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Jennie's POV
8th August, 6:34 pm
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"Do you want to run?" He asks.

"What?" I ask, puzzled.

Without waiting for my approval, he grasps my hand and makes me sprint alongside him. At first, I felt uncomfortable about him taking my hand without my consent, but I've come to accept it now. It's not a bad idea.

And as soon as I start running on my own, he lets go of my hand.

The rain starts feeling more intense against my skin, as we run, and it reminds me of a problem from high school physics. The rain-man problem in vector. I shout over the rain, "You know, this reminds me of that rain-man problem we studied in physics back in High school."

"Rain-man problem?" He raises an eyebrow, trying to understand.

I begin to explain, "It was in physics. You there have a man running through the rain. The man's velocity vector combines with the raindrop's velocity vector, creating a resultant vector. The magnitude of that resultant vector is the velocity of the rain that the man will feel."

"Yeah, I remember it now," His eyes light up with understanding as he finally remembers it. "You're quite a nerd, aren't you?"

"I used to be," I reply, my voice melding with the soothing rhythm of the rain. He eases his running pace as he approaches a roadside trashcan to dump of his empty coffee cup, and I follow suit.

The road had quickly emptied as the rain intensified, and now it's practically deserted. Apart from the few cars on the road, there are hardly any pedestrians. It's a rare moment of our freedom.

I feel free for the first time in a while.

No one is around us, and if there were, they wouldn't have noticed us because of the rain. It's as if the rain has enveloped us. This time, there is no need to hide ourselves. The nature is covering us from others. The nature concealing others from our sight. Isolated yet unrestricted. Ironically, as it sounds.

We press on through the rain, the world around us blurring. Rest of the way, we don't say a word. The sound of the rain fills our silence. I stare at him a few times and he catches me staring everytime. But I don't stop doing it though. I keep on staring at him, nonetheless.

This is a strange feeling.

And this is strange to admit.

Just looking at this man is making me happy. As much as I'm loving the sight around us, I can't deny the fact that I'm loving staring at him even more. I love the way he quickly shifts his gaze from mine when he catches me staring, it's like he's the one who got caught when it's actually the opposite. I shift my gaze too and smile silently, and then when I look at him again for the hundredth time or something, I see that he's laughing too. So, I guess, he was staring as well.

After running all the way back to my house to take a shelter, we finally slow down. Catching our breath, and relishing the moment, I come to the realization that maybe, he was right. Sometimes, you just need to let go, embrace the unexpected, and run with it. The rain has turned what started as confusion or annoyance, into something beautiful. Something that will always remain at some place in the depth of my heart. Maybe my heart will remember every details of this day.

Perhaps, when I'm eighty years old, in my deathbed, I would look outside the window every afternoon and wait for a rain like this. Even if it's doesn't rain, I will close my eyes to recall this moment. I'll hear this sound of rain, feel the familiar scent of this petrichor.

Or perhaps, I wouldn't need to wait to be eighty years old. Maybe, every afternoon from now on, I'll just look up at the sky and wait for a rain like this.

I'll wait for him.

I shrug off my frivolous thoughts. Resting my hands on my knees while panting, I exclaim, "Wow, not gonna lie, that was actually nice."

"See? I told you!" he exclaims, also panting. "Noona, I want apologize. I'm sorry for grabbing your hand earlier, without your consent."

I don't know how to respond, so I simply nod in it's-ok manner, looking into his eyes. Rain has soaked him, drops cascading from his hair. I watch as he tilts his head, shaking off the raindrops. When he looks back into my eyes and smiles, a few raindrops cling to his eyelashes.

"Are you...not going to say anything?" he asks.

"Apology accepted," I say nonchalantly, though I'm unsure if I said it aloud or just in my mind. It doesn't matter; I just want to keep looking at him. Seeing how he chuckles, I must have said that out loud then. That small amount of sound of his laughter echoes in my ears, quite loudly.

The sky has transitioned into a typical evening palette of black, pink, and purple, yet it looks different tonight. Are those colours just another coincidence? Or is the universe sending us signs?

As darkness envelops us, a sudden chill permeates the air. Raindrops persist, and I realize we're growing colder by the minute. My concern overrides my hesitation and I eventually break the silence.

"It's getting quite cold out here," I say, my voice gentle yet sincere. "Would you like to come inside? You can dry your clothes and warm your body up."

Instant regret floods me because my words may have sounded inappropriate like in a total different context. He gets the unintentional implication, evident from his expression. He swallows audibly, maybe not realizing that I've heard it, and then coughs deliberately.

"No, I'm fine. I came here just to make sure that you've got home safely," he reassures. Thankfully, he sidesteps the double meaning, diffusing the unspoken tension between us. "Also, you said you don't let just anyone in."

