The 29th Newsletter

Hi there 

This is your A.thentic Jong Hee.

And this is my 29th Newsletter for you.

How are you today? Hope everything is well with you right now. 💜

It's already February. 💖 How's the weather in your neighborhood?

Here in Busan, the temperature today was 2°C in the morning and 8°C at midday. Even though it snowed a lot across the country last week, including Jeju Island, we didn’t get any snow in Busan at all. 

Although the weather here is not like a tropical region, it is known for being a city where snow is quite rare, with a temperature difference of only about 3–6°C compared to Seoul. The forecast says Korea will get colder again next week. In Seoul, the morning temperature will be -13°C and the afternoon will be -6°C, while in Busan, it’ll be -8°C in the morning and 1–2°C in the afternoon. It seems like it will warm up around mid-February.

I still check the weather in Seoul. I think it’s because it’s the city where I’ve spent the most time in my life. Even though it’s been years since I left Seoul, I still recognize the cityscapes in K-dramas, and I can usually tell where they are. Personally, I think I’ll decide whether I’ll go back to Seoul or stay in Busan next year. It looks like this year will bring a lot of thoughts and decisions.

Now, since we’re talking about Seoul and Busan, let’s talk about food. Specifically, the national snack of Korea, "tteokbokki." As I’ve said many times, tteokbokki is loved by everyone in Korea and sold everywhere. 

But today, I’m introducing a special tteokbokki place in Busan. This shop, located in the Haeundae Café Street in Busan, was selected as one of the top 10 tteokbokki spots in the country by a famous food program in 2018. The elderly grandparents still make the tteokbokki, with their son helping to run the shop, and there is always a long line in front of the shop. After deciding to try it, I stood in line not long ago, and here are the pictures of the tteokbokki.

My personal evaluation: the rice cakes are really tasty. However, from my personal taste, it was a bit too sweet compared to Seoul’s tteokbokki. People who like sweetness would really enjoy it, though. The overall taste of Busan’s tteokbokki is a bit sweeter than Seoul’s. (Though I can't say for sure if Seoul’s tteokbokki taste has changed since then.) 

Today, I’d like to share the behind-the-scenes story of my new piano single, 'Rain in My Heart,' which is the 7th track of my Love Story album, as well as the 7th chapter of Hyun and Jisoo’s love story.

Before I introduce tracks 1 through 6 and the album again, if you signed up for my newsletter late and would like to read the previous ones, you can click the link below and enter your email address to view all of my newsletters. Please make sure to check it out.

https://jong-hee-newsletter.beehiiv.com/

Once again, by clicking the link above, entering the email you subscribed with, and clicking 'Subscribe,' you can read all of my newsletters and the Love Story releases up until now.

• Summary 

Tr.1 “I met you beautifully” 

Story: Hyun and Jisoo (at this point, her name is Jane) have an unexpected encounter in the rural forest where Hyun lives. In the forest path, Jisoo stumbles awkwardly in front of Hyun, but confidently faces him. This confident side of hers is endearing to Hyun.

Spotify : https://open.spotify.com/track/0zt3iUlfA6lHxbuQh3V8LN?si=5ea3644e35124869

YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXn8fLSUfZM

Newsletter with behind-the-scenes story: "10th Newsletter”

Tr.2 “We walked together” 

Story: The two meet again on the forest path. Feeling a bit of mutual affection, they take a walk to a beautiful, scenic spot. At this moment, Jisoo (Jane) silently sheds tears of joy, while Hyun quietly watches her from beside her.

Spotify : https://open.spotify.com/track/63o33pUqzUwGwMhT4vKm2P?si=5fb89e1d64964742

YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-5HJHzKvkc

Newsletter with behind-the-scenes story :  “12th Newsletter”

Tr.3 “I started to like you”

Story: The two meet again on the forest path, and as they walk through a beautiful field, their feelings for each other gradually grow. However, due to her uncle’s strict words and attitude, Jisoo tries to distance herself from Hyun. As she turns to leave after saying goodbye, Hyun silently tells himself that he has already begun to like her.

