WRITTEN BY: wonberriess
AU: Weathering With You

– KANG TAEHYUN –

"Is there still anything that love can do?"

—🌧️—

"The weather is an unpredictable thing." Hyeon said, sipping on her coffee. "Like how people are unpredictable as well." Taehyun followed the girl as they made their way up the stairs of the old building, Hyeon talking about the weather.

"But sometimes the weather can be predicted." Taehyun replied. "There are weather forecasts and predictions of what the weather for each day of that week would be."

"It's still unpredictable, you never know when it'll change from sunny to rainy, or rainy to cloudy. And that's just the weather in one day." Hyeon said smartly.

The pair reached the top of the building, the place where Hyeon first showed Taehyun her ability with the weather. It had some kind of significance to both of them now. It was still rainy in Seoul, even after a few days that Hyeon prayed for good weather.

"Remember this place?" Hyeon asked Taehyun who stood beside her, looking at the many buildings and rainy clouds.

"How could I forget?" He replied, smiling at her. Hyeon smiled back, placing her free hand on Taehyun's. The two stayed under their umbrellas, watching each raindrop fall down from the sky. Though it was raining that day, it was warm with both of them.

"Do you know why rainy days are better now?" Taehyun's voice asked, making Hyeon shake her head.

"No, not really."

"It's because you're with me. You're like sunshine, both literally and figuratively." Taehyun said. "Recently, I like the rain because I know you're here, and not because you can control the weather. It's because you're my sunshine."

Hyeon's smile dropped at Taehyun's words. It wasn't because of what he said, it was because she knew she felt the same way towards him. She knew Taehyun liked her, she'll admit, she liked him too. And instead of today being a happy day before she says goodbye, today would have to be her hiding her feelings from him. What a horrible friend I am, she thought.

Taehyun seemed to notice her silence, maybe he said something wrong. "Did I say something?" Hyeon immediately shook her head, reassuring him that she was fine and that his words didn't affect her negatively.

"Nope, you're all good." She said. "I just wish that I could tell you what I want to tell you like how you do it." Hyeon continued. Taehyun looked at her, a mix of confusion and curiosity was evident in his face.

"And what is it that you want to tell me?" He asked. "You don't have to be scared to tell me what's on your mind, right? I won't judge you."

"It's just that—" She paused. The words stuck to her throat like a really bad case of phlegm and she couldn't get them out. Instead, she smiled awkwardly and directed the sentence elsewhere. "I hate the rain, stupid rain ruining summer!" She pointed a fist to the sky. Taehyun laughed at her antics, finding the girl cute in everything she did.

"Hyeon," Taehyun called for her again. Hyeon faced him, curious with what he had to say. "Didn't you say your birthday was next week?"

Hyeon nodded slowly. "Yeah, why do you ask?"

"I decided to get you... something. Just an early birthday present, you know?" He took out what looked like a box and opened it, revealing a gold bracelet with a sun pendant in the center. "Advanced happy birthday, Hyeon!"

Hyeon's eyes lit up, a smile formed on her lips, and she jumped into Taehyun's arms for a hug. "It looks so pretty!" She received the box, taking a closer look at the bracelet. "Thank you, Taehyun!"

She took the jewelry out of the box and placed it on her wrist, having to hold her umbrella in between her shoulder and her cheek. Taehyun took her hand and fixed the bracelet on himself. Hyeon was taken by surprise, of course, but thanked him for the help anyway.

The bracelet sparkled despite the lack of light hitting it, both of them smiled at each other. "I got myself a matching one as well, these two came in together when I bought them." Taehyun said, showing her his silver bracelet that had a rain cloud pendant.

Hyeon hugged him again, thanking him more. "Thank you, Taehyun, really." Taehyun hugged back.

"You're welcome, Hyeon. I'm happy you like it."

The two shared a moment of silence, the rain being the only noise they could hear. "You know how it's been raining recently?" Hyeon asked. That question, the first question she asked him before she cleared up the sky for the first time.

"Yeah." Taehyun replied.

"And do you know how it never stopped?" She asked again.

"Yeah?"

"That's how much I'll love you." She said. "I'll never stop, just like the rain these past few days."

Hyeon took a moment to process whatever she just said to Taehyun. She wanted the earth to just swallow her then and there, right on the spot. She wasn't planning to confess, not today, not ever. Why did it have to be given to her if in the end, she'd lose everything? Why did the Gods give Taehyun that chance of meeting her if she'd have to go away in the end? Had she known that would be the outcome of her praying for better weather, she wouldn't have done it in the first place.

"I'm really sorry for that, it just came out and I—"

"It's alright." Taehyun said. "How many times do I have to tell you it's alright?"

"Right." Hyeon smiled. She knew in her heart that it definitely wasn't alright. She let the words escape when she wasn't planning to. She let her feelings known to Taehyun when she didn't want to. It was hard, it was hard hiding something from someone you love. It was hard to keep your feelings shut away because you know it'll be useless. And Hyeon didn't want to leave. She didn't want to, but she had to.

"Taehyun, there's something I have to tell you." She called. It was now or never, that's what she repeated in her head again and again to gather her courage. Taehyun faced her again. "Close your eyes."

"Why?"

"Just- Please, just do it." Hyeon said. Taehyun complied anyway, closing his eyes while facing her. Hyeon took a deep breath, shutting her eyes momentarily and moving closer to the boy in front of her.

"If it's just gonna slip out of my hands then why even give it to me?" She asked in her mind.

She held Taehyun's hand in hers and softly placed a kiss on his lips. Stepping away, Taehyun opened his eyes to Hyeon who was evidently holding back tears. "What was that?"

"The "something" I had to tell you."

"Can I tell you something as well, then?" Taehyun asked, holding onto Hyeon's hand that she was now pulling away. She nodded, not resisting anymore.

He pulled her away from the railings, closing his umbrella.

"You're gonna get wet, idiot!" Hyeon said loudly over the rain that got stronger.

"I don't really care!" Taehyun replied, smiling at her. He lowered her umbrella as well, making her scream again.

"You're gonna get me wet! If you don't care, I care!" She said, making Taehyun laugh at her again. Hyeon pouted at Taehyun who was now half drenched in water.

"Come on, I still have something to tell you. Don't get mad at me yet." He said. Hyeon gave in, finally forgetting the fact that they were both now getting drenched in rainwater.

"So what is it that you wanted to tell me?"

Taehyun held her in his embrace, caressing her cheeks softly. "I wanted to tell you this."

For the second time, their lips met. Except this time it was different. It was a mix of bliss and sadness. Hyeon closed her eyes, finally letting her tears fall. It was a stupid fate. Stupid that she had to meet Taehyun, only for her to go. But she didn't regret anything. If it wasn't for her wish, they wouldn't have met each other.

And the fact that she was slowly accepting fate, in exchange for the sunshine, Hyeon felt at that moment that that was what love was supposed to mean. It makes you do stupid things, like sacrifice yourself for the sunshine. But at least Taehyun would see it, see it for the both of them.

"A less beautiful sky, a more beautiful you. Until our next meeting, Kang Taehyun."