Aish!” I sighed while packing my things.

It was already dismissal time when the sky started to get darker.

Man…Didn’t they announce  that it would be sunny today? How come it’s about to rain?

The weather really.. Slow down with the climate change, will you?

 

“Leaving already?” My best friend Dana asked me.

“Yeah.. I need to get home fast before the rain decides to pour down.”

“Huh? Rain? What are you talking about? The weather’s perfect! The sun’s not that hot! The temperature’s just right! Let’s hang out!” She excitedly told me. This friend of mine is kind of clueless when it comes to weather.

"Maybe next time” I smiled.“Come on! I’ll ask Kookie to take you home when it rains.” She continued to insist, holding on to my arm like a koala bear.

“No thank you. I don’t want to be the third wheel on your date.”

What I said made her blush.“Hmpf! F-Fine. I won’t force you anymore..” She sighed in defeat, letting go of my arm in the process. “See you tomorrow then.”

“Ok, Bye!” I waved goodbye and left the room.

I walked at a fast pace as I exit the building. The sky was getting dimmer be the minute. It was stupid of me to believe that it would be sunny today. Why didn’t I bring my umbrella?

I don’t like it when it rains. It makes me feel alone and dark that it drags me down, that’s why I rejected Dana’s invitation even if I wanted to go.

See? I’m getting depressed already.

Thunder roared when I arrived at the bus stop. The rain didn’t pour down yet which is a good thing. This bus stop doesn’t have a waiting shed for people to hide themselves from the bad weather.

What a bummer.

All I have to do now is to wait for the bus.

Come on bus! Where are you?

I was looking at the direction where the bus would come by when I got a glimpse of the guy beside me.

He’s wearing a dark hoodie that covered his face while chewing on a gum. 

How could I tell you ask? It’s because of the popping sound it makes.

He patiently stood there, waiting for the bus, just like me, only that he brought his umbrella with him.

What a lucky person.

As that thought escaped my mind, it started to rain.

Oh, perfect.

Scumbag weather.

I quickly covered my head using my sling bag. My sling bag that can only protect my head. I’ll definitely get a cold from this.

The guy beside me must have noticed my uncomfortable state because he suddenly approached me and offered to share his umbrella.

I looked at him, confusion evident in my eyes. I was completely taken aback by his kind gesture. I still can’t see his face but I can feel that he’s gently smiling at me, but he quickly looked away as the bus was slowly approaching us.

I continued to stare at him though, still speechless, my heart racing at his act of kindness. 

I have no idea why I’m feeling this way at all.

I wanted to thank him but words won’t come out of my mouth, so I just stood there fidgeting as the bus arrived.

I stuttered a simple “Thank You” which I think he didn’t hear as I boarded the bus, sitting where I could get a glimpse of him.

I absentmindedly saved a seat, just in case he rides the bus but he didn’t.

He was gone by the time the bus left.

Eh? What was that all about?

-----

It’s been a month since my encounter with the boy in the rain, but it wasn’t our last meeting though.

I continued to see him but only when it rains. He never shows up when the day is really nice and sunny.

I don’t know when, how or why, but I started looking forward to rainy seasons. It’s been a week since it last rained and for the first time in my life, I wished that it would rain everyday so that I would be able to see him.

I miss him.

I mean, I think I’m already in love with him!

Like what? I don’t even know the guy and moreover, I haven’t seen his face yet!

How could I fall in love with him?

Argh!! I feel so pathetic!

“You-ssi, are you okay?” Dana asked me. We’re currently at the cafeteria eating our lunch with her boyfriend Jungkook.

“You’re in a daze.” He added.“Yeah, I’m fine, don’t worry” I smilingly assured them.

“Yah, Kookie-ah! I heard there’s going to be a storm today!”

“HUH?? Really??” I asked her, trying my very best to hide my excitement which totally failed. They started laughing at my reaction when it hit me. “Yah! It’s not funny!” I pouted and playfully hit my friend.

“Sorry, sorry! Ahahaha! Wow! This is new! Don’t you hate storms? Since when did you start liking them?” She amusingly teased me. I already told her about the boy in the rain.

“You’re being mean.”“Peace!” She smiled at me, making a peace sign. “But jokes aside, I suggest that you stop crushing on this guy”. Her face became serious now, which sent chills to my spine.

“Eh Why not?”

“It’s because #1.  You don’t know him. #2 You have no idea what he looks like. And #3 He may be a stalker, a ert, a kidnapper, or even a druglord!

”It was my turn to laugh at what she said. “Oh come on Dana! You’re exaggerating on #3. I bet he’s a good guy.

”Dana raised her hand in defeat, knowing that it was pointless to argue with me. “Yes, yes.. You may be right for that, but for all you know, he may be like that to other girls too, because he’s a ‘good guy’” She gestured then held my hands and looked straight to my eyes. “Look, You-ssi. I don’t have problems with you falling in love. It’s just that I don’t want to see you hurt, okay?”

“Okay..”

Even though I said that, I know it wasn’t

-----

What Dana said never left my mind all throughout the day.

She’s right. He may be doing all those kind gestures with other women. I’m not the only one who waits at the bus stop, right?

My heart pained at that thought. I should stop thinking about him. I bet it’s a one-sided love after all.

Good thing it’s sunny today.

I won’t be able to see him, but a part of me still wishes that it would magically rain somehow.I know it would, the weather’s a scumbag entity.

 

I sighed. I didn’t bring my umbrella again.

Well, ever since that day, I stopped bringing it anyway.

I arrived at the bus stop and waited for it and as usual, it’s still late, but it arrived though, and when it did..

I was never so disappointed in my life.

It rained. It totally rained like there’s no tomorrow..

and HE WASN’T THERE.

I guess it really wasn’t meant to be.

I sighed in disappointment as I climbed up the bus. I looked back once again just to feel down again.

He didn’t come.

That realization made me sink down on my seat.

My friend is totally right.

I felt a painful tug in my heart. 

Did I really like him that much?

I was too out of myself to realize that I’m already at my destination. I don’t even remember if I already paid the driver. It’s already raining cats and dogs but I didn’t mind it anymore. I got out of the bus and stood there to watch it leave.

Eh? That’s strange.

Why aren’t I getting wet?

When I turned around I got surprised at what I saw.

There, drenched in the rain, stretching his hand out to cover me with an umbrella crouched the boy in the rain. His hood was down, revealing his auburn hair and pale white skin.

He’s panting really bad, trembling from the cold wind.

Did he.. Did he really come after me just to protect me from the rain?

Me..? Only ME?

Once again, I was too overwhelmed that I stood silent with my mouth gaping open.

I am so happy, too flabbergasted that it made me speechless with his presence.

“Am I.. *Haah* Am I too late?” He asked me, looking at me, facing me, smiling with his gummy teeth. He looked so cute and so handsome that made me stare at him in awe.

It was the first time that he spoke and his voice melted my doubting heart.

So I laughed.

I really can’t express and understand what I feel so I laughed, tears falling out of my eyes with joy, praising the rain that it makes them unnoticed.

His voice, his face, his being, his presence.. 

They made all my worries fade away. 

My feelings are true. 

HE is true.

I.. I really love this guy, don’t I?

He looked at me with wonder in his eyes, it’s full of love though, with a pinch of worry, so I cupped his face, leaned our foreheads together while smiling like an idiot, assuring him that I’m alright.

“Thank you.”

“Hmm? For what?”

“Thank you for blowing the storm away.”

- End