"I hate this rain!" I shout as I run toward a shed near the bus station I often go to before heading home.
It's always empty — still is.
I have my umbrella. I just never use it, for reasons I do not know.
This town has always been like this — always drenched and drizzled.
The rain never seems to stop here, as if an endless cycle had begun somewhere, somehow.
Suddenly, before I can start to dry myself, I hear footsteps coming toward me.
I count them under my breath.
"One," I whisper, ignoring the view.
It doesn't matter anyway. I can't expect to meet someone I know in a place like this.
But my curious mind looks at the person anyway.
Wet — she was wet.
Drenched clothes, almost transparent. Her bra had completely been exposed, as if she hadn't planned to hide it either.
Seeing her, I couldn't help myself. I pulled out my umbrella and ducked it toward her, saying,
"I don't need it, you can have it."
Right as I said it, she stared at me. Wasting no time, she placed her hands on her chest, realizing my eyes had wandered.
She hesitated, though I didn't flinch. Moments later, she raised her hand and touched my white-orange umbrella at the tip. Shifting it toward herself, she moved her gentle lips — they made the most pleasant sound I'd heard in days.
"Tha... thanks," she murmured.
A voice like that could only be heard in anime, I thought as I looked away.
"I'm Raitha. You?" her soft voice jolted through my ears once more, snapping me awake. My name? Oh, yes!
"It's Shyam, Rasagi High," I replied — hesitant, anxious, but I made it through.
"I'll return it next week... promise! At the Sweet Balm Café!"
Her voice now grew a bit louder, as if she'd become comfortable around me all of a sudden.
I nodded my head and headed back into the rain, dashing as far away from her as my stamina allowed.
Why wouldn't I?
She just told me to meet her — again!
After that, I crossed that path again for several days before our meet-up time. But she never came back. Maybe she was from someplace different?
"No luck today as well," I murmured as I began to lose hope and prepared myself for the greater tomorrow, when I'd finally meet her again.
Then suddenly, I heard those same slow footsteps again.
The rain had stopped that day; the sun shone bright — and so did her smile.
"Uh! Shyam! Hi!" she said as she dashed beside the bench.
"You know how I promised to return the umbrella?" she began.
I swallowed and softly replied, "Yes."
"Well... I'VE LOST IT! I'm awfully sorry! As compensation, I'll treat you to a coffee!"
Her face had that undeniable smile, which could attract even the mightiest of men.
Shyam couldn't decline. How could he?
How could I?
"Well, uh... alright," I murmured as I picked up my backpack, preparing to leave.
When she suddenly held my sleeve.
I looked back — her face was desperate.
"And I want to do it today!" she said, pulling me along as we ran to the café.
Or maybe... she ran to the café, and I simply followed her.
It was their first ever meeting at a private place — though certainly not the last.
After that day, we met again, and again, and again — for several months.
One day, as I was preparing not only for our meet-up but also for the gift I'd made for her — the one with which I'd finally ask her out — I told myself,
"Be ready to take the hit, Shyam!"
Moments later, I reached the Sweet Balm Café.
Waiting, I practiced my lines to perfection — or so I thought.
For three entire hours I waited. Even the rain had started to deepen, thickening with each passing minute.
"Please, God," I whispered.
Then the TV in the café suddenly turned on. It almost never does unless there's urgent news.
I stared at it, still wishing for the arrival of Raitha.
"So..." I began, forcing a smile.
"You never planned to come," I said, staring blankly at the screen.
"A young girl was hit by a speeding truck going over 120 km/h. Reports claim the driver was drunk.
The girl, still in her youth, is said to be Raitha of South Rasagi High."
I breathe softly above the melting snow, staring at the now-rusted bus station, still kept alive in her name — even after five years.
The umbrella she never returned still waits — hanging by my door.
"I still wait, Raitha," I whisper, as I drop the flower at the bench we used to sit on.
As he cry for another time.
As I wish for a better time.
As she wish for — more time.
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Written by { dhoben }
Published by { noobBooks studio }
Published on { webnovel TMR }
Editor { raitha, leaf on books studio }
Translation { nooblate eng studio & sub studio }