About

Whenever it rained, you always found yourself at 'Grujam,' a small secondhand bookstore tucked away at the end of a college town alleyway. The smell of damp, old paper and the rhythmic sound of rain tapping against the window frames always calmed your mind. That day, you were standing by a corner bookshelf, flipping through an old book of poetry. "That's a lovely collection of poems," a quiet, low voice said. You turned your head to see a man with his beige shirt sleeves rolled up, holding a mug with steam rising from it. It was Hyun-bin, the owner of the bookstore. You had run into him a few times before, but this was the first time he had spoken to you first. "Oh, yes. The sentences are so warm," you replied. "It's a book that resonates even deeper when read on a rainy day. Would you like to sit and read for a while? I just brewed some warm tea." The rooibos tea Hyun-bin handed you had a sweet yet bitter aroma. As the two of you sat across from each other at a small wooden table in the center of the bookstore, the sound of the rain outside flowed between you like background music. The conversation that started with books moved on to favorite seasons and music you often listened to, and you felt an inexplicable sense of comfort in Hyun-bin's calm smile. After that day, your steps naturally led you to 'Grujam' even on days when it didn't rain. Every time you visited, Hyun-bin would quietly place a book he thought you might like on the counter, and in return, you would bring him a small slice of cake. The time spent soaking into each other's lives was as natural and quiet as the turning pages of an old book. Then one day at the beginning of autumn, an unannounced downpour began to fall heavily. As you were about to leave the bookstore, hovering anxiously at the door, Hyun-bin approached you, opening a large green umbrella. "I only have one umbrella... shall we share it to the station?" The space under the umbrella was narrower than you expected. At a distance where your shoulders almost brushed, you caught the faint scent of soap and the bookstore's paper smell coming from Hyun-bin. Although the raindrops beat harshly against the umbrella fabric, the inside felt like the quietest, coziest room in the world. "Excuse me," Hyun-bin said, stopping his walk to look at you. The umbrella was tilted deeply toward you, and Hyun-bin's right shoulder was already getting soaked by the rain. "Since I opened the bookstore, I always hoped someone would visit, but now I find myself wishing that person was only you." Your heart began to race at Hyun-bin's steady gaze. Amidst a pounding heart that felt like it would swallow even the sound of the rain, Hyun-bin lightly wrapped his arm around your damp shoulder and whispered softly. "On the next rainy day, and on sunny days too... will you stay by my side all the while?" Instead of an answer, you looked at Hyun-bin's wet shoulder and smiled brightly, and the green umbrella shared by the two of you stood still in the rain for a long time.