CHAPTER 7
One Umbrella
Ever since yesterday, I’d been thinking about Arka’s smile more often.
Not because there was anything strange about it.
Quite the opposite.
His smile was just too good.
And for some reason, I was still thinking about it this morning.
I quickly shook my head as I opened my computer.
“Stop, Nara.”
I gently patted both my cheeks.
“He just smiled.”
That was all.
There was nothing special about it.
At least, that was what I tried to convince myself.
Work went fairly normally that morning. Arka called me over several times to discuss meeting schedules and project documents, but nothing unusual happened.
It was just that every time our eyes met, I remembered his small smile from yesterday.
And it made me act awkward all on my own.
Around eleven, I brought several documents to his office.
“Arka, these are the documents for this afternoon’s meeting.”
I set them on his desk.
Arka picked them up.
“Have they been checked?”
“Yes.”
“Good.”
I nodded.
Then I was about to leave.
“Nara.”
I turned around.
“Yes?”
“Don’t forget to eat lunch later.”
I furrowed my brow.
“Why do you always remind me to eat?”
Arka looked at me.
“Because you often forget.”
I smiled faintly.
“You seem to pay a lot of attention to me.”
Arka fell silent.
I immediately felt like I’d said the wrong thing.
“I’m kidding.”
I hurried out.
As soon as the door closed, I let out a sigh.
Why was I getting bolder about teasing him?
I used to tremble just from talking to him.
Now I was even starting to joke around with him.
Maybe it was because Arka wasn’t as cold as he used to be.
Or maybe...
I was starting to feel comfortable being around him.
By late afternoon, the sky over Arvendale City had turned cloudy.
I was finishing a report when a rumble sounded outside the window.
I turned around.
Black clouds had already filled the sky.
“Don’t rain now...”
I sighed.
I hadn’t brought an umbrella.
Even though the sky had been so clear that morning.
I finished the last of my work and checked the time.
A little after six.
One by one, the employees began leaving the office.
Maya had already gone home because she had a family matter to take care of.
I put my laptop in my bag.
Then I stood in front of the window.
Raindrops began to fall.
One.
Two.
Then it started pouring harder.
I let out a long sigh.
“Great.”
I looked at my bag.
No umbrella.
I’d really forgotten to bring one.
I walked toward the elevator.
Maybe the rain would stop.
At least, I hoped it would.
But when I reached the lobby, the rain sounded even heavier.
I stood near the entrance.
People ran toward their vehicles.
All I could do was wait.
“Why?”
I recognized that voice.
I turned around.
Arka stood a few steps behind me.
His suit jacket was draped over his arm.
“Not going home yet?”
I pointed outside.
“The rain.”
Arka looked toward the glass doors.
Then he looked at me.
“Did you bring an umbrella?”
I shook my head.
He let out a quiet sigh.
“Of course.”
I furrowed my brow.
“What?”
“Do you ever prepare for anything?”
I snorted.
“I didn’t know it was going to rain.”
Arka took something from his hand.
A black umbrella.
“Use this.”
I stared at the umbrella.
“What about you?”
“I have a car.”
I shook my head.
“It’s fine. I can wait.”
Arka looked at me.
“How long are you going to wait?”
I looked at the rain.
“I don’t know.”
He held the umbrella out to me.
“Come on.”
I didn’t take it right away.
“Where are we going?”
“I’ll take you home.”
My eyes widened.
“To my house?”
Arka nodded.
“You don’t have to, Arka.”
“Why not?”
“I can get home by myself.”
Arka looked at me for several seconds.
Then he said in a calm voice,
“I know you can.”
I fell silent.
“But I’m still taking you home.”
My heart beat a little faster.
I finally took the umbrella.
“Okay.”
We walked out of the building.
But as soon as we reached the sidewalk, Arka opened the umbrella and lifted it over both our heads.
I stopped immediately.
“You said I was going to use it.”
“I changed my mind.”
“Then what about you?”
“I’m coming with you.”
I stared at him in disbelief.
“Together?”
Arka nodded.
“What’s wrong with that?”
I quickly shook my head.
“Nothing.”
We started walking.
The umbrella was actually large enough, but for some reason, the distance between us felt too close.
My shoulder brushed his arm now and then.
Every time it happened, I immediately moved a little farther away.
But a few steps later, Arka pulled the umbrella more toward me instead.
“You’re getting wet.”
I looked at my shoulder.
There were indeed a few raindrops on it.
“What about you?”
“I don’t mind.”
I looked at his arm.
Part of his suit was starting to get wet.
I shifted the umbrella so it covered both of us.
“Don’t do that.”
Arka looked at me.
“Why not?”
“You could get wet too.”
Arka was silent for a moment.
Then the corner of his mouth lifted.
“So you do care.”
I immediately grew flustered.
“I just don’t want you to get sick later.”
“Is that so?”
“Yeah.”
I stared straight ahead.
I didn’t dare look at his face again.
We walked in silence for a while.
Strange.
Usually, being silent with someone else felt awkward.
But with Arka...
I actually felt comfortable.
Eventually, Arka asked,
“Is your house far?”
“Almost there.”
“Do you live alone?”
I nodded.
“Yeah.”
“Are you afraid to go home alone?”
I let out a small laugh.
“No.”
“Good.”
I turned to him.
“Why?”
“Because I often go home late.”
I raised an eyebrow.
“Are you afraid?”
Arka looked at me.
“Me?”
“Yeah.”
He smiled faintly.
“I’m not the one who’s afraid.”
I didn’t understand.
“Then what?”
“I’m worried about you going home alone.”
I fell silent.
It was a simple sentence.
But for some reason, it felt different.
We kept walking until we finally arrived in front of my house.
I stopped.
“Thank you for taking me home.”
Arka nodded.
“You’re welcome.”
I looked at the umbrella in his hand.
“I’ll return it tomorrow.”
“Keep it.”
I shook my head.
“Then you won’t have an umbrella.”
“I have several.”
I smiled.
“Okay.”
Arka was about to leave.
But before he took a step, he turned around.
“Good night, Nara.”
I smiled.
“Good night, Arka.”
He left.
I stood in front of my house, watching him until his figure disappeared.
Then I looked at the black umbrella still clutched in my hand.
For some reason, that simple object made me smile.
Nothing major happened today.
There was no confession of love.
No romantic words.
Just rain, an umbrella, and a short walk with someone who was slowly starting to feel special.
But that night, for the first time, I admitted something to myself.
I was starting to look forward to Arka’s attention.
And maybe...
I was starting to like the way he paid attention to me.
To be continued...