On Rainy Days,

"I'm sooo bored." Jiae thought as she laid her head down on her desk, not even bothering to listen to the teacher. "Stupid weather.. I was planning to invite Baekhyun out today!"

"Pssst! Jiae!" A girl sitting next to her poked her right arm, "Jiaeeee!"

"What is it, Minji?" 

"I heard the news from sensei..are you really planning to go back to korea this summer?"

"Huh? You heard it from sensei?"

"So is it true?..."

After the class ended, Jiae's circle of friends gathered around her in the school cafeteria,

"Jiae, are you really transferring?"

"It's not true right? Please tell us it's not."

Minji sat next to Jiae, "You're not leaving us, are you?"

Jiae shook her head and laughed, "You guys heard it wrong! I'm not transferring, but I am going to Korea this summer for modeling work."

"Ehhh!" the whole group sighed in relief. "Well, this calls for a celebration!"

"Jiae, when are you exactly leaving?" Minji asked.

"About 2 or 3 weeks, there's no exact date yet." She counted with her fingers. Jiae's face lit up 'Oh right! Baekhyun is leaving after 2 weeks too! Maybe we could go together— no. What am I thinking?!'

Jiae gave herself a facepalm.

"Karaoke anyone?" everyone cheered and agreed to come.

"Isn't it raining really heavily?" She tried to make up an excuse but failed otherwise. Everyone else was too excited not even a heavy down pour could stop them.

'But I'm not in the mood to go out with the others. Rainy days would always make me feel gloomy,'

"It'll be fun! Come on!" Minji pulled on Jiae's arm. Jiae took one last glance at her phone before leaving, hoping that a certain someone might have messaged her but to her dismay there was none.

"Ugh! He hasn't texted me even once today!" She mutterd to herself, "But I didn't text him either, maybe he's still sleeping, should I give him a call?" 

"What are you mumbling about?" Minji asked.

"N-nothing!" She hid her phone and faked a laugh, Minji eyed Jiae suspiciously, she had been with her eversince they were small. Ofcourse she'd notice if her bestfriend is acting weird.

"I heard you and Daehyun broke up. Is it true?"

' she brought up the one topic i least want to talk about.'

"Ah, I forgot my uhm— umbrella in the locker. I'll go get it, wait for me here."

As soon as Jiae reached her lockers, she leaned her back on it and sat down for a while. 'I'm so sorry Minji, I don't want to talk about it right now.' "Now where did I put my umbrella?"

"Yo!"

Jiae turned around and saw Himchan, Daehyun's friend standing just a few inches away from her.

"Hello." She bowed her head slightly.

"Oh thank god." Himchan sighed as he approached her. "I thought you were going to ignore me too."

"Do you need something from me? I'm kinda in a hurry so—"

"Uh no wait—" Himchan took out something from his bag, and it turns out to be an umbrella. "You needed one, right?"

Jiae furrowed her eyebrows.

"Stop stalking me. I know you're doing this for you friends sake but whatever you say or do I won't go back to him."

"Daehyun he—he really loves you, and he's sorry for what he said." Himchan was loosing hope thinking Jiae didn't even give a damn about what he's saying now, she just stood still, listening to him without any reaction.

'I don't want to hear that from you!'

"In any case, just take this umbrella. Daehyun said that you have the habit of always forgetting yours so—"

Before Himchan could finish, Jiae took the umbrella from him and walked away.

"Where have you been? Everyone's waiting!"

Jiae followed Minji and the others. Truthfully she didn't want to. All she wants to do is lay in her bad all day until the rain stops but she didn't want to spoil the fun. Just when they were about to pass by the school gate, a guy wearing a transparent rain coat with a pink umbrella approached them.

"I was waiting out here for two hours you know." the guy said.

"Baekhyun.."

Minji jumped on Jiae's back and asked, "Do you know him? Is he a stalker?" Jiae didn't bother asnwering, the smile plastered on her face left the whole group in shock. The fact that Baekhyun showed up when she least expect him to, made Jiae extremely happy.

"I haven't seen Jiae smile like that in awhile."

"Who's that?"

"Is he the one in the rumors? One of Jiae's boyfriend?" 

"One of her boyfriends? I don't think so." Minji said with a smile. "Let's leave them be."

"Baekhyun, what are you doing here? And what are you wearing?" Jiae tried her best to stop herself from laughing, "Are you a grade schooler? A transparent coat and a pink polka dot umbrella? Seriously?"

"Yah, who are you calling a gradeschooler, highschooler. Since you made me wait for 2 hours and It suddenly started raining, I had no choice but to buy this stuff in a nearby convenience store."

Jiae stuck her tounge out and eyed him from head to toe, "Totally suits you."

"Stop it, yeochin." Baekhyun emphasized.

