Sky's Point of View
I was late.
Again.
In my defense, I meant to be early. My alarm was set. My outfit was laid out. I even made a checklist last night—like a real adult. But then I saw a hedgehog on the way to campus and obviously I had to stop and feed it a biscuit. I mean, it looked hungry.
Anyway.
Now I was sprinting like a Disney princess with a deadline, my bag bouncing against my hip, my knees protesting under my too-heavy boots, and my black hair whipping behind me like some dramatic anime girl mid-transformation.
I bolted up the steps of the law building, burst through the double doors of the lecture hall—and promptly tripped.
Like, cartoon-style tripped.
The strap of my bag caught on the armrest of some rich dude's seat, and my entire life flashed before my eyes. It was full of glitter and regret. I flailed. I yelped. The floor was coming fast and I was about to faceplant in front of a hundred law students.
And then—
Hands.
Firm. Steady. Warm.
Something caught me from behind, like the universe paused just long enough to say: Not today, clumsy girl.
My eyes flew open.
Rain Chen.
Rain. Freaking. Chen.
He was holding me by the waist like I weighed nothing. Like this was a thing he did regularly. Like saving girls mid-air was just a bullet point on his mafia-boy-resume or something.
I froze.
He didn't say anything—just looked at me with those glacier-gray eyes like I'd dropped from another planet and landed in his arms.
Next to him, Ren Lin raised an eyebrow and took a dramatic sip of his coffee. "Well, that's one way to say good morning."
I was still mid-dangle.
Still in Rain's arms.
Still not breathing.
My brain screamed SAY SOMETHING, SKY. But all that came out was:
"Hi. I brought pastries again."
Rain blinked.
Ren snorted.
I wanted to disappear.
Rain gently—gently!—righted me, like I was made of glass. His hand lingered for exactly 1.4 seconds longer than necessary. Not that I counted or anything.
"Stop running," he said, voice low and infuriatingly calm. "You'll break something."
My heart. Probably. It was already working overtime.
"Y-Yeah, I know. I just—I saw this puppy outside and I got distracted and then I tripped and then—" I stopped. "Oh no. Did I squish the pastries?!"
Ren full-on laughed now. "Only you would be saved from death and worry about the pastries."
Rain didn't laugh. He just gave me a once-over, eyes sharp, searching, like he was checking for injuries—or... something else.
"Next time," he murmured, "walk."
Then he walked away, suit jacket fluttering behind him like some mafia drama wind god.
Ren winked at me as he followed. "See you in class, Marshmallow Girl."
I blinked after them, still clutching my smooshed pastry bag, my knees jelly and my soul halfway to heaven.
Dear Diary:
Rain Chen caught me.
Rain Chen touched me.
Rain Chen told me to walk like I was one wrong step away from being wrapped in bubble wrap.
I think I'm in love.