dancing in the rain.

“Aigoo, how far away is this bus stop? It’s so cold.” Miyoon whined, rubbing her arms in attempt to keep warm.

“Who told you not to bring your jacket?” Hoya asked as they continued to walk down the vacant street.

“I did bring one but I left it in Chunji’s car.” She shot back, teeth chattering. 

“Well then consider tonight a lesson.” He snickered as he picked up his pace.

“Why are you walking so fast? Are we in a race or something?” Miyoon frowned, still lagging behind. Hoya groaned, rushed back and grasped her wrist, “Ow, why are you—” Then without being able to complete her statement, he dragged her with him as they sprinted to who knows where.

“Oh…my…god.” Miyoon gasped almost fainting. If she thought his walking speed was fast, his running speed was nearly inhuman. Not even after three minutes of roaming around the empty streets of Seoul and Miyoon was already exhausted. “Stop.” She huffed, finally breaking free from his hold.

Hoya skidded to a halt as his head snapped back towards Miyoon. She had her hands gripping her knees as she slouched over, cheeks filled with air. “You’re tired already?”

She caught her breath and tried to stand tall with her hands attached to her hips. Her chest was heaving up and down in a ragged pattern as she swallowed her saliva to keep moist. “Of course! It’s not everyday I run a marathon.”

“That was barely half a mile,” Hoya pointed out, strolling over to her. “Now come on, we still have a quarter of the way to go.”

Suddenly, Miyoon saw his hand extend out for her wrist and she jumped onto a nearby lamp-post. Her arms wrapped tightly around the metal along with one leg. Hoya froze and blinked at her. Then he closed his eyes for a good ten seconds and when he reopened them he was still shocked to find Miyoon in such a ridiculous position.

She looked like a child holding onto her teddy bear. Afraid to let go as if her life depended on it.  

“Y-yah, what are you doing?” he managed to interrogate.

“You’re going to make me run again!” she cried. “I don’t want to run!”

“Really? You’re hugging onto a pole because you don’t want to run? Stop being a brat and let’s go.” He ordered.

“NO!” Miyoon retaliated, shaking her head.

“Yah! I’m not playing with you. It’s getting late!” he spat, marching up to her.

“And I’m not playing with you! I don’t like to run especially when I’m out of shape.” She grumbled.

“Wu Miyoon, I count to three and if you don’t let go and come with me, I’m pulling you off of that thing and carrying you.” Hoya warned.

“Tch, you carry me? Why would you want to lug around a human trash can that eats everything in sight?”

“Hana,” Hoya began.

“I don’t believe you.”

“Dul,”

“As if.”

“Set.” And then Miyoon felt his arms slither around her waist, tearing her from the pole with little difficulty.

“Hey!” she whined.

Hoya placed her on her feet and stretched his back, “Oh my god, you really must eat everything in sight!”

“Or you have a grandpa’s back!” she cackled, sticking her tongue at him. And at that moment when Hoya stared at her without saying anything, Miyoon realized she not only mehronged Lee Howon but insulted him. Lee Howon! The guy who was always mean to her, the big fat jerk. What was she even doing with him?! Was she losing it?!

“Are you still cold?” he randomly asked. Miyoon’s head fell to her left as she blinked at him. She felt her face and hands and noticed they were warm. She shook her head letting Hoya continue. “You're welcome.”

“Welcome for what?” she said, lost.

“I made you run and now you’re not cold anymore, right? See, I wasn’t just torturing you. The more your body moves, the warmer you are.” He replied, nonchalantly.

So he made me run because he wanted to warm me up? “I didn’t know that.”

“Stupid. You don’t realize how you sweat in gym class?”

“I wouldn’t know, I haven’t done anything in there.” Miyoon reasoned.

“And why not?”

“Because I don’t like it.”

“You’re just lazy.” Hoya pointed out as he continued walking.

“Am not!” she exclaimed running after him. “It’s just a hassle to have to change and all that stuff.”

“Yeah, that’s called being lazy.” He rebutted. 

“Call it whatever you want.” She huffed. “Because I don’t care.”

Soon they arrived at a small food stand and Miyoon’s eyes flickered with joy when she saw Hoya taking a seat. The aroma of food filled her nose and she her lips in delight. She stared at Hoya who was in return staring at his phone. She was waiting for him to tell her to sit because she wasn’t sure what they were doing.

At last, Hoya looked up at her and then eyed the seat across from him. “Do I need to pull the chair out for you too?”

Miyoon wanted to squeal because this meant they were going to eat. And boy was she ready to eat. She shook her head and yanked the chair out, hard. She had pulled it too hard, causing it to be further than she expected. However, she did not realize the position of the chair relevant to her until she sat down and dropped to the floor.

“Aish.” Miyoon moaned still on the ground.

Hoya wasn’t even the least bit concerned as he continued to do whatever he was doing on that contraption of his. Miyoon pouted and helped herself. She dusted her pants and glared at Hoya. He sensed this but addressed her without any eye contact. “I like how you don’t fall when you’re wearing those deathtraps on your feet but you fall when you try to sit down in sneakers.” He was most definitely mocking her as always.

Miyoon harrumphed and crossed her arms against her chest as she carefully took her seat. She continued to glower at Hoya for not even bothering to ask if she was okay and then teasing her about it.

“Hey, it was your fault not mine. Don’t try to be mad at me for your own mistake.” Hoya remarked, skimming through the one page menu.

“Who said I was mad at you?” Miyoon scoffed.

“Then why do you keep glaring at me?”

fell open as her expression relaxed. “I wasn’t glaring at you.” She lied.

“Oh—so what were you glaring at? The tree behind me?”

“Maybe,” Miyoon muttered.

“Oh, so now you talk to plants? Are you mother nature?” he snorted, gesturing for the woman in the back to come over.

“If I was, I would have made sure it was warm.” She scowled, feeling chilly again.

“What can I get you two tonight?” the lady questioned, politely. She was in her mid-forties but still looked quite young.

“I would like kimchi ramen, extra spicy with a side of fried dumplings.” Hoya ordered with a complete change in attitude.

“And for your girlfriend?” she asked. Miyoon was so surprised with Hoya’s manner’s she wasn’t even paying attention to anything else anyone said. Including what blasphemy came from the woman’s lips.

“Haha, this nuisance isn’t my girlfriend.” Hoya chuckled, lightly kicking Miyoon under the table. She yelped and glared at him again.

“Why did you do that?” she hissed.

“Do what?” he shrugged, feigning innocence. “She’s waiting to take your order, so do you want to hurry up?”

Miyoon blinked at him and then stared at the menu, “I’ve never tried any of these