Damn it all.
Leo splashed through the rain, no jacket, no umbrella—just his bad luck and soaked clothes.
He stopped at a busy intersection. Cars roared past in a constant stream.
Wait… wasn't there a stop sign here before? Am I ever gonna cross? What god hates me this much?
Finally, one driver stopped and waved him across while horns blared behind.
Leo jogged past, raising a hand in thanks. Man, people are real jerks in the morning.
After another ten minutes of running, he slowed to catch his breath—only to notice a girl standing by the roadside. She looked his age, pale-skinned, wearing a yellow raincoat, holding a blood-red umbrella. Her dark eyes seemed… hollow.
She stared into a puddle like it held the secrets of the universe.
Weird… Did she drop something? Not my problem… right?
But curiosity won. Leo walked closer. "Excuse me, miss—"
"It's not you," she muttered.
"…Sorry?"
Rejected? Already? I wasn't even trying to ask her out.
"You're not the one I'm waiting for. Go away."
"Well, jeez, sorry for asking if you needed hel—"
"Go away."
Leo raised his hands. "Got it, message received."
He turned, but headlights flashed. A car was speeding straight at her. Without thinking, Leo yanked her back by the raincoat. They both fell as the car swerved, splashing them with filthy puddle water before crashing into a pole.
"Are you okay?!" Leo shouted. "That lunatic could've killed you!"
The girl sat up slowly, those dark eyes locked on him. "How did you do?"
"Umm?… Excuse me, but you're a bit too close."
She continued to stare at him, with her hollow eyes like she was searching for something buried deep. For half a minute she didn't blink. Then she pulled back.
"Maybe it was just a coincidence that I couldn't use it," she whispered.
Use… what? What is with this girl?
Leo got up, brushed himself off, and offered her a hand. "You sure you're okay?"
Instead of taking it, she closed her umbrella and pointed it at him.
"Move aside, please."
"What—"
WHOOSH! A gust of wind blasted from the umbrella, hurling Leo fifty meters back into another puddle.
"Ahhh—this is so unfair!" Leo yelled midair before crashing down.
WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT?!
When he blinked the water out of his eyes, she was standing over him, umbrella open once more.
"I did warn you," she said calmly, offering her hand.
Still dazed, Leo took it—only to hear a sharp PSHH! like glass shattering inside his skull. His ears rang.
The girl's grip tightened painfully.
"Ow, ow, ow!"
She released him, retreating a step. "I'm sorry for the trouble I've caused you.Even though all of it was your fault."
"No probl-Wait what?!"
Seriously, who the hell does this girl think she is?
Her expression didn't change. "Tell me… are you really human?"
Leo gawked. "What kind of stupid question is that? Of course I'm human!"
The girl gave a small nod, as if confirming something only she understood. She then turned and walked away, vanishing into the rain.
Leo spun toward the wreck. But the car and the broken pole were gone—like they had never existed.
His stomach knotted. What the hell just happened?
Still drenched, still late, he shook his head. "God, I swear, can I just have ONE normal day?"