When a sudden shower brings hearts a little too close.
The day had started perfectly normal—classes, a quick coffee break, and Fah convinced he could survive the morning without tripping over Tawan's perfection. That confidence lasted exactly until noon, when dark clouds rolled over campus and rain came pouring down.
Fah groaned, opening his umbrella, only to find that it barely covered him. Across the courtyard, Tawan appeared, calm as ever, holding a large umbrella and scanning the crowd.
"Need a hand?" Tawan called, his smirk flashing like a warning.
Fah blinked, caught between pride and practicality. "I'm fine," he said quickly, though he took a cautious step toward Tawan anyway.
"Sure you are," Tawan said, opening his umbrella just wide enough to cover both of them. Their shoulders brushed almost immediately, and Fah felt the heat rise in his chest.
The rain was relentless, splattering against the pavement and soaking anyone who stayed outside. Tawan guided them through the puddles, occasionally stepping in water so it would splash onto Fah.
"You're evil," Fah muttered, though a small laugh escaped him.
"And you like it," Tawan replied casually, eyes twinkling.
A sudden gust of wind flipped the umbrella, and they both yelped, clutching it and ending up practically pressed together. Fah's heart raced, heat crawling up his neck, while Tawan's smirk softened into something warmer, almost gentle.
"Okay," Fah said breathlessly, "we need to fix this before someone sees."
Tawan leaned a little closer, brushing a wet strand of hair from Fah's forehead. "Relax. I don't care who sees."
Fah blinked, caught off guard by the directness. "You're… impossible."
"And yet, you're smiling," Tawan said, nudging him lightly.
Fah couldn't deny it. "Maybe I am."
By the time they reached shelter, soaked but laughing, Fah realized that the umbrella mishap had done something subtle yet undeniable: it had brought them closer, physically and emotionally. For a moment, the rain, the chaos, and the teasing felt perfect.
Tawan looked at him, a faint blush on his cheeks he would probably deny later. "Next time, I'll bring a sturdier umbrella. Or maybe I won't," he teased, giving Fah a wink.
Fah laughed, shaking his head. "You're impossible," he repeated, but this time it was warm, fond, and entirely true.
And as they walked toward the library to dry off, Fah realized that some chaos was worth getting drenched for—especially if it meant walking through it with Tawan.