Chapter 30: Rainy Days and Rescues

5: A Simple Thank You

Rain falls.

A downpour too heavy to call a spring shower.

The sky, blanketed in dark clouds, is a gloomy gray. No sunlight peeks through, making the daytime feel eerily dark.

The dreary sky drags my mood down with it. I pop a candy in my mouth to calm myself.

The air feels unusually heavy today, worry creeping up my spine.

It’s fine. Nothing will happen. I just need to show up, prove myself, and leave. Simple—no need to call Junseo.

I’m an adult. I can handle personal conflicts on my own.

I spread my wings wide and tap my halo.

Garam Lee, ready for action.

Time to go.

The rainy air is damp and heavy, weighing down my wings. They’re water-absorbent, so even the moisture in the air makes them droop limply.

Rainy days and I don’t mix. No sunlight, heavy wings—the peak of discomfort.

I tuck my wings under my umbrella to keep them dry. If I leave them out, the tips poke out and get wet.

I fold my wings forward, securing them under my armpits, wrapping them around my chest and holding them with my arms.

It’s a bit uncomfortable, but it keeps them dry.

Nice. Very nice.

I nod proudly, bobbing my head.

Splash, splash. I walk on.

Puddles ripple as my shoes hit them.

I want to jump in, but I hold back. If I had boots, maybe, but not in sneakers.

I lift my gaze from the ground and keep walking.

Whoosh—

Wind blows, my silver hair fluttering.

“… Kinda chilly…”

Should’ve worn a coat. The spring storm makes me shiver. I might catch a cold.

Should I go back for one? Nah, it’ll be fine. I’m just stepping out briefly.

Step, step.

Step.

Lost in thought, I reach the subway station entrance. It’s not crowded, so I pause to think.

Pat pat pat. Rain hits my umbrella, sliding off and trickling down the sloped ground into a drain, gone forever.

Junseo pops into my mind. Should I text him to come?

“….”

It’ll be fine. I’m just moody from the lack of sunlight, making me overthink. What could go wrong in real life?

I stride into the station, tap my card, and wait on the platform. A train rumbles in. The doors open, and I step inside without hesitation.

It’s a quiet time, so the train’s nearly empty. I fold my umbrella and sit.

Clunk, clunk. The train starts moving.

A few passengers glance at me. Understandable—variants are more common now, but seeing one in person is different from TV.

Whatever.

I check no one’s nearby and shake my wings. Water droplets scatter, plop plop.

I glance around—luckily, no one got splashed. Perfect distance control. All that post-shower wing-shaking practice paid off.

…

It’s about an hour to my destination. With nothing to do, I fiddle with my halo.

It’s dim, having seen no sunlight today. Sorry, halo. I’ll let you bask in the sun later.

Maybe I should get artificial lighting.

I saw it in a chat once—races that need sunlight should try plant grow lights. Supposedly works wonders.

Worth considering. Hmm.

I get off the train and exit the station. A short walk brings me to the front gate of ○○ Park, the meeting spot with YayongYengYong.

Right on time. I stand and scan the area. Where is she?

… Then it hits me. We agreed to meet but never discussed how to recognize each other.

Am I an idiot? No, she logged off first, so she’s the idiot.

I’m a genius.

Heh.

…

Enough weird thoughts. What now? I came all this way, but if we can’t find each other, do I just go home?

It’s cold, and I wanted to make this quick. Looking around is wasting time.

Then I spot two people by a wall.

A sharp-eyed woman and a slightly chubby man. He’s holding an umbrella over her, looking flustered.

Their voices carry.

“If she came but we can’t find her…?”

“She didn’t show. You don’t believe me, oppa?”

“N-No, I believe you. Haha…”

It takes a moment to recognize them without the mic distortion, but it’s definitely YayongYengYong and BekGoe.

Why’s BekGoe here? Whatever, not my problem. I found Yayong, so I walk up to them.

“Are you YayongYengYong-nim?”

“What?”

She stares, then recognizes my voice and scowls. Her tone sharpens.

“Hah, a variant?”

What’s that supposed to mean? I frown but push on.

“Now do you believe me? I’m a girl, and I don’t use a voice changer.”

“Oh, sure. No wonder your voice sounds so young. Tsk, trying to charm guys at your age, kid?”

“W-What?”

Her words stun me. I may be short, but kid?

“I’m not a kid! I’m a full-grown—”

“Oh, really? Wow, becoming a variant made your voice and looks younger, so you’re flaunting it, huh? Right? Hah.”

“What nonsense…”

Her mocking tone grates. BekGoe just stands there, floundering. Why’s he even here?

“Apologize.”

“Apologize? For what?”

“You don’t know?”

“What’s there to do about it?”

Ugh, is she a master at pissing people off?

“You’re wrong about everything! You picked a fight in-game, and now you’re mocking me the moment we meet—”

“Oh, my, how’s that my fault? Your fault, isn’t it? I think my assumptions in-game were reasonable. Right, oppa?”

“Y-Yeah… I guess.”

She’s turning it on me, and BekGoe’s agreeing with her nonsense.

“What kind of—”

Step!

Yayong steps forward.

Her height forces me to look up, and her size makes me shrink back.

“And, honestly, isn’t it true? You got prettier and younger as a variant, so you’re flirting with everyone. It’s obvious. Before you changed, you were probably a fat hikikomori, right? Tsk, I work hard every day to maintain myself, and here you are, strutting around with your lucky variant looks. Ridiculous.”