A genuine smile graces my lips, impressed by his respect for my boundaries. A rare quality that tugs at the corners of my heart. I ask quite surprised, "Oh, you remember that?"

His nod is subtle, but it speaks volumes. He replies with a smile of his own, "Yes."

The familiar silence wraps around us like a cocoon, broken only by the soft patter of raindrops on the pavement.

"I really enjoyed my time with you today," I confess, my voice carrying the weight of sincerity.

"Likewise," he says. His words hang in the damp air like the lingering scent of petrichor. Then, his tone suddenly changes, deepening with seriousness, "I'll get going then."

"Wait!" I shout before he could turn around. "Take an umbrella with you, at least."

"It's fine. Let's not owe each other anything, anymore," he shrugs, cramming his hands deeper in his pockets.

I nod in agreement. His gaze lingers for a moment longer before he turns away.
As he walks into the obsidian night, his figure becomes a silhouette against the backdrop of glistening raindrops. The sound of his footsteps fades gradually. I stand there and watch him go. I stand there till there's no trace of him left.

Coming back into the warmth of my home, my heart feels as light as the mist that hangs in the air, and in the quiet solitude of my room. My heart feels lighter than it has in a long while. It feels kind of empty now though.

Throwing my drenched jacket and the keys on the coffee table, I collapse on the couch. I close my eyes and take some moments to process everything in my head.

"You're not just anybody, Jeon Jungkook," I whisper to my empty house.

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Bambam's POV
8th August, 6:40 pm
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Gimbap balls or whatever this thing we've created, don't exactly look appetizing to me. But Lisa insists that it's alright. So, being the braver one, she decides to take the plunge and be the first to taste it. Ladies first, anyway.

With her gloves still on, she carefully selects one of the gimbap balls and pops the entire thing into her mouth, making sure not to touch the gloves with her lips. She starts chewing and then nods with a contemplative expression.

"It's not bad," she approves it with a smile. But honestly, I'm not entirely convinced with her smile, neither I can trust her words. Because smiling and messing around are the things that she does twenty-four-by-seven. It's hard to gauge how much I can trust those assessments.

"Are you sure?" I ask, my eyebrows furrowing as I try to read her expression.

She smiles wider, chewing away as if our unusual gimbap doesn't faze her at all. "Yeah, seriously," she says, her excitement contagious now. "It's like kind of growing on me."

I watch her for a moment. I'm still a bit skeptical but swayed by her optimism. If Lisa, with her keen sense for all delightful things, says that it's not bad, there might be something to it. Feeling a mix of curiosity and bravery, I follow her lead. I carefully pick up one of the gimbap balls and put it inside my mouth, copying her technique to make sure the gloves don't touch my lips. With a surprising bite, I'm taken aback. The taste is unexpectedly good, a blend of flavors that oddly work well together, challenging my previous doubts.

"You know what?" I confess with a grin, "It's actually pretty good!"

Lisa beams with delight, "That's what I'm saying, dude. Things that doesn't look promising can actually be better than you could imagine. You just have to take the risk. And thank goodness, I got the recipe right."

"We got it right," I correct her with a smile.

With our doubts dispelled, we continue eating our peculiar yet surprisingly good gimbap balls. Our conversation flows nonstop, transitioning from this cooking experience to our everyday lives. Mostly about her everyday life because it's always like she's the one talking and I'm the one listening. Only until she starts feeling like she's talking to the wall. Between the bites, Lisa says while chewing, "Enough of me. Tell me about you. What are you doing these days?"

"I'm busy with my work. Besides that, I stay at home most of the time," I shrug.

"What do you do at home then?" She asks, her brows furrowing with curiosity.

"I'm just watching movies or sleeping," I say, munching on another gimbap ball.

"That's all?" she asks, not impressed by my answer.

"Are we even any different from each other?" I respond between bites. "We grew up together, and we do the same things every day. Working, eating, taking care of our cats, watching movies or dramas, sleeping, and repeating the cycle. Isn't that what we both do every day?"

"That's true. We're stuck in this routine...and it's just too fast and hectic," she says, gazing into the distance. "In my next life, I want to be born as a tree. I want to grow up slowly and live my life slowly. I don't want to move an inch. I just want stay where I am and just bask in the sun or watch the full moon."

"Why not a cat? I mean, I could adopt you," I turn toward her.

She chuckles at my joke. Just then, Pudding,
-one of my cats- comes over. I'm already full, so I take my gloves off and dump them in the dustbin. I extend my left hand as Pudding approaches and shower him with lots of snuggles and strokes. Lisa looks at him with great affection shining in her eyes.

"He's the clingy one, you know? He won't let stay away from him," I say as I pick Pudding up from the ground.