Spotify : https://open.spotify.com/track/3RyTEahDkOqEwXNiKqiYbx?si=95f7668499964a57

YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHXrL7VqcWw

Newsletter with behind-the-scenes story : “14th Newsletter”

Tr.4 “Confession of Love” 

Story: Hyun finally tries to confess his love to Jisoo, but she doesn’t show up that day. Waiting in the rain until the end, when she doesn’t come, Hyun returns home. That night, Jisoo, caught up in the complicated matters at home, couldn’t express her feelings for him, but soon regrets it and rushes to his house to tell him that she also loves him. Their love burns passionately.

Spotify : https://open.spotify.com/track/5rW3WPbLl4xRwbHcIrdILa?si=eb8c742d8818460a

YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8Z2oh0LFf4

Newsletter with behind-the-scenes story :  “16th, & 17th Newsletter”

Tr.5 “Journey of Love” 

Story: The two suddenly go on a trip to the beach. There, they walk along the night sea, talking about many things. What conversations did they have?

Spotify : https://open.spotify.com/track/1mgXFzEm918CcMdc0W9J5F?si=2923644039dc4f19

YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8a_BJAHGSss

Newsletter with behind-the-scenes story :  “20th, & 21st Newsletter”

Tr.6 “Condition of Love” 

Story: After returning from the trip, Jisoo unexpectedly runs into Hyun’s mother and has a conversation with her. While Hyun is busy with farm work, Jisoo decides she must go back to Seoul and leaves without even seeing him. Hyun, who had hoped to catch a glimpse of her as she ran toward the bus to Seoul.

Spotify : https://open.spotify.com/track/5Qf1U7TdI08trl4eBtlIc9?si=efb2fb8e5695498d

YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_xMwJnt3XNg

Newsletter with behind-the-scenes story :  “24th, & 25th Newsletter”

That’s all for now.

Today, I will reveal the behind-the-scenes story of the 7th track, “Rain in my heart.” Before we begin, where did the jacket image come from? You’ll find out as you read the story below. Once you discover where it’s from, I’d appreciate it if you could reply to me via email.

Now, let’s begin the story. Before we do, I’ll include the link to the music site where the track can be found below, so I hope you’ll listen to it while reading the story. It will definitely help you focus more on the story. I’ve been listening to it while writing this as well. Enjoy reading!

Thanks for reading my newsletter 🌹

Have a good day 

Warm Regards 

A.thentic Jong Hee 

P.S. Piano Single : “Rain in my heart” 

Spotify : https://open.spotify.com/track/2BGMtZrYYdcIattrB4UeJM?si=c754299e35354337

Apple Music : https://music.apple.com/kr/album/rain-in-my-heart/1792688179?i=1792688180&l=en-GB

……………………………………………………………………………………………………

#7. Rain in My Heart

Written by A.thentic Jong Hee

Rain falls again today in the village where Hyun lives. It has been a week or two since the summer monsoon season began, yet the rain still comes and goes. Once it starts, it lasts all day, showing no sign of stopping. Fortunately, the rainfall is not too heavy, so the farmers in Hyun’s village have not suffered much damage. His farm, too, has not been significantly affected by the monsoon.

However, due to the continuous rain, leaks formed in a few areas of the barn’s roof, forcing Hyun to rush out into the rain to make repairs. The barn’s drainage pipes clogged, causing wastewater to overflow, so he had to clear them immediately. He also had to frequently clean and maintain the barn floor to keep it from becoming too damp or humid. Thanks to Hyun’s meticulous care, the cows have remained healthy despite the long monsoon season. 

On days when the rain poured heavily or any small problem arose in the barn, he threw himself into his work with full concentration. The days passed quickly for Hyun, and in some ways, he was grateful for that.

Because when he was busy, he could momentarily forget the thoughts that never left his mind.

Jisoo… Hyun’s mind was filled with nothing but her. Thinking of her made things harder for him. He missed her, and at the same time, he worried about her.

There was still no word from Jisoo. It had been quite some time since she left the village for Seoul, yet he had heard nothing from her.

