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Ding!
The bell on the door of my mom's convenience store jingled as another customer walked in. I heard a rush of rain outside before the door slammed shut.
"Jiwoo?", someone shouted, "Its me!"
I fumbled around with the boxes I was unloading. "Just a second!"
I heard the customer walk in my direction, and before I knew it, I saw a familiar shadow tower over me.
I smiled and turned around, "Hey, Jeno"
Lee Jeno was one of my closest friends – I've known him even before we started going to school together. Before my dad died, he used to give Jeno a dime every time he "kept an eye on me" when I worked at the family store, since our shop was in the shadier of Seoul.
Even though my dad died a few years ago, Jeno still popped into the store whenever he could to check in on me. We couldn't just stop being friends after my dad died – we'd known each other for too long.
"Want help?", Jeno crouched down beside me.
"Nah, its ok", I said, "Its raining pretty hard outside, huh?"
"Yeah...", Jeno stood back up, "I guess we won't be sitting out there today"
"That's alright", I finished up stocking the shelves, "We'll just sit behind the counter like we used to when we were little"
"Behind the counter?", he shot a glance, "We're eighteen. Don't you think we're too old to sit behind there?"
"Too old?", I stood up and laughed, "Jeno. C'mon."
He just looked at me and pursed his lips.
"Pick a drink for the two of us and I'll meet you over there", I smiled, "Just sit back there with me for old times sake"
"Fine...", he sighed as he shoved his hands in his pockets.
I smirked as I watched him walk away.
My phone rang.
It was my brother, Sehun, so I just ignored it like I always do.
"Was it Sehun?", Jeno walked back over with two iced coffees in his hands.
I nodded as I scoffed to myself, "Whatever. Lets go, I need a break"
We walked behind the check out counter, and I sat on a stool which had been in its same place on the floor since Jeno and I were kids.
"Are you sure both of us can still fit on that?", Jeno looked down at me.
"Sure we can", I tapped the empty spot beside me, "Come sit", I smirked up at him.
He rolled his eyes, but had a small smile on his face as he squeezed into the spot next to me.
"So", he handed me a coffee, "You weren't at school today..."
"Yeah...", I popped the bottle open and took a slow sip from it, "Mom had a fever this morning, so I had to take care of the shop"
"Ah...", he said, "Is she alright?"
"Yeah, she's fine", I tucked my hands into my hoodie pocket, "Did I miss anything at school?"
Jeno just shrugged. "Not really"
My phone rang again.
"Ugh", I scoffed as I declined the call like I did five minutes ago, "Sehun's definitely hearing it from me when I get home tonight"
Jeno smirked as he watched me put my phone down.
We both went quiet for a bit, and just listened to the rain hit the window behind us. I'd occasionally glance out the window to look at the gloomy weather outside. It was definitely "gray" and maybe even "depressing" to some people, but I personally loved rainy days; and they were even better when I got to hang out with Jeno. He was so chill, I was able to enjoy myself on these days without having to worry about entertaining him.
"I haven't sat back here in a while", I said as I put my head on Jeno's shoulder.
"Yeah", he said as we looked around at all the advertisements taped onto the walls and even the storage shelves under the counter,"I almost forgot what it looked like from down here"
"Me, too...", I mumbled with my head still on his shoulder. I was kind of happy in that position. Jeno was like an older brother to me, so I felt naturally safe and comfortable whenever I was with him.
Last year, Jeno and I thought that we'd give a "relationship" a try since we were as close as we were, but it didn't really work. Being in a relationship with someone who you've known all your life, and someone who knows every little embarrassing detail about you ruins basically everything about being "in a relationship".
I was happy anyway. I liked Jeno being my "brother from another mother".
My phone started ringing for the third time.
"You should probably answer that", Jeno shifted his eyes to my phone, "He's called three times"
"Yeah", I stood up and put my phone up to my ear, "Hello?", I answered, "What do you want?"
"Jiwoo, you need to come home now.", my brother, Sehun, said with a sense of urgency in his voice, "There's been an accident"
I nodded slowly and hung up.
"Jeno?", I looked at my friend as I took off my apron and handed it to him, "Can you take care of the shop for me, please? Just until I get back..."
He just nodded with a confused expression on his face as he slowly took my apron from me. "Is everything ok?", he asked.
"No clue...", I mumbled as I threw my hood on, "It won't be long, I promise..."
I started running into the pouring rain.
