They both started walking.
The path was bathed in the soft light of the afternoon. A gentle breeze stirred the leaves around them.
Onik remained quiet for a moment, then said,
"I still don't know your name."
Ira smiled lightly, a glimmer of mischief in her eyes—
"My name is Ira Rahman. And yours?"
Onik paused as if to memorize the name, then said,
"Onik… just Onik."
Ira raised an eyebrow, smiling softly,
"Just Onik?"
Onik shrugged, a playful yet sincere smile on his face—
"Yes, there's a story behind it, but I won't tell you today. Maybe another afternoon… when you smile again."
Ira's smile deepened,
"Then I guess we'll meet again."
Onik smiled,
"Yes, we will…"
Ira returned the smile briefly, then turned slowly away.
Her hair danced in the breeze, merging with the afternoon light as if she were part of some unfinished feeling.
A little while later, Ira drove home. She entered the house quietly and lay down on her bed.
Onik's face floated repeatedly in her mind—his calm gaze, his soothing voice.
A strange warmth, and yet a hint of fear, filled her heart.
Just then, her mother entered and embraced her.
"What's wrong, dear? Why do you look so troubled?"
Ira smiled slightly, averting her eyes,
"Nothing, Mom… have you ever fallen in love?"
Her mother chuckled,
"Yes, with your father, and that's how life happened."
Ira rolled her eyes playfully, half embarrassed, half amused,
"Go on, Mom… why are you joking?"
Her mother gently patted her head,
"Love isn't just laughter, dear. Sometimes it's a silent depth too."
Ira said nothing, remaining quietly still.
Outside, the light breeze swayed the curtains gently.
Onik's gaze still lingered in her mind, and one question formed—
"Is this really the beginning?"
Night deepened.
Suddenly, the sky rumbled. Lightning illuminated the room for a brief instant.
Ira silently rose and stood on the balcony.
Rain fell in a soft patter, the wind blowing fiercely.
Her black hair flew around, some strands wet against her face.
She closed her eyes, lifting her head—
as if each raindrop was washing away her inner restlessness.
Onik's face appeared in her mind—the calm gaze, the words "Yes, we'll meet again," echoing in the air.
Lightning flashed again, illuminating her face through the wet strands of hair.
The rain continued.
Ira stood on the balcony, eyes closed, smelling the wet air, listening to the distant thunder.
Then—. Her phone rang.
Startled, she looked at it.
The screen lit up with the name: Onik.
Her heartbeat quickened.
A moment of hesitation… then she answered the call.
Onik's voice, soft yet deep,
"Hello…"
Ira paused, then replied quietly,
"Hello…"
For a moment, the rain's sound filled the silence.
Onik spoke again,
"It's raining… are you still awake?"
A faint smile touched Ira's lips,
"Yes… I'm standing on the balcony."
Onik chuckled softly,
"I knew… I felt you'd be staring at the sky."
Ira, surprised, asked,
"How did you know?"
Onik's voice carried a warmth,
"Because once, I saw that sky in your eyes."
Ira remained silent—
just the sound of rain, and Onik's quiet presence over the phone.
The rain still fell.
Ira suddenly laughed softly,
"How did you know I was standing here? Are you… a spy?"
Onik was silent for a moment, then smiled,
"Perhaps… I'm just curious about you."
Ira laughed more,
"Curious? About me?"
Onik's voice was calm but deep,
"Yes… the quieter you seem, the bolder you are inside. I wanted to know that."
Ira spoke lightly,
"You're dangerous with your words."
Onik smiled softly,
"Only for you."
A smile returned to Ira's face.
Raindrops slid down her cheeks, yet her eyes shone—
as if someone had truly understood her silence for the first time.
The call ended.
The screen went dark, but Onik's words lingered—
"Only for you."
The rain slowed.
Ira rested her hand on the balcony railing, inhaling deeply, looking at the sky.
The smell of rain lingered, the cool air brushing her face.
She returned inside, placed the phone on the table, and stood before the mirror.
Her hair was wet, eyes tired, yet a faint smile played on her lips—
not understanding why her heart felt so strange.
She lay down but could not sleep.
Burying her face in the pillow, she thought quietly,
"Is he really like this… or am I imagining it?"
Her eyes closed, and Onik's voice echoed again,
"Hello…"
One word, yet it carried a thousand feelings.
The night passed.
Moonlight spilled through the window onto her face.
Ira slowly smiled and whispered,
"If you're really a spy, then I want to be your mission…"
Then she fell asleep, a strange peace lingering on her lips.
The next morning.
Sunlight pierced through the curtains, falling on Ira's face.
Opening her eyes, she remembered last night's conversation—the sound of Onik's voice, the rain, and that one line:
"Only for you."
She smiled lightly.
The room was silent, only the soft morning breeze flowing through the window.
Her phone vibrated.
The screen lit up with Onik again.
Her heart skipped a beat.
She opened the message:
Would you like to have coffee this afternoon?"
A small smile appeared on her lips.
After a moment of thought, she typed back—
"Sure… if it doesn't rain."