Even so, Hyun never once called or texted her. She was likely busy, caught up in work, and the last thing he wanted was to disturb her. But more than that—far more than that—he worried that if she was with her husband, his message might put her in an awkward situation. Hyun was not the type to send texts like, “Don’t forget me,” or “Have you already forgotten me?” to seek reassurance. All he could do was wait.

“Hyun, you need to eat. Are you still out here working?”

As dinnertime approaches, his mother comes to the barn, calling out to him.

“Yes, Mother. I’ll be right in. Go ahead without me.”

He answers her and then finishes up his remaining tasks for the evening.

Hyun had been quietly immersing himself in farm work while patiently waiting for Jisoo’s call. Watching her son bury himself in work every day, his mother felt uneasy.

The young woman her son had feelings for had gone to Seoul and never returned. Yet her son seemed completely indifferent to the situation, going about his days as if nothing had changed. To his mother, this was even more concerning. If he missed her, wouldn’t it be better for him to admit it? Wouldn’t expressing his feelings ease his heart, even just a little? But she knew her son well—he was not the type to talk about such things.

Sometimes, Hyun would pick up his phone. He would open the message window and type a short greeting, “How have you been?” But after staring at it for a while, he would erase it and close his phone. If she had the time, she would reach out to him on her own. If she was too busy to contact him, how selfish would it be for him to interrupt her work?

The next day, Hyun drives into town to buy fertilizer for the cows and disinfectant for their feeding troughs. As he drives, the scenery outside his window passes by—pine forests on his left, vast green fields stretching beyond them. 

At that moment, a thought strikes him. She is from the city—Seoul, no less. So why do these sights—forests, fields—always remind him of her?

Forests, fields, and the sea… Why do these vast, open landscapes transform into longing for her? And why, when he thinks of her, does he feel the urge to go to the forest? To stand alone by the sea? Why, when missing her, does he crave the silence of the woods and the solitude of an empty shore?

As he ponders, he finally grasps the answer.
When he looks at her, he wants something eternal. When he thinks of her, he wants to be alone—completely, utterly alone, but only in front of her. The loneliness he feels when thinking of her is, in itself, an endless love.

And one thing is certain—he loves her deeply, gently, like the quiet wind blowing over the sea, like the fragrant breeze passing through the forest.

Lost in thought, he soon arrives at Sung Jin Fertilizer, a store in town. He parks his truck, walks inside, and prepares himself. He knows he will see her uncle inside, and he knows there is a chance he will once again hear sharp, cutting words. But he has no intention of avoiding it.

He simply wants to present his true self to her uncle in a quiet, composed manner. It is unimaginable for him, given his nature, to deliberately try to perform well, flatter, or get close—that is simply not who he is.

“Welcome.” 

said the store clerk, Lee, as Hyun enters.

Hyun nods in greeting and grabs a cart, walking through the aisles to pick out what he needs. From the corner of the store, Jisoo’s uncle, the owner, spots him. He stops organizing the shelves and furrows his brows. But Hyun has yet to notice him and continues shopping.

A few minutes later, he reaches the checkout counter. The store owner is nowhere in sight.

“How have you been, Mr. Kim?” the clerk, Lee, asks as he scans Hyun’s items.

“I’ve been well. How about you?”

Lee hesitates for a moment before lowering his voice. 

“By the way… how did you meet the boss’s niece?”

“…What?”

“I mean… how did you meet such a beautiful woman..so quickly..”

Before he can finish, a sharp voice rings out from behind them.

“Lee, stop babbling and get back to work.”

“Ah, yes! Sorry, boss,” Lee stammers. He quickly finishes the transaction and hands Hyun his receipt.

As Hyun wheels his cart out to the parking lot, he loads the supplies onto his truck. Just as he is about to get into the driver’s seat, a figure steps in front of him.

It is Jisoo’s uncle.

“Do you have a moment to talk?”

“…Yes.”

As he approaches Hyun, Han lets out a deep sigh, as if trying to suppress his anger.

"I asked you once before..."

"…?"

“About my niece, Jane."

