Chapter 01 Rain

In the middle of the rain,

Love is what we might find.

Like when you’re sitting on the long chair while waiting for the bus

but in the middle of your waiting and the rain, you would find someone who could change your life.

I clicked the publish before I kept my phone in my pocket. I’m currently here in our university’s garden since we don’t have a class for our last subject. It’s too early also, the guards won’t probably let me leave during class hour, so I stayed here.

My eyes automatically shut when I felt the wind hugging my body. I heard my phone rings, I smiled when I saw that a lot of my readers have read the recent poem I just published earlier.

I’m a writer, I write poems and novels ever since I found out that my passion is writing. I won’t deny the fact that a lot of people are reading my pieces on the platform where I’m writing, but they don’t know that I’m the writer behind those pieces.

In  a simple meaning, they just know my penname but they don’t know that I’m the one who’s writing behind my penname. It’s my choice though, I chose to be a ghost writer since I want to have a peaceful life yet I also want to have a readers.

“Holy s---” I held the branch near me when somebody suddenly threw a rock on me that made me look down.

“What are you doing? Are you a tomboy? You shouldn’t climb there!” he yelled as he shooked his head, I put my phone back in my pocket before I went down from the tree.

“Next time, if you’re going to climb on a tree, choose what you wear. What if a pervert saw you? You’re putting your body in danger,” he added like he’s scolding me, just like my parents before.

I just realized that I’m wearing a skirt.

I scratched my nape, “Sorry, I didn’t realize that. It’s windy here, so I thought of climbing there,” I said shyly without looking at him.

I heard him laugh, I looked at him when he presented his hand.

“Paul,” he introduced himself.

“I know, by the way, Bavina,” I answered as I held his hand.

“What? You know that my name is Paul?” he asked like he’s shocked on what I’ve said that made me laugh a little.

I nodded, “Everyone knows you, you’re the only vocalist of the famous band in the university, so it’s impossible that I don’t know you,” I answered.

I actually know him since I tried to listen to his song covers and songs that he wrote with the other members of the band, well I’m lying if I say his voice isn’t good.

He laughed again, “We’re not famous tho.”

Wow, he’s still being humble despite of his popularity?!

I pulled my phone in my pocket when it rings, I saw Shia’s text, I didn’t read it and I just put my phone back in my pocket again.

“I think I should go now, my friend is waiting for me. It’s nice to have a short conversation with the JAP Band’s vocalist!” I says lively before I ran. I didn’t wait for his answer.

I waved my hand on him for the last time before I run as fast as I can.

***

“I’ve been waiting for you!” Shia shouted as I arrived in our house. I laughed.

“I stayed in the garden earlier, I told you that you shouldn’t wait for me, you’re always leading,” I says as I shooked my head on her.

“Wow, it’s still my fault! Wow, impressive!” she says sarcastically that made me laugh again, she threw the chips she’s eating on me.

I went towards her and got a two pieces of the chips.

Shia is my friend, actually I don’t know how we became friends, I just know that we met when I went here from our province, and we decided to buy a house for the two of us, which is where we are living now.

She’s beautiful and smart, her parents are both rich, that’s why I don’t know why she chose to be with me than to be with her parents, though they are in good terms because her parents are supportive.

“Hey, did you update earlier? How come you never forget to update on your readers but you can’t update where you are to me? Tell me the truth, readers or me?”

I raised my eyebrow on her, “You’re overreacting again.”

She frowned that made me laugh.

I stood up, “I’m going to the coffee shop,” I said as I went to my room to change my clothes.

I wore a simple t-shirt and leggings since the coffee shop is just near here in our house. I got my bag and put my laptop there.

I looked at Shia when I saw her wearing a dress as I went outside my room.

“Mom called me, we have a family dinner, so maybe I won’t sleep here,” she says while she’s busy putting her makeup on. I nodded even though she’s not looking at me.

“Take care, I’m going now,” I said.

Everytime I have a lot of time, I always go to the coffee shop as I can smell the aroma of different flavors of coffee, especially the chocolate cake, and it motivates me to write more.

***

“One chocolate coffee, please,” I said on the girl, she nodded and I looked around to find a table.

I went on the last table that I saw and pulled my laptop from my bag and plugged my earphone in to listen to music.