Within seconds, a reply arrived—
"Even if it rains, I'll come."
Her cheeks flushed without realizing it.
She went to the mirror, adjusted her hair, lightly applied lip gloss.
And whispered to herself,
"You're like the rain, Onik… even if you're not here, it feels like you are."
Afternoon.
Ira wore a light sky-blue three-piece outfit, hair loose, bag on her shoulder, and stepped out of the house.
She got into her car and drove, sunlight catching in her hair as she moved along the tree-lined street.
At the same time, Onik stepped out.
White shirt, earth-colored pants, bag slung over his shoulder.
He walked calmly, exuding natural confidence.
At a corner, their eyes met.
Time seemed to stop.
Ira smiled softly, whispering,
"Hello."
Onik smiled back,
"Hello… how are you?"
Ira's cheeks flushed,
"I'm fine… and you?"
They walked together briefly. Ira parked her car, got out, and Onik joined her.
A gentle breeze, the soft afternoon light, and an unusual happiness surrounded them.
The city's distant hum, the quiet streets—the world felt just for them.
They slowly walked to the coffee shop.
Ira's sky-blue three-piece shimmered in the afternoon light.
Onik walked beside her, calm, with a spark of energy in his eyes.
Inside the coffee shop, the smell of coffee and warm light welcomed them.
Ira sat down, smiling softly,
"Alright, even if it doesn't rain, you came?"
Onik chuckled, placing his bag on the chair,
"Of course… coffee with you makes the afternoon complete."
Afternoon light streamed through the window, the breeze gently moving outside.
Ira secretly stole glances at Onik, thinking—
"This moment is truly special."
They ordered light coffee, cappuccinos or lattes.
The peaceful afternoon created the perfect setting for their conversation.
Onik's calm voice said,
"You look beautiful today… the afternoon light suits you."
Ira blushed and shyly replied,
"Ah… do you always talk like this?"
Onik shrugged, smiling lightly,
"Only when someone truly captures my attention."
The afternoon quietly became warm for them
coffee cups, window light, and the subtle magic between their eyes.Rain and a Smile
The coffee cups were empty.
Both of them stared outside the window—
the sky was slowly turning dark.
Raindrops began to patter softly against the glass.
Ira smiled in surprise.
"Look, it's raining again!"
Onik chuckled.
"You said, if it doesn't rain, we won't meet… but it's raining now."
Ira laughed.
"So the rain decided our meeting, didn't it?"
They stepped outside together.
Streetlights shimmered through the drizzle,
and the rain fell gently—neither too heavy nor too light—
just enough to make you want to stand there and feel it.
Ira's hair clung softly to her face,
her eyes glimmered with drops of rain.
Onik took off his black backpack and held it above her head,
shielding her from the rain.
Ira smiled.
"You're getting drenched!"
Onik shrugged, his voice quiet and warm.
"When you smile, even the rain feels lighter."
Ira lowered her eyes and laughed softly.
The rain surrounded them—on the street, in the air,
and between their breaths lingered a sweet silence.
For a moment, Onik gently placed his hand on her shoulder,
a soft, protective touch—
not too bold, not too shy—just honest.
Ira looked up,
and on her lips bloomed that familiar smile—
as if the rain itself was writing the first chapter of their love story.
---
After the Rain
The rain had stopped.
Sunlight streamed through the clouds,
glistening on the drops still resting on the leaves.
Pink blossoms lined both sides of the street,
and beneath them, Ira and Onik walked slowly.
Ira wore a light sky-blue outfit,
her hair still damp, falling gently over her shoulders.
Onik, in a white shirt and dark pants,
carried his black bag across his shoulder.
The air still smelled of rain—fresh and clean,
as if the whole world had just begun anew.
Onik smiled.
"You know, days after rain are my favorite."
Ira glanced at him, amused.
"Because the sky clears up, right?"
He shook his head.
"No… because smiles look clearer after the rain."
Ira blushed lightly and lowered her gaze,
a soft laugh escaping her lips.
Their footsteps echoed softly on the red-brick path,
while the air around them filled with the scent of flowers.
Peace hung in the wind—
as if the whole world had fallen silent,
leaving only two hearts, two smiles,
and the promise of a new beginning.
---
A Moment of Goodbye
The sun was slowly setting in the west.
Petals of pink flowers drifted in the wind,
and a soft golden light wrapped the evening.
Ira opened her car door, smiling gently.
"Alright, Onik… I'll go now."
Onik stayed silent for a moment, then said softly,
"Yeah… see you soon."
Ira smiled again—
that calm, familiar smile.
The black BMW's engine purred,
its sound slowly fading into the wind.
As the car moved down the road,
the sunlight glinted on its surface—
as if the evening itself was bidding her farewell.
Onik stood there, motionless.
In his eyes lingered a quiet tenderness—deep, wistful.
He watched until her car disappeared in the distance,
and only her laughter echoed faintly in his mind.
After a while, he got into his own car,
started the engine quietly,
and drove home through the dimming light.
Outside, the world was turning calm again—
but inside him, one thing remained—
a moment, a girl,
and a smile that felt like the beginning of everything.