“Yes…”

“I heard you two went somewhere?”

"...Yes..."
“Where?”

“Pardon..?”
“You heard me. Where did you take her?”

Hyun hesitates before answering.

“We just… went somewhere for a bit.”

Jisoo’s uncle exhales sharply and speaks in a cold, low voice.

“Are you out of your mind?”

“….?”

“Do you understand that she is a married woman?”

“…Yes, I know.”

"Do you know that? Does someone who knows behave like this? Are you out of your mind? My niece is married. Do you not understand what I'm saying?”

“…..”

"Where exactly did you go with a married woman? Do you think this makes any sense? Do you even realize how many people you're hurting with your actions?"
“...."

Hyun has no words in response to the Han’s harsh words and just listens in silence.

"Even though my niece is married, she’s still immature and could end up meeting anyone. But when someone like her tries to do something she shouldn't, shouldn't you have stopped her?"

“....."

"Turns out, you're a pathetic person after all. I never thought you'd be like this."

"...."

"Do you know who came here yesterday while you were off with my niece? Her husband! He came looking for her. Do you understand that?"

“....."

"If you keep acting so recklessly and irresponsibly, do you know how many people will suffer? Jane, her father, and her husband, they all have businesses, companies involved. Do you get that? And now, because of you, those big businesses are going to face setbacks? Is that what you want?”

“…I didn’t know.”

"Didn’t you know? You didn’t know? Fine. Then from now on, you’d better understand. That’s what I’ve been asking you and your mother about. But even though I, an older man, made that request, you ignored it and went around acting however you pleased?"
"...."
"From now on, don’t contact Jane again. Understand?"
"...."
"If you try to contact or meet my niece again, I won’t stay quiet. Understand?"
"...."
"Well, then, you can leave with that in mind."

Finishing his words, the older man lets out a deep sigh before turning and walking away.

Hyun stands frozen. His mind spins with everything he has just heard. But amid all those thoughts, one thing is clearer than anything else. He misses her. Even in the face of such harsh reality, he misses her terribly.

Just as Hyun turns to head to his truck, a voice echoes in his ears.

“Would you like to buy an umbrella…?”

He stops in his tracks and looks around, but no one is there. Dismissing it, he continues toward his truck, about to climb into the driver’s seat when—

“Hello…”

Startled by the voice from behind, Hyun turns around to see a middle-aged woman standing there. He hesitates for a moment before facing her.

“You’re Kim Hyun… right? The one who runs a farm in the village down the hill…?”

“…Yes, that’s me.”

“I see… I’m Jane’s..I mean Jisoo’s aunt. My husband owns the fertilizer shop here.”

“Oh… I see. Nice to meet you, ma’am.”

Hyun bows his head slightly in greeting, and the woman hesitates before speaking again.

“If you have some time… would you like to come inside for a cup of tea?”

She gestures toward the house connected to the parking lot behind the store.

“Pardon...?”

“I saw everything from inside. What my husband said to you just now… I saw it all. Just… have a cup of tea with me? He’s not home. After all that, he just took the truck and left to go collect payments. He won’t be back for a while… not until dinner.”

“Ah… I see…”

“So… will you come in?”

The woman gestures toward the house once more, as if urging him forward. Hyun hesitates, but unable to refuse, he quietly follows her inside.

Once they enter, she goes straight to the kitchen, setting a kettle on the gas stove and lighting the burner.

“Sorry, the house is a bit messy. Please, make yourself comfortable.”

Hyun stands there awkwardly for a moment before moving toward the sofa she points to. He sits down in silence.

A few moments later, she returns with the tea.

“It’s jasmine tea. I’m not sure if you like it…”

She places an empty teacup in front of him, then carefully pours the tea from a small glass teapot.

“Please, have some. It’s been raining a lot lately, so something warm might do you good.”

“Thank you…”

As he takes the teacup, she sits across from him and studies his face for a moment.

“You have clear eyes… different from the people in this town.”

“…..”

“I’m so sorry about my husband. He has a terrible temper and doesn’t think before he speaks. I… I’m really sorry. He had no right to say those things to you.”

