The Rain That Brought Him Back

The sound of distant thunder rolled across the skies as Min-jae stood frozen, watching her.

She was crying.

Not just crying — breaking.

It took him back to a memory buried deep, one that he never talked about. The same girl, only ten years old then, sobbing helplessly in a hospital corridor while her mom and dad was died. The same heavy silence between them. The same helpless ache in his chest.

And now, more than a decade later, there she was again, collapsed beside her grandmother’s grave, her sobs echoing across the cemetery like a wound torn open.

Ha-eun didn’t notice him at first. Her world was a blur of rain and grief. But then—

A pair of warm arms wrapped around her. A woman’s arms.

Confused and numb, Ha-eun blinked up.

A familiar face appeared through her tears—gentle eyes, silver-streaked hair, a soft smile filled with sorrow.

“Imo…?” she whispered.

Mi-kyung nodded slowly.

And then they cried together — for her mother, for Soo-min, for Soon-im — for all the people they had lost.

Min-jae’s grandfather watched quietly from a distance.

“Your mom hasn’t cried like that in years,” he murmured.

Min-jae turned away. He couldn’t bear to see her like that.

⸻

The Funeral Day

Draped in black, the air heavy with incense and loss, the funeral came and went like a blurred dream. After it ended, people began to leave one by one.

Mi-kyung approached Ha-eun gently.

“Ha-eun-ah, come with us… just for a little while. You shouldn’t be alone.”

Ha-eun bowed politely.

“Thank you… but I want to stay with Halmeoni for a little longer.”

Mi-kyung hesitated. “I understand… But remember this, you’re not alone anymore, okay?”

She gave her a soft pat on the shoulder, then turned to leave.

⸻

Rain had started to fall again, gentle and cold.

Ha-eun knelt in front of the grave, her fingers brushing the engraved letters.

“Why did you leave me too, Halmeoni? Just like Eomma… and Appa… Why did everyone leave me?”

Her voice cracked. Her body shivered from the rain, but she didn’t move. She couldn’t.

She is shivering and crying very much where Min-jae finally reached there in car. Wearing black pant and coat.

He saw Her crying but he didn’t called her and asked her anything he just let her cry. He goes there silently put the flowers in the grave.

She is crying so much that she couldn’t even focus who is coming.

Min-hae saw that she is in her own mind so he decided to leave silently but he heard her crying even more and more,

That’s when Min-jae returned.

He goes in his car but the rain starts coming. He goes inside the car and starts driving but he couldn’t get over how much she is crying and he starts thinking about her because rain is coming strongly.

He runs her hands in his hair and turned his car again.

He stepped out.

Quietly, he approached and placed his coat around her shoulders.

Startled by the touch, she turned—puffy eyes locking onto his sharp, unreadable face.

“Who…?” she stammered.

“Come with me,” he said curtly.

“Who are you?” she asked, confused, her voice trembling.

“Doesn’t matter,” he replied. “Just stop crying and get in the car.”

She flinched. “I’m not going anywhere with a stranger!”

She threw the coat back at him.

He sighed, rubbed his face with frustration, and turned back to his car. But just as quickly as he left, he stopped again. A flash of guilt crossed his features.

Cursing under his breath, again he runs his hand in his hair and he turned the wheel and drove back.

He got out, marched over, picked up the coat, and placed it on her again—firmly this time.

“Look,” he muttered, “I’m not kidnapping you. I just couldn’t leave you out here. Especially when yYou’re my mom’s… closet one .”

She looked at him again, wide-eyed.

“Your mom…?”

Min-jae rolled his eyes. “Enough questions. Get in the car.”

⸻

The car ride was silent — thick with unspoken thoughts. Raindrops raced each other across the windowpane as Ha-eun sat quietly, watching Seoul blur past.

Soon, they pulled into a grand, familiar driveway.

The mansion towered in front of her — white-walled, tall gates, and gardens that whispered of winters past. She knew this place… but from long ago.

Before she could speak, Min-jae opened the car door.

“Where are we?” she asked again. “Are you seriously a kidnapper?!”

He ignored her. “Get someone to call my mom,” he said to a nearby servant.

Moments later, Mi-kyung came rushing out — ignoring the umbrella handed to her. The rain soaked her instantly, but she didn’t care. Her eyes were locked on Ha-eun.

“My daughter’s here! Prepare a room, now!” she shouted.

Ha-eun stared at her, then turned to Min-jae. Her eyes widened.

“You’re… Min-jae?!”

He finally looked at her — calm, quiet, unreadable.

“Surprised?”

⸻

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