Jiae groaned in annoyance, "I said stop calling me that!"

"Alright, alright." Baekhyun ruffled her hair, "Let's stop by an ice cream parlor. I wanna eat some chocolate parfait, my treat."

"It's raining and yet you still want to eat icecream?"

"Yeah, icecream is yummy." 

Jiae chuckled, "What a weird Bacon."

"What did you say, yeochin?"

"Shut up," she gave Baekhyun one great pinch on the cheek before walking off, "Be thankful you're cute."

"Ah I brought an extra umbrella cause I figured you might not have one, oh well."

'Ugh, Jiae you idiot! I shouldn't have taken Himchan's umbrella!'

Without any hesitation Jiae dropped the umbrella she was holding and ran towards Baekhyun's side.

"What are you doing?!"

"I wanna walk next to you so lets share the umbrella!"

"Ah but don't you have your own—" Baekhyun looked back and saw that Jiae had left her umbrella on the ground, "Come here." He sighed. Jiae stiffened when he felt Baekhyun's arms wrapping around her shoulders. "You'll get wet, move closer."

"Y-yes." 'Shut up heart! Stop making noises!'

Jiae stole a few glances from Baekhyun and she couldn't help but feel timid all over.

'My heart's beating fast again. Do I really like him? This stranger that I met just a few days ago?' '

"Uhm, Baekhyun? Can I still call you Bacon?"

"Why do you ask? Does my real name sound awful that you'd prefer Bacon over it?"

"It's not that! Well, I met you by your name Bacon, so I wanna continue calling you that. If it's alright with you?"

Baekhyun chuckled when she saw the redness rising from Jiae's cheeks, "If calling me Bacon will make my yeochin happy, then please do."

"For the nth time stop calling me yeochin!" Jiae yelled as she threw light punches on Baekhyun's arms.

"One more thing." 

"Hm?"

"You have no right to stop me from falling for you. Remember that Byun Bacon!"

"Jiae, you sounded like you're confessing to me." Baekhyun burst into laughter, "Why are you so serious? It's hilarious!"

"Bacon you idiot!" Jiae began punching him again, only this time it was a real punch on the gut, but before she could hit him, Baekhyun caught her hand. 

"So tell me, I want you to be honest okay?" He said, slowly leaning closer,"Jung Jiae do you like me?"

'Yes! Wait No— I mean, I do?!'

"I—ofcourse I do!" For a second there, Baekhyun looked shocked. He wasn't expecting her to be so straightforward, "I mean, I like you as a friend." Jiae added. "You were thinking of something else weren't you!"

Baekhyun shook his head and laughed, "Sorry for asking such a silly question, you didn't have to answer it."

'Ahhh I'm so embarassed I just wanna bury my head somewhere!'

"Come on," Baekhyun side eyed Jiae without moving his head and saw the dejected look on her face. "Here—"

"Huh?"

Baekhyun held out his hand, "My left hand is a bit cold, will you keep it warm?"

"F—fine. It can't be helped." 

"Aren't you a cute tsundere." Baekhyun teased that made Jiae even more flustered. He slowly reached out for her hand and grasped it tightly, 'Her hand is so soft.'

I didn't know what to call it, what was happening between us, but I liked it. It felt silly and fragile and good.

"What are you listening to?" Baekhyun flopped down on the sofa next to Jiae. 

"Want to listen to it? It's my new favorite." Jiae said as she handed her other earphone to Baekhyun.

Were actually in the studio today, I invited him and he would gladly come with me. Yes, it makes me happy that Baekhyun's enjoying his time with me but it makes me sad to think that we only have 1 week left before he goes back to Korea. To be honest, I don't want him to leave.. I want to stay with him a little longer.

"This is Love sick, right?"

"How did you know? Dont tell me your a fanboy of—"

Baekhyun placed a finger on his lips and whisphered, "Yup, I'm a big fan of Girls Generation."

"Me too! Ah, I wanna meet them so badly don't you?"

"Y—yeah."

'Well, we are in the same company so I've seen them for quite a few times already but I can't just say it to her. Sorry Jiae, I'll get you an autograph next time as an apology for lying.'

"Jiae time to get ready!" One of the stylist motioned for her to get in the room. Jiae stood up and gave the ipod she was listening to, to Baekhyun.

"You can use it while waiting, I'll be back!"

Baekhyun nodded, "Okay." He scrolled through Jiae's playlist and found a full ballad list. "Ah, Love sick is in repeat."

Give it back to me,
my heart that you took without knowing
Why did you come inside without permission,
without warning and shake me up?
You burn me up and make me cry
I pray every day for the day you will look back to me
Can’t you see me as a woman? Is it already too late?
It was the first time I got to know love ♪ ♫ ♬

"What's with this, don't tell me she's inlove—" I have this song on my phone as well, and I have to be honest I've been listening to it unconsciously but I never payed attention to the lyrics, not until.. now.

