That Lemon Candy

🍋 Chapter 1 🍋

The rain hit the library windows in a steady rhythm, a gentle percussion that somehow made everything inside feel quieter. It wasn't the kind of rain that storms in with thunder and lightning, rattling nerves and shaking the windows—it was calm, patient, falling like a whispered secret from the sky. The kind of rain that made the whole world slow down. That made people want to curl up with a book or just sit in a cozy corner and watch the droplets race down the glass.

Han Jisung didn't mind the storm one bit. If anything, he liked it. The rain meant fewer people in the library. Fewer footsteps echoing on the linoleum floor. Less noise. More lemon candies without having to share.

He settled into his usual spot with a small, satisfied sigh: the back corner by the farthest window, where the light filtered through gray clouds and the courtyard fountain shimmered under the wet sky. The bench by the window was his favorite because he could watch the water splash quietly in the stone basin and lose himself in the steady drip of rain outside. It was like nature's own metronome—calm and predictable.

Jisung pulled his hoodie tighter over his head, the gray fabric soft and worn from years of use. He slipped his headphones on, the familiar weight settling over his ears, then reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a small pack of lemon candies. The wrappers were bright yellow, like tiny suns trapped inside plastic. He carefully peeled one open and popped it into his mouth.

The sharp tang exploded on his tongue, a sudden rush of sour and sweet that made his eyes widen and a grin spread across his face.

Music in, world out.

He scrolled through his playlist, looking for the perfect soundtrack to match the rain and his mood. Something chill. Something soft. Maybe a little sad—yes, sad and citrusy. That was the vibe he wanted. The kind of songs that made you want to stare out the window and think about everything and nothing all at once.

He tapped play.

The music poured through his headphones, smooth and melancholy with just a hint of warmth. He leaned back against the window ledge, shoulders sinking as he let the quiet flood over him. Perfect. Solitude. Rain. Vibe achieved.

For a long moment, nothing disturbed the peaceful silence.

Until—

Thud.

The sudden, heavy sound of someone dropping into the seat across from him made Jisung blink in surprise. It wasn't just a casual sit—it was the kind of drop that made the chair scrape loudly against the floor and sent a small jolt through the table.

He paused his music, tugged down his hood, and pulled off one ear of his headphones.

There was a low sound, barely audible at first, but then growing louder: muttering. Not just muttering—grumbling. Grumbling like a cartoon villain whose evil plan had just been soaked by the rain. Literally.

Jisung glanced up and found the stranger slumped in the chair across from him. The boy was drenched, like he'd been caught in a downpour with no umbrella to save him. His black hoodie was plastered to his arms, dark wet patches spreading across the fabric. Droplets clung to his hair, slick and heavy, sliding into his eyes. His shoulders were hunched, as if the weight of the storm had followed him inside.

He looked like he hated everything—the library, the chair, and most specifically, Jisung.

"Uh..." Jisung hesitated, his voice breaking the quiet. "You good, or like—do you need a mop or something?"

The boy glared at him, eyes sharp and suspicious. "No."

Jisung nodded slowly, still unsure if the stranger was going to explode or storm off. "You sure? You're kind of flooding the table—"