The wonderstruck expression on his face is well worth the cold water soaking me as he slips his fingers between mine and lets me tug him up and out of his seat. He nods as I nudge the door closed with my foot and spin him out into the middle of the empty street.
Sun laughs, throwing his head back in delight as I reel him back in, his body against mine. In the faint light of the street lamps, his wet hair hanging in his eyes as he smiles, so bright and pleased, he is radiant. Sliding his arms around my waist, he leans his head on my chest, and we sway.
It’s one of those moments where it’s easy to forget anything else exists. Surrounded by high-rise residential buildings, with the raindrops as background noise, it’s just the two of us,pressed together, wrapped up in one another. He sighs again, but the sound is so content this time that it makes me stop for a second, realizing that it’s because of me. I’ve done this small thing, and he’s so happy about it—happy in this moment with me.
I hold him a little tighter and press a kiss to the top of his head, wondering again where this version of me came from. If Ahn Yung-Sun held some sort of key that unlocked parts of me I’d have never known without him.
“Kija? Hyung?”
His quiet voice brings me back, makes me notice I’d stopped moving, standing still with him in my arms, both of us shivering. I know I have to let him go, so he can get inside and get warm. If he catches a cold or comes down with something from our impromptu slow dance, I’ll feel terrible.
Pulling him back toward the car, I open the trunk and find a hoodie I’d thrown in at some point, probably thinking I’d go to the gym. I yank it down over his head, keeping the hood up as he shoves his arms through the holes. “Here… this will help on the way in.”
Sun pulls the fabric up to his nose and inhales deeply, his eyelids fluttering. “Smells like you,” he murmurs, looking just a little bit dazed, and I have to kiss him.
I try to keep our chests apart, so as not to get the new shirt wet, but still lick into his mouth a little bit desperately, with the way he makes me feel. Before I can get too carried away, I break the kiss and give him a quick smack on the ass. “Get inside and dry off.”
“Good night!” he calls as he runs toward the front door, tugging his key card out of his back pocket.
Closing the trunk, I wait until he disappears and then slide back into the driver’s seat, not caring how drenched I am. I start the engine and turn the heat on, giving myself a moment to just sit there and smile. I can’t imagine having ever willinglydanced in the rainwith any woman I’d ever dated. But with him, I couldn’t move fast enough to make his wish come true.
I think I’m in love with him. I know I’ve never felt this way before, not with anyone. Not even close.
Another car comes creeping down the street, and it startles me, reminding me I’m not actually the only person out here right now. Easing back onto the road, I finally begin the drive home.
As I navigate the rain-slick streets, I’m thinking about Sun and the time we spent together tonight. It was so good to go out, to take him someplace that I enjoy and be able to share that with him. But I know it was risky. Too much of a chance to take, even as late as it was and with really no other people around. He’s too famous, and everything about what we’re doing is too scandalous.
By the time I pull into my complex’s parking garage, I decide I’m probably an idiot. What was I even doing? What was I thinking, trying to pretend we were just a normal couple out doing normal couple things? That’s not his life. And it’s certainly not whatever this is that we’re sharing in this experience.
My doubts fade a bit, though, when I check my phone one last time as I crawl into bed and see a selfie from Sun—clearly sleepy, but tucked up warm and dry, smiling sweetly. He looks happy, so I am too.
???
I blink blearily at my phone.
No.
I’m not seeing this.
I can’t be.
I’ve been awake for two minutes, and I think my world is aboutto fall apart.
Rubbing my eyes, I look again.
It’s not a perfect shot, but it’s close.
Clearly Yung-Sun.
Definitely with a man that would be easily identifiable as me.
Kissing in the car.
Kissing in the rain.
And the message from Chaeji that accompanied them. Telling me that she can’t wait to see me tonight at 7 p.m. at a very popular restaurant in Gangnam.
I jab at the contacts on my phone, holding my breath until I hear Jase grunting some sort of greeting.
