Chapter Text
The weather forecast had promised clear skies.
JP was beginning to think weather forecasts were nothing but elaborate lies.
One moment he was walking through the city, earbuds in and humming along to a song, and the next moment dark clouds rolled overhead. Within seconds, rain began pouring down from the sky.
"Seriously?" JP groaned.
People rushed past him, opening umbrellas and ducking into nearby buildings. JP, unfortunately, had left his umbrella at home.
Again.
"Future me can deal with it," he had said that morning.
Present JP was not happy with Past JP.
He sprinted toward the nearest café, pushing through the door just as another wave of rain crashed against the pavement outside.
The café was packed.
The smell of coffee filled the air, and every table seemed occupied.
JP shook the rain from his sleeves and made his way toward the counter. After ordering a drink and a slice of cake, he carefully picked up his tray.
Carefully.
Unfortunately, life had other plans.
His phone buzzed.
At the exact same moment, someone bumped into his shoulder.
The tray tilted.
The drink wobbled.
The cake slid.
JP's eyes widened.
"No, no, no—!"
Before disaster could strike, a hand reached out and steadied the tray.
The drink stopped wobbling.
The cake survived.
JP released a sigh of relief.
"Oh thank—"
His words died in his throat.
The person standing in front of him looked strangely familiar.
Broad shoulders.
Dark hair.
Warm eyes.
A face JP had seen countless times online.
His brain took several seconds to process what he was looking at.
Then it clicked.
"Oh my god."
The man blinked.
"What?"
"You're—"
JP pointed.
"You're Kim Seokjin."
There was a brief pause.
Then the man laughed.
Not the loud, dramatic laugh JP had heard in videos.
This one was softer.
"Last time I checked."
JP immediately wanted the floor to swallow him whole.
"Great. Amazing. Fantastic. First I almost destroy my cake and now I'm pointing at strangers."
"To be fair," Seokjin said, "you recognized me pretty quickly."
JP buried his face in his hands.
"I'm so embarrassed."
Seokjin laughed again.
And somehow that only made it worse.
The café was crowded enough that finding a seat seemed impossible.
JP was preparing to awkwardly stand in a corner when Seokjin spoke.
"Do you want to sit?"
JP looked up.
"What?"
"You look like you're going to drop that tray if you keep standing."
JP glanced at the crowded room.
Then at the empty chair across from Seokjin.
Then back at him.
His brain completely short-circuited.
"Are you sure?"
"Of course."
JP slowly sat down.
This was normal.
Completely normal.
People definitely sat down and shared tables with BTS members every day.
Absolutely.
For the first few minutes, the conversation was awkward.
JP nervously stirred his drink.
Seokjin calmly sipped his coffee.
Outside, rain tapped against the windows.
Eventually, Seokjin broke the silence.
"So."
JP looked up.
"So?"
"You know my name."
JP nearly choked.
"Right."
"What's yours?"
"Oh."
That was significantly easier.
"I'm JP."
"It's nice to meet you, JP."
The way Seokjin said it made JP's heart do something weird.
He chose to ignore it.
The conversation slowly became easier after that.
They talked about favorite foods.
Movies.
Terrible weather.
JP learned that Seokjin loved making terrible jokes.
Seokjin learned that JP had absolutely no problem making fun of those jokes.
"That wasn't funny."
"It was hilarious."
"It was awful."
"You laughed."
"I laughed because it was awful."
"Still counts."
JP rolled his eyes.
Seokjin looked far too pleased with himself.
Before either of them realized it, almost an hour had passed.
The rain outside had finally started to slow.
People were leaving the café.
The afternoon crowd was beginning to disappear.
JP glanced at the window.
"I should probably head home."
Seokjin nodded.
"Probably."
Neither of them stood up immediately.
For some reason, both seemed reluctant to end the conversation.
Finally, JP gathered his things.
"Well..."
"Well."
JP smiled.
"Thanks for saving my cake."
Seokjin grinned.
"You're welcome."
They walked toward the exit together.
Outside, the rain had become little more than a drizzle.
JP hesitated.
Then waved.
"See you around?"
The words slipped out before he could stop them.
Immediately, he wanted to take them back.
What were the chances they'd ever meet again?
But instead of laughing, Seokjin smiled.
A genuine smile.
"Maybe."
For a moment, neither moved.
Then JP turned and started walking home.
He didn't notice Seokjin watching him disappear around the corner.
And he definitely didn't notice the small smile still lingering on Seokjin's face.
Because neither of them knew it yet.
But that rainy afternoon was only the beginning.
End of Chapter 1 ☔💕