“It’s okay..”

“Drink your tea. Slowly.”

“Yes… thank you.”

Hyun lifts the cup and takes a quiet sip.

“…You didn’t know, did you?”

“I’m sorry…?”

The sudden question catches him off guard.

“That our Jisoo… is married.”

“Ah… yes. At first, I didn’t know.”

“I see… She’s not the type to lie. Maybe she just… didn’t expect things to go that far between you two, so she didn’t say anything at first.”

“……”

“My husband’s words were out of line, but… I hope you can understand where he’s coming from. Jisoo’s father and husband are tied together in business. If something goes wrong, it could be disastrous. My husband… he thinks he is protecting her.”

“…I understand his concerns.”

“Jisoo is married, but she still doesn’t know anything… Her heart is too soft. She’s still so young…”

“I’m truly sorry, ma’am. I didn’t mean to cause any trouble… I apologize.”

Hyun bows his head deeply. At that moment, the woman speaks again—

“My Jisoo…”

“…?”

“Please… love her a lot.”

Hyun looks up in shock.

“…What?”

“My Jisoo… please love her. She’s had such a hard life…”

Hyun stares at her in disbelief. The woman’s eyes are already brimming with tears.

“She… never wanted any of this. The moment she returned from studying abroad, they forced her into marriage.”

“……”

"She kept saying she didn’t want it… but she couldn’t go against her parents. She never even had the chance to date anyone, but they called him her ‘husband-to-be’ after just a few brief meetings and immediately set a wedding date.”

“…..”

“Her father’s business was funded by a wealthy family, and their son… he said he liked Jane—no, our Jisoo. And just like that, her father thought it was a good match and rushed the marriage. She never even had the chance to fall in love with him. They never even held hands. She felt nothing for him… yet they forced her into marriage like that…"

“……”

The woman pauses, her voice breaking as she wipes her tears. Hyun sits frozen, unable to respond.

"They forced her into marriage for the sake of their business, just because they needed money… even though she didn’t love him. They never even dated, never even had the chance to truly get to know each other.”

“…..”

“But she… she has such a soft heart. She couldn’t bring herself to rebel against them, not even once… and so, just like that, she was married off…Does that even make sense in this day and age? It breaks my heart… she’s suffering so much…"

Jisoo’s aunt wipes away her flowing tears, unable to stop them. Hyun just sits there, frozen, listening to her words in silence.

“They all keep calling her ‘Jane, Jane’… even though her real name is Jisoo.”

“……”

“If at least she was happy in her marriage, maybe things would be different… but no matter how hard she tries… that husband of hers…”

“……”

“They don’t even live together anymore. They’ve been separated for a long time.”

“……!”

Hyun’s eyes widen in shock.

“She told him she wanted a divorce… but that bastard won’t let her go! He’s out there doing whatever he pleases, but he won’t give her the freedom she wants. How could he be so cruel?”

The woman sobs openly, her grief pouring out. Hyun clenches his fists tightly at the aunt’s words. He can no longer control himself as he listens to the aunt’s words.

“But… for the first time, she met someone she likes here… for the first time”

“……”

“When she told me… I was so happy for her. So please… I beg you… my Jisoo… my poor Jisoo… please love her a lot…"

And with that, the woman buries her face in her hands, sobbing uncontrollably.

A short while later, Hyun leaves Jisoo’s uncle’s house. He walks aimlessly, his face still frozen in shock. Passing by his parked pickup truck without even noticing it, he keeps walking, dazed.

As he crosses the road, a car screeches to a stop right in front of him, its horn blaring. He has nearly been hit. The driver shouts something angrily, but Hyun barely registers it. He just keeps bowing in apology, mumbling, “I’m sorry… I’m sorry,” as he crosses to the other side. Still in a daze.

A cold wind sweeps past him, and the sky overhead grows darker. Then—

“Would you like to buy an umbrella…?”

The voice echoes in his mind again.

In the distance, a small convenience store comes into view. Without thinking, he walks inside and buys an umbrella.

