The day stretched longer than usual. Classes ended. The sky outside had already started turning grey. Heavy. Uncertain. Anaya stepped out of the school building, adjusting her bag on her shoulder.
"…great."
She looked up.
Dark clouds.
No umbrella.
"…perfect timing."
A few drops fell. Then more. Then suddenly— Rain. Heavy. Unexpected. Students scattered quickly. Some running. Some laughing. Some already prepared. Anaya wasn't. She stepped under the nearest shade, watching the rain fall harder.
"…now what?"
Buses would be delayed.
Walking wasn't an option.
And she definitely wasn't running in that.
"…stuck."
"Seems like it."
She turned.
And there he was.
Again.
Reyansh stood beside her, as if it was the most natural thing in the world.
"…do you just appear out of nowhere?" she asked.
"Maybe."
She rolled her eyes.
"…I didn't bring an umbrella."
"I can see that."
"Very helpful."
A faint hint of amusement crossed his face.
"…wait here."
Before she could ask anything—
He stepped out into the rain.
"Wait—what are you—"
But he was already gone.
Anaya stared after him.
"…what was that?"
A few minutes passed.
The rain didn't slow.
If anything—
It got heavier.
She wrapped her arms around herself slightly, feeling the cold breeze.
"…this is great. Just great."
And then—
He came back. Slightly drenched. Hair damp. Shirt clinging slightly from the rain. And in his hand— An umbrella. He opened it without a word. Then held it slightly toward her.
"…let's go."
She blinked.
"…you went to get this?"
"Yes."
"…in this rain?"
"Yes."
A pause.
"…you're insane."
"Maybe."
She stared at him for a second longer. Then—Stepped closer. Under the umbrella. And suddenly—The world felt smaller. Quieter. Closer. They started walking. Side by side. Close enough that their shoulders almost brushed. The sound of rain filled the silence. Neither spoke immediately. Because neither knew what to say. Anaya glanced at him and found— His sleeve was still slightly wet.
"…you're going to get sick."
"I'll survive."
"…you didn't have to do that."
"I know."
"Then why did you?"
A pause.
He didn't answer immediately.
Just kept walking.
Then—
"…you were stuck."
Simple. But— Not really. Because something about it— Felt more than that. She looked ahead again. Trying to ignore the warmth spreading inside her. "…still. Thank you." He nodded once. And for a moment— Their hands brushed. Just slightly. Accidentally. But enough. Both stilled for a fraction of a second. Then continued walking. Like nothing happened. But something had. Because now— That awareness was back. Stronger. Clearer. And harder to ignore. The rain slowed slightly as they reached near her lane.
She stopped.
"…this is my way."
He nodded.
"…okay."
A pause.
Neither moved immediately.
"…you should go," she said softly.
"…yeah."
But he didn't move either.
For a second—
They just stood there.
Under the same umbrella.
In the fading rain.
"…goodnight," she said finally.
"…goodnight."
She turned. Walked a few steps. Then— Stopped. Looked back. He was still there. Watching. And for some reason— That made her smile. Just a little. Before she walked away. Reyansh stood there a moment longer. Rain almost gone now. But something inside him— Had just begun. The rain didn't end that evening. Not completely. It lingered in the air the next day— cooler winds, damp corridors, and the faint scent of wet earth. And somehow— everything felt different. Not visibly. Not dramatically. But enough for both of them to notice. The school buzzed with a different kind of energy that week. Preparations had begun. The annual fest. Decorations lined the hallways, students rushed around with charts, costumes, lists—voices overlapping, laughter louder than usual. Chaos. Colorful. Alive. Anaya loved it. Of course she did. She thrived in it.
"Okay no, this banner is completely crooked—who did this?" she said, standing on a chair, trying to fix the edge of a decorative sheet.
"Anaya, get down before you fall," her friend warned.
"I won't fall."
"You said that last time too."
"That was different."
"How?"
"I didn't fall this time."
"That logic makes no sense."
Across the hall—
Reyansh watched.
Unintentionally.
Again.
She moved too much.
Talked too much.