"I know that. You tell me that everytime," Her expressions haven't changed. "Speaking of movies...should we watch one now?"

"Only If I get to choose which one," I say. Finally letting go of Pudding, I start doing the cleaning.

_

"I've had enough. Your taste in movies is terrible," Lisa says, sweeping her bangs from her eyes. She takes a sip from her beer can. The credits are rolling on the screen after the movie has ended.

"Offensive," I respond, making it sound like I'm mad. Though I'm not.

"This isn't going to work. We're watching another one, and it's my turn to choose," she declares, grabbing the remote quickly from the sofa as if expecting a fight over it. She couldn't care less about me being mad or anything.

"I don't wanna watch your horror fantasy stuff," I say warily. Three crushed beer cans lie motionless on the coffee table, while two rests in our hands.

"Well, I didn't want to watch any clichéd action movie where the villain origin is blamed on the society, but I did," she retorts.

"Damn it," I concede and chug down the rest of the beers from my can. I fixate my eyes on the TV screen as Lisa scrolls through Netflix titles. Although I'm not really watching, my mind is elsewhere.

To my last night's dream.
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Jisoo's POV
8th August, 9:52 pm
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The past two weeks have flew by in the blink of an eye. I had decided to take a break after completing all the shooting and wrapping up everything related to Snowdrop, and it feels like it was only yesterday. It's hard to believe. Good times passes so quickly. During this time, I've been only at home, mostly lying on my bed and not doing much. I didn't even bother cooking; I just ordered food or ate homecooked food by Jennie.

Speaking of homecooked food, I'm really craving some. I need to get going to the kitchen and start cooking since Jennie won't be here at dorm tonight. The clock is nearing ten in the evening.

I pull myself out of bed, stretch my body, and make some strange high-pitched noises. My phone suddenly buzzes, blending in seamlessly with the cacophony. I quickly knot my hair into a messy bun and grab my phone from the bed.

Glancing at the screen, I feel a sense of confusion because it's a text message from Haein oppa. We wrapped up everything two weeks ago and he shouldn't have any other reasons to text me until the Snowdrop press-conference which is going happen someday in mid-december. I proceed to unlock my phone and read the message.

Haein Oppa: Jisoo-shhi, are you busy?

I respond: No, I'm not. Why do you ask?

Haein oppa: Well, I'm currently hanging out with some friends, mostly actors, and we've just discovered that we share an acquaintance.

I reply: Who?

Haein oppa: Jinyoung is one of them. He said that he's quite close with you. You should come hangout with us too. Only if you want to.

Reading this message, I find myself staring at it, tempted to facepalm dramatically. Jinyoung is surely drunk because he wouldn't have told Haein oppa about being close with me, knowing that Haein oppa might invite me to their gathering which I would find rather uncomfortable. I mentally make my mind to throw a first on Jinyoung's face the moment I see him. He needs to sober up.

Despite my lack of enthusiasm for socializing right at this moment, I still reply to Haein oppa with a curt.

Me: Sure, send me the location.

Haein oppa shares the location of their gathering, and the good thing is that it's a chicken place. I barely get dressed- trading my comfy pajamas for something more suitable for going outside. Brushing my hair, I grab a jacket from the closet and pick my handbag and phone. I will have to tell Rosé before I go.

_

I arrive at that chicken place, it's really crowded. Though, I'm not worried about it at all. Because all of the people here are middle-aged ahjumma and ahjushhis. But this is actually concerning because why would Haein, Jinyoung or the other people of their age will choose a place like this to hangout?
* "Ahjumma" is a Korean term to address a middle-aged woman. [Origin- Hangul, Korean]
* "Ahjushhi" is a Korean term to address a middle-aged man. [Origin- Hangul/Korean]

Oh, I almost forgot that they are in their thirties, around seven-eight years older than me.

Ahjushhis.

I notice Haein oppa waving at me from a corner, beckoning me over. As I approach, the room is alive with the chatter and laughter of their group. Jinyoung, beside Haein, seems a bit worn out. Among the familiar faces, mostly actors as he mentioned, I greet Haein oppa with a warm smile, "Oppa, long time no see."

His eyes lights up as he stands to welcome me, "Yeah, it's been in a while, hasn't it Jisoo-shhi?"

"Well, well, if it isn't Jisoo," Jinyoung rises abruptly, a bit dizzy but still managing a goofy smile. I force a smile and take a seat beside him. Moments later, Jinyoung passes out on the table. I guess, I'll save the punch for later.

With Jinyoung temporarily out, Haein oppa steps in to formally introduce me to the others. As the introductions unfold, I realize I recognize most of the faces.