Holding the transparent vinyl umbrella loosely in one hand, he keeps walking… and before he knows it, he enters the path leading to the pine forest.

At that moment, the words from the past come to his mind. He once asked her—

“Then… do you live with your husband?”

“….Yes.”

Walking aimlessly through the forest path, Hyun murmurs under his breath—

“You lied…”

Hyun walks in a daze, his body and mind already shattered. He can no longer bear it. The surroundings seem dizzying, and the sky is cloudy. The only thought that crosses his mind is, ‘What should I do with this person’? He doesn't know what to do with her. He just misses her so much, feels so sorry for her, and wants to take care of her with all his heart, truly, with everything deep inside him.

Before he knows it, Hyun enters the pine forest path and continues walking quietly. The shock and sorrow from earlier have somewhat subsided, but the thought that keeps growing is how much he misses her.

As he continues walking, Hyun eventually reaches a bench deeper along the path. He stares at the bench for a moment before quietly sitting down. His gaze naturally drifts forward, but he doesn't see anything at the moment. He only feels the scent of the grass and the breeze that brushes against his cheek. 

A while later, the distant sound of thunder reaches his ears. The sky between the pines grows dark, and soon the breeze that once brushed against his face carries the first traces of moisture.

Then, slowly at first, raindrops begin to fall around him, and soon the rain intensifies into a torrential downpour. Still, Hyun sits there, dazed, letting the rain soak him. He notices the plastic umbrella beneath his hand and quietly raises it above him. His clothes and face are already soaked. 

The bench he's sitting on is completely surrounded by the pouring rain. The raindrops falling between the pines and the wind brushing against his cheek seem to trigger something in his memory. Then, a voice rings in his ears.

“Would you like to buy an umbrella…?”

He turns, but no one is there. Only the thickening rain and the trees getting drenched in the rain. At that moment, Hyun remembers the beach he went to with her a month ago.

The beach. A month ago. 

As night falls, the surroundings grow dark, and the lights from the shops along the beach road are visible in the distance.

Hyun and Jisoo walk along the shoreline at night. The sound of waves, the cool sea breeze brushing past them, and the distant laughter of couples setting off fireworks all blend together like a dream. In this moment, it feels as if nothing and no one can interrupt them. Watching the young couples playing by the water, Jisoo speaks.

“They look like they’re having fun, don’t they?”
“Yeah… they do.”

Hyun answers, glancing in their direction. Then, as if a thought suddenly occurs to him—

“Oh, do you want to do some fireworks too, Jane? I can go buy some.”
“Oh, no, that’s okay.”

Jisoo replies with a smile.

“If you’d like, just let me know. It’s easy. I can get them quickly from that store over there.”
“No, just watching them from here is enough. And… I like walking with you more.”
“Okay…”

At that moment, a faint but distinct sound of thunder rumbles in the distance. Jisoo looks up and speaks.

“Oh… it looks like it’s going to rain.”
“Rain…?”

Hyun responds, also looking up at the sky.

“Yes, I think it’s going to rain, Hyun.”

Hyun nods silently.

"Would you like to buy an umbrella?"
“Huh?”
“Go buy an umbrella, Hyun. I don’t want to lose this moment just because of the rain…”

Jisoo points toward the row of shops along the coast. The two head in that direction.

A short while later, they step into a convenience store. Hyun picks out two umbrellas and heads to the register, but Jisoo calls his name.

“Hyun…”
“Yes?”

Jisoo shakes her head with a smile and raises a single finger—just one. Realizing what she means, Hyun lets out a small “Ah” and puts one umbrella back before paying. Jisoo watches him with an amused smile.

Before long, they are walking along the shore again. The gentle sea breeze now carries a damp chill, and soon, raindrops begin to fall, quickly turning into a steady shower. The young couples playing on the beach shriek with excitement, covering their heads with their hands as they laugh and run for cover.

Hyun quickly opens the umbrella as the pouring rain intensifies, and Jisoo, trying to avoid the rain, rushes under the umbrella, pressing her body so close to Hyun that their faces almost touch. Hyun's eyes widen in surprise, and Jisoo, now face-to-face with him, suddenly blushes. She quickly crosses her arms and says to Hyun.

