It was another cold, dreary, winter afternoon. Despite it only being a few minutes past six, the sun had already set, leaving an inky blanket of darkness in its place. A soft mist hung in the air, diffusing the light from the street lamps that reflected on puddles from the persistent rain. Minji adjusted her scarf as she cautiously sidestepped a puddle, being careful to guage the depth so as not to soak her feet. She frowned, I'm sick of this rain, if it's gonna be cold it may as well snow.

Although it was too warm for snow, the wet cold was somehow more unbearable. A damp chill seeped through her layers and settled deep into her bones. Even now, though she was expertly bundled, Minji could feel her skin prickling whenever the wind blew. She wiped droplets from her cheeks, lamenting her wet bangs— between the mist and her hood she was sure they looked nothing short of ridiculous. It didnt really matter, she was just taking a train home for the weekend, there was nobody to impress.

Minji pushed on through the maze of dark puddles as she headed towards the brightly lit train station. She walked up a ramp after scanning her pass and headed towards the waiting area, long rows of plastic benches with small roofs overhead to protect from the elements. She was about to lower her bag when she spotted a crown of familiar messy hair. An involuntary smile creeped up on her lips as she walked over.

Jaehee was sitting one row over, his long legs stretched out lazily in front of him. Slouched in a navy jacket, he had his chin tucked into his collar, and arms crossed against his chest. His eyes were closed, and he peeked at her through one as he heard her footsteps near him.

"Are you heading home too?" Minji stared down at him, envying the way his discheveled hair only added to his easy-going charm. She instinctively reached up to her unruly bangs, attempting to smooth them. He flashed her a smile, straightening up in the bench before gesturing for her to sit beside him.

"Yeah, I promised my niece I'd take her to see a movie and she's not the kind to let me forget." Jaehee sighed, feigning annoyance "She's only 7 but she's a little tyrant" despite his tone, a smile curled up on his lips. She smiled back, a strange sense of pleasure settling in her chest as she imagined him escorting a little girl around the city. The thought of their heigh differences alone made her giggle.

"Ha, I know what you mean. My little sister is the same way with me" Minji took a seat, her body curling inward to protect her from the cold.

He perked up in interest "I didnt know you had a sister, is she much younger?"

"She's only twelve, but she acts like she's seventeen" Minji rolled her eyes, raising her hands up in exasperation.

"Oh so she's trouble"

"She's impossible!" She interjected "But I'm glad she's headstrong... it's easier to go through life that way"

Jaehee put a finger on his chin, looking up pensively in exageration "I may have a hunch or two about where she learned that from" he grinned down at her.

Minji pouted, shooting a mock glare up at him through her lashes, before bursting out into laughter in unison.

It was only now that she realized how close their bodies had gotten. She could feel the heat rising from him, the warmth puddling against her where the sides of their legs touched.

She sensed his energy shift beside her as their laughter quelled, and she willed herself to peek up at him through the edge of her hood. His brown eyes bore down on her, and although she was bundled in three layers she couldn't help but feel completely naked.

Her hands nervously fidgeted on her lap as she began to inch her body away from his on the bench.

"Are you cold? Here" Jaehee reached out and pulled her trembling hands in his. His hands were warm, unaffected by the cold, and they enveloped hers effortlessly like a blanket. A flush crept up her cheeks, her mouth opened to protest but she stopped short as he raised them to his mouth. Minji stared at him in disbelief, mortified at his actions. Unbothered, he began to gently blow on her hands, his warm breath melting the chill that had settled deep inside her. Though it was only her hands he was warming, Minji could feel her insides melting.

They sat this way for a moment, Jaehee taking turns between rubbing their hands together and blowing against them for warmth. "So," Minji started, in an attempt to distract herself from the heat building inside her body "Are you close with your sister?"

"Yeah" he blew gently against her fingertips, the edges of his lips just barely brushing against her skin "My parents weren't too excited about me pursuing film, but my sister convinced them." He set her hands down, choosing to push a strand of damp hair away from her forehead "She's always been my biggest supporter" Jaehee traced her cheek with the back of his fingers, his hand lingering softly against her face.

Minji was keenly aware that he had closed the gap she had worked to put between them "That's so...sweet of her" she mumbled in half a whisper, barely able to get the words out. She was burning up now, the gentle touch of his hands against her sending shivers down her spine. Her body felt foreign to her, like some outside force was pulling her towards him. A crushing weight pressed against her chest, her eyes growing heavy as she melted under his touch.

DING DING. A digital bell rang out alongside an announcement of the upcoming train, shocking her out of her trance. Minji shot up out of her seat, silently thanking the train schedule for the excuse to pull away "My train's here, I should get going"

"Of course." Jaehee looked up at her, his signature crooked grin on his face "You know," he added languidly "if you ever need someone to keep you warm at night..."

Minji scowled at him "You're incorrigible. Goodnight Jaehee"

"I'll be thinking of you tonight" he shouted after her, as she shuffled, embarrassed into the train.

--

The rain had picked up that evening, Minji lay in bed listening as the droplets splattered against her bedroom window. She shifted uncomfortably in the twin bed. Although her sister had her own room, she would always sneak in at night when she would visit. In the end Minji would end up pressed against the wall, with no pillow and fighting for an edge of a blanket. She smiled as her sister softly snored beside her. Though she was almost certain she'd wake up poorly rested with a neck ache she was thankful for these moments they were able to share. Between college and work she didnt make it home as often as she wanted to.

Things hadn't always been so peaceful. When their father left them for another woman, their mom fell into a deep depression. There were days where her mother wouldn't even leave the bed, and Minji was left to care for herself and her sister. She remembered waking up early to pack their lunches, gently lifting her sister from bed, and pulling the school uniform over her little body while she was still half asleep. Her mom continued to spiral, her condition shifting from apathetic to manic. After her husband's abandonment she began to slip in and out of toxic relationships, sometimes leaving her and her sister alone for weeks while she ran off with worse and worse men. Some of the neighbors took pity on them, offering a hand now and again but if it hadn't been for their Grandma... she didn't want to think about it.

Minji stared at her phone, the blue light illuminating her in the darkness. A photo of Jaehee stared back at her. It had been taken in the summer by the river. He was smiling brightly in a white t-shirt, the sleeves rolled up to reveal the contours of his muscles. She had found herself staring at this photo more often these days. Minji bit her lip, thinking on the way his eyes glinted playfully at her whenever he teased her. The way his smile leaned crooked, like a half moon that tugged slightly more on his left cheek. The way he smelled clean and smokey, and how the scent lingered on her clothes whenever he got too close. She locked her phone and sighed, tossing it aside before turning over in the bed to cradle her sister.

She furrowed her brow as she gently brushed a lock of hair away from her sister's forehead. Minji thought back on the cold, lonely mornings where she woke up to find her mother's bed empty yet again. The look of pity on the neighbors as she awkwardly navigated through adult conversations, grasping for lies and excuses to cover for her mother. The feeling of helplesness as her little sister cried for their mother and beat her tiny fists against Minji, demanding answers for why she wasn't home. Minji swallowed her emotions and pulled the blanket over her sister's shoulder before settling in for the night.

Don't get distracted. This is all that matters.