“What…”

Her rapid-fire mockery is all baseless—no, outright wrong—but she keeps going, clearly aiming to rile me.

“Honestly, don’t you know those wings are gross? Parading them like you’re proud? I don’t get why variants are even considered human. Shouldn’t we lock you up in a lab and dissect you?”

“What—”

There are things you say and things you don’t. Her audacious insults ignite my anger.

“Hah, you know you’re pretty pathetic, right?”

“What?”

Words I rarely use spill out, my own rapid-fire retort surprising me.

“Your chats scream it. That cutesy act you put on? It’s so outdated, makes you sound ancient.”

“What did you…”

“Bet you’re jealous ‘cause you’re old, huh? All those hearts and emoticons in your chats—I thought I was talking to a 2000s ajumma. Who even types like that now—”

“Ajumma… You done?!”

Smack!!

Yayong’s arms lash out. Outmatched in size, I’m shoved back, falling hard.

Splash! Water sprays from a puddle.

“Argh…”

I must’ve sprained my ankle—I can’t stand. Clutching it, I groan.

My umbrella rolled away when I fell. Rain soaks me, the cold sinking in.

“Hey, Minji, that’s too much…”

“Shut up, oppa! You say you like me, but when I’m insulted, you defend her? Huh? Go grab her! I need to hit her to feel better!”

“Uh, uh…”

Yayong yells, and BekGoe approaches me.

“Ugh…”

I try to crawl back, but my sprained ankle won’t let me stand. No matter how I struggle, I can’t escape.

“Let go…!”

My feeble resistance does nothing. BekGoe doesn’t budge. Rain falls. My body trembles from the cold.

“Tch…”

Yayong, sensing victory, grabs my collar. Her hand rises.

“Let’s see you take one hit…”

I close my eyes, bracing for impact. My vision cuts off.

Rain, cold wind, water streaming down my cheeks, soaked wings, throbbing ankle, the scent of a rainy day.

With sight gone, my other senses amplify, mixing chaotically. I’m dizzy. Time stretches endlessly yet passes in a flash.

And then…

“Stop!”

A voice that shouldn’t be here rings out.

I open my eyes. Time resumes normally.

“Jun… Junseo? Why are you…”

Junseo’s face, gripping Yayong’s raised hand. Why? How? Questions flood my mind. The cold makes it hard to think.

“Who’re you?! Let go!”

“I won’t. I called the police, so just wait.”

“What?!”

Yayong’s shocked. Two more people appear—a chubby guy and a skinny one.

“Kanghyuk? Min-jae? What’s…”

Freed from the grip, I collapse. They rush to support me. My ankle screams in pain.

“W-Wait, I sprained my leg…”

“Okay, hold on.”

They adjust to prop me up. Junseo, still restraining Yayong, continues.

“Violence against variants is heavily punished. There’s CCTV and three witnesses here—you’re done.”

“W-What… Oppa, what are you doing standing there!”

“Shit, the police… I didn’t do anything!”

“Hey! Where are you going?!”

Yayong shouts at BekGoe, who trembles, yells something, and bolts. She looks dumbfounded.

The police arrive quickly.

Yayong’s arrested on the spot. With clear CCTV and witnesses, they say she won’t get off easily.

Junseo talks briefly with the police, then approaches me.

“Sorry, I was a bit late. Lost you halfway.”

“No… It’s okay. But, you followed me? The whole time?”

“Yup. I called the others too.”

He nods like it’s no big deal.

I’m speechless. Is stalking me something to be proud of?

…

But, I’m kinda glad.

Kanghyuk and Min-jae head to the police station to give statements. Soaked and with a sprained ankle, I need to get to a hospital first.

“Get on my back.”

“What?”

“You gonna walk like that?”

“N-No… I can’t exactly walk.”

My ankle’s bad, and my lips are blue from the cold. I know I can’t walk like this.

“Hurry up, or I’ll carry you in my arms.”

“Fine, I’ll get on…”

I know he’d really hoist me up, so I comply.

Junseo kneels. I climb onto his back, wrapping my arms around his neck. With a heave, he lifts me.

Piggyback style.

I’m too embarrassed to speak. What am I, a kid, getting carried by a friend? A same-sex… friend.

Hmm. Not anymore, I guess.

“….”

We don’t talk on the way to the hospital. He walks quickly but gently, mindful of my comfort.

Honestly, he could go faster—I’m secure on his broad, muscular back.

I press my face lightly against it. Warm. Probably because I’m freezing.

So… reliable. Big. Firm from muscles.

“….”

I open my mouth, feeling I should say something, but my thoughts tangle, and no words come.

Rain falls, drumming in my ears.

What should I say?

Gulp.

I swallow, pushing down the words lingering on my tongue.

No need for anything else. One word will do.

I open my mouth, exhaling softly.

“Thank you.”

A simple thank you.

“Yeah.”

A short reply. Junseo keeps walking, unchanged.

I bury my face in his back. It’s the cold. I’m just seeking warmth.

This pounding heart? Probably from how scary that was.

Yeah, that’s it.

Probably.

For now… I’ll rest.

My chilled body, aching ankle, and exhausted stamina pull my eyes shut.

My breathing steadies. My senses fade.

With my heartbeat as the last sound, I drift into sleep.

The next day, I catch a spectacular cold.