“See? I was right. Buying an umbrella was a good idea, wasn’t it?”
“You’re right…”

Hyun replies with a soft smile. The two continue walking, the sound of rain and crashing waves blending around them. As the rain grows heavier, Hyun subtly tilts the umbrella toward Jisoo, shielding her from the downpour. Before long, his left shoulder is completely soaked. But the only thought in his mind is one thing— if only this moment could last forever… Just like Jisoo had said earlier.

“Have you ever walked along the beach in the rain, Hyun?”
“Me…? No… What about you, Jane?”

Jisoo shakes her head gently.

“There are a lot of firsts… with me…”

At Hyun’s words, Jisoo smiles softly and asks,

“So… how does it feel? Having so many firsts?”
“Hmm... I don't know... I just... for a moment, I thought, what else haven't you tried?”

Jisoo smiles again at his response.

The rain intensifies, and the wind picks up. Hyun begins to worry and speaks.

“This isn’t good, Jane. Let’s go to the car. You’ll catch a cold.”
“I’m fine…”
“No, you’ll get sick. Let’s go.”

The two make their way toward the parking lot where Hyun’s pickup truck is parked. As they walk, a gust of wind mixed with rain sweeps past them, sending Jisoo’s hair flying. She gently tucks her strands behind her ear as they continue walking. Hyun catches a glimpse of this and, for a fleeting moment, a thought crosses his mind— ‘She’s… so beautiful…’  That’s all he can think.

A few moments later, they arrive at the beachside parking lot. Hyun opens the door, helping Jisoo into the truck before getting into the driver’s seat. Heavy raindrops pound against the windshield and roof, filling the cabin with their rhythmic sound.

“It looks like it’s going to rain a lot, Hyun…”
“Yeah…” Hyun replies.
“It’s a shame… I wanted to walk more…”
“Don’t be too disappointed. We can always come back and walk again next time.”
“Next time…”

Jisoo repeats his words softly.

“Aren’t you cold, Jane? This is not good. I need to turn on the heat.”

Hyun starts the engine and turns on the heater.

“I’m fine…” Jisoo says.
“No, you’ll catch a cold.” Hyun insists.

He glances at her and notices that her shoulder and side are soaked from the rain.

“This is not good.”

He reaches behind his seat, searching for something.

“What are you looking for?” Jisoo asks.
“Just a second… Here it is!”

After rummaging for a while, he pulls out a fabric bag. Opening it, he takes out a thick navy blue blanket.

“I keep this in the car just in case. My mom sometimes gets cold during trips. Here, use this.”

He unfolds the blanket and gently drapes it over Jisoo.

“It’s only been used by my mom a few times. I hope it doesn’t smell weird…”
“No, it’s warm. Thank you. It actually smells nice.”
“Really? That’s good.”
“She seemed like a nice person…”
“Huh?”
“I mean… your mother.”
“Ah.. yeah…”

Hyun gives a quiet smile. Outside, the heavy rain continues to stream down the window, and beyond that, the red and blue lights of the shops lining the coastal road are reflected on the glass, blurred. After looking out the window for a moment, Hyun speaks.

“This won’t do. We should head back, Jane. Who knows when the rain will stop? Buckle up.”

Hyun reaches over and unbuckles the seatbelt behind Jisoo's seat, leaning forward to fasten it across her lap.

“No, Hyun. Wait.”

Jisoo grabs Hyun's hand as he tries to fasten the seatbelt. As a result, Hyun's face, which had leaned toward Jisoo to secure the belt, ends up right in front of hers. The two of them find themselves face to face, their eyes meeting from such a close distance. At that moment, Jisoo quietly speaks.

“It’s a long drive… And with all this rain, it’ll be tiring for you…”
“……”
“And just a little longer…”
“……?”
“I just… want to stay here a little longer… with you…”

After saying that, Jisoo's face turns red. However, she doesn't look away from Hyun's gaze.