It hits me that it's my first time sharing a table with such hot-shot actors and actresses in a less-than-glamorous place. Lee Jongsuk, Lee Je Ha, Chae Soobin and et cetera. I've been around big idols, but not actors and actresses. These people, whom I've mostly seen on screen, make me realize I truly am an actress now that I'm seated among them.

"Let me pour you a drink, Jisoo-shhi," voice interrupts my thoughts, and I glance to my right. Ahn Bohyun who's guy seated next to me.

"Yeah, no. I'm not in the mood for a drink," I decline. "Let me pour you one instead, Bohyun-shhi."

He shakes his head, saying, "No, really. I'm not drinking either." I quickly check the table, confirming he has a glass of water, not alcohol. Returning my gaze to his face, I notice his decent appearance and a pleasant smile. I can't recall which movie or drama I've seen him in, and the thought of being asked about it later is a tad embarrassing. But at least, I didn't forget his name.

But all of this aside, he lookes kind of familiar. I can't remember if I have seen him before...in real life. I feel like I did.

The next hour passes so quickly. Because I don't feel present here. Alcohol takes over. The conversation shifts from our professions to a lull in topics, making the hangout a bit dull. But It doesn't bother me much, as I've been sitting only as pretty dummy from the start. Having only made a cameo appearance on screen once back in rookie days and with "Snowdrop" yet to be released, I lack substantial material to gossip. Despite being asked about my role as an idol in BLACKPINK, I realize I can't entirely be seen as an actress in this setting. I was wrong, I'm not truly an actress yet.

"You've been pretty quiet. Are you feeling uncomfortable?" Bohyun's voice startles me.

"No, I'm fine," I assure him with a smile. "It's just that I don't have much to share. I've only recently entered the world of acting, and my latest project is yet to be released."

"What do you mean? You've collaborated with a great writer and director for Snowdrop. You could really boast about it," he enthuses, ensuring I don't feel left out. His sweetness prompts a chuckle from me.

"That's not a bad idea, but I'm not sure if I'm in the mood to be social right now," I admit, breaking eye contact.

"I understand," he reflects.

"By the way, you have a nice smile," I comment.

"Thanks. I get that a lot," he responds, his smile widening and looking more innocent than ever. "You have a nice smile too... and it's heart-shaped, whoa."

"Thanks. I get that a lot," I mimic him, and we both share a laughter, cringing at our cheesy exchange. Unfortunately, the sweet conversation with him concludes as everyone suggests calling it a day.

Suddenly and at long last, Jinyoung wakes up, taking the next two minutes to remember his own existence, location, backstory and gender identity. Upon realizing who he is, he also realizes that he's surprisingly sober. With disheveled hair on one side and furrowed eyebrows, he gazes at me. A perfectly cute moment to get his nose broken by my fist. But this is a public place, what a bummer.

"Jisoo?" Jinyoung asks, visibly surprised. "Did I invite you over?"

"No, you told him" -I point at Haein oppa- "to call me here."

"Oh...did I?" He lowers his gaze, contemplating the information with a hint of uncertainty.

"Ya, ya, we should all get going now," someone in our group suggests, though I can't discern who. Haein oppa stands up first, and the rest follow suit. I help Jinyoung stand up, who's still feeling dizzy - not that I'll forget about the beating he deserves.

After settling the bill, we all exit. Most are a bit drunk, Haein oppa and Jinyoung are somewhat tipsy, while Bohyun sunbae and I remain fully sober. We help everyone into their taxis or private cars; these people have already started acting like grandmas and grandpas when drunk. After the commotion, only Jinyoung, Haein oppa, Bohyun sunbae, and I remain.

So, what's next?

We stand on the pavement, and I create a beat by tapping my toes on the asphalt.

"Let's go for a second round!" Jinyoung bursts out.

"Ya! Are you still drunk?" I hiss at him, annoyed. "Gosh, Look at you!"

"How about we go to a norebang?" Haein oppa suggests. A very unnecessary recommendation.
* "Norebang" is the Korean word for Karaoke. It directly translates into "Song room." [Origin- Hangul/Korean]

It seems Bohyun sunbae is the only one not talking, so I turn to him. We exchange glances, searching for the right answer in each others' faces and end up sharing a smile a lowkey secret exchange. I shrug noticeably to get the attention of Haein oppa and Jinyoung, just to cover Bohyun sunbae's smile dedicated to me. He matches the rhythm of my shrug with his hesitant nod, signaling approval to Haein oppa. He interprets it as an yes.

_

And soon, I find myself in a norebang, feeling awkward. Puckering my lips, I'm genuinely unsure of what to do next. Nerves creeping in, I start tapping my fingers on my knee while remaining in my uncomfortable seated position.

"So...it's just the two of us now?" Bohyun awkwardly asks from the opposite side of the sofa.

"I guess so," I reply.