Splash—

This is bad.

It was an unexpected rain shower.

The weather forecast didn't say anything about this. I guess my luck just ran out today.

Rain showed no sign of stopping, and the only thing in my bag was a single clear file filled with miscellaneous papers.

"Ah, damn it, I don't have an umbrella. What do I do?"

As if mocking my feelings, heavy raindrops pounded the ground, mimicking the sound of crashing waves.

My mood was gloomy, but the sound of the rain was refreshingly cool.

A single drop of dew formed between the cracks of a deep green leaf. It looked like a shimmering jewel.

I didn't even have the luxury to appreciate this beautiful scenery; I was just pacing back and forth like a puppy that needed to go.

"What should I do... please stop raining— should I just run for it..?"

After agonizing over the decision, just as I was about to step out from under the eaves, a shadow fell over me.

"Oh, wait— who is it?"

Feeling a presence behind me, I turned my head to see a stranger peeking out from behind my back.

It was a man with messy brown hair and a clean, clear face.

"I called you for a while, but you didn't answer."

Before I could even process the situation, he thrust a small umbrella into my hand and flashed a smile. That smile is still vivid in my memory.

"You don't have to give it back. Use it."

Just as I was about to ask what he meant, he dashed out from the shade and ran down the soaking wet slope.

The sound of his splashing footsteps was actually quite nice, as I recall.

I just stood there like an idiot, giving a small wave.

That was my first love.

---

. . .

About two months have passed since then.

Even though it's early autumn, the sun shows no sign of setting. The world is consumed by heat, with heat haze rising everywhere.

A university festival in this weather? They must want us to boil to death.

Not long after starting university, a festival was suddenly squeezed into the academic calendar.

It was probably at the request of seniors who wanted to see the freshmen perform.

I'm just sitting under the eaves of a campus building. I have no interest in performing—

Wait.

Isn't that... the umbrella guy from back then?

His brown hair, which had been frizzy from the humidity, was now bleached yellow, and his round face had become sharp and defined.

Soon after, he stepped onto the stage, and the audience erupted in cheers for a long time.

And as the accompaniment began—

He danced brilliantly. His movements reminded me of the fluttering wings of a butterfly taking flight.

And his voice, needless to say. His uniquely thin voice handled the high-toned music perfectly.

Even watching that sight, I couldn't bring myself to smile.

Because among the eyes fixed on him were beautiful and famous seniors.

Something went wrong.

By the time I realized that fact, it was already too late.

. . . . .

The campus was filled with noisy chatter for a while.

I tried to ignore those annoying sounds, but since my ears were open, I couldn't help but hear them.

I couldn't turn away from the endless chain of rumors about him.

Even those small whispers sounded like they were blasting through giant speakers to me.

"Did you hear he got a confession from that famous 'Ulzzang' senior?"

"....I didn't ask."

Every time, I closed my ears with a thorny silence.

I was frustrated.

He was the one only I liked. It's too late now.

Exactly, you should have held on before it was too late.