“This moment… is too precious to let go…”

Jisoo says quietly. But Hyun barely hears her last words. Because right now, he’s completely lost in the sight of her eyes, her nose, her lips—so close to him, overwhelming him. His heart starts pounding. Jisoo’s heart races just the same. Frozen in place, they look into each other’s eyes. Then without either of them saying who should go first, they slowly move closer to each other, and finally, their lips meet. The two kiss passionately. Neither knows who initiated it, nor when it will end, but in that moment, they are confirming each other's feelings.

In the deep of the night, as the heavy rain falls on the beach, it seems to create a quiet space just for the two of them, and so, a warm yet intense time passes between them.

Present again. A bench in the forest.

Hyun sits blankly on the bench, holding an umbrella, letting the rain fall around him. He stares vacantly ahead, lost in thought, reliving the past. The sound of raindrops hitting his umbrella makes the memory of that night by the sea even more vivid. All he can think about is how much he misses her.

At that moment, Hyun takes his phone out of his pocket. He scrolls through his contacts until he finds Jisoo’s number. Her name appears on the screen—Jisoo (Jane). Right now, he misses her so much. He wants to press the call button immediately, hear her voice. His hand moves toward the button as if he’s made up his mind—but then, his fingers begin to tremble. That’s when he hears a voice in his mind.

"I was scared..."

Then Hyun stops his finger from dialing the number. And at that moment, he recalls the memory of the beach.

One month ago. The beach.

Inside a parked pickup truck, the two of them sit in silence. Outside, the night rain is still falling. After their passionate kiss ends, Hyun and Jisoo sit back in their seats.

"I was scared..."

Jisoo’s voice breaks the silence. She’s wrapped in the blanket Hyun gave her, leaning against the seat, gazing at the raindrops trickling down the window.

"Scared of what...?"

Hyun asks gently, his body turned toward her, his eyes fixed only on her. He pulls the blanket up a little higher over her shoulders to keep her warm. His voice is incredibly tender.

"I was just... scared I might not be able to..”

"Able to what?"

Hyun asks again.

"Actually, my husband contacted me saying he was coming to my uncle's house... I was so scared.”

"So that’s why... you came to me. So suddenly..."

"...Yes."

"Are you afraid of him?"

"No... It’s not that..."

“….?"

"If I saw him there, I knew I would have to go back to Seoul with him. And then... I would never see you again. That’s what I was afraid of."

Hyun is silent. He doesn’t know what to say.

Present again. The rain continues to pour down in the pine forest.

Sitting on the bench, holding his umbrella limply, Hyun stares at the falling rain and murmurs softly to himself.

"You did the right thing…”

Back to that night at the beach.

Inside the truck, Hyun listens to Jisoo’s confession—how she had come to him out of fear, afraid she’d never see him again. With a warm smile, he tells her,

"You did the right thing… coming to me."

Jisoo turns to him, her eyes searching his face.

"Really...?"

"Yes."

"Do you mean it?"

She asks again.

When Jisoo asks again, Hyun quietly smiles and nods his head. As if to reassure her, and showing that what he's saying comes from the heart. Jisoo, seeing Hyun like that, feels tears welling up in her eyes. Then Hyun speaks again.

"Truly… you did the right thing… coming to me.”

Back to the present. The pine forest in the rain.

Hyun, sitting on the bench and silently getting soaked by the rain, quietly speaks again.

"Truly... you did the right thing…. from the very beginning..."

Then, he quietly turns off his phone. Slowly, he lifts his gaze.

Above the falling rain and the towering pine trees, the gray sky stretches endlessly. He looks up at it, missing her. Somewhere, beyond that same cloudy sky, maybe she is looking up too. Hyun lets his longing reach out to her through his gaze. 

At that moment, a gust of wind, soaked with raindrops, brushes past his cheek, and Hyun suddenly thinks to himself. He is happy, for he has fallen in love with someone so beautiful and amazing, even though they can’t be together at this moment. He is still happy. 

Something warm trails down his cheek. Whether it’s raindrops or tears, he can no longer tell.

<The End of Track #7>