The sky had turned a deep slate gray by mid-afternoon. Ariana dashed across the Silvercrest courtyard, umbrella struggling against the wind. The rain fell in heavy sheets, soaking her hair and drenching her uniform. š
"Kian!" she called, spotting him under the archway of the Eldern Building.
He was already waiting, hair damp, sleeves rolled up, a calm expression masking the storm outside. "You shouldn't run in the rain," he said quietly.
"I didn't have a choice," she replied, breathless, teeth chattering slightly.
Without hesitation, he grabbed her hand, leading her under the shelter. "Here. You'll catch a cold."
She looked down at their intertwined hands. A simple gesture, yet her chest felt tight, and her pulse raced.
"Iā¦ I like the rain," she admitted, trying to speak casually. š§
"You do?" he asked, glancing at her with genuine curiosity.
She nodded. "It'sā¦ refreshing. Makes everything feel alive."
He was silent for a moment, then whispered, almost to himself, "Sometimes it reminds me of moments I want to rememberā¦ like this one."
Ariana's cheeks warmed, and she felt her heart flutter. She didn't know if he meant the rain, the moment, or her.
They stood there, soaked yet unbothered, sharing the quiet intimacy that words could never capture. The rain fell around them, but inside that small shelter, time seemed to stop.
When the storm began to ease, they walked back slowly, hands still brushing occasionally, hearts quietly acknowledging the growing closeness between them. šØšš©