I stick my hand out and feel the pitter patter on my palm. I squint my eyes and look up. Dark cumulonimbus clouds are still looming overhead, and there is the distant roaring of thunder. The rain is heavy today and it doesn’t look like it is going to stop anytime soon. I quickly wipe my hand against the side of my pants before retreating. Of all days, it just has to rain on the day I don’t have my umbrella. Sighing in defeat, I decide to seek refuge in the library for the cool air-conditioning.

The walk to the library becomes torturous when the harsh blowing wind hits me with its rain pellets. I shake my head to get rid of the droplets caught in my hair before entering the library. I spot an all too familiar figure at the corner. Her head is buried in her book, and she seems completely absorbed in it. She isn’t alone though. Nevertheless, I walk over.

“Soojung-ah,” I call out.

She looks up from her book and smiles. “Ah, did you forget your umbrella today?”

I nod. She gives a knowing smile before placing down her book after making sure she has the page marked. I glance at the boy sitting across the tiny girl. He is engrossed in his phone and hasn’t looked up once during our exchange.

“Do you want to wait together for the rain to b