I smiled on the girl who gave my order. A sweet smile suddenly appeared on my lips when I smell the chocolate coffee.

***

I can’t avoid myself from smiling while I’m reading my readers’ comments from my poem earlier, even though I just published it earlier, a lot of people have read and appreciated it. I’m also busy typing to reply on their comments to interact with them.

It’s also been a while when I last interacted with them since I became busy these days for our test. Luckily, it’s done already. When I looked at the clock near the counter, I saw that it’s 8pm already.

I didn’t realize what time it is, how long I’m staying here? I closed my laptop immediately and put it in my bag before I walked straight to go out. But I suddenly stopped when I realized that it’s raining.

I looked inside my bag to see if I have my umbrella but I let a sigh when I saw my laptop only. I looked up to look at the sky, the rain is still heavy, I’m sure that it will take time before the rain will stop.

I hugged my bag tightly and run as fast as I can to go to the waiting shed on the other side. I was planning to walk but the weather isn’t on me!

I was so wet when I finally arrived to the waiting shed to wait for the bus. I sat while waiting, the rain is getting heavy. The weather forecast said there’s no rain for this week, but here we are. Ugh!

I looked at the cars when they suddenly stopped and started to horn. My eyebrows met, I saw a car in the middle of the highway that caused a traffic and can’t pass the cars from behind. The door is open while a guy is sitting beside the door, kneeling on the floor like he’s having a hard time.

He looks familiar…

My mouth falls open when I realized who’s the familiar guy. I put my bag beside me and run in the middle of the rain immediately.

“Paul, are you okay?!” I asked, it’s obvious that he’s weak at this moment.

I put his arm on my shoulder for me to support him and help him to stand up. When we’re finally in the waiting shed, I assisted him to sit on the long chair.

“Are you okay? What happened?” I asked out of worry. Our eyes met and I can see on his eyes that he’s getting weak. His breath is getting deep as well while he’s trying to catch his breath.

I called a taxi and assisted him to go inside, I had a hard time to assist him because he’s too heavy for me to carry him alone.

***

When we arrived in our house, I lied him on the sofa. I let him close his eyes while he’s lying, I don’t know if he’s just resting or he’s sleeping. I went straight to my room to have a bath for a while. After I got a shirt that for unisex, I went outside already to change his clothes for he’s still wet because of what happened earlier.

His eyes are still close but I went towards him, I wiped his arms and head using my towel to dry him.

“Paul, are you awake?” I asked as I slapped his cheek a bit but he didn’t speak, “I’m going to change your clothes, you might get sick if you won’t let me,” I talked to him like he can hear me.

I should still ask for his permission, I don’t want him to wake up and tell me that I’m pervert!

I took a deep breath while I’m slowly removing his wet shirt. I put my lips together when I saw his body. I closed my eyes tightly because I can feel the awkwardness between me and his body. I gulped before I put the clothes on him when I finally undressed his shirt.

When I finally get him dress, I sat on the single sofa and looked at his passed out body. I don’t know what happened earlier, he don’t smell alcohol, so it’s impossible to say that he’s drunk.

It’s obvious on his face that he’s still weak like he’s facing a problem. He still looks good even though his face is so ruddy.

I also won’t deny the fact that he has a good face, he has a good nose, and it’s obvious that he has a good body because I saw it already, he has a long eyelashes that even though he’s sleeping, he still looks good. I bet every rich person in the world is perfect.

I looked away when he moved. I didn’t move for a second to know if he’s awake, but he’s still sleeping.

I’m just quiet while sitting. The rain outside is still heavy as I can see it from here.

I was about to stand up to go to my room for me to sleep when he held my hand, my eyes automatically went to him. I looked at his hand when I felt that it’s so cold and it’s shivering. I looked at him again and held his hand to warm and calmed it.

I slowly went back to my chair to sit while I’m looking at his face that is sleeping peacefully.

My eyes got big when he pulled me and hugged me tightly. My heart started to beat fast while I can feel that his heart is beating so fast as well. I tried to catch my breath and I gulped while I’m looking at him.

I was about to stand up to get off from his top when I felt that he hugged me more tight, our eyes met.

“P-please, don’t leave me…”