and having to reprint every single thing. Thus, losing your way to the campus. Luckily, at last, you managed to find your way to the almost invisible bus stop (they only put a single pole and the number of the bus!).... only when the sky started to turn dark, and of course, you don't have your umbrella with you. Not that you packed it with you anyways. Hugging your reprinted documents, you can only pray that the sky won't shower that soon. You know you have complained a lot for this "your own adventure day" but you really don't need your documents to get wet, since someone is smart enough only to pack the only decent bag that fits their essentials sans A4-sized documents. The idea of getting an umbrella from the nearest convenience store you passed earlier was there, but leaving this growing queue, especially when the bus is taking forever, you just don't want to risk it.
Drip. Drip.
You notice that people in your line are starting to open their umbrellas. Great. More raindrops are falling on top of your head, too. Maybe using your bag wouldn't be too bad, though it might look a little stupid considering the size. Tucking in the A4 envelope inside your leather jacket, hoping it won't get wet, you try to strategise how you will manage having the bag as your umbrella.
Until you feel that your spot is suddenly shaded.
No more raindrops on top of your head. With a sudden hint of woody scent pleasing your nose.
You look behind you, realizing the guy who's been there (not that you paid attention before) scooted a bit closer God-knows-when with his black umbrella; sharing his not-so-huge umbrella with you. Ah, how to say thank you in local language, again? He is kind of tall that you don't get to actually catch his eyes when you look at him; faced with his shoulders instead.
".... Thank you," you murmured, wishing your whisper somehow gets to his ears. If he heard though, he didn't respond. Deep inside you facepalmed, forgetting all the necessary vocabularies you've gotten to train yourself after you secured your ticket two months ago. Just at the very right time.
Should you look back again to look at him?
Should you repeat your thank you? Maybe he couldn't hear you clear when you thanked him earlier?
Should you open up a small talk? Asking if this bus indeed goes to the university? But the sign is there though, it could have sounded really stupid.
Should you introduce yourself? Wait, this is getting ahead from what a thank you supposed to be.
But of course, you choose silent. They said silence is gold, right? Gold, my ass.
As more people open their umbrellas up, the rain indeed gets heavier. You and, um, that guy behind you, automatically scoot even closer to each other. Aha! There comes the word you were looking for. Clearing your throat, making sure you won't squeak, you thanked him in Korean, with a sliiightly louder voice. You can see him nodding and scratching his head. Oh well, at least you know he heard you.
While you wished you can actually open up a conversation, looking for a good starter, the bus you're waiting for has arrived. You noted how empty the bus is and then rationalized the long queue; this must be the first stop then. The queue is moving fast; Everybody wants to make sure to get a seat and avoid the rain as soon as they can, and that includes you. You move in, finding the empty row to sit on. However, just as you sit there, apparently, he decides to sit right next to you.
Uh-oh.
Not wanting to get things awkward, you unlock your phone to check how many stops your ride is going to be. But as you try to look outside, you know one thing: you're doomed. You barely can see anything past the window as the rain is blurring everything. Your only hope is by counting how many stops has the bus passed since your map updates your location slower than usual. While the bus route is shown on top of the exit door, you could barely make out the writings since your sight isn't the best while you sit a little further back. Distracted, you see even more people getting in the bus, now standing in the hallway, blocking your sight to the other side of the bus. Or.. should you ask him? But how to ask for bus stops in Korean?
You scroll through your phone again when you realize he starts to scoot himself closer to you, noticing how cramped the space has become since the bus departed and made its second stop. With his wet umbrella in front of him (and blocking your way out), at least you will need to ask him to give you a way out, no? Just when you turn your head to him, however, you only catch his eyes that has been looking at you.
Eh....? You didn't do anything weird, did you?
Startled, you give him an awkward smile get back to your phone. Shitshitshitshit. You never knew you're this shy until this very second. Oh but please, he is exceptionally good-looking. Who to blame that you could get this shy? And.. what were you about to say again earlier?
Wait. Which stop is it now?
"It is Seoul Science Park," you heard him clear; He answered you.
"Ah, great... Thanks" If its visible that you're blushing, he doesn't say a word. You don't realise that you did actually say that out loud.
