The rain started before Lia could leave the studio.
At first, it was soft.
Just tiny drops tapping against the large glass windows like a quiet warning.
But within minutes, the sky darkened completely.
And the rain came harder.
Lia stood near the entrance, hugging her bag close to her chest while students rushed past her.
Some laughed.
Some complained.
Some ran through the rain anyway.
But Lia stayed where she was.
Quiet.
Still.
Watching.
She hated being stuck anywhere crowded.
And unfortunately for her, the entrance area was slowly filling up.
Voices everywhere.
Perfume mixing with rain.
Phones flashing.
People talking too loudly.
Her shoulders tensed slightly.
She just needed the rain to stop.
Or at least slow down enough for her to leave.
"Still here?"
Lia looked up instantly.
Ethan.
Of course.
He stood a few feet away wearing a black hoodie, slightly damp hair falling over his forehead.
Even after everything—the fame, the attention, the heartbreak—people still noticed him immediately.
Two girls near the door whispered excitedly the second he appeared.
Ethan ignored them.
His eyes stayed on Lia.
"…I'm waiting for the rain to calm down," she replied softly.
Ethan glanced outside.
"It's getting worse."
"I noticed."
A small smirk pulled at his lips.
That tiny expression alone made her stomach feel strange.
Warm.
Dangerously warm.
He walked over and leaned beside her against the wall.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
The silence wasn't awkward anymore.
Not like before.
Now it felt… comfortable.
Like both of them had somehow gotten used to each other without realizing it.
"You skipped lunch again."
Lia blinked.
"…what?"
Ethan looked at her lazily.
"You always skip lunch when you're nervous."
Her eyes widened slightly.
"I do not."
"You do."
"I don't."
"You literally bought juice and called it a meal."
Lia stared at him.
"…why do you notice things like that?"
Ethan shrugged.
"I just do."
And somehow that answer affected her more than it should have.
Because Ethan noticed her.
Not the way fans noticed him.
Not surface-level.
Not loud.
He noticed little things.
The quiet things.
The things nobody else ever paid attention to.
Outside, thunder rumbled softly.
Lia flinched a little before she could stop herself.
Ethan noticed that too.
"You scared of thunderstorms?"
"…maybe."
A faint laugh escaped him.
"Cute."
Lia nearly choked.
"What?"
He looked completely unbothered.
"What?" he repeated.
"You can't just say things like that randomly."
"Why not?"
"Because…"
She stopped.
Because she honestly didn't know.
Ethan watched her struggle for words for a second before looking away with the smallest smile.
And somehow that made things worse.
Her heart wouldn't calm down.
Another loud crack of thunder echoed outside.
This time Lia jumped slightly.
Before she realized it—
Ethan reached for her wrist.
Gentle.
Warm.
Steady.
"It's just thunder," he murmured.
Lia looked down at his hand.
Then slowly up at him.
And suddenly the crowded entrance didn't matter anymore.
The noise faded.
The people disappeared.
It was just him.
Looking at her like she was something soft he didn't want the world touching too harshly.
Ethan seemed to realize what he was doing a second later.
His fingers loosened immediately.
But Lia reacted before he could pull away fully.
She held on.
Just slightly.
Barely.
Still enough for him to notice.
The air shifted instantly.
Neither of them moved.
Neither of them spoke.
But something changed.
Something dangerous.
Something neither of them were ready to name yet.
Ethan's gaze dropped briefly to her lips before returning to her eyes.
Lia's breath caught.
And for one terrifying second…
She thought he might kiss her.
But then voices interrupted everything.
"Oh my God, Ethan!"
The moment shattered.
A group of girls rushed toward them excitedly.
Phones already out.
Ethan's expression darkened immediately.
The softness disappeared.
Not completely.
Just hidden.
Like always.
"Can we take pictures with you?" one girl asked quickly.
"Please?"
Lia immediately stepped back.
Creating distance.
Because this was his world.
Not hers.
Ethan noticed.
Of course he did.
His eyes followed her movement instantly.
And something in his expression tightened.
But he still nodded at the girls politely.
The pictures happened quickly.
Lia stayed near the wall quietly, pretending not to notice the way some of the girls looked at her.
Curious.
Judging.
Confused.
One of them leaned toward another and whispered something while glancing at Lia.
Lia looked away immediately.
Her chest tightened slightly.
She suddenly felt out of place again.
Small.
Invisible.
And stupid for forgetting who Ethan really was.
Not just Ethan.
Ethan Vale.
The boy everyone wanted.
The boy the internet loved.
The boy whose life would never truly be private.
By the time the girls left, Lia had already built her walls back up.
Ethan noticed that too.
"You got quiet."
"I'm always quiet."
"Not with me."
That answer came too fast.
Too honestly.
Lia looked at him in surprise.
Ethan seemed surprised too.
Silence followed.
Then he sighed softly.
"…you do this thing."
"What thing?"
"You disappear whenever people remind you who I am."
Her throat tightened slightly.
Because he was right.
Again.
"You belong here too," he added quietly.
Lia looked down.
"No, I don't."
Ethan frowned.
"Why do you keep saying that?"
"Because it's true."
"No," he said firmly.
"It's not."
His voice was calm.
But certain.
And somehow that certainty scared her more than doubt.
Because if Ethan kept looking at her like this…
She was going to fall for him completely.
Maybe she already had.
The rain finally began slowing down outside.
People slowly started leaving.
The entrance became quieter.
Lia adjusted the strap of her bag.
"…I should go."
Ethan nodded once.
But neither of them moved.
Not immediately.
Like both of them were waiting for something.
Or avoiding it.
Finally, Lia turned toward the door.
Then paused.
"…thank you."
Ethan tilted his head slightly.
"For what?"
Lia hesitated.
Then smiled softly.
"For noticing me."
And just like that—
Ethan forgot how to breathe for a second.
Because nobody had ever said that to him before.
Not like it mattered.
Not like it was something precious.
Lia stepped into the rain before he could answer.
Leaving Ethan standing there alone.
Heart racing.
Realizing something terrifying.
He was starting to need her.