The sudden rain that changed everything

It was pouring rain.
I stepped out of a large black Mercedes.
My manager held an umbrella over my head.
Amid the screams of fans, I walked toward the press conference.

Seoul hadn’t seen such a heavy downpour in a long time.
There had been rain before, but it usually ended in an hour or two.
Today’s storm wouldn’t stop.
Just like that day.

"Lee Felix, tell us a little about your new album," one journalist asked.

Everything felt like a fog.
Hundreds of camera flashes per minute, constant noise — I couldn’t concentrate at all.
My thoughts were in complete chaos.

"This is already my third album," I answered. "It’s dedicated to all my fans who, one way or another, are going through the difficult period of growing up."

"Everything you described in your songs — did all that really happen to you?" another journalist asked.

Memories started spinning in my head.
I tried to stop myself.
And smile.
Yes, I had to smile.

"Ahahahaha," I laughed. "Of course, I took some imagery from my imagination, but everything in this album reflects the experiences of my lyrical persona — not mine personally."

"Everything is so vivid and detailed in your songs. It feels like we’re not listening to music but watching a movie."

"Oh, come on, thank you," I said shyly. "Yeah…" I thought, trying to hide the storm of emotions inside me.

The press conference felt endless.
But like everything in life, it eventually ended.

The memories filled my head so strongly that I could barely breathe.
All my emotions got stuck in my throat.
The final “thank you” to the journalists wouldn’t come out.

Embarrassed, I bowed and hurried to the exit.

"Just a bit more, Felix. Smile. Just a few more seconds and we’ll get to the car," I whispered to myself.

A few meters from the car, across the street, a young man stood.
His long black hair clung to his face.
His white shirt stuck to his body, and his light blue jeans had turned dark with rain.
He stood without an umbrella, staring at me.

"Hyu… Hyunjin," I whispered, barely able to part my lips, and froze.
My eyes filled with tears in an instant.

As soon as he noticed that I saw him, he turned his head away and slowly began to step back.
My hand reflexively lifted, wanting to reach for him even from a distance — but I stopped myself.
He started to run.

I couldn’t chase after him.
No matter how much I wanted to.
No matter how much I dreamed of it.
I couldn’t.
It would put us both in danger.

I quickly got into the car and yelled at the driver:
"Drive around this street and come back to this spot no matter what. I need that guy with the dark hair. We have to catch up to him."

"But sir, I can’t…" the chauffeur mumbled.

"Felix, what are you saying?" my manager asked.

"Manager Kang, this is none of your business," I said. "Driver, faster, I said!"

"But… but…"

"Felix, please calm down," the manager tried.

"Listen carefully, Manager Kang. You either do what I say right now, or I’m leaving the agency for good."

"Spoiled child," the manager muttered, then sighed. "Do as he says. But you, Felix," he turned to me again, "are going to face huge consequences."

I didn’t care.
At all.
My heart was beating faster than the raindrops hitting the ground.
"Why is he here? Why now? Does he still… does he still love me?" I thought, unable to calm down.

Three minutes of panic and adrenaline later, I recognized his silhouette.
He stood in the middle of the road, staring at the sky.
Water streamed down his face, his eyes were closed.
He was soaked even more.
His body trembled — either from emotion or from the cold.

"I’ll borrow your hat," I said to Manager Kang and grabbed his black bucket hat.
"Don’t follow me. Don’t chase me. I’ll come back on my own. Tell the agency whatever you want. But if you follow me, know this — it’s over."

"Damn…" Manager Kang muttered, biting his lip.

I jumped out of the car and ran to Hyunjin.
The closer I got, the harder my heart pounded.
I thought I might die from how violently it fluttered.
My head spun.
But I couldn’t stop.