Did too much.
And yet—
Everything she did—
Drew attention.
"…you're staring," Arya muttered beside him.
"I'm not."
"You are."
"I'm not."
Arya smirked. "You like her."
Reyansh didn't respond.
Didn't deny it either.
Because—
He didn't have an answer yet.
"Reyansh!"
A voice called out.
He turned.
One of the coordinators waved at him.
"Can you help with the backstage arrangements?"
He nodded once and walked over.
And somehow—
That's how it kept happening.
They kept ending up—
In the same place.
Again.
And again.
"Don't touch that," Anaya said quickly, stepping in as he reached for a stack of props.
He paused. "…why?"
"Because it's arranged."
"It looks like a mess."
"It's an organized mess."
He looked at her.
Then at the props.
Then back at her.
"…only you would say that."
She smiled slightly. "Exactly."
That smile stayed longer now.
So did his gaze.
Days passed in preparation.
Late practices.
Extra hours.
Unplanned meetings.
And then—
Came the late study.
The library was almost empty.
Lights dimmer than usual.
The clock ticking louder in the silence.
Anaya sat across from him, flipping pages with a tired sigh.
"…why do exams exist?"
"To test you."
"They can test me without making me suffer."
"That defeats the purpose."
She groaned softly, dropping her head onto the table.
"…I'm done."
"You said that an hour ago."
"And I meant it then too."
He pushed a notebook slightly toward her.
"…last topic."
She didn't move.
"…convince me."
A pause.
Then—
"…if you finish this, I'll stop correcting you for a week."
Her head lifted instantly.
"…that's a lie."
"It's not."
"You can't resist correcting me."
"…try me."
She stared at him.
Then slowly sat up.
"…fine."
Minutes passed.
Quiet.
Focused.
Until—
"…Reyansh?"
"…hmm?"
"…what is this?"
He looked over.
Paused.
"…you've written the formula wrong."
"I knew it!"
"You didn't."
"I had a feeling."
"You didn't."
She smiled slightly.
"…okay, I didn't."
He leaned closer again.
Pointing at the page.
Explaining.
Calm.
Patient.
And once again—
She forgot to listen.
For a second.
Because—
He was close.
Again.
And this time—
It didn't feel unfamiliar.
"…you're not listening again."
She blinked. "…I am!"
"You're not."
"I am!"
"Repeat what I just said."
A pause.
"…you said I'm wrong."
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"…hopeless."
She frowned. "I am not hopeless!"
"You are."
"I'm not!"
Their voices were low. But the warmth in them— Was new. Time slipped without being noticed. By the time they stepped out— It was late. Too late. The campus was quieter now. Almost empty. Anaya rubbed her arms slightly.
"…it's colder today."
"You didn't bring a jacket again."
"I didn't think it'd get this cold."
"You never think."
"Excuse me?"
He took off his jacket.
Held it toward her.
"…take it."
She blinked.
"…no, you'll get cold."
"I'll manage."
"I said I'm fine."
"And I said take it."
A pause.
She took it.
Slowly.
"…thank you."
The fabric was warm. Faintly carrying his scent. And for some reason— That made her hold it a little closer. They walked in silence. Not uncomfortable. Not awkward. Just— Soft. Halfway through— She slowed. "…wait." He stopped. "…what?" She bent slightly. "…my lace—" Before she could finish— She lost balance slightly. And instinctively— His hand caught her. Firm. Steady. Her hand gripped his arm. Closer than before. For a moment— Neither moved. Because suddenly— They were too close. Closer than ever. "…careful," he said quietly. Her breath hitched slightly. "…I am." But she wasn't. Because her focus wasn't on the lace anymore. It was on him. And the way his hand hadn't let go yet. A second passed. Then— He stepped back. And so did she. Silence returned. But not the same one.
"…goodnight, Anaya."
"…goodnight."
She walked away. But this time— She didn't look back. Because she didn't trust herself to. And behind her— Reyansh stood still. Realizing something he hadn't before. That this— Whatever this was— Was no longer small. No longer simple. And definitely— No longer something he could ignore.