"Sorry for being nosy but... Do you know where you're heading to? You look super lost." concern can almost be heard from his voice.
"I'm heading here...," you show him the college's brochure in the pile of the documents you've been hugging for a while. Nodding his face, but his forehead furrows.
"I'm honestly new to the area too, but I'll ask" Then he asked the guy who stood in the bus's hallway beside him. You look at them full of hope, as he gestured you to the guy in the beginning; Hoping that the guy can see how confused you are yet looking forward to a help, still. Seems like the guy he asked was able to give some answer; your seat-mate nods every now and then. Thanking the said guy, you follow him to say thank you and give him a smile of relieve.
"So.. Seems like it will be in 4 more stops. But the thing is, since the bus is packed, he said that this bus won't stop unless someone is getting off." He gave you a guilty smile.
"I see. Don't worry, I guess I'll just follow the map application then? Heheh. Thank you, though. It was very helpful nonetheless. You're a tourist, too?" You cheer inside your head, finally coming up with a topic.
"Oh nope, I just moved here last week. That's why I'm not exactly familiar with this city, probably still have that tourist-y feeling coming to this side of the city for the first time. Where are you from?" You get to take a better look as he talk -though you don't even need to look at him as you can hear his upturned face. This guy, indeed, doesn't come from this place. He must be a being from another universe; There is something ethereal with his whole being, moreover sitting as close as an inch away from you.
"Ah I'm from -" Your answer is interrupted by the nudge of the guy earlier, tapping your seatmate's shoulder in panic while telling him something, which then transferred to him.
"You should get off here! Press the bell!" You keep on pressing the bell the moment he rushes you. But of course, the bell doesn't work. And of course, you start to panic, too. Heh, the joke you're trying to pull, universe. Can't let someone happy for a bit, aye?
"아저씨, 잠시만요! 여기서 세워 주세요! " A voice shouted from beside you. Come to your surprise that the soft voice you heard merely minutes ago, can also sound this stern. Then you started to hear the other passengers start to echo his voice. Whatever that means, it holds the power you need at the very moment. Bus that was set to move now opens its door. You can't thank him and the crowd enough, murmuring endless "thank you, excuse me, thank you thank you" as you pass through the crowd.
However, it doesn't slip from your ears a "Take care, see you around!" from a further distance.
Might as well being forgotten, the rain showers you the moment you stepped out.
Of course, it has to be like this. But see you around, eh?
-------------------------------------------------------
Your phone shows that its been just three hours from the moment you stepped into the bus queue line, but you feel like you've been running the whole day. You did though; You took your fastest step getting to a shelter to check your campus map before then, sprinting your life to the building you're going to.
Now you're dreading for a warm drink. Or a ride to your accommodation. Both sounds good, you might visit that cafe near the subway exit before heading back to your hostel. Well at least, the rain has stopped, and you're no longer carrying those documents. Taking the same bus, you can't help recalling the encounter you just had earlier. This time, bell works just fine and you are having the smoothest bus ride you had the entire day.
You giggle to yourself, what a day. Its not even an entire day. As you stepped out the best bus ride of the day, the splash your step made doesn’t even bother you anymore. You only wish for one thing and only: Coffee.
Taking your steps into the cafe, the thought of coming to a warm cappuccino excites you already. Even the scent of coffee beans has got your charging system working. You go straight to the queue, peeking what snacks are available on the counter while waiting.
Until you feel a tap on your shoulder. Turning to your back, you can't believe what is now before you.
"Hi. I never got to introduce myself during the bus ride. I was with you on the bus earlier... if you remember? The name is Mark, and I should have lent you my umbrella earlier. But I can get you a cup of coffee, if you don't mind....?"
(But what you don't need to know is that he actually went back to the bus stop where you met earlier, and cluelessly waited for you there hoping to catch a glimpse of you)
------end
I posted this awhile ago but of course I deleted it and posted again because I wasn’t so sure but I guess I’ll just put it back???
Here’s a longer attempt of me writing, a fluff! I’d be really grateful if you could tell me your thoughts on it, but the thought of having you reading this makes me smile already :’)
note:
아저씨, 잠시만요! 여기서 세워 주세요!: ahjusshi, wait! please stop here!