"Jung Jiae is ready! We'll start the shoot in 2 minutes!" 

'Once again, I was mezmerized. Jiae becomes a different person whenever she's on camera, she has this aura that makes you want to stare at her forever, or is it just me. It's just amazing to think that the arrogant, bossy, Jiae I know has the capability to attract so much attention.

"She has a lot of charisma huh."

"Uh, uhn." Baekhyun nodded back, his attention drifted away when he saw Jiae's manager standing next to him. "Ah, Mrs. Li." He bowed.

"Yes, and you are Jiae's boyfriend? You've been dropping by a lot lately."

"I'm really sorry, am I bothering the others?"

"Quite the opposite dear. Jiae's been doing well these past few days, and she always leave the studio with a smile on her face. Because of you she looks forward to her shoot for tomorrow."

"That' s too much. I don't think it's because of me tho—"

"From what I heard from her stylists, Jiae won't stop talking about a guy named Byun Baekhyun. She was never this cheerful when talking about someone." Mrs. Li smiled at Baekhyun, she placed her hand on his shoulder reassuringly, "Thank you. Jiae is a good girl so please cherish her. As her second mother, I'm really worried." 

"Yes.." Baekhyun stood in a daze as he continued staring at Jiae. 'I didn't say 'yes' to Mrs. Li half heartedly but why do I feel so guilty? My chest feels so heavy.'

"Wrap it up and we're done!" the cameraman said. Jiae caught me looking at her and she did this cute peace sign before heading back to her dressing room.

"Bacon, let's go!" Baekhyun stood up and took Jiae's big bagpack from her almost like instictively, just like a proper boyfriend who carries his girlfriend's stuff.

"Uh you don't have to!"

"It's fine, boyfriend duties."

'Somehow, it kinda stung when he say it that way.'

He took out something from his pockets and gave it to Jiae, "I listened to it."

"Ah did you perhaps go through ..my playlist?" 

"All of it." Baekhyun replied bluntly, "You've got good taste in music, Jung Jiae."

'I don't like it when he calls out my whole name.. when he does that, I can't help but feel so distant to him.'

Jiae couldn't help but feel worried, 'why is he so strangely quiet all of a sudden? it's weird.' Both of them continued walking with their minds wandering until they reached the small park infront of Jiae's house.

'He hasn't spoken a single word since we left! What am I suppose to do?!'

After a whole hour of silence where the two of them sat on the swings, Baekhyun finally spoke only leaving an even more tensed atmosphere between them, "Jiae do you.." He paused, hesitating at first but decided to when he saw Jiae's questioning reaction. He knew she won't stop bothering him if he left her hanging with a suspicious question in mid air.

"Do you have anyone you like?"

"I uh— I like everyone! My mom, Mrs. Li, my friends, the whole staff and yo.." Jiae's voice trailed off. Baekhyun was serious. He looked way too serious that he's already starting to look scary.

"Not the general like. I mean liking someone, you know, In a special way."

"What is special anyway," Jiae kicked on the grounds and swung with full force. "I don't think I have someone like that yet. Do you?"

"Yeah."

Jiae halted, gaped in shock, "Someone special?" she asked again.

"I do." Baekhyun turned to face Jiae only with an even more serious expression, "She's in Korea right now, probably somewhere far where I can't find her." 

"What are you talking about?"

"Ah well," Sensing the heavy atmosphere, Baekhyun quickly changed the topic, "Right now it's you. You're my girlfriend afterall." He said, smiling at Jiae.

'Please don't smile so sadly at me. When you say it like that it makes it sound like i'm pitiful. It feels awful. '

"Forget about us, were not even on a serious relationship but this girl you like, why do you talk about her like she's out of your reach?"

"Ah It's a depressing topic so let's just drop it." Baekhyun stood up from his seat and walked towards the gate of Jiae's house, "It's getting late, you should get in."

Jiae was frowning the whole time heck she was even on the verge of crying, she didn't know how she'd get him to open up to her. Now that she finally knows that Baekhyun has someone special, the more reason she has for restraining herself.

Before Jiae could get in, Baekhyun grabbed her wrist and pulled her closer to him, "You know, about the contract.."

Jiae's heart skipped a beat.

"I know it's hard for you but thank you, thank you for sticking to the contract. I still have 1 more week but please bare with me. Well, goodnight."

'I get it. Byun Baekhyun you've set the boundary yourself huh.'

Jiae slammed the door close and all those tears she was restraining earlier had poured down.

"I couldn't say it.." Jiae muttered between her sobs, "I can't say I like you anymore.."