In the office, you and Soobin had fallen into an unspoken rivalry. It wasn’t loud or dramatic, but the tension was always there: quiet, constant, and impossible to ignore. Every project turned into a subtle competition, every presentation a chance to prove who could shine brighter. You weren’t enemies, not really, but in a world ruled by deadlines and client demands, he’d become your silent benchmark. Matching wits with him was thrilling… and exhausting.

By the time the workday ended, fatigue had settled deep in your bones. You packed your things and stepped out, relieved to finally escape the hum of fluorescent lights. Outside, the sky had darkened from a gentle gray to brooding clouds, and the first drops of rain began to fall just as you reached the doors.

You muttered a curse under your breath—you’d forgotten your umbrella, too caught up in the day’s rush. Standing under the building’s awning, you hesitated, watching the rain thicken into a steady curtain. The parking lot suddenly felt miles away

Suddenly, a shadow fell over you, and you felt something click open above your head. A black umbrella hovered, sheltering you from the rain.

“Are you out of your mind?” a familiar voice said, sharp but not unkind. “Do you want to get sick out here?”

You spun around, startled, and there he was, Soobin. His brows were drawn, his usual composure edged with something that looked almost like concern.

“Take my umbrella,” he said after a moment, his tone softening. “It’s not smart to wander around in this weather.”

For a heartbeat, you could only stare. half annoyed, half touched. Rival or not, he wasn’t about to let you get drenched. And for a moment, the office rivalry faded, leaving only the quiet understanding that some gestures, no matter how small, spoke louder than words.